an improved charger eraser assembly for an electrophotographic copying machine is provided . in a first mode of operation selected by the user , a uniform erasure of a predetermined area of the photoreceptor drum can be accomplished . in a second mode of operation , an imprinting of alphanumeric information on the photoreceptor drum can be achieved . the illumination emitting unit includes a plurality of individual controllable light emitting elements . the illumination emitting unit can be controlled to be moved relative to the photoreceptor drum to permit the light rays of adjacent light emitting elements to either overlap or to abut each other on the photoreceptor drum . alternatively , a lens array can be inserted in the optical path for controlling the position of the light rays of the adjacent elements .