From Carbon Paper to Xerox: The Evolution of Photocopier Machines

Document duplication prior to the Xerox was an absolute mess, to put it mildly. The process of making copies was messy, and involved a lot of work.

Chester Carlson, a patent attorney in 1938, invented the photocopier. The method he employed was electrophotography, which required the use of a zinc plate, an opacity-sensitive surface, sulfur powder, and shining luminescence.

Chester Carlson xerography

Chester Carlson, in 1937 began to play around with an innovative method to duplicate documents. In high school, the inventor had been a prolific inventor and had sketchbooks filled with ideas. He worked a variety of jobs to help his parents who were disabled and his young family, such as cleaning the floors of the printing business.

Carlson was looking for an affordable and easy method to duplicate documents. Photostats and memeographs require expensive chemicals and papers. Carlson set out to create an instrument that could make multiple copies, without the requirement for a master.

Carlson after a number of experiments in the kitchen, came up with the method of using static electricity to transfer images from one piece of paper to another. In 1942, he patents the electrophotography method. In the meantime he began knocking on the doors of big firms to solicit the funding needed to develop his invention. He was turned down by GE and RCA.

Carlson sought the help of the Battelle Memorial Institute which agreed to represent him and to pay for his additional research. The institute honed Carlson’s method in 1945, and named it xerography. The word xerography comes from Greek words that mean dry writing and. In 1948 the name was changed to Xerox. The multi-billion-dollar industry of copier began.

The evolution of photocopiers

Photocopiers remain an essential piece of equipment in many workplaces, even though they’ve been replaced by the advent of digital technology. Copy machines are actually among the most widely utilized machines throughout the world. The history of the machine that copies is an intriguing story of technological advancement.

Chester Carlson was an American patent lawyer and physicist, who developed the first photocopier that could quickly create copies of documents. Carlson created the first photocopier. Prior to his invention, it was required to create multiple copies by hand or to send them out to be duplicated in photographic form. Carlson experimented with electrophotography (later called xerography). The technique he employed produced an image by using static electricity. The method, initially known as electrophotography, later changed to xerography, in honour of the Greek words for dryness (xeros) and writing (graphein).

The first copy machines made by Carlson looked like photocopiers of the present, but they were of only a limited function. They used an electrically conductive material contained inside the form of a hollow cylindrical. A tiny current was then passed through the surface. It is typically an iron drum. The mirrors in the drum reflect the reflection of light back onto the photoconductive surface. The image is then copied wherever the drum’s surface touches. The copied image is then glued onto a piece of paper.

Xerox 914 first photocopier

In 1959, Xerox introduced the 914 that was the first machine that could reproduce simple paper. It revolutionized office work. The Xerox was a massive project that took over one year to create and was a huge expense. Xerox chose to lease instead of purchasing the machine, which would allow for an ongoing income over the course of. Customers would pay monthly fee of $25 to lease the machine, and purchase paper and ink (toner) for 5 cents per piece. The model was extremely effective because it focused on the importance of customer service.

Chester Carlson began experimenting in 1938 using a method for transfer of images onto paper making use of static electricity. He also employed dry powder. After consulting with a linguist, and linguist, he decided to name his process Xerography which translates to “dry writing” (in Greek) in Greek. In 1948, Xerox trademarked the name and began manufacturing machines that are now synonymous with photocopying.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Xerox was the dominant copy machine and made photocopying a standard device, such as the Swingline stapler and Bic pen. In the 1980s the company changed its focus because of antitrust laws and the emergence of new companies. Xerox set out to be an established business partner providing digital technology and services to companies. It sought to expand beyond the realm of hardware manufacturing. Despite these modifications, Xerox remains a household brand, and is among the most well-known brands in America.

Digital copiers development

The industry of digital copying, although it has progressed a lot from the time of Chester Carlson’s kitchen experiment in the 1950s, has many hurdles to overcome. The increasing use of copier machines for instance caused an rise in intellectual property issues and a fear regarding exposure to bright light. Technology and security measures could help solve these issues. Digital copiers are also able to provide better functionality via integration with office networks as well as documents management systems.

Carlson’s “electrophotography” also known as dry writing, became a roaring success, and the Haloid Company followed suit. The company was the one responsible for commercialisation of the Xerox 914 – one of the first copier machines to be launched.

Thue may photocopy hcm are now an essential part of modern office. The productivity has increased dramatically due to the capability to create copies in a matter of minutes. Digital copiers allow users to save their documents as pictures following scanning. Images can be printed, saved or emailed, and then saved.

Analog copiers might be less well-known, but they’re still employed in some situations or areas that have limited access to the latest technology. Digital copiers remain an option for companies across the globe, despite the growing trend toward digitalization and flexibility. Copiers come in a variety of designs, from small and compact to large heavy-duty.