US3572923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning method and apparatus for electrostatic copying machines
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1968-08-26
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1988-08-26
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for removing residual images from a recording surface for reuse in a copying system. This is effected by wiping the electrostatic recording surface with an electrically nonconductive element to mechanically remove the toner particles from the surface. At the same time, an electrical bias of a polarity opposite that of the toner particles of sufficient magnitude is applied to the element so as to pull toner from the surface onto the element thereby removing substantially all of the toner from the surface. The element is advanced past an electrically biased means to remove the toner from the element thereby freeing it of the residual toner so that continuous cleaning action is obtained. After this, the toner is removed from the electrically biased means and collected for reuse in the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J Fisher
- 👤 Gerard T Severynse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:34
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0047; G03G21/10; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Cleaning apparatus for removing electrostatically adhering toner particles from an electrostatic recording surface for reuse comprising: wiper means including a support layer having electrically nonconductive fibers extending therefrom, said wiper means being adapted for movement past an electrostatic recording surface on which electrostatically adhering toner particles are contacted said fibers; circuit means coupled to said wiper means including a first voltage of a polarity opposite that of said toner particles and of a magnitude sufficient to attract said toner particles onto said fibers as they pass into contact with said recording surface; roll means positioned in the path of said wiper means, said roll means being coupled to a second voltage of the same polarity as said first voltage and sufficiently high to attract said toner particles from said fibers for deposit onto the surface thereof; and means positioned in the path of said roll means for removing electrostatically adhering toner particles from the surface of said roll means into a collection source whereby said toner particles continuously removed from said electrostatic recording surface can be reused.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Cleaning apparatus for removing electrostatically adhering toner particles from an electrostatic recording surface for reuse comprising: wiper means including a support layer having electrically nonconductive fibers extending therefrom, said wiper means being adapted for movement past an electrostatic recording surface on which electrostatically adhering toner particles are contacted said fibers; circuit means coupled to said wiper means including a first voltage of a polarity opposite that of said toner particles and of a magnitude sufficient to attract said toner particles onto said fibers as they pass into contact with said recording surface; roll means positioned in the path of said wiper means, said roll means being coupled to a second voltage of the same polarity as said first voltage and sufficiently high to attract said toner particles from said fibers for deposit onto the surface thereof; and means positioned in the path of said roll means for removing electrostatically adhering toner particles from the surface of said roll means into a collection source whereby said toner particles continuously removed from said electrostatic recording surface can be reused.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for applying a charge of the same polarity as said toner particles to said recording surface before said toner particles are contacted by said fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes a plurality of uniformly spaced conductive elements secured to and in electrical contact with said support layer, a third voltage of a polarity opposite to that of said first voltage and of a magnitude lower than said first voltage, and distributor means to apply electrical power of different polarities according to said first and third voltages to successive ones on said elements as each element is advanced to a predetermined position adjacent to said recording surface and said roll means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first voltage ranges from about 500 volts to about 2,000 volts and said second voltage ranges from about 1,500 volts to about 3,000 volts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the potential difference between said second and third voltages ranges from about 800 volts to about 2,700 volts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for moving said wiper means toward and away from said recording surface and toward and away from said roll means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the height of said fibers ranges from about one-eighth of an inch to about three-sixteenths of an inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3380355A
Cited
US3438706A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |