US3917397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for removing residual toner from electrostatic copier drum
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for removing residual toner from a photosensitive drum in an electrostatic copier of the toner image transfer type includes a high speed rotary brush engaging the drum surface and being triboelectrically charged to the polarity of the toner by frictionally traversing a curved peripherally extending panel. An opposite panel is spaced from the brush periphery to form a passageway. The rotating brush removes the residual toner from the drum and electrostatically and centrifugally discharges it into the passageway through which an induced air stream carries the toner to an oppositely charged rotating drum having a coaxial high voltage wire, so as to electrically capture the toner which is then separated into an underlying receiver by a wiper member.
Inventors
- 👤 Susumu Tanaka
- 👤 Yuji Enoguchi
- 👤 Hidetoshi Kawabata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:09
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/0035; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A residual toner removing apparatus for use in removing toner from an electrophotosensitive member comprising: a rotatably mounted cleaning brush (2) with the bristles (3) thereon moving in frictional contact with the surface of the electrophotosensitive member (1), first (4, 7a) and second (5) casing members overlying a portion of said cleaning brush with said first casing member (4, 7a) in frictional rubbing contact with the bristles moving along a portion of the path of the periphery thereof so as to triboelectrically charge the bristles (3) to the same polarity as that of the toner, said second casing member (5) being spaced apart from the bristles so as to define an air flow path (6), a rotatable sleeve member (11) mounted adjacent but spaced apart from said cleaning brush (2) for collecting toner recovered by said cleaning brush, said sleeve member having a corona electrode wire (15) running therethrough for being charged to potential opposite to that of toner polarity, and a grounded housing (7) for collecting toner with polarity reversed in course of copying processes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A residual toner removing apparatus for use in removing toner from an electrophotosensitive member comprising: a rotatably mounted cleaning brush (2) with the bristles (3) thereon moving in frictional contact with the surface of the electrophotosensitive member (1), first (4, 7a) and second (5) casing members overlying a portion of said cleaning brush with said first casing member (4, 7a) in frictional rubbing contact with the bristles moving along a portion of the path of the periphery thereof so as to triboelectrically charge the bristles (3) to the same polarity as that of the toner, said second casing member (5) being spaced apart from the bristles so as to define an air flow path (6), a rotatable sleeve member (11) mounted adjacent but spaced apart from said cleaning brush (2) for collecting toner recovered by said cleaning brush, said sleeve member having a corona electrode wire (15) running therethrough for being charged to potential opposite to that of toner polarity, and a grounded housing (7) for collecting toner with polarity reversed in course of copying processes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The residual toner removing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cleaning brush is rotated in the range of about 500 to 1000 rpm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The residual toner removing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member (11) includes two layers in which an electrically conductive layer (11b) is covered by an insulative layer (11a).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The residual toner removing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member (11) further comprises a shield plate means (16) located between the electrode wire (15) and the sleeve member (11) for scattering electric charges generated from the corona electrode wire (15) in a predetermined direction for maintaining a portion of said sleeve at a relatively higher potential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The residual toner removing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a blade member (12) in contact with the surface of said sleeve means for scraping off the toner adhered to said sleeve member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The residual toner removing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a toner cassette (13) for collecting toner scraped off by said blade member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
In combination with a photosensitive member in an electrostatic copier of the image transfer type including means for forming a latent electrostatic image of an original on said photosensitive member means for applying a finely divided toner having charge properties of a predetermined polarity to said latent image to form a powder image and means for transferring said powder image to a substrate, a mechanism for removing residual toner from said photosensitive member, comprising a cylindrical brush having chargeable bristles and rotatable across the surface of said photosensitive member, means for electrically charging said bristles to said predetermined polarity of said toner, a collector member spaced from said brush member, means for charging said collector member to a polarity opposite to said predetermined polarity and means for guiding a flow of air from the periphery of said brush to said collector member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
In combination with a photosensitive member in an electrostatic copier of the image transfer type including means for forming a latent electrostatic image of an original on said photosensitive member means for applying a finely divided toner having charge properties of a predetermined polarity to said latent image to form a powder image and means for transferring said powder image to a substrate, a mechanism for removing residual toner from said photosensitive member, comprising a cylindrical brush having chargeable bristles and rotatable across the surface of said photosensitive member, means for electrically charging said bristles to said predetermined polarity of said toner, a collector member spaced from said brush member, means for charging said collector member to a polarity opposite to said predetermined polarity and means for guiding a flow of air from the periphery of said brush to said collector member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said means for charging said brush includes triboelectric charging means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said triboelectric charging means comprises a first section having a face extending along the length of and frictionally engaged by the relatively moving bristles of said rotating brush member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination of claim 9 including a second section extending longitudinally peripherally about said brush opposite to said first section and delineating with said brush a first air passageway extending in a direction from the proximity of the front of said brush and spaced from said photosensitive member toward said collector member, the periphery of said brush delineating said passageway advancing rearwardly with the rotation Of said brush.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 10 including means for rapidly rotating said brush member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said collector comprises a hollow sleeve including a conducting substrate and an insulating outer face, a discharge electrode disposed within said sleeve and spaced from the surface thereof and means for charging said electrode to a high voltage potential opposite to that of said toner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said electrode comprises a wire extending coaxially in said sleeve and comprising means for rotating said sleeve, a wiper member engaging the face of said sleeve and a toner receiver receptacle underlying said sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said first section comprises a curved first panel coaxial with and of lesser curvature than said brush, a second panel spaced from and extending along said first panel and delineating a second air passageway extending rearwardly of said brush member, a filter member having a front face communicating with the space ambient to said collector member and suction means communicating with the rear face of said filter member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein said second section includes a third panel extending along and spaced from the periphery of said brush and comprising a fourth panel extending along the front portion of and spaced from said front portion to delineate an air passageway extending rearwardly from a point spaced from said photosensitive member and communicating with the space ambient to said collector member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3580673A
Cited
US3655373A
Cited
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 |