Abstract A transport arrangement for an elongated relatively thin web or continuous sheet of material comprises a means for transporting the material in contact with an electrically conductive body formed of an electrically conductive mat and a plurality of electrically conductive contact members extending from the mat and which are secured to the mat and are in electrical contact with the mat. The web or sheet is engaged by the conductive body at distal segments of the contact members thereby supporting and spacing the material from the mat while the material is transported. The conductive body is positioned on a transport for movement therewith and imparts motion to the web or sheet. Alternatively, the conductive body is maintained stationary and the material is drawn across the body. Through this arrangement the web or sheet is spaced from the surfaces of the transport and other support surfaces thereby advantageously resisting the adhesion of a charged web or sheet to the surface of the transport surface. Additionally, the contact between the contact members and transported material provides countercharge with relatively firm, well defined local contact thereby avoiding sparking and attendant degradation of the sheet.
An apparatus for image formation comprising: a photoreceptor surface upon which a latent electrostatic image is to be formed; means for transporting said photoreceptor surface, said transporting means comprising a transport body, means for imparting motion to said body, said body having secured thereon an electrically conductive mat and a plurality of electrically conductive contact members secured to and in electrical contact with the mat and extending from said mat for supporting and transporting said photoreceptor surface near distal segments of said contact members at a spaced-apart location from said body for advancing said photoreceptor upon motion of said transport body; means for transporting in sequence along a path spaced apart from and adjacent to said photoreceptor surface a corona source for establishing a uniform electrostatic charge upon said photoreceptor surface, and a projection means for projecting activating electromagnetic radiation at said photoreceptor surface in image configuration; and means for developing said image by contacting said image with a developer material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for image formation comprising: a photoreceptor surface upon which a latent electrostatic image is to be formed; means for transporting said photoreceptor surface, said transporting means comprising a transport body, means for imparting motion to said body, said body having secured thereon an electrically conductive mat and a plurality of electrically conductive contact members secured to and in electrical contact with the mat and extending from said mat for supporting and transporting said photoreceptor surface near distal segments of said contact members at a spaced-apart location from said body for advancing said photoreceptor upon motion of said transport body; means for transporting in sequence along a path spaced apart from and adjacent to said photoreceptor surface a corona source for establishing a uniform electrostatic charge upon said photoreceptor surface, and a projection means for projecting activating electromagnetic radiation at said photoreceptor surface in image configuration; and means for developing said image by contacting said image with a developer material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said corona source comprises a corotron.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transported projection means comprises a strip lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transport body comprises a rotating drum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transport means is arranged as a endless belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoreceptor surface comprises a dielectric material.