fotocópias

Fotocópias, also known as photocopies or xeroxes, are duplicate copies of documents or images produced by an office machine. This process typically involves an electrophotographic method where light is used to transfer an image from an original document onto paper. The technology was pioneered by Chester Carlson in the late 1930s and commercialized by the Xerox Corporation, which led to the common use of the term "xerox" as a generic verb for photocopying.

The fundamental principle behind most photocopiers is the creation of an electrostatic image. A light-sensitive drum is charged, and then areas corresponding to the image on the original document are exposed to light, which discharges those areas. Toner, a powder, is then applied and adheres only to the charged areas of the drum. This toner image is then transferred to a piece of paper, which is heated to fuse the toner permanently onto the paper. Modern photocopiers are often integrated into multi-function devices that also perform scanning, printing, and faxing. They are widely used in offices, schools, libraries, and homes for document reproduction due to their speed and relative affordability.