Chester Carlson and the Birth of Xerography: The Origins of the Photocopier

Document duplication prior to the Xerox was an absolute mess to put it mildly. From smudges of carbon paper, to spirit duplicators, creating copies was labor-intensive and messy.

Chester Carlson, a patent attorney in 1938, developed the photocopier. The process was dubbed electrophotography, and involved a light-sensitive zinc plate, sulfur powder, and bright lighting.

Chester Carlson xerography

Chester Carlson, in 1937 began to play around with a new idea of how to copy documents. In high school, the tinkerer been a serial inventor and had sketchbooks filled with ideas. He was employed in a variety of positions such as sweeping floors in an printing business, in order to help his elderly parents as well as his growing family.

Carlson wanted to find an inexpensive and simple way to duplicate documents. Photostats and memeographs require expensive chemicals, and special papers. Carlson aimed to develop a machine capable of making multiple copies, without the need for a master.

Carlson, after many experiments in the kitchen, came up with an approach that utilizes static electricity to transfer images from one piece of paper to another. The process was dubbed electrophotography. He patented it in 1942. During this time he began knocking at the doors of major firms to solicit the funding needed to develop his invention. He was denied by GE and RCA.

Carlson eventually sought the assistance of Battelle Memorial Institute, which offered to serve as his agent and provide more research. In 1945, the institution had refined the method used by Carlson and named it xerography a word derived from the Greek words for writing and dry. The name was changed to Xerox in 1948. This was the start of the multi-billion dollar copier industry.

Evolution of photocopier machines

Although modern technology has rendered photocopiers obsolete in certain industries, they’re still an essential part of office equipment in numerous businesses. Thue may photocopy hcm is one of the most frequently used machines in the entire world. The story of the copy machine is an intriguing account of technological innovations.

Chester Carlson was an American patent lawyer and physicist, who developed the first photocopier that could quickly create copies of documents. Carlson invented the first photocopier. Before his invention it was common to create multiple copies by hand or to send them out for photographic duplication. Carlson experimented with electrophotography, which later came to be known as xerography. The technique he employed to create an image was based on static electricity. The method was initially referred to as electrophotography. However, it was changed to”xerography” in honor of the Greek words xeros (dry) and graphein (to write).

Carlson’s early copy machines were very similar to the modern photocopiers, however they had fewer functions. They utilized a photoconductive surface that was placed inside of the hollow cylinder. The surface, typically a selenium drum and aluminum, was charged with an electrical charge through the passage of a tiny current through it. When the document is placed on the drum, mirrors reflect light off of the document to the drum’s photoconductive surface. Every time the paper comes in contact with the drum the image is copied. The resulting copy is then stuck to a piece of paper.

Xerox 914 first photocopier

In 1959, Xerox introduced the 914 which was the world’s first copy machine to reproduce plain paper. It revolutionized offices. The Xerox was a massive undertaking that took more than an entire year to design and was a huge expense. Xerox chose to rent rather than buy the machine, allowing for recurring income over time. Customers would pay $25 flat-rate per month to lease the machine. They could then purchase ink and paper (toner) for 5 cents per piece. The model was based on the importance of customer service, and it was a massive success.

Chester Carlson began experimenting in 1938 on a method of transfer of images onto paper using static electricity. Also, he used dry powder. After consulting a linguist the inventor decided to name his new process Xerography which translates to “dry writing” (in Greek) in Greek. The name was registered in 1948 and Xerox began producing the machines that were later branded as photocopiers.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Xerox dominated the copy machine market, and made photocopying as commonplace as the Swingline stapler or Bic pen. In the 1980s the company began to shift its focus due to antitrust laws and the emergence of a new generation of manufacturers. Xerox set out to be a trusted business partner, providing digital technology and services to companies. It wanted to move beyond hardware manufacturing. Despite these modifications, Xerox remains a household brand that is one of America’s best-known brands.

Digital copiers development

The digital copier industry, while it has advanced considerably from the time of Chester Carlson’s kitchen experiment in the 1950s has many hurdles to overcome. The proliferation of copier machines for instance it has resulted in an increase in intellectual property concerns as well as a concern about exposure to light sources. These problems can be addressed through the implementation of security measures and better technology. In addition, digital copiers can also offer enhanced capabilities through connectivity to offices networks and integrating into the management of documents.

Carlson’s method known as “electrophotography” (meaning dry writing) was a huge success and was quickly adopted by the Haloid Company. It was this company that commercialised the Xerox 914, one of the first ever copier machines to be introduced into the market.

Digital copiers are an essential part of modern workplaces. The ability to create copies in only seconds has significantly increased productivity. Digital copiers also allow users to save documents as images following scanning. The images can be printed multiple times, sent to email, or stored.

Analog copiers aren’t as well-known, but they’re still employed in some situations or locations that are not able to access to advanced technology. However, the push toward digitization and multifunctionality has seen digital copiers remain a favorite of businesses around the world. Copiers come in a variety of designs, from small and compact to large, heavy-duty.