US3610205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring and controlling mixture content
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-17
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1988-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for detecting the ratio of component particles in a mixture wherein the quantity of one of the component particles is continually decreased, as in an electrostatic printing operation, includes the provision of a window adjacent the path of movement of the mix of component particles and contacting particles in transit therepast, illumination of the mix through the window and detection of light reflected from the mix through the window. Replenishment of the depleted component may be electrically controlled in accordance with the light reflected and optical filter provisions may be employed to limit the spectrum of the light with which the mix is illuminated where the components of the mix differ in color. Diversion of a quantity of mix to bypass an area wherein depletion of one component occurs effects mixing in the direction of flow and crossflow mixing effects greater consistency in the mix transverse to the direction of flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W Rarey
- 👤 John B Kennedy Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:36
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An electrostatic printing or coating device comprising a depository for a developer mix of carrier particles and toner particles of differing optical qualities, means for transporting a toner-sufficient portion of said developer mix from said depository into an application area, means for applying toner particles from said toner-sufficient portion of said mix in said application area to a substrate causing that portion of the mix to become a toner-deficient portion, means for moving said tonerdeficient portion of said mix from said application area to a toner-replenishing station, toner-replenishing means for adding toner particles directly to said toner-deficient portion of said mix to compensate for the toner particles applied to said substrate, viewing window means adjacent said toner-replenishing means along the path of movement of said toner-deficient portion of said mix, optical-sensing means adjacent said window means on the opposite side thereof from the path of movement of said mix, said optical-sensing means including a light source for projecting light through said window against said mix, and a photoelectric sensor for receiving light reflected from said mix through sad window and for indicating the ratio of component particles in said mix, and means electrically connected with said photoelectric sensor for controlling said toner-replenishing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
An electrostatic printing or coating device comprising a depository for a developer mix of carrier particles and toner particles of differing optical qualities, means for transporting a toner-sufficient portion of said developer mix from said depository into an application area, means for applying toner particles from said toner-sufficient portion of said mix in said application area to a substrate causing that portion of the mix to become a toner-deficient portion, means for moving said tonerdeficient portion of said mix from said application area to a toner-replenishing station, toner-replenishing means for adding toner particles directly to said toner-deficient portion of said mix to compensate for the toner particles applied to said substrate, viewing window means adjacent said toner-replenishing means along the path of movement of said toner-deficient portion of said mix, optical-sensing means adjacent said window means on the opposite side thereof from the path of movement of said mix, said optical-sensing means including a light source for projecting light through said window against said mix, and a photoelectric sensor for receiving light reflected from said mix through sad window and for indicating the ratio of component particles in said mix, and means electrically connected with said photoelectric sensor for controlling said toner-replenishing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said optical-sensing means further comprises colored optical filter means, limiting the spectrum of light projected against said mix by said light source for increasing variations in light reflected from said mix resultant from variations in the ratio of component particles in said mix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said printing or coating device includes an inclined surface lying along the path of movement of said mix within said device and along which a portion of said mix slides in transit therepast, said window means comprising a transparent pane mounted in said inclined surface for sliding and supporting engagement with said mix to provide self-cleansing of said window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said means electrically connected with said photoelectric sensor for controlling said toner-replenishing means includes meter-relay means and means connecting said photoelectric sensor and said meter-relay means for applying an electrical signal to said meter-relay means, said meter-relay means having a meter responsive to signals applied thereto for indicating the ratio of component particles in said mix and means responsive to a predetermined signal strength for providing an output from said meter-relay means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein said toner-replenishing means includes a toner reservoir, a screened aperture communicating between said reservoir and the interior of said printing or coating device, rotatably mounted brush means for transporting toner particles to said screened aperture through said screened aperture and motor means electrically connected with said meter-relay means for actuation by the output therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said pane is of sapphire, thereby resisting abrasion of said pane by sliding movement of said mix thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said toner-replenishing means is located upstream with respect to said window means and along said path of movement of said mix, means for mixing the replenished developer mix comprising crossflow-mixing means intermediate said toner-replenishing means and said window means, said crossflow-mixing means including a plurality of mix-contacting obstacles extending into the path of mix movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device according to claim 3 wherein said toner-replenishing means is located upstream with respect to said window means along said path of movement of said mix, said toner-replenishing means including an aperture opening through said inclined surface for passage of toner therethrough, means for mixing the replenished developer mix comprising crossflow-mixing means intermediate said toner-replenishing means and said window means, said crossflow-mixing means including a plurality of obstacles extending outwardly from said inclined surface for contacting mix in transit on said inclined surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
An electrostatic printing or coating device employing a developer mix of carrier and toner particles comprising means for transporting a toner-sufficient portion of said developer mix into an application area, means for applying toner particles from a portion of said mix in said application area to a substrate causing that portion of the mix to become a toner-deficient portion, means for moving said toner-deficient portion from said application area to a replenishing station, toner-replenishing means for adding toner directly to said toner-deficient portion to compensate for the toner particles applied to said substrate, said toner-replenishing means including means for diverting a portion of the mix in transit to said application area and for adding said diverted mix portion to said toner-deficient portion in transit from said application area to provide mixing in the direction of developer flow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
An electrostatic printing or coating device employing a developer mix of carrier and toner particles comprising means for transporting a toner-sufficient portion of said developer mix into an application area, means for applying toner particles from a portion of said mix in said application area to a substrate causing that portion of the mix to become a toner-deficient portion, means for moving said toner-deficient portion from said application area to a replenishing station, toner-replenishing means for adding toner directly to said toner-deficient portion to compensate for the toner particles applied to said substrate, said toner-replenishing means including means for diverting a portion of the mix in transit to said application area and for adding said diverted mix portion to said toner-deficient portion in transit from said application area to provide mixing in the direction of developer flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 9 further comprising crossflow-mixing means located in the path of movement of said mix for providing movement of the component particles of the mix at least partially transverse to the path of movement of the mix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein said means for transporting a portion of said mix into an application area comprises a first rotatable drum for carrying developer mix on the surface thereof, said means diverting a portion of the mix comprising a second rotatable drum adjacent said first drum for receiving the diverted portion of mix from the surface of said first drum onto the surface of said second drum to bypass said application area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
An electrostatic printing or coating device employing a developer mix of carrier and toner particles comprising means for transporting a portion of said developer mix along a first path into an application area, means for applying toner particles from said mix to a substrate, means for returning mix along a second path from said application area, toner-replenishing means located along said second path for replenishing toner in said mix to compensate for the toner particles applied to said substrate, said toner-replenishing means including means for diverting a portion of said mix in transit on said first path to a point in said second path to provide developer mixing transvErse to the direction of movement crossflow-mixing means located along said second path following said means for replenishing for providing developer mixing transverse to the direction of movement of mix, and mix-monitoring means located along said second path following said crossflow-mixing means for detecting the ratio of component particles in said developer mix.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
An electrostatic printing or coating device employing a developer mix of carrier and toner particles comprising means for transporting a portion of said developer mix along a first path into an application area, means for applying toner particles from said mix to a substrate, means for returning mix along a second path from said application area, toner-replenishing means located along said second path for replenishing toner in said mix to compensate for the toner particles applied to said substrate, said toner-replenishing means including means for diverting a portion of said mix in transit on said first path to a point in said second path to provide developer mixing transvErse to the direction of movement crossflow-mixing means located along said second path following said means for replenishing for providing developer mixing transverse to the direction of movement of mix, and mix-monitoring means located along said second path following said crossflow-mixing means for detecting the ratio of component particles in said developer mix.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said means for transporting a portion of said developer mix along a first path includes a first rotatable drum for carrying developer mix thereon, said means for diverting a portion of the mix comprising a second rotatably drum adjacent said first drum for receiving the diverted portion of mix from said first drum onto said second drum to bypass said application area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said monitoring means comprises a window adjacent the flow of mix from said crossflow-mixing means and photoelectric sensor means for detecting varying optical qualities of said mix adjacent said window.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |