US3872837A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dispensing xerographic toner particles
Assignee: MICRO DATA CORP
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Filing: 1974-03-25
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-03-25
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed dispensing apparatus for xerographic toner particles wherein the toner is stored in a hopper having a pair of converging walls which define a dispensing aperture along the lower extent thereof. A resilient dispensing roll having a porous surface is fitted snugly between the converging walls and is rotated by a gear and clutch arrangement. As the dispensing roll rotates, toner particles are picked up in the interstices thereof and metered out through the dispensing aperture. Thereafter the toner particles are picked up by a conventional belt and bucket assembly and cascaded over a xerographic drum. The drive for the dispensing roll is provided by a rotating shaft upon which a drive plate is fastened. Rotary motion of the drive plate moves one end of a link which is pivotally mounted thereon, and the link in turn provides an oscillating drive for a segment gear. The segment gear drives a one directional clutch which provides a stepped unidirectional drive for the dispensing roll. The step size for the dispensing roll drive may be adjusted by adjusting the pivotal attachment point of the link relative to the drive plate.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0887; G03G15/0891; G03G15/0877; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
Dispensing apparatus for xerographic toner particles comprising: a supply hopper for said toner particles, said hopper being provided along the lower portion thereof with a longitudinally extending dispensing aperture, a resilient dispensing roll fitted inside said hopper to cover said aperture, said dispensing roll having a poRous surface and a diameter greater than the width of said aperture, and drive means for rotating said dispensing roll to carry said particles through said aperture; said drive means comprising an input drive shaft, a drive plate mounted fast on said shaft, a drive link pivotally mounted with respect to said drive plate, a gear mounted for driving by pivotal connection to said link whereby rotary motion of said drive shaft produces oscillating two directional rotation of said gear, and a clutch driven by said gear and connected for stepwise one directional rotational of said dispensing roll.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
Dispensing apparatus for xerographic toner particles comprising: a supply hopper for said toner particles, said hopper being provided along the lower portion thereof with a longitudinally extending dispensing aperture, a resilient dispensing roll fitted inside said hopper to cover said aperture, said dispensing roll having a poRous surface and a diameter greater than the width of said aperture, and drive means for rotating said dispensing roll to carry said particles through said aperture; said drive means comprising an input drive shaft, a drive plate mounted fast on said shaft, a drive link pivotally mounted with respect to said drive plate, a gear mounted for driving by pivotal connection to said link whereby rotary motion of said drive shaft produces oscillating two directional rotation of said gear, and a clutch driven by said gear and connected for stepwise one directional rotational of said dispensing roll.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the pivotal mounting point of said link with respect to said plate and thereby altering the size of the steps comprising said stepwise drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 said dispensing aperture being defined by a pair of converging walls and said dispensing roll being fitted against both of said walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, the length of said dispensing roll being equal to the length of said hopper for covering said aperture along the entire extent thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
Dispensing apparatus for xerographic toner particles comprising: a supply hopper for said toner particles, said hopper having a pair of converging walls for defining a longitudinally extending dispensing aperture along the lower portion thereof, a resilient dispensing roll mounted inside said hopper for blocking said aperture, said dispensing roll having a porous structure for receiving particles of toner stored within said hopper, a drive shaft, a drive plate mounted fast on said shaft, a drive link pivotally mounted with respect to said drive plate, means for adjusting the pivotal mounting point of said link with respect to said plate, a gear mounted for driving by pivotal connection to said link whereby rotary motion of said drive shaft produces oscillating two directional rotation of said gear, and the magnitude of said oscillation is determined by aforesaid adjustment of said pivotal mounting point, and a clutch driven by said gear and connected for one directional rotation of said dispensing roll in stepwise fashion with steps of magnitude related to the magnitude of aforesaid two directional oscillation of said gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
Dispensing apparatus for xerographic toner particles comprising: a supply hopper for said toner particles, said hopper having a pair of converging walls for defining a longitudinally extending dispensing aperture along the lower portion thereof, a resilient dispensing roll mounted inside said hopper for blocking said aperture, said dispensing roll having a porous structure for receiving particles of toner stored within said hopper, a drive shaft, a drive plate mounted fast on said shaft, a drive link pivotally mounted with respect to said drive plate, means for adjusting the pivotal mounting point of said link with respect to said plate, a gear mounted for driving by pivotal connection to said link whereby rotary motion of said drive shaft produces oscillating two directional rotation of said gear, and the magnitude of said oscillation is determined by aforesaid adjustment of said pivotal mounting point, and a clutch driven by said gear and connected for one directional rotation of said dispensing roll in stepwise fashion with steps of magnitude related to the magnitude of aforesaid two directional oscillation of said gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |