Before the Xerox machine, the process of making duplicate copies of documents was quite, to put it mildly, a bit of a kerfuffle. From carbon paper smudges to duplicators made of spirit, the process was messy and labor-intensive.
In 1938, patent attorney Chester Carlson patented what would be known as the photocopier. His process was called electrophotography, and involved a light-sensitive zinc plate as well as sulfur powder and bright light.
Chester Carlson xerography
Chester Carlson, in 1937, began to experiment with an innovative method to duplicate documents. Since 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 sweeping the floors of the printing business.
Carlson sought to find an affordable and easy method to duplicate documents. Photostats and memeographs require costly chemicals, as well as special paper. Carlson wanted to create the ability to make multiple copies without the requirement of a master.
Carlson, after many experiments in the kitchen, developed the method of using static electricity to transfer images from one piece of paper to another. He called the process electrophotography. He patented it in 1942. At this point he began knocking on the doors of major corporations to ask for the funding needed to develop his invention. He was denied by GE and RCA.
Carlson enlisted the aid of Battelle Memorial Institute which agreed to represent him and to pay for his additional research. The institute refined Carlson’s technique in 1945, and named it xerography. This word is derived from Greek words that mean dry and writing. In 1948 the name was changed to Xerox. This was the beginning of the multi-billion dollar copier industry.
The evolution of photocopiers
Thue may photocopy hcm remain an important piece of equipment in numerous offices, despite the fact that they’ve been rendered obsolete by digital devices. The copy machine is one of the most widely utilized machines throughout the world. The history of the copying machine is an interesting story of technological advancement.
The first photocopier was developed by Chester Carlson, an American patent attorney and physicist who wanted to copy documents in a short time. Carlson invented the first photocopier. Before his invention it was required to make multiple copies by hand or send them out for photographic duplication. Carlson tried electrophotography, which later came to be known as xerography. The technique he employed created an image using static electricity. The process, which was initially referred to as electrophotography, was later changed to xerography, in honour of the Greek words for dryness (xeros) and writing (graphein).
Carlson’s first copy machines looked very similar to photocopiers of the present, but they were of limited functionality. The machines used a photoconductive material that was enclosed within the form of a hollow cylindrical. A tiny current was applied to the surface, which is usually selenium-based drums. When a document is placed on the drum mirrors reflect light off of the document onto the drum’s photoconductive surface. The image is copied anywhere the paper touches the drum. The resulting copy is then attached to a sheet of paper.
Xerox 914 first photocopier
In 1959, Xerox introduced the 914 that was the first machine that could reproduce plain paper. It revolutionized office spaces. The Xerox machine was a huge task, taking more than a decade to develop and costing a fortune. Xerox chose to rent the machine rather than sell it, allowing the company to earn long-term, recurring revenues. The customers would pay a annual fee of $25 per month to rent the machine and purchase paper and ink (toner) for about 5 cents each. This model focused on customer service and was a huge success.
In 1938, Chester Carlson started experimenting using his method of transferring images onto paper with static electricity as well as dry powder. He referred to his process as “electron photography” but, after consulting an expert in linguistics, decided to rename it Xerography, meaning “dry writing” in Greek. The name was trademarked in 1948, and Xerox began producing the machines that became synonymous with photocopying.
In the 1960s and 70s, Xerox dominated the copy machine market and made photocopying a common practice as did the Swingline stapler or Bic pen. In the 1980s the company began to shift its focus due to antitrust laws as well as the competition of new companies. Xerox was determined to become a trusted business partner, delivering digital technologies and services to companies. It wanted to move beyond hardware manufacturing. Despite these modifications, Xerox remains a household brand and one of America’s most well-known brands.
Digital copiers development
Although the industry of digital copying has seen huge progress from the time of Chester Carlson’s kitchen experiment, it has its own difficulties. For example, the ubiquity of copying machines has led to a proliferation of intellectual property issues, and also concerns over bright light exposure. Security measures and better technology will help in resolving these problems. In addition, digital copiers can also offer enhanced capabilities by connecting to offices networks and integrating into document management systems.
Carlson’s method, which he called “electrophotography” (meaning dry writing) became a huge hit and was quickly adopted by the Haloid Company. This company was the one responsible for commercialisation of the Xerox 914 – one of the earliest copier machines ever to be made available.
Digital copiers are a vital part of any modern office. The capability to make copies in just a few seconds has dramatically increased productivity. Digital copiers also allow users to save documents in pictures after scanning them. Images can then be printed multiple times, emailed to friends, or stored.
Although analog copiers are declining in popularity, they continue to be utilized in certain scenarios or in regions where advanced technology penetration is limited. But the shift towards digitization and multifunctionality has seen digital copiers remain a favorite of all businesses in the world. In fact copiers are available in a wide range of styles, ranging from small to large and heavy duty.