Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for electrostatically charging insulating toner particles (17) comprising means for constraining the particles to a region (16) between two surfaces (12, 18 or 12, 20) which are arranged so as to be in close proximity to one another in a charging zone, (34) and which are both arranged for movement through the charging zone, one of the surfaces comprising a charging surface (12) for charging the particles, and the other surface comprising a transporting surface (18 or 20) for transporting the paticles through the charging zone, said surfaces being electrically biased (30, 32) to predetermined potentials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for electrostatically charging insulating toner particles (17) comprising means for constraining the particles to a region (16) between two surfaces (12, 18 or 12, 20) which are arranged so as to be in close proximity to one another in a charging zone, (34) and which are both arranged for movement through the charging zone, one of the surfaces comprising a charging surface (12) for charging the particles, and the other surface comprising a transporting surface (18 or 20) for transporting the paticles through the charging zone, said surfaces being electrically biased (30, 32) to predetermined potentials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the charging surface is arranged for movement in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the transporting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the charging surface comprises a triboelectrically active coating (13).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the charging surface is the surface of a roller and the transporting surface is the surface of either a belt (18) or a roller (20).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 wherein the transporting surface is the surface of a belt. The belt being deflected by the charging surface in the charging zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with Claim 4 wherein both said surfaces are the surfaces of compliant rollers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the charging surface (12) simultaneously controls or meters the amount of insulating toner particles deposited on the transporting surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7 including a means for supplying insulating toner particles to the transporting surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
34 words
An apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 8 including a means (14) for removing toner particles from the charging surface so as to constrain the toner particles to said region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrostatographic apparatus including the charging apparatus of any one of Claims 1 to 9, and including an imaging surface (26) for carrying an electrostatic latent image into contract with said charged toner particles (19) on the trasporting surface, whereby the toner particles develop the latent image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus in accordance with Claim 10 wherein the imaging surface is a photosensitive surface comprising either selenium or an organic composition including a substrate, a charge transport layer, and a charge generating layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for electrostatically charging insulating toner particles (17) comprising constraining the particles to a region (16) between two surfaces (12, 18 or 12, 20) which are arranged so as to be in close proximity to one another in a charging zone (34), moving both surfaces through the charging zone, and electrostatically biasing the surfaces to predetermined potentials one of the surfaces comprising a charging surface (12) for charging the particles, and the other surface comprising a transporting (18 or 20) for transporting the particles through the charging zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for electrostatically charging insulating toner particles (17) comprising constraining the particles to a region (16) between two surfaces (12, 18 or 12, 20) which are arranged so as to be in close proximity to one another in a charging zone (34), moving both surfaces through the charging zone, and electrostatically biasing the surfaces to predetermined potentials one of the surfaces comprising a charging surface (12) for charging the particles, and the other surface comprising a transporting (18 or 20) for transporting the particles through the charging zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of Claim 12 including moving said two surfaces through the charging zone in opposite directions.