US3916828A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic film
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Tissue Co
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Filing: 1974-04-08
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic film through use of a special developing chamber forming a passageway through which electrostatically charged toner particles are conducted to contact the film. The chamber has an opening bordered by a mask against which the film is placed to form a seal, an inlet through which toner particles and drying air enter the chamber, and an outlet through which toner particles and drying air leave the chamber. The apparatus further includes supply means for providing toner particles to the chamber, toner flow-control means for permitting a predetermined quantity of toner particles to flow through the developing chamber at predetermined times, air supply means for supplying drying air to the inlet of the chamber, and vacuum means connected to the outlet of the chamber for drawing the toner particles and air through the chamber. The vacuum means creates a sub-atmospheric pressure within the chamber to prevent leakage of toner particles from the chamber around the film.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank C Gross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/101; G03G15/22; G03G15/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
AN APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AN ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE ON AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC FILM COMPRISING: A DEVELOPING CHAMBER FORMING A PASSAGEWAY THROUGH WHICH ELECTROSTATICALLY CHARGED TONER PARTICLES ARE CONDUCTED TO CONTACT THE FILM, THE CHAMBER HAVINGG AN OPENING BORDERED BY A MASK AGAINST WHICH THE FILM IS PLACED TO FORM A SEAL, AN INLET THROUGH WHICH TONER PARTICLES AND AIR ENTER THE CHAMBER, AND AN OUTLET THROUGH WHICH TONER PARTICLES AND AIR LEAVE THE CHAMBER, SUPPLY MEANS FOR PROVIDING TONER PARTICLES TO BE PASSED THROUGH THE CHAMBER, TONER FLOW CONTROL MEANS FOR PERMITTING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF TONER PARTICLES TO FLOW THROUGH THE DEVELOPING CHAMBER AT PREDETERMINED TIMES, AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING DRYING AIR TO THE INLET OF THE CHAMBER, AND VACUUM MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF THE CHAMBER FOR DRAWING THE TONER PARTICLES AND THE AIR THROUGH THE CHAMBER, THE VACUUM MEANS CREATING SUB-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WITHIN THE CHAMBER TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OF TONER PARTICLES FROM THE CHAMBER AROUND THE FILM, OF TONER
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
AN APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AN ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE ON AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC FILM COMPRISING: A DEVELOPING CHAMBER FORMING A PASSAGEWAY THROUGH WHICH ELECTROSTATICALLY CHARGED TONER PARTICLES ARE CONDUCTED TO CONTACT THE FILM, THE CHAMBER HAVINGG AN OPENING BORDERED BY A MASK AGAINST WHICH THE FILM IS PLACED TO FORM A SEAL, AN INLET THROUGH WHICH TONER PARTICLES AND AIR ENTER THE CHAMBER, AND AN OUTLET THROUGH WHICH TONER PARTICLES AND AIR LEAVE THE CHAMBER, SUPPLY MEANS FOR PROVIDING TONER PARTICLES TO BE PASSED THROUGH THE CHAMBER, TONER FLOW CONTROL MEANS FOR PERMITTING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF TONER PARTICLES TO FLOW THROUGH THE DEVELOPING CHAMBER AT PREDETERMINED TIMES, AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING DRYING AIR TO THE INLET OF THE CHAMBER, AND VACUUM MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF THE CHAMBER FOR DRAWING THE TONER PARTICLES AND THE AIR THROUGH THE CHAMBER, THE VACUUM MEANS CREATING SUB-ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WITHIN THE CHAMBER TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OF TONER PARTICLES FROM THE CHAMBER AROUND THE FILM, OF TONER
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including control means attached to the vacuum means for providing a high vacuum and a low vacuum, the low vacuum being used to draw the toner particles through the developing chamber, and the high vacuum being used to draw drying air through the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing chamber includes a development electrode forming one wall of the passageway for conducting the toner particles through the developing chamber and being positioned close to the opening through which the toner particles contact the film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including separating means for separating the toner and the air conducted through the developing chamber and return conduit means for returning the separated toner to the toner supply means for recirculation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner flow control means is provided by, a pair of solenoid operated valves through which the toner particles pass in route from the toner supply means to the developing chamber; a predetermined length of conduit for conducting the toner particles from the first solenoid to the second solenoid; and means for opening and closing each of the solenoids alternatingly at predetermined times to permit a predetermined quantity of the toner particles to be stored in the predetermined length of conduit between the solenoid valves for passage to the developing chamber at a predetermined time.
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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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |