US3924567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process for developing electrostatic
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-11
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a strip-type photoconductor. A working supply of developer material, held readily available for application to the photoconductor, is carried from a holding device to the photoconductor by means of a rotatable applicator. A magnet, magnetically coupled to the applicator, brings the developer material on the applicator into sufficient contact with the photoconductor to cause the developer material to brush the image bearing surface of the photoconductor, thereby developing the latent image on the same. The developer material is collected before being returned to the working supply, and fed to the middle of the working supply to facilitate mixture and blending therewith. In an electrostatic copier, including a replenishing supply of developer material, the above apparatus has provision for mixing replenishing developer material with the developer material collected from the applicator, before feeding the resulting mixture to the working supply.
Inventors
- 👤 Geradus A J Koeleman
- 👤 De Laak Johannes H A Op
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/09; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/08; G03G2215/0802; G03G2215/0816; G03G2215/0827; G03G2215/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
In a copier including a movable strip-type photoconductor having a surface adapted to carry a developable electrostatic latent image, and means for dispensing a replenishing supply of developer material, apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image comprising: a. means for holding a working supply of developer material; b. an elongated rotatable applicator adapted to carry developer material from said holding means to said photoconductor; c. magnetic means cooperative with the applicator for magnetically bringing at least some of the carried developer material into sufficient contact with the image bearing surface of the photoconductor to brush said image for development thereof; d. means for collecting developer material from said replenishing supply thereof and from said applicator, said collecting means including an elongated hopper having opposite ends and an aperture midway between the ends thereof; and e. means for mixing the collected developer materials within the collecting means and feeding the resulting mixture to said holding means, said mixing means including a rotatable shaft and a pair of elongated spiral members, the shaft extending longitudinally of the hopper, the spiral members respectively coiling in opposite directions around the shaft and longitudinally extending towards one another from the opposite ends of the hopper, and said spiral members fixedly secured to the shaft for rotation therewith so as to permit the rotating spiral members to feed the resulting mixture of developer materials to the hopper aperture for discharge therethrough to the holding means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
In a copier including a movable strip-type photoconductor having a surface adapted to carry a developable electrostatic latent image, and means for dispensing a replenishing supply of developer material, apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image comprising: a. means for holding a working supply of developer material; b. an elongated rotatable applicator adapted to carry developer material from said holding means to said photoconductor; c. magnetic means cooperative with the applicator for magnetically bringing at least some of the carried developer material into sufficient contact with the image bearing surface of the photoconductor to brush said image for development thereof; d. means for collecting developer material from said replenishing supply thereof and from said applicator, said collecting means including an elongated hopper having opposite ends and an aperture midway between the ends thereof; and e. means for mixing the collected developer materials within the collecting means and feeding the resulting mixture to said holding means, said mixing means including a rotatable shaft and a pair of elongated spiral members, the shaft extending longitudinally of the hopper, the spiral members respectively coiling in opposite directions around the shaft and longitudinally extending towards one another from the opposite ends of the hopper, and said spiral members fixedly secured to the shaft for rotation therewith so as to permit the rotating spiral members to feed the resulting mixture of developer materials to the hopper aperture for discharge therethrough to the holding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for blending said resulting mixture of developer materials within the holding means with the working supply of developer material to augment the working supply thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including means for guiding the moving photoconductor in a predetermined path of travel, said guiding means including a pair of elongated parallel stationary shafts for guiding the moving photoconduCtor between said magnetic means and said applicator, and said guiding means including a pair of elongated parallel rollers for respectively guiding the moving photoconductor toward and away from said guide shafts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said applicator includes a roller having an elongated mid-portion including a plurality of longitudinally-extending alternate ridges and grooves, and said ridges and grooves of the rotating applicator respectively defining cylindrically-shaped outer and inner virtual surfaces of revolution between which developer material from the holding means is carried to the photoconductor surface, whereby said carried developer material falls under the influence of gravity from between said surfaces of revolution into the collecting means after brushing the image bearing surface of the photoconductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic means includes a bar magnet and a U-shaped magnetizable bracket having a base leg and opposed side legs, the bar magnet longitudinally fixedly attached to the base leg of the bracket, the applicator including a roller made of a magnetizable material having an elongated mid-portion and opposite end surfaces, the applicator longitudinally extending parallel to the base leg of the bracket and attached bar magnet, the bar magnet being magnetized to provide a magnetic field between the bar magnet and applicator mid-portion which extends transverse to the respective longitudinal lengths thereof, and means for adjustably locating the respective bracket side legs adjacent the opposite end surfaces of the applicator to complete the bar magnet''s magnetic field through the bracket and applicator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, including said hopper disposed adjacent to the applicator to permit developer material carried thereby to fall into the hopper under the influence of gravity, and said hopper aperture disposed to permit the resulting mixture of developer materials to fall under the influence of gravity into the holding means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said blending means includes a plurality of parallel rotatable agitators, each of the agitators being made of a non-magnetic material and including an elongated shaft having a longitudinally-extending axis and a plurality of outwardly radially-extending spokes, the spokes located at longitudinally and circumferentially spaced intervals lengthwise of the respective shafts such that the spokes of adjacent agitators are located at alternate intervals lengthwise thereof, and the adjacent agitators being rotatable in opposite directions, whereby the spokes of adjacent agitators are movable in interleaving paths of travel relative to one another within the working supply of developer material for blending the resulting mixture therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said collecting means includes means for guiding developer material from said replenishing supply thereof into said hopper, said guiding means including a plate made of a non-magnetic material, and said plate being angularly disposed to act as ramp for guiding the gravity flow of replenishing developer material into the hopper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a strip-type moving photoconductor comprising: a. means for holding a working supply of developer material; b. an elongated rotatable applicator adapted to carry developer material; c. magnetic means cooperative with the applicator for magnetically bringing at least some of the carried developer material into sufficient contact with the image bearing surface of the photoconductor to brush said image for development thereof; d. means for collecting developer material from said applicator including an elongated hopper having an aperture midway between the ends thereof; e. means for feeding collected developer material within the collecting means to said aperture for gravity discharge from The collecting means to said holding means, said feeding means includes a rotatable shaft and a pair of elongated spiral members, the shaft extending longitudinally of the hopper, the spiral members respectively coiling in opposite directions around the shaft and longitudinally extending towards one another from the opposite ends of the hopper, and said spiral members fixedly secured to the shaft for rotation therewith so as to permit the rotating spiral members to feed the received developer material to said aperture for discharge therethrough to the holding means; and f. means for blending said discharged developer material within the holding means with the working supply of developer material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a strip-type moving photoconductor comprising: a. means for holding a working supply of developer material; b. an elongated rotatable applicator adapted to carry developer material; c. magnetic means cooperative with the applicator for magnetically bringing at least some of the carried developer material into sufficient contact with the image bearing surface of the photoconductor to brush said image for development thereof; d. means for collecting developer material from said applicator including an elongated hopper having an aperture midway between the ends thereof; e. means for feeding collected developer material within the collecting means to said aperture for gravity discharge from The collecting means to said holding means, said feeding means includes a rotatable shaft and a pair of elongated spiral members, the shaft extending longitudinally of the hopper, the spiral members respectively coiling in opposite directions around the shaft and longitudinally extending towards one another from the opposite ends of the hopper, and said spiral members fixedly secured to the shaft for rotation therewith so as to permit the rotating spiral members to feed the received developer material to said aperture for discharge therethrough to the holding means; and f. means for blending said discharged developer material within the holding means with the working supply of developer material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 including means for guiding the moving photoconductor in a predetermined path of travel, said guiding means including a pair of elongated parallel stationary shafts for guiding the moving phootconductor between said magnetic means and said applicator, and said guiding means including a pair of elongated parallel rollers for respectively guiding the moving photoconductor toward and away from said guide shafts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said applicator includes a roller having an elongated mid-portion including a plurality of longitudinally-extending alternate ridges and grooves, and said ridges and grooves of the rotating applicator respectively defining cylindrically-shaped outer and inner virtual surfaces of revolution between which developer material from the holding means is carried to the photoconductor surface, whereby said carried developer material falls under the influence of gravity from between said surfaces of revolution into the collecting means after brushing the image bearing surface of the photoconductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic means includes a bar magnet and a U-shaped magnetizable bracket having a base leg and opposed side legs, the bar magnet longitudinally fixedly attached to the base leg of the bracket, the applicator including a roller made of a magnetizable material having an elongated mid-portion and opposite end surfaces, the applicator longitudinally extending parallel to the base leg of the bracket and attached bar magnet, the bar magnet being magnetized to provide a magnetic field between the bar magnet and applicator mid-portion which extends transverse to the respective longitudinal lengths thereof, and means for adjustably locating the respective bracket side legs adjacent the opposite end surfaces of the applicator to complete the bar magnet''s magnetic field through the bracket and applicator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said blending means includes a plurality of parallel rotatable agitators, each of the agitators being made of a non-magnetic material and including an elongated shaft having a longitudinally-extending axis and a plurality of outwardly radially extending spokes, the spokes located at longitudinally and circumferentially spaced intervals lengthwise of the respective shafts such that the spokes of adjacent agitators are located at alternate intervals lengthwise thereof, and the adjacent agitators being rotatable in opposite directions, whereby the spokes of adjacent agitators are movable in interleaving paths of travel relative to one another within the working supply of developer material for blending the developer material from the collecting means with the working supply of developer material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said agitators extend parallel to the rotating applicator, one of the agitators disposed directly beneath the hopper aperture and being rotatable in a direction tending to initially feed the developer material from the hopper away from said applicator for blending with the working supply of developer material, and another of the agitators disposed next adjacent to said applicator and being rotatable in a direction tending to feed the working supply of develoPer material toward said applicator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spiral members respectively overlap one another and the hopper aperture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said spiral members respectively overlap one another and the hopper aperture.
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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) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |