Automatic duplex electrophotographic copying machine

• US 4,585,336 A
• Filed: 05/21/1984
• Issued: 04/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Toyoki
• Primary Examiner(s): PRESCOTT, ARTHUR
• Application Number:
  US06/612,571
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 355/3 SH, 355/14 SH, 355/3 R, 355/14 R, 355/23, 355/24, 355/25, 271/279, 271/280, 271/301, 271/302, 271/303, 271/186
• US Class Current: 399/402
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/234 by inverting and refeeding the image receiving material with an image on one face to the recording member to transfer a second image on its second face, e.g. by using a duplex tray; Details of duplex trays or inverters

Abstract

An automatic duplex electrophotographic copying machine comprises a paper supply device, a photoreceptor, a copy enabling device, a copied paper expelling device, a single-side copied paper storing device, and a selector activated for selecting the copied paper expelling device or the single-side copied paper storing device. The single-side copied paper storing device is movable to receive the single-side copy paper and supply it to the paper supply device, so that the single-side copied copy paper is transported to the photoreceptor and the copy enabling device, to copy a new image onto the other or reverse side of the paper. The selector comprises a flapper flapped for the selection. The single-side copied paper storing device comprises a paper regulating device for regulating the exact position of the paper within the device to copy the image on the exact position of the reverse side of the paper.

Claims

1. An automatic duplex electrophotographic copying machine comprising:

photoreceptor means for forming an image thereon;

paper supply means for forming an image thereon;

paper supply means for supplying a copy paper toward said photoreceptor means;

copy enabling means inclusive of a light exposure means, developing means, and image transfer means for copying the image onto said copy paper;

paper expelling means for receipt of said imaged copy paper outside said copying machine;

paper storing and returning means adapted to be reciprocated horizontally between a first paper receiving position for receiving and storing said single-side copied paper and returning it to a second paper re-introduction position for introducing said single-side copied paper to said paper supply means;

means for moving said paper storing and returning means between said first position of receiving said singl-side copied paper and said second paper re-introduction position; and

selection means for selecting whether to direct said copied paper to said expelling means or to said paper storing means.

2. The copying machine of claim 1, wherein said selection means comprises a flapper element.

3. The copying machine of claim 1, further comprising a paper regulating means for regulating the positioning of the copied paper within said storing and returning means.

4. The copying machine of claim 1, wherein said paper storing and returning means is positioned at a base of said copying machine.

5. The copying machine of claim 1, further comprising turnover means for turning over said copied copy paper positioned at said paper supply means.

6. The copying machine of claim 5, wherein said turnover means is juxtapositioned to said selection means.

7. The copying machine of claim 1, further comprising motor means for reciprocating said storing and returning means.