US3645618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum nozzle to remove agglomerates on a toner applicator
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1970-12-18
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1990-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Development method and apparatus employing a donor member adapted to retain toner on its periphery and a number of processing stations arranged around its periphery, including a toner loading station having means to load toner on the peripheral surface of the donor member, and a toner layer preparation station having means to prepare the toner layer on the donor member prior to presentation of the toner layer to the imaged region of a photoconductor development station.
Inventors
- 👤 Fredrick Lancia
- 👤 Gerald L Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:49
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0806; G03G15/0812; G03G15/0818; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/06; G03G2215/0602; G03G2215/0604; G03G2215/0614; G03G2215/0619; G03G2215/0634; G03G2215/0636; G03G2215/0641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
In an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a xerographic plate, means for developing said latent image, said developing means including a. a donor member capable of retaining toner particles along a transportable surface thereof, b. means to continuously advance said donor member past a plurality of treating stations, said treating stations comprising: 1. a toner loading station at which toner particles are contacted and a layer of toner particles is retained by said donor member, 2. a toner agglomerate removal station operative to vacuum remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles from said retained layer of toner particles; and 3. a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
In an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a xerographic plate, means for developing said latent image, said developing means including a. a donor member capable of retaining toner particles along a transportable surface thereof, b. means to continuously advance said donor member past a plurality of treating stations, said treating stations comprising: 1. a toner loading station at which toner particles are contacted and a layer of toner particles is retained by said donor member, 2. a toner agglomerate removal station operative to vacuum remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles from said retained layer of toner particles; and 3. a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
a toner agglomerate removal station operative to vacuum remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles from said retained layer of toner particles; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
a toner agglomerate removal station operative to vacuum remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles from said retained layer of toner particles; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
In an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a xerographic plate, means for developing said latent image, said means including a. an endless donor member capable of retaining a layer of toner particles along a transportable surface thereof; means to continuously advance said donor member past a plurality of treating stations, said treating stations comprising:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
In an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a xerographic plate, means for developing said latent image, said means including a. an endless donor member capable of retaining a layer of toner particles along a transportable surface thereof; means to continuously advance said donor member past a plurality of treating stations, said treating stations comprising:
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
a toner agglomerate removal station having a vacuum manifold means located adjacent said donor member so that a force from said vacuum means can be exerted on the outermost region of said toner layer to remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles therefrom; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
a toner agglomerate removal station having a vacuum manifold means located adjacent said donor member so that a force from said vacuum means can be exerted on the outermost region of said toner layer to remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles therefrom; and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
a toner Agglomerate removal station having a vacuum means located adjacent said donor member so that a force from said vacuum means can be exerted on the outermost region of said toner layer to remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles therefrom;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
a toner Agglomerate removal station having a vacuum means located adjacent said donor member so that a force from said vacuum means can be exerted on the outermost region of said toner layer to remove toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles therefrom;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
a cleanup station having a rotatable, cylindrical cleanup member located adjacent said donor member so as to contact the outermost region of said layer of toner particles, said cleanup member being so constructed and designed to convert the layer of retained toner particles to one of comparatively uniform thickness and to remove any toner agglomerates not removed by said vacuum means; and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
a cleanup station having a rotatable, cylindrical cleanup member located adjacent said donor member so as to contact the outermost region of said layer of toner particles, said cleanup member being so constructed and designed to convert the layer of retained toner particles to one of comparatively uniform thickness and to remove any toner agglomerates not removed by said vacuum means; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said vacuum manifold means has a slit opening of a length at least as wide as said toner layer positioned across the width of said toner layer, said vacuum means being adapted to exert a force sufficient only to remove toner-agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said donor member is located adjacent said xerographic plate so that said agglomerate-free toner layer of uniform thickness is presentable in closely spaced developing relation to said latent image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer of uniform thickness is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
a developing station at which the agglomerate-free toner layer of uniform thickness is presented in developing relation to said latent image on said xerographic plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
In an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a xerographic plate, means for developing said latent image, said means including a. an endless donor member capable of retaining a layer of toner particles along a transportable surface thereof; b. means to continuously advance said donor member past a plurality of treating stations, said treating stations comprising:
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
In an apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a xerographic plate, means for developing said latent image, said means including a. an endless donor member capable of retaining a layer of toner particles along a transportable surface thereof; b. means to continuously advance said donor member past a plurality of treating stations, said treating stations comprising:
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cleanup member has microappendages on the curved surface thereof and said cleanup member is adapted to rotate at a rate in excess of the rate of transport of said donor member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cleanup member is adapted to operate at ground potential.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cleanup member is adapted to rotate in a direction counter to the direction of transport of the surface of said donor member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8 having a toner removal means in association with said cleanup member adapted to remove toner particles from the surface of said cleanup member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cleanup member is an electrically biased, comparatively smooth-surfaced cylindrical member and is adapted to rotate at a rate substantially equal to the rate of transport of the toner layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cleanup member is adapted to rotate in a direction counter to the direction of transport of the toner layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 having a toner removal means in association with said cleanup member adapted to remove toner particles from the surface of said cleanup member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a charging station is located between said toner agglomerate removal station and said cleanup station and is adapted to place a uniform charge on said toner particles retained by said donor member of a polarity opposite to that of said latent image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 having a cleaning means located between said developing station and said toner loading station and adapted to remove at least the outermost region of said toner layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The xerographic developing method comprising forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of a xerographic plate, retaining a layer of toner particles on the surface of a donor member, vacuum removing toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles from said layer and presenting the agglomerate-free layer to the latent electrostatic image to effect development thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
56 words
The xerographic developing method comprising forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of a xerographic plate, retaining a layer of toner particles on the surface of a donor member, vacuum removing toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles from said layer and presenting the agglomerate-free layer to the latent electrostatic image to effect development thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
71 words
The xerographic developing method comprising forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of a xerographic plate, retaining a layer of toner particles on the surface of an endless donor member, vacuum removing toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles by applying a force from a vacuum means to the outermost region of said layer of toner particles, and presenting the agglomerate-free layer to the latent image to effect development thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
71 words
The xerographic developing method comprising forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of a xerographic plate, retaining a layer of toner particles on the surface of an endless donor member, vacuum removing toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles by applying a force from a vacuum means to the outermost region of said layer of toner particles, and presenting the agglomerate-free layer to the latent image to effect development thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
111 words
The xerographic developing method comprising forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of a xerographic plate, retaining a layer of toner particles on the surface of an endless donor member, vacuum removing toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles by applying a force from a vacuum means to the outermost region of said layer of toner particles, removing any toner agglomerates not removed by said vacuum means and converting said layer to a comparatively uniform thickness by bringing a rotating, cylindrical cleanup member into contact with the outermost region of said toner layer, and presenting the agglomerate-free layer of uniform thickness to the latent electrostatic image to effect development thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
111 words
The xerographic developing method comprising forming a latent electrostatic image on the surface of a xerographic plate, retaining a layer of toner particles on the surface of an endless donor member, vacuum removing toner agglomerates and loosely adhering toner particles by applying a force from a vacuum means to the outermost region of said layer of toner particles, removing any toner agglomerates not removed by said vacuum means and converting said layer to a comparatively uniform thickness by bringing a rotating, cylindrical cleanup member into contact with the outermost region of said toner layer, and presenting the agglomerate-free layer of uniform thickness to the latent electrostatic image to effect development thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said cylindrical member has microappendages on the curved surface thereof and said member is rotating at a rate in excess of the rate of transport of the toner layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said cleanup member is at ground potential and rotating counter to the direction of transport of said toner layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said cylindrical cleanup member has a comparatively smooth surface, is electrically biased and is rotating at a rate substantially equal to the rate of transport of said toner layer.
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) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |