Document duplication prior to Xerox was an absolute mess to say the least. Making copies was messy, and involved a lot of work.

Chester Carlson, a patent attorney in 1938, patented the photocopier. The method he employed was electrophotography, which required an aluminum plate with an optically sensitive surface, sulfur powder and dazzling luminescence.

Chester Carlson xerography

In 1937, a person named Chester Carlson began experimenting with an idea for a novel way to copy documents. The tinkerer was already a serial inventor and had kept notebooks filled with sketches from high school. He did many jobs to provide for his disabled parents and family members, including sweeping the floors of the printing firm.

Carlson was looking for an affordable and easy method to duplicate documents. Mimeographs and photostats required expensive chemicals, and special paper. Carlson set out to create a machine capable of making multiple copies without the requirement of a master.

Carlson after a number of experiments in the kitchen, developed an approach that utilizes static electricity to transfer images from one sheet of paper to another. In 1942, he patents the electrophotography method. In the meantime, he knocked on the doors of a variety of big companies to get funding for his invention. He was turned down by GE and RCA.

Carlson requested the assistance 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. The word xerography comes from Greek words meaning dry writing and. The name was modified to Xerox in 1948. The multi-billion dollar industry of copier production was created.

Evolution of photocopier machines

Although the advent of digital technology has rendered photocopiers obsolete in certain sectors, they are still a vital element of office equipment for many businesses. Thue may photocopy hcm are one of the most frequently used machines across the world. The history of the copy machine is an intriguing story of technological innovation.

The first photocopier was invented by Chester Carlson, an American patent attorney and physicist, who wanted to copy documents swiftly. Prior to Carlson’s invention, many copies had to be created manually or distributed to make photographic duplicates. Carlson tried electrophotography (later called xerography). The technique he employed to create an image was based on 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 were very similar to modern photocopiers, however they had fewer features. They used a photoconductive surface which was placed inside a hollow cylindrical. This surface, usually a selenium drum was charged with an electric charge by running a small current through it. When the document is placed on the drum mirrors reflect light off of the document to the drum’s photoconductive surface. The image is then copied wherever the drum’s surface touches. The copied image is then glued onto a sheet of paper.

Xerox 914 first photocopier

In 1959, Xerox introduced the 914 which was the world’s first machine to copy simple paper. It revolutionized office work. The Xerox was a huge project that took over a year to develop, and cost a fortune. Xerox chose to rent instead of buying the machine, allowing for an ongoing income over the course of. Customers would pay $25 flat-rate per month to rent the machine and then purchase ink and paper (toner) for 5 cents a piece. The model was extremely effective because it focused on customer service.

In 1938, Chester Carlson started experimenting with the process of transferring images onto paper with static electricity as well as dry powder. After consulting with a linguist, the inventor decided to name his new process Xerography which means “dry writing” (in Greek) in Greek. In 1948, Xerox trademarked the name and began to manufacture machines that have become synonymous with photocopying.

In the 60s and 70s, Xerox dominated the copy machine market, making photocopying as popular as the Swingline stapler or Bic pen. However, in the 1980s, the company shifted its focus due to antitrust laws and the competition of new manufacturers. Xerox wanted to move beyond just hardware manufacture to become an established supplier of information management, offering digital services to businesses and other technologies. Despite these changes, Xerox remains a household brand and one of America’s most well-known brands.

Digital copiers development

While the digital copier industry has made huge strides since Chester Carlson’s cooking experiment in the kitchen, it still has its own issues. The increasing use of copying machines, for example it has resulted in an increase in intellectual property concerns and a fear regarding exposure to bright light. This issue can be solved through the use of security measures and improved technology. Digital copiers also have the capability to provide better functionality via the integration of office networks and document management systems.

Carlson’s method that he referred to as “electrophotography” (meaning dry writing) was a huge success and was shortly followed by the Haloid Company. It was this company that developed the Xerox 914, one of the first ever copier machines to hit the market.

Nowadays, digital copiers are a key component of every modern office. The ability to create 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 several times, emailed to friends, or saved.

While analog copiers are becoming less popular however, they are still utilized in certain scenarios or in areas where technology penetration is low. Digital copiers remain an extremely popular option for businesses all over the world despite the trend towards the digitization of business and its versatility. There are copiers in many styles, from small and compact to large, heavy-duty.