US3623453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developing apparatus for electrophotography
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-16
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A powder cloud developing apparatus comprises a housing having a top wall in which is formed an opening for receiving an image member, and having an inclined sidewall which is contiguous with the top wall. A flow control plate is arranged opposite the sidewall and defines a flow channel therewith. The plate has a width commensurate with the housing, and terminates adjacent the top wall to define an exit from the channel. A rotor having a length greater than its diameter is positioned horizontally below the plate, but above the bottom of the housing, and is peripherally provided with blades or projections which, upon rotation of the rotor, scramble developer charged between the rotor and the bottom and throw it against opposing surfaces of the flow control plate and the inclined sidewall. An air stream, created either by the bladed rotor or by separate fan means, conveys the developer through the channel and the exit so as to travel across the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryubun Seimiya
- 👤 Tohoru Uchida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising a housing having an opening in the top wall and an inclined sidewall, said opening being arranged to support an insulating member carrying an electrostatic latent image, a flow control plate positioned within said housing and being inclined in a manner similar to the inclined said sidewall and being arranged in spaced relationship to said sidewall, said flow control plate extending within said housing from the lower end to the upper end thereof and cooperating with said side plate to from an inclined flow passageway, the upper end of said flow control plate terminating adjacent to said top plate of said housing and defining an exit from the passageway formed between said sidewall and said flow control plate, the upper end of said flow control plate at the exit being bent inwardly into said housing away from said sidewall and extending therefrom in the direction of said top wall, a rotor arranged below the lower end of said flow control plate and having a plurality of projections spaced apart along the periphery thereof, said rotor having a length substantially greater than the diameter thereof, said rotor having a horizontal shaft arranged to be driven for rotating said roter, a space within and at the bottom of said housing for receiving a supply of developer, said rotor being positioned and the supply being in such an amount that at least part of said projections are immersed in said developer when said rotor is at rest, said rotor acting upon rotation to agitate the developer and throw it against the opposing surfaces of said sidewall and said flow control plate for passage upwardly through the passage formed therebetween to the exit adjacent the top wall of said housing, and fan means operative to direct a flow of developer through the passageway defined between the opposing surfaces of said side plate and said flow control channel and to flow across said opening in said top wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
329 words
A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising a housing having an opening in the top wall and an inclined sidewall, said opening being arranged to support an insulating member carrying an electrostatic latent image, a flow control plate positioned within said housing and being inclined in a manner similar to the inclined said sidewall and being arranged in spaced relationship to said sidewall, said flow control plate extending within said housing from the lower end to the upper end thereof and cooperating with said side plate to from an inclined flow passageway, the upper end of said flow control plate terminating adjacent to said top plate of said housing and defining an exit from the passageway formed between said sidewall and said flow control plate, the upper end of said flow control plate at the exit being bent inwardly into said housing away from said sidewall and extending therefrom in the direction of said top wall, a rotor arranged below the lower end of said flow control plate and having a plurality of projections spaced apart along the periphery thereof, said rotor having a length substantially greater than the diameter thereof, said rotor having a horizontal shaft arranged to be driven for rotating said roter, a space within and at the bottom of said housing for receiving a supply of developer, said rotor being positioned and the supply being in such an amount that at least part of said projections are immersed in said developer when said rotor is at rest, said rotor acting upon rotation to agitate the developer and throw it against the opposing surfaces of said sidewall and said flow control plate for passage upwardly through the passage formed therebetween to the exit adjacent the top wall of said housing, and fan means operative to direct a flow of developer through the passageway defined between the opposing surfaces of said side plate and said flow control channel and to flow across said opening in said top wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which a choke member is arranged in said exit adjacent one end of the opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said projections are formed by blades extending the length of the rotor, whereby the rotor is operable as said fan means to produce an airstream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the developer comprises toner and carrier particles, and further including a louver positioned in said flow channel adjacent said rotor, whereby upon rotation of the rotor developer is flung against the louver which separates toner from carrier particles, the louver allowing toner particles to be carried therethrough as a suspension in said airstream and further conveyed through the flow channeL and the exit to provide a powder cloud travelling across the opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which another fan means is located adjacent the top wall of the housing near the end of the opening remote from said exit, said another fan means acting to draw the powder cloud moving across the opening, whereby a substantially uniform travelling velocity of the powder cloud is maintained over the length of the opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which another fan means is located in said channel intermediate between said exit and said rotor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which said space is broad enough to receive an initial supply of developer in an amount sufficient to develop a number of latent image members without additional supply.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which the housing is V-shaped in cross section with rounded corners, the top bar of the V-shape constituting the top wall of the housing and the bottom corner of the V-shape defining the space for receiving a supply of developer, said flow control plate being arranged opposite one sidewall of the V-shaped housing and having a contiguous portion extending opposite the other sidewall of the housing, thereby defining a second space below said opening whereby to receive developer that falls down intermediate the travelling path across said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 8, in which said portion of the flow control plate defines together with said other sidewall of the housing a return path for said flow, and further including another fan means located in said return path for drawing said flow horizontally across said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A developing apparatus according to claim 1, in which a louver is positioned in said flow channel adjacent said rotor, whereby upon rotation of the rotor developer is flung against the louver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |