Patent EP0086594A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0086594A2
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EP
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Apparatus for sensing electrostatically charged particles
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1983-02-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A sensing apparatus and material in which the developability of electrostatically charged particles in a mixture of particulate material may be measured. The apparatus includes a transparent member (62) positioned closely adjacent to a developer roller (44) of an electrophotographic printing machine. Electrostatically charged particles are attracted from the particulate mixture being transported by the developer roller (44) to the member (62). A beam of energy is transmitted through the member (62) from source (64). The intensity of the internally reflected beam is detected by detected (66) and a signal generated indicative of the quantity of charged particles adhering to the member.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Snelling
- 👤 Dusan G. Lysy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/55; G01N21/552; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855; G03G15/0856; G03G15/0862
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus (60) for sensing electrostatically charged particles, characterised by: a member (62) adapted to attract at least a portion of the charged particles to at least one surface thereof; means (64) for transmitting a beam of energy through said member (62) onto the charged particles attracted to the surface thereof; and means (66) for detecting the intensity of the beam of energy internally reflected through said member, said detecting means generating a signal indicative of the quantity of charged particles attracted to the surface of said member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus (60) for sensing electrostatically charged particles, characterised by: a member (62) adapted to attract at least a portion of the charged particles to at least one surface thereof; means (64) for transmitting a beam of energy through said member (62) onto the charged particles attracted to the surface thereof; and means (66) for detecting the intensity of the beam of energy internally reflected through said member, said detecting means generating a signal indicative of the quantity of charged particles attracted to the surface of said member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said member (62) includes a substantially transparent prism (62) having a substantially transparent, electrically conductive layer (100) adhering to one surface (98) thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said member (62) includes: a pair of spaced-apart conductive plates (61, 114) defining a passageway (118) through which a portion of the charged particles flow with at least one (61) of said pair of plates being substantially transparent; a substantially transparent prism (62) secured to one surface of said transparent plate (61); and means (122) for electrically biasing said transparent plate (61) to attract a portion of the particles to the other surface thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said member (62) includes means (96) for electrically biasing said conductive layer (100) to attract the charged particles thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said prism (62) is a right triangular prism having equal opposed interior angles, said conductive layer (100) preferably adhering to the surface of said prism (62) opposed from the right angle thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transmitting means (64) includes a light source such as a light emitting diode transmitting light rays through said prism (62) and said conductive layer (100) onto the charged particles adhering thereto, said light source (64) preferably being secured to a surface of said prism (62) other than the surface of said prism having said conductive layer (100) adhering thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said detecting means (66) includes a light sensor such as a phototransistor positioned to receive light rays internally reflected through said prism (62), said light sensor (66) preferably being secured to a surface of said prism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said conductive layer (100) is a substantially uniform area adhering to the surface of said prism (62), or the surface of said prism (62) having said conductive layer (100) adhering thereto is arranged in a pattern of conductive (105, 107) and non-conductive (103) regions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a developer roller (44) for transporting a developer mixture comprising at least electrostatically charged particles closely adjacent to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive surface (12) so as to develop the latent image with the charged particles, including apparatus (60) according to any preceding claim having said member (62), positioned closely adjacent to the developer roller (44).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A printing machine according to claim 9, further including means (46), responsive to the signal generated by said detecting means (66), for controlling the concentration of charged particles in the developer mixture.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of sensing electrostatically charged particles in a mixture of particulate material, characterised by the steps of: attracting at least a portion of the charged particles to at least one surface of a member; transmitting a beam of energy through the member onto the charged particles attracted to the surface of the member; and detecting the intensity of the beam of energy internally reflected through the member. .
Claim 13
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of sensing electrostatically charged particles in a mixture of particulate material, characterised by the steps of: attracting at least a portion of the charged particles to at least one surface of a member; transmitting a beam of energy through the member onto the charged particles attracted to the surface of the member; and detecting the intensity of the beam of energy internally reflected through the member. .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 11, further including the step of generating a signal corresponding to the intensity of the beam of energy internally reflected through the member, and optionally including one or both of the steps of electrically biasing the surface of the member to attract the charged particles thereto, and directing light rays through the member onto the charged particles adhering thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of electrophotographic printing in which a developer roller transports a developer mixture comprising at least electrostatically charged particles closely adjacent to an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive surface so as to develop the latent image with the charged particles, including sensing the electrostatically charged particles as claimed in claim 11 or 12 with the said member located closely adjacent to the developer roller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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