Toner concentration regulating apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus regulating toner powder concentration within a particulate mix for a development system arranged to deposit toner powder on an image bearing member, including: a light source; a transparent member mounted on the image bearing member; a reflective surface affixed to one surface of said transparent member; a transparent electrically conductive surface affixed to the other surface of said transparent member, said conductive surface having at least two portions spaced from one another with a portion of the exterior surface of said transparent membeR interposed therebetween, said light source being positioned so that the beam of light rays pass through one portion of said conductive surface onto said reflective surface for reflection therefrom through the other portion of said conductive surface; a photosensor positioned so as to receive the light rays reflected from said reflective surface and adapted to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the intensity of light rays received thereon; means for comparing the electrical output signal with a reference to produce a control signal corresponding to the deviation therebetween; and means, energized by the control signal from said comparing means, for dispensing toner powder into the particulate mix of the development system.

Claim 2

An apparatus regulating toner powder concentration within a particulate mix for a development system arranged to deposit toner powder on an image bearing member, including: a light source; a transparent member mounted on the image bearing member; a reflective surface affixed to one surface of said transparent member; a transparent electrically conductive surface affixed to the other surface of said transparent member, said conductive surface having at least two portions spaced from one another with a portion of the exterior surface of said transparent membeR interposed therebetween, said light source being positioned so that the beam of light rays pass through one portion of said conductive surface onto said reflective surface for reflection therefrom through the other portion of said conductive surface; a photosensor positioned so as to receive the light rays reflected from said reflective surface and adapted to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the intensity of light rays received thereon; means for comparing the electrical output signal with a reference to produce a control signal corresponding to the deviation therebetween; and means, energized by the control signal from said comparing means, for dispensing toner powder into the particulate mix of the development system.

Claim 4

An apparatus for regulating the developability of an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a photoconductive member, and a development system utilizing a developer material having toner particles adapted to be deposited on an electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member to produce a toner powder image thereon, including: a light source; a transparent member mounted on the photoconductive member; a reflective surface affixed to one surface of said transparent member; a transparent electrically conductive surface affixed to the other surface of said transparent member, said conductive surface having at least two portions spaced from one another with a portion of the exterior surface of said transparent member interposed therebetween, said light source being positioned so that the beam of light rays pass through one portion of said conductive surface onto said reflective surface for reflection therefrom through the other portion of said conductive surface; a photosensor positioned so as to receive the light rays reflected from said reflective surface and being adapted to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the intensity of light rays received therein; means for comparing the electrical output signal with a reference to produce a control signal corresponding to the deviation therebetween; and means, energized by the control signal from said comparing means, for dispensing toner particles into the developer material of the development system.

Claim 5

An apparatus for regulating the developability of an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a photoconductive member, and a development system utilizing a developer material having toner particles adapted to be deposited on an electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member to produce a toner powder image thereon, including: a light source; a transparent member mounted on the photoconductive member; a reflective surface affixed to one surface of said transparent member; a transparent electrically conductive surface affixed to the other surface of said transparent member, said conductive surface having at least two portions spaced from one another with a portion of the exterior surface of said transparent member interposed therebetween, said light source being positioned so that the beam of light rays pass through one portion of said conductive surface onto said reflective surface for reflection therefrom through the other portion of said conductive surface; a photosensor positioned so as to receive the light rays reflected from said reflective surface and being adapted to produce an electrical output signal corresponding to the intensity of light rays received therein; means for comparing the electrical output signal with a reference to produce a control signal corresponding to the deviation therebetween; and means, energized by the control signal from said comparing means, for dispensing toner particles into the developer material of the development system.