Toner-reclaiming system

Claim 2

In an electrostatic reproduction machine having an electrostatic insulating plate upon which is formed an electrostatic latent image, a developing apparatus for applying electrically charged toner particles to the latent image for developing the same, and a toner supply apparatus associated with the developing apparatus, and a cleaning mechanism for removing excess toner particles from the plate after development of the latent image, the improvement comprising collecting means adapted to receive the excess toner particles from the cleaning mechanism, means associated with said collecting means for removing the excess toner particles from the collecting means, and means for automatically transporting the toner particles into the toner supply Apparatus for reuse by the developing apparatus.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said collecting means includes a housing connected with the cleaning mechanism, and a movable collecting surface.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for collecting excess toner particles includes means for placing an electrostatic charge on the toner particles.

Claim 5

A particle reclaiming system for use in a machine having a working zone to which particles are supplied in excess of quantities needed and from where some of the excess particles are removed therefrom including, a collecting surface adapted for movement through first and second spaces, means for receiving the particles to be removed and for conveying the same into said first space for contacting said surface, means for electrically charging the particles while in said first space for impressing an electrostatic charge thereon different from the electrostatic charge on said surface to which charged particles are attracted and adhere during movement thereof, means contacting said collecting surface and adapted to wipe the particles from the surface, and means for returning the removed particles to the working zone for reuse therein.

Claim 6

The reclaiming system of claim 4 wherein the collecting surface is in the form of a rotating drum.

Claim 7

In an electrostatic reproduction machine having an electrostatic insulating plate upon which is formed an electrostatic latent image, a developing apparatus for applying developing material to the latent image for developing the same, a toner supply container associated with the developing apparatus for replenishing the material including toner particles upon which an electrostatic charge may be placed and a cleaning mechanism for removing excess toner particles from the plate after development of the latent image, the improvement comprising a collecting surface adapted to receive the excess toner particles from the cleaning mechanism, means in engagement with said collecting surface and arranged for removing the excess toner particles from the collecting surface and means for automatically returning the removed toner particles into the supply container for reuse by the machine.

Claim 8

In an electrostatic reproduction machine having an electrostatic insulating plate upon which is formed an electrostatic latent image, a developing apparatus for applying developing material to the latent image for developing the same, a toner supply container associated with the developing apparatus for replenishing the material including toner particles upon which an electrostatic charge may be placed and a cleaning mechanism for removing excess toner particles from the plate after development of the latent image, the improvement comprising a collecting surface adapted to receive the excess toner particles from the cleaning mechanism, means in engagement with said collecting surface and arranged for removing the excess toner particles from the collecting surface and means for automatically returning the removed toner particles into the supply container for reuse by the machine.

Claim 9

In an electrostatic reproduction machine having an electrostatic insulating plate upon which is formed an electrostatic latent image, a developing apparatus for applying electrically charged toner particles to the latent image for developing the same, and a toner supply apparatus associated with the developing apparatus, and a cleaning mechanism for removing excess toner particles from the plate after development of the latent image, the improvement comprising collecting means adapted to receive the excess toner particles from the cleaning mechanism, means associated with said collecting means for removing the excess toner particles from the collecting means, and means for automatically returning the toner particles to the developing apparatus to be reused thereby.

Claim 10

In an electrostatic reproduction machine having an electrostatic insulating plate upon which is formed an electrostatic latent image, a developing apparatus for applying electrically charged toner particles to the latent image for developing the same, and a toner supply apparatus associated with the developing apparatus, and a cleaning mechanism for removing excess toner particles from the plate after development of the latent image, the improvement comprising collecting means adapted to receive the excess toner particles from the cleaning mechanism, means associated with said collecting means for removing the excess toner particles from the collecting means, and means for automatically returning the toner particles to the developing apparatus to be reused thereby.