US3914042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner image transfer apparatus
Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1972-01-27
•
Granted: 1975-10-21
•
Expires: 1992-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Improved toner image transfer methods and apparatus therefor are provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wherein a transfer member is charged using ion charging techniques and then is brought into physical contact with a portion of a toner image on a photoreceptor so that such toner image may be selectively transferred onto the transfer member. Ionization of the gap between the charged transfer member and the portion of the photoreceptor having said toner image thereon is avoided by bringing said charged transfer member into physical contact with the portion of the toner image within a time interval which is less than the time interval required by the ion charging source employed to ionize the gap between the portion of the photoreceptor and the approaching transfer member.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:54
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/163; G03G15/1635; G03G15/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In electrophotographic apparatus including a photoreceptor, means for forming electrostatic images on said photoreceptor and means for providing each electrostatic image formed at a transfer station where selective transfer of said electrostatic images to transfer member means may occur, the improvement in said electrophotographic apparatus comprising: ion charging means disposed at a location opposite to said transfer station; means for feeding transfer member means intermediate said photoreceptor and said ion charging means; and means for selectively placing said transfer member means in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor within a time interval which is less than that required by said ion charging means, when energized, to cause ionization of a gap between said photoreceptor and said transfer member means being placed in a transfer relationship therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In electrophotographic apparatus including a photoreceptor, means for forming electrostatic images on said photoreceptor and means for providing each electrostatic image formed at a transfer station where selective transfer of said electrostatic images to transfer member means may occur, the improvement in said electrophotographic apparatus comprising: ion charging means disposed at a location opposite to said transfer station; means for feeding transfer member means intermediate said photoreceptor and said ion charging means; and means for selectively placing said transfer member means in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor within a time interval which is less than that required by said ion charging means, when energized, to cause ionization of a gap between said photoreceptor and said transfer member means being placed in a transfer relationship therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for placing said transfer member means in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor includes means for selectively displacing said transfer member means from said transfer relationship with said photoreceptor to a position intermediate said photoreceptor and said ion charging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for selectively placing said transfer means in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor comprises transfer member feeder assembly means having first and second positions, said transfer member feeder assembly means when in one of said first and second positions being arranged to place transfer member means from said means for feeding transfer member means in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor and being arranged when in another of said first and second positions to place transfer member means from said means for feeding transfer member means in said position intermediate said photoreceptor and said ion charging means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 3 additionally comprising means for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means from said first position to said second position and conversely for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means from said second position to said first position, said means for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means accomplishing the displacement of said feeder assembly means from said another of said first and second positions to said one of said first and second positions within a time interval which is less than that required by said ion charging means, when energized, to cause ionization of a gap between said photoreceptor and said transfer member means being placed in a transfer relationship therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ion charging means is fixedly positioned at said location opposite to said transfer station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said ion charging means comprises corotron means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for selectively placing said transfer means in a transfer relationship wiTh said photoreceptor comprises transfer member feeder assembly means having first and second positions, said transfer member feeder assembly means when in one of said first and second positions being arranged to place transfer member means from said means for feeding transfer member means in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor and being arranged when in another of said first and second positions to place transfer member means from said means for feeding transfer member means in said position intermediate said photoreceptor and said ion charging means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 7 additionally comprising means for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means from said first position to said second position and conversely for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means from said second position to said first position, said means for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means accomplishing the displacement of said feeder assembly means from said another of said first and second positions to said one of said first and second positions within a time interval which is less than that required by said ion charging means, when energized, to cause ionization of a gap between said photoreceptor and said transfer member means being placed in a transfer relationship therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
201 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said feeder assembly means includes a base member from which said feeder assembly means is displaceable to said first and second position and wherein said means for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means comprises solenoid means having an armature and means for biasing said feeder assembly means in said one of said first and second positions, said armature of said solenoid means and said means for biasing said feeder assembly means being mechanically coupled to said base member from which said feeder assembly means is displaceable, said armature of said solenoid means being operative when said solenoid means is in a first state to overcome said means for biasing and place said feeder assembly means in said another of said first and second positions and said means for biasing being operative when said solenoid means is in a second state to place said feeder assembly means in said one of said first and second positions within a time interval which is less than that required by said ion charging means, when energized, to cause ionization of a gap between said photoreceptor and said transfer means being placed in a transfer relationship therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said feeder assembly means includes a rotatable guide means, said rotatable guide means and said base member being fixedly positioned with respect to each other and pivotable about an axis which is parallel to a surface of said photoreceptor at said transfer station, said means for selectively displacing said feeder assembly means acting to pivot said base member and said rotatable guide means about said axis to displace said feeder assembly means to said first and second positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said feeder assembly means includes stripper bar means fixedly positioned with respect to said base member and said rotatable guide means and pivotable about said axis therewith, said rotatable guide means being positioned intermediate said axis and said stripper bar means and further positioned to receive transfer member means from said means for feeding transfer member means and to guide said transfer member means with respect to said transfer station in accordance with the first and second positions of said feeder assembly means, said stripper bar means thereby being displaced a greater distance than said rotatable guide means when said feeder assembly means is displaced between said first and second positions and being positioned to engage said transfer member means when said feeder assEmbly means is selectively displaced from said one of said first and second positions to said another of said first and second positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for biasing said feeder assembly means in said one of said first and second positions includes means for defining the location of said feeder assembly means when said feeder assembly means is in said one of said first and second positions, said means for defining said location being set so that when said feeder assembly means is selectively displaced to said one of said first and second positions said transfer member means is placed in a transfer relationship with said photoreceptor along an arc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said transfer member means is in the form of a web-like member and said rotatable guide means comprises turn-around roller means.
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) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |