Toner applicator for magnetic printing system

Claim 2

A magnetic printing system comprising: a magnetic recording tape; tape transport means adapted to move said recording tape in a predetermined path; magnetic recording means disposed in operative associAtion with said tape for recording data thereon representing information to be printed; magnetic erasing means disposed in operative association with said recording tape for erasing data recorded thereon; a data receiving sheet having a portion thereof disposed in confronting relation with a portion of said recording tape; sheet transporting means for moving said data receiving sheet in a predetermined path; toner apparatus disposed in operative relation to said tape and having a first housing confronting a first portion of said tape at which magnetic toner powder contained in said first housing is applied to recorded areas of said tape, and a second housing confronting a second portion of said tape at which magnetic images are erased and residual amounts of toner removed from the tape surface for collection in said second housing, said toner apparatus including: means disposed in said first housing for applying toner powder contained therein onto recorded areas of said tape surface previously recorded by said magnetic recording means; transfer means operative after application of toner to recorded areas of said tape to urge the confronting portions of said tape and said data receiving sheet into engagement, thereby to transfer the toner on the recorded areas of said tape onto confronting portions of said sheet; means in said second housing and operative after transfer of data from recorded areas of said tape onto said data receiving sheet to remove toner from said tape surface; and an elongated conveyor means disposed between said first housing and said second housing and including a cylindrical tube disposed between said housings and having end portions extending into said respective housings, and a helical element disposed within and in engagement with the inner surface of said cylindrical tube throughout the length thereof and having an end portion extending beyond the confronting end of said tube and into said second housing, said tube and helical element being rotatable to convey toner in said second housing removed from said tape surface to said first housing to replenish the toner supply therein.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 wherein said elongated conveyor means includes an elongated brush member disposed in stationary position within said helical element with the bristles of said brush member in contact with the confronting surface of said element to prevent compaction of said toner powder.

Claim 4

A magnetic printing system comprising: a magnetic recording tape; tape transport means adapted to move said recording tape in a predetermined path; magnetic recording means disposed in operative association with said tape for recording data thereon representing information to be printed; magnetic erasing means disposed in operative association with said recording tape for erasing data recorded thereon; a data receiving sheet having a portion thereof disposed in confronting relation with a portion of said recording tape; sheet transporting means for moving said data receiving sheet in a predetermined path; toner apparatus disposed in operative relation to said tape and having a first housing confronting a first portion of said tape at which magnetic toner powder contained in said first housing is applied to recorded areas of said tape, and a second housing confronting a second portion of said tape at which magnetic images are erased and residual amounts of toner removed from the tape surface for collection in said second housing, said toner apparatus including: means disposed in said first housing for applying toner powder contained therein onto recorded areas of said tape surface previously recorded by said magnetic recording means; transfer means operative after application of toner to recorded areas of said tape to urge the confronting portions of said tape and said data receiving sheet into engagement, thereby to transfer the toner on the recorded areas of said tape onto confrontiNg portions of said sheet; said transfer means including an elongated drum rotatable about its axis and disposed between said first and second housings and having a transfer cam on the outer surface of said drum operative upon rotation of said drum about its axis to urge the confronting portions of said tape and said sheet into engagement in a sequential sweep along a length of said tape; means in said second housing and operative after transfer of data from recorded areas of said tape onto said data receiving sheet to remove toner from said tape surface; and an elongated conveyor means disposed between said first housing and said second housing and including a helical worm conveyor disposed coaxially throughout the length of said drum and having end portions which extend into said respective first and second housings to convey toner in said second housing to said first housing.

Claim 5

A magnetic printing system comprising: a magnetic recording tape; tape transport means adapted to move said recording tape in a predetermined path; magnetic recording means disposed in operative association with said tape for recording data thereon representing information to be printed; magnetic erasing means disposed in operative association with said recording tape for erasing data recorded thereon; a data receiving sheet having a portion thereof disposed in confronting relation with a portion of said recording tape; sheet transporting means for moving said data receiving sheet in a predetermined path; toner apparatus disposed in operative relation to said tape and having a first housing confronting a first portion of said tape at which magnetic toner powder contained in said first housing is applied to recorded areas of said tape, and a second housing confronting a second portion of said tape at which magnetic images are erased and residual amounts of toner removed from the tape surface for collection in said second housing, said toner apparatus including: means disposed in said first housing for applying toner powder contained therein onto recorded areas of said tape surface previously recorded by said magnetic recording means; transfer means operative after application of toner to recorded areas of said tape to urge the confronting portions of said tape and said data receiving sheet into engagement, thereby to transfer the toner on the recorded areas of said tape onto confrontiNg portions of said sheet; said transfer means including an elongated drum rotatable about its axis and disposed between said first and second housings and having a transfer cam on the outer surface of said drum operative upon rotation of said drum about its axis to urge the confronting portions of said tape and said sheet into engagement in a sequential sweep along a length of said tape; means in said second housing and operative after transfer of data from recorded areas of said tape onto said data receiving sheet to remove toner from said tape surface; and an elongated conveyor means disposed between said first housing and said second housing and including a helical worm conveyor disposed coaxially throughout the length of said drum and having end portions which extend into said respective first and second housings to convey toner in said second housing to said first housing.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 3 further including: first conveyor apparatus disposed in said first housing and operative to maintain said toner at a position away from said transfer means; and second conveyor means disposed in said second housing and operative to maintain toner at a position away from said transfer means.

Claim 7

A magnetic printing system comprising: a magnetic recording tape; tape transport means for moving said recording tape along a predetermined path; magnetic recording means disposed in operative association with said tape at a first position for recording data thereon representing information to be printed; means disposed in operative association with said tape at a second position for erasing data recorded thereon; a data receiving sheet having a portion disposed in confronting relation with a portion of said recording tape; sheet transporting means for moving said data receiving sheet in a predetermined path; a first housing confronting a first portion of said tape and having toner applying apparatus therein operative to apply magnetic toner powder to recorded areas of said tape; a second housing confronting said tape at said second position having said erasing means and including means for engaging confronting portions of the recording surface of said tape for removing toner from said tape surface for collection in said second housing; an elongated drum rotatably disposed between said first and second housings and having a ridge helically disposed and upstanding from the circumferential surface of said drum and operative upon rotation of said drum to urge confronting portions of said tape and said sheet into engagement in a sequential sweep along a length of said tape, thereby to transfer toner on the recorded areas of said tape onto the confronting surface of said sheet; and an elongated helical conveyor disposed throughout the length of a coaxial opening in said drum, said helical conveyor having end portions which extend substantially within said respective first and second housings, and said helical conveyor being operative during rotation of said drum to convey toner in said second housing removed from said tape to said first housing to replenish the toner supply therein.

Claim 8

A magnetic printing system comprising: a magnetic recording tape; tape transport means for moving said recording tape along a predetermined path; magnetic recording means disposed in operative association with said tape at a first position for recording data thereon representing information to be printed; means disposed in operative association with said tape at a second position for erasing data recorded thereon; a data receiving sheet having a portion disposed in confronting relation with a portion of said recording tape; sheet transporting means for moving said data receiving sheet in a predetermined path; a first housing confronting a first portion of said tape and having toner applying apparatus therein operative to apply magnetic toner powder to recorded areas of said tape; a second housing confronting said tape at said second position having said erasing means and including means for engaging confronting portions of the recording surface of said tape for removing toner from said tape surface for collection in said second housing; an elongated drum rotatably disposed between said first and second housings and having a ridge helically disposed and upstanding from the circumferential surface of said drum and operative upon rotation of said drum to urge confronting portions of said tape and said sheet into engagement in a sequential sweep along a length of said tape, thereby to transfer toner on the recorded areas of said tape onto the confronting surface of said sheet; and an elongated helical conveyor disposed throughout the length of a coaxial opening in said drum, said helical conveyor having end portions which extend substantially within said respective first and second housings, and said helical conveyor being operative during rotation of said drum to convey toner in said second housing removed from said tape to said first housing to replenish the toner supply therein.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 5 wherein said first housing includes: toner applying apparatus having a closed reservoir containing a supply of toner powder and an aperture confronting the recording surface of said tape; a brush rotatable with said elongated drum and operative to convey toner from said closed reservoir through said aperture; and an element supported in said first housing with an edge engaging the ends of the bristles of said rotatable brush and operative to snap said bristle ends to propel toner powder through said aperture onto said recording surface.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 6 wherein said means at said second housing for engaging said confronting portions of said recording surface includes at least one doctor blade having an edge engaging said recording surface to rEmove toner powder therefrom.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 5 wherein said helical conveyor includes a cylindrical tube extending between said first and second housings and a helical element supported by the inner surface of said tube; the floor of said second housing being raised from the bottom portion of the inner surface of said tube; the end of said helical element in said second housing being operative to transport toner through said tube to said first housing.