US3753419A — Electrophotographic liquid developing apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 230 words

An electrophotographic developing apparatus employing a liquid developer for developing an electrostatic latent image on an insulating sheet, said apparatus comprising; 1. at least two pairs of nip rollers, each pair comprising a first roller disposed on one side of said insulating sheet and a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller and on the opposite side of said insulating sheet where the rollers nip and transport said insulating sheet and where successive pairs of rollers are disposed along the direction of movement of said sheet, 2. at least one pair of endless belts suspended between selected nip rollers at the end portions thereof so that one of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the end portions of said selected rollers and the other of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the opposite ends of said selected rollers, said selected rollers being disposed along the direction of movement and one side of said insulating sheet, 3. a plurality of development electrode rollers disposed between each adjacent pair of first rollers and on the same side of said insulating sheet as each of said first rollers and having smaller diameters than said nip rolLers, the end portions of said development electrode rollers being disposed on said endless belts, and 4. means for supplying said developer liquid onto the surface of the sheet bearing the electrostatic latent image.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 230 words

An electrophotographic developing apparatus employing a liquid developer for developing an electrostatic latent image on an insulating sheet, said apparatus comprising; 1. at least two pairs of nip rollers, each pair comprising a first roller disposed on one side of said insulating sheet and a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller and on the opposite side of said insulating sheet where the rollers nip and transport said insulating sheet and where successive pairs of rollers are disposed along the direction of movement of said sheet, 2. at least one pair of endless belts suspended between selected nip rollers at the end portions thereof so that one of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the end portions of said selected rollers and the other of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the opposite ends of said selected rollers, said selected rollers being disposed along the direction of movement and one side of said insulating sheet, 3. a plurality of development electrode rollers disposed between each adjacent pair of first rollers and on the same side of said insulating sheet as each of said first rollers and having smaller diameters than said nip rolLers, the end portions of said development electrode rollers being disposed on said endless belts, and 4. means for supplying said developer liquid onto the surface of the sheet bearing the electrostatic latent image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 72 words

at least one pair of endless belts suspended between selected nip rollers at the end portions thereof so that one of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the end portions of said selected rollers and the other of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the opposite ends of said selected rollers, said selected rollers being disposed along the direction of movement and one side of said insulating sheet,

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 72 words

at least one pair of endless belts suspended between selected nip rollers at the end portions thereof so that one of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the end portions of said selected rollers and the other of said pair of endless belts is disposed about the opposite ends of said selected rollers, said selected rollers being disposed along the direction of movement and one side of said insulating sheet,

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where the diameters of said end portions of said electrode development rollers are smaller than the respective middle portions thereof to minimize movement of said latter rollers along the length thereof and to set the spacing between said latter rollers and the insulating sheet.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where the diameters of the end portions of said first rollers are smaller than the respective middle portions thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

a plurality of development electrode rollers disposed between each adjacent pair of first rollers and on the same side of said insulating sheet as each of said first rollers and having smaller diameters than said nip rolLers, the end portions of said development electrode rollers being disposed on said endless belts, and

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

a plurality of development electrode rollers disposed between each adjacent pair of first rollers and on the same side of said insulating sheet as each of said first rollers and having smaller diameters than said nip rolLers, the end portions of said development electrode rollers being disposed on said endless belts, and

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where each said first roller is electrically conductive and has an electrically insulative overcoating thereon.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

means for supplying said developer liquid onto the surface of the sheet bearing the electrostatic latent image.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

means for supplying said developer liquid onto the surface of the sheet bearing the electrostatic latent image.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where each said development electrode roller is electrically conductive and has an electrically insulative overcoating thereon.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where the diameter of each of said nip rollers is greater than about 10 millimeters while the development electrode rollers have a diameter range from about 1 millimeter to 10 millimeters.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as in claim 6 where distance range between adjacent development electrode rollers is about 0.1 to 1.0 millimeter.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where each pair of nip rollers adjacent along the direction of travel of the insulating sheet have suspended therebetween a pair of said endless belts at the respective ends thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said development electrode rollers are mounted outside of the loop formed by each of the endless belts.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus as in claim 9 where the diameter of each said development electrode roller is constant over the length thereof and where the thickness of each of said endless belts is greater than that of said insulating sheet whereby contact between said electrode development rollers and said insulating sheet is minimized, the nominal distance between said development electrode rollers and said insulating sheet being the difference in the thickness of said endless belts and said insulating sheet.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as in claim 9 where said endless belt is suspended between at least two of said second rollers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus as in claim 9 where th width of said insulating sheet is less than the distance between the endless belts.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where the direction of movement of said insulating sheet is substantially horizontal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as in claim 1 where said development electrode rollers are mounted inside of the loop formed by each of said endless belts.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 88 words

Apparatus as in claim 14 where the diameters of the end portions of said first rollers are smaller than the respective middle portions thereof and said endless belts are suspended between said first rollers, the nominal distance between said development electrode rollers and said insulating sheet being the difference in the radii of the middle and end portions of said first rollers whereby contact between said development electrode rollers and said insulating sheet is minimized and said nominal spacing is independent of the thickness of said insulating sheet.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 74 words

Apparatus as in claim 15 where the width of said insulating sheet is greater than the distance between said pair of endless belts, said insulating sheet being disposed between said endless belts and said first rollers so that the clearance between said first rollers and said insulating sheet is equal to the difference between the thickness of the endless belts and the depth of the indentations at the respective ends of said first rollers.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as in claim 16 where the indentations at the respective ends of said first rollers are grooves, said end belts being disposed within said grooves.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as in claim 16 where the distance between adjacent pairs of first rollers is greater than the length of said insulating sheet.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as in claim 16 where at least one further endless belt is suspended between said second rollers, the width of said further belt being approximately as wide as said insulating sheet.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus as in claim 16 where at least one pair of further endless belts are suspended between said second rollers at the respective ends thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-08-20	1977-02-19	1977-08-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-08-20	1981-02-19	1981-08-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-08-20	1985-02-19	1985-08-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrophotographic liquid developing apparatus

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