US3779203A — Toner concentration control apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

For use in electrographic apparatus having a member charged with a pattern forming an electrostatic image, developing means for contacting such electrostatic images with a mixture of toner and carrier components to form toner images corresponding to the electrostatic images and actuable toner replenishment means effective when actuated for adding toner to the mixture to compensate for toner depletion resulting from forming the toner images, an improved toner replenishment control apparatus comprising: a. means for sensing the charge density on electrostatic images prior to toning and for producing a signal the magnitude of which is representative of the total cummulative charge thereof passing a predetermined portion; and b. means responsive to a predetermined magnitude of said signal for actuating the toner replenishment means to cause the addition of toner to the mixture.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

For use in electrographic apparatus having a member charged with a pattern forming an electrostatic image, developing means for contacting such electrostatic images with a mixture of toner and carrier components to form toner images corresponding to the electrostatic images and actuable toner replenishment means effective when actuated for adding toner to the mixture to compensate for toner depletion resulting from forming the toner images, an improved toner replenishment control apparatus comprising: a. means for sensing the charge density on electrostatic images prior to toning and for producing a signal the magnitude of which is representative of the total cummulative charge thereof passing a predetermined portion; and b. means responsive to a predetermined magnitude of said signal for actuating the toner replenishment means to cause the addition of toner to the mixture.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 107 words

In electrographic apparatus in which a surface carrying an electrostatic charge pattern is contacted by a developer mixture of carrier particles and electrostatically attractable toner particles to form a toner image on the surface according to the pattern, a toner concentration apparatus comprising: a. first means for sensing the electric field strength associated with an electrostatic charge pattern to provide a signal representative thereof; and b. second means responsive solely to said signal for indicating the amount of toner which will be depleted by producing a second signal the magnitude of which is a function of the amount of toner which will be deposited on the surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 107 words

In electrographic apparatus in which a surface carrying an electrostatic charge pattern is contacted by a developer mixture of carrier particles and electrostatically attractable toner particles to form a toner image on the surface according to the pattern, a toner concentration apparatus comprising: a. first means for sensing the electric field strength associated with an electrostatic charge pattern to provide a signal representative thereof; and b. second means responsive solely to said signal for indicating the amount of toner which will be depleted by producing a second signal the magnitude of which is a function of the amount of toner which will be deposited on the surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

The toner concentration apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including: c. a container for storing toner particles; d. actuable means effective when actuated for causing toner from said container to be delivered to the mixture; and e. said second means including means responsive to a particular magnitude of said second signal for actuating said actuable means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second means includes an integrator circuit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 128 words

For use in electrographic apparatus having a photoconductive member adapted to form electrostatic images, developing means for contacting such electrostatic images with a mixture of toner and carrier components to form toner images corresponding to the electrostatic images respectively, and actuable toner replenishment means effective when actuated for adding toner to the mixture to compensate for toner depletion resulting from forming the toner images, an improved toner replenishment control apparatus comprising: a. means for sensing the charge density on toner images and for producing a signal the magnitude of which is representative of the total cummulative charge thereof passing a predetermined portion; and b. means responsive to a predetermined magnitude of said signal for actuating the toner replenishment means to cause the addition of toner to the mixture.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 128 words

For use in electrographic apparatus having a photoconductive member adapted to form electrostatic images, developing means for contacting such electrostatic images with a mixture of toner and carrier components to form toner images corresponding to the electrostatic images respectively, and actuable toner replenishment means effective when actuated for adding toner to the mixture to compensate for toner depletion resulting from forming the toner images, an improved toner replenishment control apparatus comprising: a. means for sensing the charge density on toner images and for producing a signal the magnitude of which is representative of the total cummulative charge thereof passing a predetermined portion; and b. means responsive to a predetermined magnitude of said signal for actuating the toner replenishment means to cause the addition of toner to the mixture.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 98 words

In electrographic apparatus in which a surface carrying an electrostatic charge pattern is contacted by a developer mixture of carrier particles and electrostatically attractable toner particles to form a toner image on the surface according to the pattern, a toner concentration apparatus comprising: a. first means for sensing the electric field strength associated with a toner image and providing a signal representative thereof; and b. second means responsive solely to said signal for indicating toner depletion by producing a second signal the magnitude of which is a function of the amount of toner deposited on the toner image.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 98 words

In electrographic apparatus in which a surface carrying an electrostatic charge pattern is contacted by a developer mixture of carrier particles and electrostatically attractable toner particles to form a toner image on the surface according to the pattern, a toner concentration apparatus comprising: a. first means for sensing the electric field strength associated with a toner image and providing a signal representative thereof; and b. second means responsive solely to said signal for indicating toner depletion by producing a second signal the magnitude of which is a function of the amount of toner deposited on the toner image.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 57 words

The toner concentration apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including: c. a container for storing toner particles; d. actuable means effective when actuated for causing toner from said container to be delivered to the mixture; and e. said second means including means responsive to a particular magnitude of said second signal for actuating said actuable means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second means includes an integrator circuit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-12-17	1977-06-18	1977-12-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-12-17	1981-06-18	1981-12-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-12-17	1985-06-18	1985-12-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Toner concentration control apparatus

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