US3842273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corona generator cleaning apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1973-07-18
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-07-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved apparatus is provided for cleaning the discharge electrode or electrodes of a corona generating device. The apparatus includes a cleaning element which is adapted to traverse the operative length of the electrode. An edge of the cleaning element engages the electrode to provide an effective scraping action on the surface thereof to clean the debris such as dust particles and toner particles therefrom. Preferably, the element cocks in operation to provide a first edge for scraping the electrode when the element is traversed in a first direction and a second edge for scraping the electrode when the element is traversed in an opposing direction. Preferably, the cleaning element also includes means for cleaning the shield of the corona generator. An electrostatographic reproducing apparatus incorporating the aforenoted cleaning apparatus also forms part of the instant invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Buskirk W Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:22
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0258
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A cleaning apparatus for a corona generating device comprising at least one stationary discharge electrode wire aNd means for cleaning said wire, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises: an element having at least one edge which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contamination therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement along said wire between a home position and an end of travel position and means for disengaging said edge from said wire at said home position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A cleaning apparatus for a corona generating device comprising at least one stationary discharge electrode wire aNd means for cleaning said wire, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises: an element having at least one edge which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contamination therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement along said wire between a home position and an end of travel position and means for disengaging said edge from said wire at said home position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least one first edge of said element engages said at least one electrode wire during traverse in a first direction and wherein at least one second edge engages said electrode wire during traverse of said element in an opposing direction, each of said edges being operative to scrape said electrode wire to remove contaminants therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 further including a partially surrounding shield about said electrode wire and means associated with said cleaning means for cleaning the interior of said shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cleaning apparatus for a corona generating device comprising at least one stationary discharge electrode wire and means for cleaning said wire, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises an element which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contaminants therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement with said wire in a first direction and in an opposing direction, and means for cocking said element in a given direction with respect to said wire during traverse in said first direction to provide at least one first edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire and means for cocking said element in a direction opposed to said given direction during traverse in said opposing direction to provide at least one second edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cleaning apparatus for a corona generating device comprising at least one stationary discharge electrode wire and means for cleaning said wire, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises an element which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contaminants therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement with said wire in a first direction and in an opposing direction, and means for cocking said element in a given direction with respect to said wire during traverse in said first direction to provide at least one first edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire and means for cocking said element in a direction opposed to said given direction during traverse in said opposing direction to provide at least one second edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said element traverses said wire between a home position and an end of travel position and wherein said edges are disengaged from said wire at said home position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said traversing means comprises means for actuating said element to traverse it in said first direction to said end of travel position and means for automatically returning said element to said home position when traversing said element in said opposing direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said automatic return means comprises a spring biased mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 7 further including a partially surrounding shield about said electrode and means associated with said cleaning means for cleaning the interior of said shield.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said element includes: a body portion adapted to be positioned within the interior of said shield, a slot provided in said body portion adapted to receive said wire, legs attached to said body portion on either side of said slot, and wherein a slot is provided in said shield through which said legs can protrude, said apparatus further including a carriage member adapted to pivotably receive said legs of said cleaning element, said legs being pivotably engaged to said carriage and wherein said traversing means drives carriage in said first direction and in said opposing direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said traversing means includes a first cable portion connected between said carriage member and said return means and a second cable portion connected between said carriage member and said actuating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said means for returning said carriage to said home position comprises a spring biased mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein when said element cocks in said given or opposing directions it cocks longitudinally to the axis of said wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein when said element cocks in said given or opposing directions it cocks traverse to the axis of said wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein when said element cocks in said given or opposing directions it cocks both longitudinally and transverse to the axis of said wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said means for cleaning said shield comprises brushes and wherein said brushes comprise a plurality of loop-type fibers extending outwardly from said cleaning element and operative to engage the interior of said shield.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said cleaning element further includes arms on opposing sides of said slot which are adapted to support brushes for cleaning said shield in a cantilever fashion whereby said brushes are resiliently engaged against said shield.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an electrostatographic reproducing apparatus including: an electrostatic imaging member, means for forming an electrostatic image on said member, means for developing said electrostatic image, and at least one corona generating device comprising at least one stationary discharge electrode wire and means for cleaning said wire, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises: an element having at least one edge which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contamination therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement along said wire between a home position and an end of travel position and means for disengaging said edge from said wire at said home position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an electrostatographic reproducing apparatus including: an electrostatic imaging member, means for forming an electrostatic image on said member, means for developing said electrostatic image, and at least one corona generating device comprising at least one stationary discharge electrode wire and means for cleaning said wire, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises: an element having at least one edge which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contamination therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement along said wire between a home position and an end of travel position and means for disengaging said edge from said wire at said home position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein at least one first edge of said element engages said at least one electrode wire during traverse in a first direction and wherein at least one second edge engages said electrode wire during traverse of said element in an opposing direction, each of said edges being operative to scrape said electrode wire to remove contaminants therefrom.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 17 further including a partially surrounding shield about said electrode and means associated with said cleaning means for cleaning the interior of said shield.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
167 words
In an electrostatic reproducing apparatus including: an electrostatic imaging member, means for forming an electrostatic image on said member, means for developing said electrostatic image, and at least one corona generating device comprising at least one discharge electrode wire and means for cleaning said discharge electrode, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises: an element which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contaminants therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement with said wire in a first direction and in an opposing direction and means for cocking said element in a given direction with respect to said wire during traverse in said first direction to provide at least one first edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire and means for cocking said element in a direction opposed to said given direction during traverse in said opposing direction to provide at least one second edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
167 words
In an electrostatic reproducing apparatus including: an electrostatic imaging member, means for forming an electrostatic image on said member, means for developing said electrostatic image, and at least one corona generating device comprising at least one discharge electrode wire and means for cleaning said discharge electrode, the improvement wherein said cleaning means comprises: an element which is operative to deflect and scrape said wire to remove contaminants therefrom, means for traversing said element in operative engagement with said wire in a first direction and in an opposing direction and means for cocking said element in a given direction with respect to said wire during traverse in said first direction to provide at least one first edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire and means for cocking said element in a direction opposed to said given direction during traverse in said opposing direction to provide at least one second edge which is operative to engage and scrape said at least one wire.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said element traverses said wire between a home position and an end of travel position and wherein said edges are disengaged from said wire at said home position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said traversing means comprises means for actuating said element to traverse it in said first direction to said end of travel position and means for automatically returning said element to said home position when traversing said element in said opposing direction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said automatic return means comprises a spring biased mechanism.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 further including a partially surrounding shield about said electrode and means associated with said cleaning means for cleaning the interior of said shield.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein when said element cocks in said given or opposing directions it cocks longitudinally to the axis of said wire.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein when said element coCks in said given or opposing directions it cocks transverse to the axis of said wire.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein when said element cocks in said given or opposing directions it cocks both longitudinally and transverse to the axis of said wire.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said traversing means comprises means for actuating said element to traverse it in a first direction to said end of travel position and means for automatically returning said element to said home position when traversing said element in an opposing direction to said home position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |