EP0176207A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrostatographic copier
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1985-08-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A modular developer and cleaner housing (46) for use in an electrostatographic reproducing apparatus of the type wherein a recyclable imaging member completes two cycles for each copy produced, includes a development portion (47) and a cleaning portion (7), with the development portion including means (54, 55) for continuous development engagement with an imaging surface, and the cleaning portion including a cleaning blade (60) able to be positioned in and out of cleaning engagement with the imaging surface. The cleaning portion further includes a used-toner collection enclosure (7) to collect surplus toner displaced from the imaging surface by the cleaning blade, which enclosure is separated from the development portion of the housing whereby toner cleaned from the imaging surface is collected separately from the developer.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert H. Ammenheuser
- 👤 Joseph Fantuzzo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/10; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/09; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0011; G03G21/0029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
An electrostatographic reproducing apparatus for reproducing original indicia on to a copy substrate, including means for forming an electrostatic latent image on a cyclable image surface (10); means (46) for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner particles, means (28) for transferring the toner image to a copy substrate, means (60) for cleaning the image surface of residual toner, and means (40) for neutralising the image surface prior to producing the next copy; in which the development and cleaning means comprise a modular housing assembly positioned for both development and cleaning engagement with the image surface, the modular assembly including development means (54, 55) in continuous developing engagement with the image surface, and a cleaning blade (60) for cleaning the image surface, and including means (85) for positioning the cleaning blade in and out of cleaning engagement with the image surface, the development and cleaning housing further including a used-toner collection enclosure (50) to collect used toner displaced from the imaging surface by the cleaning blade, the enclosure entrance being separate from the development portion of said housing, whereby the development and cleaning operations are performed on the image surface at different times, and the surplus toner collection is kept separate from the development supply of toner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
An electrostatographic reproducing apparatus for reproducing original indicia on to a copy substrate, including means for forming an electrostatic latent image on a cyclable image surface (10); means (46) for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner particles, means (28) for transferring the toner image to a copy substrate, means (60) for cleaning the image surface of residual toner, and means (40) for neutralising the image surface prior to producing the next copy; in which the development and cleaning means comprise a modular housing assembly positioned for both development and cleaning engagement with the image surface, the modular assembly including development means (54, 55) in continuous developing engagement with the image surface, and a cleaning blade (60) for cleaning the image surface, and including means (85) for positioning the cleaning blade in and out of cleaning engagement with the image surface, the development and cleaning housing further including a used-toner collection enclosure (50) to collect used toner displaced from the imaging surface by the cleaning blade, the enclosure entrance being separate from the development portion of said housing, whereby the development and cleaning operations are performed on the image surface at different times, and the surplus toner collection is kept separate from the development supply of toner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the cleaning blade is pivotally mounted across the width of the image surface, and the means for positioning the cleaning blade in and out of cleaning engagement with the image surface comprises a solenoid (85) connected by a linkage (61, 75) to said pivotally-mounted cleaning blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the image surface completes two cycles for each copy produced, wherein the developer/cleaner housing develops the electrostatic latent image on the first pass of the surface through the housing while said blade cleaner is positioned out of contact with the image surface, and wherein the developer/cleaner housing cleans the image surface on the second pass through the housing while the blade cleaner is positioned in contact with the image surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the image-forming means comprises means for uniformly charging the image surface, and means for exposing the image surface to an image to be reproduced.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of any preceding Claim wherein the development means comprises a magnetic brush including at least one rotatably- mounted tubular member, and a fixed magnetic member (56, 57) mounted within and spaced from the tubular member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of Claim 7, wherein the development means includes a toner collection and dispensing troughcomprising an auger to replenish toner from a toner supply, a carrier catch portion (65) to receive a portion of the carrier transported by said magnetic brush through the development zone, and a dispensing mixing auger (97) to mix said received portion of the carrier with newly-supplied toner and to dispense the newly- formed developer to a development sump.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the used-toner collection enclosure has a spillover opening (81) at its top in communication with the top of the developer sump, and the capacity of the enclosure up to the spillover opening is about equal to the amount of toner collected when the carrier in the developer has reached its maximum functional life.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
A modular developer and cleaner housing for use in an electrostatographic reproducing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a development portion (47) and a cleaning portion (7), the development portion including means for continuous developing engagement with an image surface, the cleaning portion including a cleaning blade for cleaning the imaging surface, and including means for alternatively positioning the cleaning blade in and out of cleaning engagement with the imaging surface, the cleaning portion including a used-toner collection enclosure (7) to collect surplus toner displaced from the imaging surface by the cleaning blade and being separate from the development housing, whereby toner displaced from the imaging surface is collected separately from the development portion and not returned directly thereto.
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