Electrostatic image development apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for developing electrostatically charged latent images of information on a support member comprising, a housing member adapted for storing a quantity of magnetically attractable developer material comprising magnetic carrier particles and triboelectrically charged toner particles, a generally cylindrical applicator member rotatably journaled in said housing member for transporting a quantity of developer material from said housing member into transfer relation with a support member having latent electrostatic images thereon, means for rotating said applicator member about the axis thereof, magnetic means within said applicator member for attracting developer material from said housing member onto said applicator member, said magnetic means generating magnetic lines of force extending in both the axial and circumferential directions relative to said applicator member, and means for supporting and advancing a support member having electrostatically charged latent images thereon over said applicator member and said developer material supported thereon in the axial direction relative to the rotation of said applicator member.

Claim 3

Apparatus for developing electrostatically charged latent images of information on a support member comprising, a housing member having a sump therein adapted for storing a quantity of magnetically attractable developer mAterial, a generally cylindrical applicator member rotatably journaled in said housing member for transporting a quantity of developer material from said housing member into transfer relation with a support member having latent electrostatic images thereon, magnetic means supported inwardly of said applicator member for attracting developer material from said housing member onto said applicator member, said magnetic means generating magnetic lines of force extending in both the axial and circumferencial directions relative to said applicator member, means for advancing a support member having electrostatically charged latent images thereon in the axial direction over said applicator member, and means for rotating said applicator member relative to said support member and said magnetic means to transport developer material over the surface of said support member, the relative movement between said applicator member and said magnetic means producing axial and circumferential movement of the developer material on said applicator member.

Claim 4

Apparatus for developing electrostatically charged latent images of information on a support member comprising, a housing member having a sump therein adapted for storing a quantity of magnetically attractable developer mAterial, a generally cylindrical applicator member rotatably journaled in said housing member for transporting a quantity of developer material from said housing member into transfer relation with a support member having latent electrostatic images thereon, magnetic means supported inwardly of said applicator member for attracting developer material from said housing member onto said applicator member, said magnetic means generating magnetic lines of force extending in both the axial and circumferencial directions relative to said applicator member, means for advancing a support member having electrostatically charged latent images thereon in the axial direction over said applicator member, and means for rotating said applicator member relative to said support member and said magnetic means to transport developer material over the surface of said support member, the relative movement between said applicator member and said magnetic means producing axial and circumferential movement of the developer material on said applicator member.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 further including, means for rotating said magnetic means about the axis of said cylindrical applicator member.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 2 further including, a conveyor comprising an endless belt member supported upon a plurality of roller members and adapted for movement along a path to receive developer material discharged from said cylindrical applicator member and to transport said developer material to said housing sump, container means in communication with said endless belt member having an opening therein adjacent said endless belt member for dispensing toner powder from said container means onto said endless belt member, and means for varying the size of said opening to selectively control the quantity of toner powder dispensed and transported to said housing sump.

Claim 7

Apparatus for developing electrostatically charged latent images of information on a support member comprising, a housing member having a sump therein adapted for storing a quantity of magnetically attractable developer material comprising magnetic carrier particles and triboelectrically charged toner particles, a generally cylindrical applicator member rotatably journaled in said housing member for transporting a quantity of developer material from said housing member into transfer relation with a support member having latent electrostatic images thereon, magnetic means supported inwardly of said applicator member for attracting developer material from said housing member onto said applicator member, said magnetic means generating magnetic lines of force extending in both the axial and circumferential directions relative to said applicator member, means for advancing a support member having electrostatically charged latent images thereon in the axial direction over said applicator member, and means for rotating said applicator member relative to said support member and said magnetic means to transport developer material from said housing sump and over the surface of said support member, the relative movement between said applicator member and said magnetic means producing a movement of the developer material on said applicator member in both the axial and circumferential directions to intermix said toner particles with said magnetic carrier particles, a conveyor comprising an endless belt member supported about a plurality of roller members and adapted for movement along a path to receive developer material discharged from said cylindrical applicator member and to transport said developer material to said housing sump, means for removing developer material from said cylindrical applicator member and for discharging said developer material to said endless belt member, container means in communication with said endless belt member for holding a quantity of toner powder therein, said container means having an opening therein adjacent said endless Belt member to permit toner powder to be dispensed from said container means to said housing sump, means for advancing said endless belt member about said roller members to transport developer material discharged from said cylindrical applicator member and toner powder dispensed from said container means to said housing sump, and means for varying the relative positioning between said container means and said endless belt member to regulate the quantity of toner powder passing through said container opening to said housing sump.

Claim 8

Apparatus for developing electrostatically charged latent images of information on a support member comprising, a housing member having a sump therein adapted for storing a quantity of magnetically attractable developer material comprising magnetic carrier particles and triboelectrically charged toner particles, a generally cylindrical applicator member rotatably journaled in said housing member for transporting a quantity of developer material from said housing member into transfer relation with a support member having latent electrostatic images thereon, magnetic means supported inwardly of said applicator member for attracting developer material from said housing member onto said applicator member, said magnetic means generating magnetic lines of force extending in both the axial and circumferential directions relative to said applicator member, means for advancing a support member having electrostatically charged latent images thereon in the axial direction over said applicator member, and means for rotating said applicator member relative to said support member and said magnetic means to transport developer material from said housing sump and over the surface of said support member, the relative movement between said applicator member and said magnetic means producing a movement of the developer material on said applicator member in both the axial and circumferential directions to intermix said toner particles with said magnetic carrier particles, a conveyor comprising an endless belt member supported about a plurality of roller members and adapted for movement along a path to receive developer material discharged from said cylindrical applicator member and to transport said developer material to said housing sump, means for removing developer material from said cylindrical applicator member and for discharging said developer material to said endless belt member, container means in communication with said endless belt member for holding a quantity of toner powder therein, said container means having an opening therein adjacent said endless Belt member to permit toner powder to be dispensed from said container means to said housing sump, means for advancing said endless belt member about said roller members to transport developer material discharged from said cylindrical applicator member and toner powder dispensed from said container means to said housing sump, and means for varying the relative positioning between said container means and said endless belt member to regulate the quantity of toner powder passing through said container opening to said housing sump.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to Claim 5 further including, means for rotating said magnetic means about the axis of said cylindrical applicator member.