The history of the photocopier is a long and complicated one. It began with the invention of the printing press in the 15th century and the development of photography in the 19th century. Early photocopiers were clumsy i.e. the quality was not good or not up to mark and was also not very cost effective, but they paved the way for the modern photocopiers we use today.
A photocopier is a machine that makes copies of documents and other images onto paper or plastic film using an electrostatic process. It is commonly referred to as a xerox machine. The first photocopier was invented by Chester Carlson in 1938.
The photocopier has been around for over 150 years, with the first patent for a “copying machine” being filed in 1839 by John D. Godfrey. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that photocopiers began to be used in offices and businesses. The first commercial photocopier was introduced in 1887 by the Haloid Company, which later became Xerox.
Carlson was born in Seattle, Washington in 1906. He was raised in poverty and was often sick as a child. Despite this, he was a bright student and won a scholarship to the California Institute of Technology, where he studied physics. After graduating, he took a job as a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent Office. It was during this time that he began working on his invention.
In 1938, Carlson filed a patent for his photocopier. The patent was granted in 1940. Carlson then founded the Haloid Company, which later became the Xerox Corporation.
Xerox Corporation introduced the first commercial photocopier, the Model A, in 1949. The Model A was large and expensive, and it was not a success. Xerox then introduced the smaller and less expensive Model B in 1955. The Model B was a success, and Xerox became a leader in the photocopier industry.
The early photocopiers worked very slow and were very costly that a middle class person or a small business could not afford, and it wasn’t until the 1950s that they began to be used more widely. In the 1960s, Xerox introduced the first automatic photocopier, which made the process much faster and easier.
The history of photocopiers is a long and interesting one, full of twists and turns. From the early days of copying machines that used light-sensitive paper to today’s digital photocopiers, the technology has come a long way. Today, photocopiers are an essential piece of office equipment, used by businesses and individuals alike. The history of the photocopier is a fascinating one, and it is clear that this technology is here to stay.
Today, photocopiers are used in offices and homes around the world. They are an essential piece of equipment for many businesses and organizations. They come in a variety of sizes and speeds to suit different needs. With the advent of digital technology, photocopiers have become even more versatile, with many machines now able to scan and print documents as well as copy them.