Magnetic brush developing apparatus

Claim 2

A magnetic brush apparatus for applying developing material to electrostatic latent images in an electrostatic printing machine of the type utilizing a moving, flexible photoreceptor plate having a development portion thereof disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal plane and wherein movement of the plate along the portion is inclined upwardly comprising a housing having a sump for containing developing material, a plurality of magnetic developing brushes in said housing, each having a roller with a periphery upon which bristles of magnetic developing material are adapted to be formed. said rollers each having an axis of rotation, said axes being substantially parallel to the latent images surface of said plate along said development portion, a first of said brushes being arranged at the lower side of said portion for receiving developing material from said sump and the last of said brushes arranged at the upper side of said portion and being adapted to direct unused material in said housing, said brushes including means for forming a continuous path of movement of the developing material from said first brush to the last brush between said brushes and the photoreceptor plate, and means for directing the movement of said unused developing material as it flows under the influence of gravity to the sump to be received by said first brush.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rollers for said magnetic brushes are rotated in the same direction.

Claim 4

The apparatus in claim 2 wherein said rollers are rotated in the direction of movement of the upwardly moving photoreceptor plate.

Claim 5

A magnetic brush apparatus for applying developing material to electrostatic latent images in an electrostatic printing machine of the type utilizing a moving, flexible photoreceptor plate having a development portion thereof disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal plane and wherein movement of the plate along the portion is inclined upwardly comprising a housing having a sump for containing developing material, a plurality of solely magnetic developing brushes in said housing, each having a roller with a periphery upon which bristles of magnetic developing material are adapted to be formed, said rollers each having an axis of rotation, said axes being substantially parallel to the latent image surface of said plate along said development portion, a first of said brushes being arranged at the lower side of said portion for receiving developing material from said sump and the last of said brushes arranged at the upper side of said portion and being adapted to direct unused material in said housing, means defining a path of flow for said unused developing material between said last brush and said first brush, said path defining means being formed to permit the flow of the material along said path of flow under the influence of gravity, and MEANS positioned in said path of flow for subjecting the material to a mixing action as the material moves under the influence of gravity.

Claim 6

A magnetic brush apparatus for applying developing material to electrostatic latent images in an electrostatic printing machine of the type utilizing a moving, flexible photoreceptor plate having a development portion thereof disposed at an angle relative to the horizontal plane and wherein movement of the plate along the portion is inclined upwardly comprising a housing having a sump for containing developing material, a plurality of solely magnetic developing brushes in said housing, each having a roller with a periphery upon which bristles of magnetic developing material are adapted to be formed, said rollers each having an axis of rotation, said axes being substantially parallel to the latent image surface of said plate along said development portion, a first of said brushes being arranged at the lower side of said portion for receiving developing material from said sump and the last of said brushes arranged at the upper side of said portion and being adapted to direct unused material in said housing, means defining a path of flow for said unused developing material between said last brush and said first brush, said path defining means being formed to permit the flow of the material along said path of flow under the influence of gravity, and MEANS positioned in said path of flow for subjecting the material to a mixing action as the material moves under the influence of gravity.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said development portion is flat and wherein said roller axes lie substantially in a plane.