US3751158A

US3751158A - Electrophotographic copying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3751158A
Application number: US00078390A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Komori
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-14
Filing date: 1970-10-06
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07
Also published as: GB1336169A; DE2050489B2; JPS5225741B1; DE2050489A1

Abstract

An electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table and using a roll of photosensitive paper. The apparatus includes an actuator member provided on the original supporting table for setting an original on the supporting table in accordance with the size thereof, means for cutting the roll of photosensitive paper in accordance with the size of the original on the supporting table while a through-slit exposure is being effected, and means for stopping the original supporting table upon completion of the exposure, whereby the roll of photosensitive paper may be cut into sheets corresponding in size to the original with the aid of the actuator member and the stroke of the supporting table may be adjusted in accordance with the size of the original, thus achieving the copying operation at a greater speed.

Description

United States Patent we APPARATUS [76] inventor: Shigehiro Komori, 14-40 Tsutsujigaoka Koloka, Yokohama, Japan [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 78,390

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 14, 1969 Japan 44/82028 [52] US. Cl 355/8, 355/50, 355/51 [51] Int. Cl. G03g 15/04, .G03b 27/48 [58] Field 01 Search 355/8, 29, 13, 50, 355/57 [56] v I References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,614,220 10/1971 Komori 355/29 3,597,076 8/1971 Hubbard et a1 355/29 3,575,503 4/1971 Auken et a1. 355/8 3,560,087 2/1971 Washio 355/14 Komori I 1 Aug. 7, 1973 [54] ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC COPYING 2,292,825 8/1942 Dilks 355/64 Primary ExaminerJohn M. Horan Att0rneyWard, McElhannon, Brooks and Fitzpatrick [57] ABSTRACT An electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table and using a roll of photosensitive paper. The apparatus includes an actuator member provided on the original supporting table for setting an original on the supporting table in accordance with the size thereof, means for cutting the roll of photosensitive paper in accordance with the size of the original on the supporting table while a through-slit exposure is being effected, and means for stopping the original supporting table upon completion of the exposure, whereby the roll of photosensitive paper may be cut into sheets corresponding in size to the original with the aid of the actuator member and the stroke of the supporting table may be adjusted in accordance with the size of the original, thus achieving the copying operation at a greater speed.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIBumm: 1'01:

savanna MSP FIG. 5

ELECTROPHOTOGRAPIIIC COPYING APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to the copending applications Ser. No. 688,213 filed Dec. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 780,653 filed Dec. 3, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,6l4,220, and Ser. No. 784,436 filed Dec. 17, 1968 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to an improvement in or relating to the electrophotographic copying apparatus vof the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table, and more particularly to a system incorporated in such copying apparatus for cuttinga roll of photosensitive paper into a size corresponding to the size of an original to be copied.

2. Description of the Prior'Art Cutting photosensitivepaper fed from a supply roll into a size correspondingto the size of an original to be copied is very useful to eliminate the waste of the expensive photosensitive paper. I-Iowever, this entails various problems such as the provision of complex means for cutting the photosensitive paper in accordance with the varying sizes of originals to be copied,unnecessary waste of the roll of photosensitive paper which cannot be seen from outside because of the presence of a lightshielding cover provided to protect the photosensitive paperagainst external light, treatment of the photosensitive sheets during the succeeding stages of the copying operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION supporting table which solves the described problems existing in the copying apparatus of this type.

To achieve this, according to the present invention, an original supporting table is reciprocated along parallel rails disposed on a machine housing so that an original to be copied supported on the supporting table is illuminated by illuminator lamps to thereby form an optical image of the original on a portion of photosensitive paper web with the aid of mirror and lens as the paper passes through exposure means. The photosensitive paper is fed from a supply roll through a pair of paper feed rollers and it is initially positioned in such a manner that the leading end of the paper web comes to the cutting position of cutters. During the forward movement of the original supporting table, when the supply roll is rotated to cause the leading end of the photosensitive paper to reach transport rollers, the web of photosensitive paper is transported by the transport rollers so that the amount of the photosensitive paper supplied is electrically charged uniformly over the entire surface thereof by electrically charging means, whereafter the photosensitive paper reaches exposure means. In the meantime, the original supporting table completes its going or forward stroke. The completion of the forward stroke of the supporting table is detected by microswitch or like means controlled by an actuator member operable in response to thecompletion of the forward stroke, whereupon the original supporting table is reversed in direction of movement. Thus, the backward or exposure stroke is entered so that the image of the original to be copied is electrostatically formed onthe supplied photosensitive paper. At this stage, the photosensitive paper is cut into a size corresponding to the size of the original. An actuator member for setting the original in accordance with the size thereof can be freely and simply set on the original supporting table in accordance with the size of the original.

In this way, the web of photosensitive paper can be quite easily cut in accordance with the size of the original and the stroke of the original supporting table can be controlled also in accordance with that size. This leads to an increased speed of the copying operation.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become fully apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electrophotographic copying apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIG. v2 isa front view, in vertical cross section, of the same apparatus.

FIG. 2a is a front view showing the mechanism for detecting the load of photosensitive paper.

'FIG. 3 is a front view of the constantly rotating drive system for feeding photosensitive paper.

FIG. 4 shows, in front view, the mechanism for reciprocating the original supporting table.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an electric control circuit incorporated in the copying apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the original supporting table as it is resting in the terminal position of its forward stroke.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the electrophotographic copying apparatus of the present invention generally shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the arrangement of parts can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2. On a machine housing 1 there are disposed parallel rails 2, along which an original supporting table 3 including a glass screen G is reciprocated, that is, first moved rightwardly and then leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 2. During the leftward or backward-stroke of the original supporting table 3, an original 0 supported on the glass screen G of the supporting table 3 is illuminated by a lamp L with the aid of reflecting plates 4 and 5 and the image of the original 0 is optically formed on photosensitive paper P by means of mirror 6 and lens 7 as the paper P passes exposure means C. After the original supporting table 3 has completed its backward stroke, the original 0 on the original supporting table 3 may be replaced by another original.

The photosensitive paper P is fed in the form of web from .a supply roll. The web of photosensitive paper P is shown in a position where it is held between

paper feed rollers

8 and 8 with its leading end lying at the cutting portion A of cutters A and A Pairs of paper transport rollers 9 to 14 are driven to rotate by a con- I stantly rotating drive system (FIG. 3') when a power switch is closed. During the forwardstroke of the original supporting table 3, a magnet clutch MC (FIGS. 5 and 6) is actuated to rotate the paper feed roller 8 to thereby cause the leading end of the photosensitive paper P to reach the transport rollers 9 and 9,, whereupon these rollers and

subsequent transport rollers

10 and 10, cooperate together to transport the photosensitive paper P to electrically charging means B, where the photosensitive paper supplied thereto is electrically charged over its entire surface. Thereafter, the photosensitive paper is further transported to exposure means C. The backward stroke for exposure process is initiated by a switch mechanism for setting the terminal position of the forward stroke or the start position of the backward stroke. During the backward stroke, means for stopping the paper feed rollers and means for operating the cutters in accordance with the size of the original are actuated by an actuator member 31, whereby the photosensitive paper P is cut into a size corresponding to the size of the original, thus providing a sheet of photosensitive paper corresponding in size to the original. In the meantime, the original supporting table 3 completes its forward stroke, and starts to assume its backward or exposure stroke while the timing for the feed roller 8 to resume its rotation is controlled so as to ensure the optical image of the original 0 to be formed in a predetermined area of the photosensitive sheet.

Upon initiation of the backward stroke of the original supporting table 3, a through-slit exposure process takes place as mentioned previously, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive sheet as it passes the exposure means C with the aid of rollers 10 and 11. Thereafter, the photosensitive sheet having the electrostatic latent image formed thereon is transported to and developed by developing means D, whereafter any excessive developing liquid remaining on the developed photosensitive sheet is removed by a pair of squeeze-

transport rollers

12 and 12,. The photosensitive sheet is further transported-through drying means E and finally discharged through

rollers

13 and 14 onto a tray 15.

A blower F, is provided to suck heated air in the neighborhood of illuminator lamp L, and the warm air thus sucked is passed through a duct 16 while being suitably heated by heater H, so as to be blown against the photosensitive sheet at the drying means E. A cooling fan F is provided to cool the glass screen G of the original supporting table 3 from the lower side thereof in order to prevent the glass screen G from being heated to an unsuitably high temperature by the heat energy emitted from the illuminator lamp L. However, the cooling air from the cooling fan F, may directly strike the lamp L to thereby reduce the temperature in the tube wall of the lamp with an unfavorable result. To prevent this, a partition wall 40 is provided to shield the lamp L from the cooling air provided by the fan F In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, there are provided two drive systems as will be described hereunder. In this embodiment, electrophotography takes place during the backward stroke of the reciprocally movable original'supporting table 3, which is stopped every time a copy is produced, although it may be continuously operated to provide a desired number of copies in succession by continuous depression of the start button. In other words, the original supporting table 3 is operated intermittently, whereas the photosensitive paper once exposed to light is continuously transported even after the completion of electrophotography and passed through developing means D and drying means E. Therefore, the groups of transport rollers 9-14 are driven to rotate continuously by a constantly rotating drive system. On the other hand, the feed roller 8 alone is rotated intermittently because the associated magnet clutch MC is deenergized upon production of each copy.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a reversible motor M having an output gear 17 is connected to a large gear 18 (FIG. 5) and a driven wheel 24) integral therewith and having a belt 21 entrained thereon. The

opposite ends

21, and 21 of the belt 21 is connected via a guide roller 22 to the original supporting table 3 at or adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Forward rotation of the motor M, causes the driven wheel 20 to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow a in FIG. 4, which in turn causes forward movement of the original supporting table 3. The terminal position of the forwardly moving table 3 is detected by a reversible microswitch MSR responsive to a cam CR provided in the side surface of the driven wheel 20, whereupon the electric circuit is changed over to reverse the motor M to thereby return the supporting table 3 to its start position. The return of the original supporting table 3 to its start position is detected by the actuator member 31 (FIG. 1) and size adjusting switch MSS, whereby the table 3 is stopped in that position.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the shaft of the constantly rotating drive motor M, forms a worm decelerated by a worm wheel 23, which is integral with a sprocket wheel 238 having a constantly driving chain 24 entrained thereon. Thus, the paper transport rollers 9-12 are driven for constant rotation by the constantly driving chain 24 and sprocket wheels 9S-l2S.

Rollers

13 and 14 are constantly rotated by

sprocket wheels

13S and 14S and chain 26 via sprocket 25S and gears 25G and 130. The paper feed roller 8 is intermittently driven from a sprocket wheel 88 rotated by a constantly driving belt 24, via the magnet clutch MC of FIG. 5.

The speed at which the photosensitive paper P is transported by these rollers and the speed at which the original supporting table 3 is moved during its backward stroke for image formation must be equal to each other. To achieve this, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sprocket wheel 12S rotates a sprocket wheel 19S loosely mounted on drive shaft 19 via chain 28, while the large gear 28 rotates the shaft 19 via gear 19G, the sprocket wheel 198 being connected to the drive shaft 19 via reversing mechanism 27. The intermittent drive shaft 19 is arranged to rotate a little faster than the constantly rotating sprocket wheel 19S, and the shaft 19 and sprocket wheels 198 are adapted to be connected together by means of reversing mechanism 27 when the intermittent drive system is driving during the backward or exposure stroke. Thus, the two drive systems rotate at the same speed, that is, the scanning speed for the original to be copied equals the speed at which the photosensitive paper is moved through the exposure means. If it is desired to vary the magnification, the shaft 19 and sprocket wheel 198 may be arranged to satisfy the above-described condition so as to set the rate of paper feed by means of gear and the like, whereby the original to be copied and the photosensitive paper are moved in synchronism with each other.

FIG. 6 illustrates the electric control circuit of the copying apparatus according to the present invention. When a plug CO is connected with the power source and the power switch 8 is closed, a pilot lamp PL is turned on and the blower F cooling fan F heater H, circulating pump P and constantly rotating drive motor M are all electrically energized. However, if the photosensitive paper P is not present in the apparatus, a load microswitch MSLO is closed with its actuator member received in a groove 29 formed in a uncurling roller 29 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a, so that a load relay r/LO is operable with its contact LO-l closed to turn on a load lamp LL while another contact. LO-3 is open to prevent the machine from starting even if the start button SB is depressed. In such a case, therefore, a roll of photosensitive paper P must be charged in the machine by opening a cover 13 and paid away until its leading end comes to the cutters A and A and then the cover 13 is closed, whereby the load microswitch MSLO is opened to turn off the load lamp LL to thereby allow the start of copying operation.

Upon depression of the start button SB, the circuit (B-l-NC) r/F SB 1.0-3) is closed to operate the forward stroke relay r/F so that this relay is self-locked by its contact F-l, and at the same time the circuit (F-2-NO) coil C capacitor C and the circuit (F-2-NO) (B-4-NC) coil C (B-3NC) are both closed to cause forward rotation of the intermittent drive motor M,, which in turn causes the original supporting table 3 to assume its forward stroke. At this instant, the reversing mechanism 27 for connecting the intermittent drive system with the constant drive system remains inoperative because the shaft 19 is rotating in the non-connecting direction. Simultaneously, a high voltage circuit HV for corona discharge is also closed. During the described forward stroke, when a paper feed cam CP closes a paper feed microswitch MSP, a paper feed relay r/P is energized to be selflocked by its contact P-l while its other contact P-2 is closed to energize the magnet clutch MC, whereby the paper feed roller 8 starts rotating to feed the photosensitive paper P.

.When the original supporting table 3 reaches the terminal position of its forward stroke, the reversing cam CR on the driven wheel 20 closes a reversing microswitch MSR (the size adjusting microswitch MSS of FIG. 1 is closed upon initiation of the forward stroke of the original supporting table 3 as will'be described later), so that a backward stroke relay r/B is operated to change over its contact B-l so asto cause self-lock of the relay r/B, whereupon the forward stroke relay r/F is deenergized. Upon energization of the backward stroke relay r/B, it contacts 8-2, 8-3 and 8-4 are changed over to reverse the current flowing in coil C, and accordingly reverse the rotation of the intermittent drive motor M,, thus causing the original supporting table 3 to assume its backward stroke. A lamp relay r/L is then energized to turnon the original illuminator lamp L.

During the backward stroke of the original supporting table 3, the actuator member 31 of FIG. 1 preset to the size of the original changes over a cutter microswitch MSC toward a contact NO to thereby deenergize the paper feed relay r/P and accordingly the magnet clutch MC and stop the paper feed roller 8, whereupon a rotary solenoid RS is rotated to operate the cutter A so that it cuts the photosensitive paper P into a size corresponding to the size of the original. In this way, the original supporting table 3 continues its backward movement to allow the exposure process to proceed. The acturator member 31 then actuates the size adjusting microswitch MSS to open it, whereby the backward stroke relay r/B is deenergized to stop the intermittent drive motor M and accordingly the original supporting table 3.

Thus,the machine is stopped with the microswitch MSS remaining in its operative or OFF"'position.

One cycle of the copying operation has been described above. Now, when the web of photosensitive paper P comes near to an end and its trailing end passes the load microswitch MSLO during operation, this microswitch is closed to energize a load relay r/LO and turn on the load lamp LL, whereupon the magnet clutch MC is deenergized to stop the paper feed roller 8, and the photosensitive paper P (which is the last part of the web and may be smaller than the size of the original) is stopped from moving unless its leading end reaches the transport rollers9. Simultaneously therewith, contact LO-S is opened to deenergize the rotary solenoid RS and the cutters are inoperative. Further, the contact LO-4 of the switch MSLO is closed to disable the size adjusting microswitch MSS irrespective of its open position, whereby the original supporting table 3 is allowed to move back to its leftmost end position (FIG. 2) or its stop position for a maximum size of original and a maximum size cam CM (FIG. 4) opens a maximum size microswitch MSM to stop the original supporting table 3 in its leftmost end position. In FIG. 4, a cam C and a microswitch MS are additionally provided to control certain unshown elements.

According to the present invention, the electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table and using a roll of photosensitive paper fed in web form and cut into individual copying sheets results in such technical advantages as enumerated below.

1. The manually settable actuator member 31 for the size setting provided on the original supporting table is moved with respect thereto along the groove 31, in the direction of movement of that table so that the actuator member is adjusted to the size of an original which may be A5, B5, A4, B4 or 1 other format. This ensures the web of photosensitive paper to be cut in accordance with the particular size of the original on the supporting table by utilizing the movement of the table itself which is essentially necessary -to the copying apparatus of the described type. In the illustrated example, the switch MSC is changed over to the contact NO by the actuator member 31, whereby the photosensitive paper is cut by the cutter mechanism actuated through rotary solenoid, magnet plunger, spring, etc.

2. After the photosensitive paper has been cut into the size of the original as described, the original supporting table is continuedly moved into the exposure or backward stroke (the sheet of photosensitive paper thus cut off the web is of course moving through the exposure means), whereupon the actuator member 31 actuates the switch MSS for stopping the original supporting table so as to stop the motor M for driving that table during its exposure stroke and thereby stop the table in a position corresponding to the size of the original. Thus, the

forward and backward strokes of the original supporting table can be set in accordance with the length of the original without being always fixed to their maximum range.

3. The length into which the photosensitive paper is cut is made to correspond to the length of the original (in case of magnified copy, the magnified length of the original), whereby the waste of the photosensitive paper can be eliminated. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished because the distance between switches MSC and M88 is equal to the distance over which the rear end of the photosensitive sheet at the cutting position travels until that end leaves the slit of the exposure means.

4. The paper load detector switch MSLO detects the load of photosensitive paper and the closing of the light-shielding cover to thereby allow the start of the machine. In the shown example, this is achieved by the uncurling roller 29 provided on the cover 3 and the actuator member 29 of the switch MSLO. The detection of the leading end of. the photosensitive paper may also be achieved by the use of photoelectric means comprising a lamp 43 and a photocell 44 as shown in FIG. 7.

5. The distance between the detector switch MSLO and the constantly rotating transport rollers 9 at the entrance to the electrically charging means is made greater than the interval between adjacent pairs of transport rollers 9-11 by suitably arranging them. Therefore, unless the last sheet of photosensitive paper provided by cutting the web has such a length that the leading end of such sheet is squeezed by the rollers 9 and 9, while the trailing end lies at the detector switch MSLO, the relay r/LO acts to release the paper feed roller clutch MC to thereby stop the feed of paper as well as the operation of the cutters, thus preventing the short photosensitive sheet from jamming somewhere between the transport rollers 9-l4.

6. During the copying operation, the trailing end of the last photosensitive sheet leaves the detection switch MSLO and this switch is closed to stop the feeding operation of the

paper feed rollers

8 and 8,, whereafter the original supporting table is stopped by the size adjusting microswitch M88 in the described manner. At this stage, if the size of the original is so small as to stop the original supporting table intermediately of its entire exposure stroke, the table may form an obstruction in mounting a new roll of photosensitive paper in place. According to the present invention, this is obviated because the contact LO-4 of the load microswitch MSLO is then closed to disable the size adjusting switch MSS so as to allow the supporting table to move to its maximum size position and be stopped there by the maximum size cam CM and switch MSM.

As has been noted in the foregoing paragraphs l) to (6), the copying apparatus of the described type is greatly improved in operation. While the original supporting table of the present embodiment has been shown and described as stopped after the backward or exposure stroke, it is also possible to modify the arrangement so that such table is stopped at the terminal position or intermediately of its forward stroke by adjusting the timing for the closing and opening of the contacts in the electric control circuit.

FIG. 7 illustrates in part such a modified arrangement in which the original supporting table is adapted to stop at the terminal position of its forward stroke (the rightmost end position as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2). Just before the photosensitive paper fed upon depression of the start button SB reaches the exposure means, it is detected by a switch MST and the original supporting table which has been resting at the terminal position of its forward stroke (the rightmost end position as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2) starts its backward stroke for through-slit exposure. After the exposure is completed, the original supporting table is allowed to move forward and return to its original position.

Further, in the illustrated form of the present invention, the reciprocation of the original supporting table is accomplished by the use of belt 21, whereas it is also possible to achieve such reciprocal movement by using transmission from the large gear 18 to a gear train and rack pinion or by the provision of a chain secured to the original supporting table at or adjacent the opposite ends thereof and driven by a reversibly rotatable sprocket.

Also, the switch MSLO of FIG. 2a for detecting the presence of the photosensitive paper may be substituted by a photoelectric switch comprising a lamp 1 and a light receiving element r as shown in FIG. 7.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table and using a roll of photosensitive paper, said apparatus comprising an original supporting table, means for driving the original supporting table reciprocally, actuating means adjustably mounted on said original supporting table for selective setting with respect to the length of an original on said supporting table, first and second control means fixedly mounted on said apparatus for actuation by said actuating means, means for withdrawing a length of paper from a roll of photosensitive paper, means for cutting said withdrawn length of photosensitive paper in response to actuation of said first control means by said actuating member, and means interconnecting said second control means and said driving means for stopping said original supporting table in response to actuation of said second control means by said actuating member, whereby said photosensitive paper is cut to size and said reciprocal movement of said original supporting table is limited in relation to the selective setting of said actuating means, thereby enabling said original supporting table to be automatically limited in its span of movement to a distance corresponding to the selective setting of said actuating means for increasing the operation speed of said apparatus.

2. An electrophotographic copying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said first and second control means comprise first and second micro switches connected respectively to control the operation of said cutting means and said driving means.

3. An electrophotographic copying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising light shielding cover means for being opened to permit the loading of said roll of photosensitive paper within said apparatus, means for detecting the presence of said roll of photosensitive paper disposed within said apparatus and a closed state of said cover means, and means connecting said detecting means to said driving means to prevent driving movement of said original supporting table when said cover means is open or said roll of photosensitive paper is not detected.

4. An electrophotographic copying apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the presence of said photosensitive paper at a predetermined position disposed between said roll and said cutter means, a plurality of spaced pairs of rollers for advancing said paper through said apparatus, means for rotating at least one roller in each said pair, wherein said pairs of rollers are disposed between said cutter means and a discharge position in said apparatus to successively advance said paper through said apparatus, and wherein the spacing between adjacent pairs of said rollers is less than the spacing between said detecting means and one pair of said rollers closest thereto, and means connecting said detecting means to said cutting means to prevent the cutting of said paper in response to a failure of said detecting means to detect the presence of said photosensitive paper at said predetermined position.

5. An electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table and using a roll of photosensitive paper, said apparatus comprising an original supporting table mounted for reciprocal movement, means for driving said original supporting table reciprocally, light shielding cover means for being opened to permit the loading of a roll of photosensitive paper, first means for detecting the presence of a roll of photosensitive paper mounted within said apparatus, second means for detecting a closed state of said cover means, and means interconnected between said first and second detecting means and said driving means for preventing driving movement of said original supporting table in response to the absence of said roll of photosensitive paper or an open state of said cover means.

6. An electrophotographic copying apparatus of the type having a reciprocally movable original supporting table and using a roll of photosensitive paper, said apparatus comprising cutter means for cutting the paper of a roll of photosensitive paper to produce copy paper sheets related in length to the length of an original to be copied, means for detecting the presence of a length of photosensitive paper at a predetermined position between said roll of photosensitive paper and said cutter means, a plurality of pairs of spaced rollers for advancing said paper through said apparatus, means for rotating at least one roller of each said pair, wherein said pairs of rollers are disposed between said cutter means and a discharge position in said apparatus to successively advance said paper through said apparatus, and wherein the spacing between adjacent pairs of said rollers is less than the spacing between said detecting means and one pair of said rollers closest thereto, and control means connecting said detecting means to said cutter means to prevent the cutting of said paper in response to a failure of said detecting means to detect the presence of said photosensitive paper at said predetermined position.

* a: n: :r