US3877805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrostatic viewer-copier apparatus with liquid developing means therefor
Assignee: Seaco Computer Display Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-28
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved combination viewer-copier apparatus having an optical system for projecting a selected image from a mircroimage bearing film on a viewing screen sufficiently enlarged for viewing and for projecting an enlarged image on a record medium at an exposure position which is later developed to produce copies thereof. A light filtering means is provided for preventing light entering the apparatus through the viewing screen from reaching the undeveloped record medium. A sheet feeding apparatus is provided for feeding individual sheets of record medium from a stack containing a plurality of sheets and eventually conveying said sheets to the exposure position. A sheet handling means is also provided at an exposure position to hold the sheets in position by means of a pressure differential created across the paper. A developing means is also provided for contacting the paper with a continuously agitated developer fluid by means of a nozzle, pump and a moving roller. A pair of loaded squeeze rollers having a non-cylindrical shape are utilized after the application of the developer to remove excess fluid from the paper.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley W Heldenbrand
- 👤 David L Johnson
- 👤 Neil H Mote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/10; G03B21/11; G03B21/118; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for producing information on copies of record medium, comprising: means for providing a uniform electrostatic charge on said record medium, means for creating an electrostatic charge pattern corresponding to said information on said record medium, thereby to produce a latent image on said medium corresponding to said information, means for applying developer to said record medium to produce a visible recorded image corresponding to said latent image on said record medium, and means for conveying said record medium past said developer applying means, said developer applying means comprising: i. guide means including a roller rotatably driven, ii. a nozzle positioned to dispense developer adjacent said roller and in a manner which causes said developer to be urged in an upward direction against the underside of said conveyed record medium when said record medium is in a substantially horizontal position, said nozzle having an elongated dispensing opening extending across said moving record medium in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said record medium during said conveying.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for producing information on copies of record medium, comprising: means for providing a uniform electrostatic charge on said record medium, means for creating an electrostatic charge pattern corresponding to said information on said record medium, thereby to produce a latent image on said medium corresponding to said information, means for applying developer to said record medium to produce a visible recorded image corresponding to said latent image on said record medium, and means for conveying said record medium past said developer applying means, said developer applying means comprising: i. guide means including a roller rotatably driven, ii. a nozzle positioned to dispense developer adjacent said roller and in a manner which causes said developer to be urged in an upward direction against the underside of said conveyed record medium when said record medium is in a substantially horizontal position, said nozzle having an elongated dispensing opening extending across said moving record medium in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said record medium during said conveying.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said developer applying means additionally comprises a manifold in fluid communication with said nozzle for supplying developer to said nozzle, and a flow restrictor means located between said manifold and said nozzle for controlling the flow of developer from said manifold to said nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein inlet tube means are provided to said manifold to receive developer from a developer supply means, said inlet tube means being located so that flow exiting from said inlet tube means is directed against a surface within said manifold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing opening of said nozzle has a plurality of flow guide vanes disposed therein.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for producing information on copies of record medium, comprising in combination: means for providing a uniform electrostatic charge on said record medium, means for creating an electrostatic charge pattern on said record medium, thereby to produce a latent image thereon representative of said information, a source of liquid developer, means for applying said liquid developer to said record medium to produce a visible image thereon corresponding to said latent image, means for conveying said record medium with respect to said liquid developer apppying means, said means for applying liquid developer comprising first and second members defining a trough for holding a volume of developer, said first member extending transverse to the direction of movement of said record medium, said second member extending transverse to the movement of said record medium and cooperating with said first side member to define the sides of said trough, said first member being spaced from said second member in the direction of movemennt of said record medium, liquid developer dispensing means mounted in said second member for dispensing developer into said trough, and means for conveying developer from sAid source to said dispensing means, said first member having means rotating it in a direction that enables a portion of said developer to be conveyed along with, and in the direction of movement of, said record medium.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for producing information on copies of record medium, comprising in combination: means for providing a uniform electrostatic charge on said record medium, means for creating an electrostatic charge pattern on said record medium, thereby to produce a latent image thereon representative of said information, a source of liquid developer, means for applying said liquid developer to said record medium to produce a visible image thereon corresponding to said latent image, means for conveying said record medium with respect to said liquid developer apppying means, said means for applying liquid developer comprising first and second members defining a trough for holding a volume of developer, said first member extending transverse to the direction of movement of said record medium, said second member extending transverse to the movement of said record medium and cooperating with said first side member to define the sides of said trough, said first member being spaced from said second member in the direction of movemennt of said record medium, liquid developer dispensing means mounted in said second member for dispensing developer into said trough, and means for conveying developer from sAid source to said dispensing means, said first member having means rotating it in a direction that enables a portion of said developer to be conveyed along with, and in the direction of movement of, said record medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said record medium is conveyed in a horizontal plane and wherein the underside of said record medium is contacted by said developer in said trough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 additionally comprising a guide means, said record medium being disposed between said first member and said guide means during its translation thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 additionally comprising a receptacle means disposed below saidd liquid developer applying means for catching and retaining excess developer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
Electrostatic copying apparatus for producing information on record medium, comprising: a. an image producing station; b. a developer station; c. first means disposed at said image producing station for electrostatically producing a latent image on said record medium corresponding to said information; d. second means disposed at said developer station for applying developer to said record medium to produce a visible recorded image on said record medium corresponding to said latent image, said second means comprising i. guide means provided by upper and lower members defining an elongated substantially horizontal channel therebetween, and ii. a dispensing nozzle for dispensing developer into said channel, said nozzle having an elongated dispensing opening coextensive with said channel; and e. means for advancing said record medium from said image producing station to said developer station, said advancing means transporting said record medium through the substantially horizontal channel defined by said guide means, f. said dispensing opening of said nozzle being so oriented that developer ejected therefrom contacts on the underside of the record medium as said medium passes through said channel in a substantially horizontal position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
Electrostatic copying apparatus for producing information on record medium, comprising: a. an image producing station; b. a developer station; c. first means disposed at said image producing station for electrostatically producing a latent image on said record medium corresponding to said information; d. second means disposed at said developer station for applying developer to said record medium to produce a visible recorded image on said record medium corresponding to said latent image, said second means comprising i. guide means provided by upper and lower members defining an elongated substantially horizontal channel therebetween, and ii. a dispensing nozzle for dispensing developer into said channel, said nozzle having an elongated dispensing opening coextensive with said channel; and e. means for advancing said record medium from said image producing station to said developer station, said advancing means transporting said record medium through the substantially horizontal channel defined by said guide means, f. said dispensing opening of said nozzle being so oriented that developer ejected therefrom contacts on the underside of the record medium as said medium passes through said channel in a substantially horizontal position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 9 wherein at least one of said upper and lower members rotates in a direction that enables a portion of said developer within said channel to move in the direction of transport of, and along with, said record medium.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |