US4046472A — Electrostatic imaging apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 223 words

An imaging apparatus employing an electrically insulating web member comprising: a. an elongate platen for supporting a receiving medium; b. an elongate electrically photosensitive member; c. charging means to deposit a substantially uniform electrostatic charge on one surface of said electrically photosensitive member; d. means to suspend the insulating web member in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of said platen, and to transport the insulating web member from a position adjacent said platen to a position contacting said one surface of said electrically photosensitive member e. an exposure means for creating an electrostatic latent image on the electrically photosensitive member and the insulating web member, said exposure means further including a movable exposure head mounted for translation along a path parallel to the axis of said platen and means to advance said exposure head; f. development means for depositing marking material on the electrostatic latent image on the insulating web member; g. transfer means for transferring the marking material image from the insulating web member to the receiving medium on said platen; and h. control logic circuitry for controlling and coordinating the operation of said means to suspend and transport, charging means, exposure means, means to advance said exposure head, development means and transfer means whereby an image is created, developed and transferred to a predetermined position on the receiving medium.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 223 words

An imaging apparatus employing an electrically insulating web member comprising: a. an elongate platen for supporting a receiving medium; b. an elongate electrically photosensitive member; c. charging means to deposit a substantially uniform electrostatic charge on one surface of said electrically photosensitive member; d. means to suspend the insulating web member in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of said platen, and to transport the insulating web member from a position adjacent said platen to a position contacting said one surface of said electrically photosensitive member e. an exposure means for creating an electrostatic latent image on the electrically photosensitive member and the insulating web member, said exposure means further including a movable exposure head mounted for translation along a path parallel to the axis of said platen and means to advance said exposure head; f. development means for depositing marking material on the electrostatic latent image on the insulating web member; g. transfer means for transferring the marking material image from the insulating web member to the receiving medium on said platen; and h. control logic circuitry for controlling and coordinating the operation of said means to suspend and transport, charging means, exposure means, means to advance said exposure head, development means and transfer means whereby an image is created, developed and transferred to a predetermined position on the receiving medium.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control logic circuitry comprises a computer means adapted to respond to electrical command signals.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 2 further including an electronic keyboard connected to said computer means as a source of command signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means to suspend and transport the insulating web member comprises: a frame member adapted to suspend the insulating web member at least across the length of said platen, said frame member movably mounted to transport the insulating web member along a path substantially tangent to said platen from a position adjacent thereto to a position contacting said one surface of said electrically photosensitive member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the charging means comprises a corotron extending substantially the length of said platen and substantially parallel thereto.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said development means comprises: means for supporting a donor web carrying marking material adjacent the path of the insulating web member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transfer means comprises: a heated flexible pressure plate movably mounted to press the insulating web member into contact with the receiving medium on said platen.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said electrically photosensitive member is mounted for translation from a first position adjacent said development means to a second position adjacent said corotron, and said exposure head is mounted adjacent said first position whereby the creation of an electrostatic latent image on said electrically photosensitive member and the insulating web member is accompanied substantially simultaneously with development of the latent image on the insulating web member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said development means further comprises means for loading marking material on the donor web.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 69 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said movable exposure head comprises: a base member slidably mounted on a fixed support extending at least the length of said platen whereby said base member may, by action of said control logic circuitry, be selectively positioned anywhere along said support; and optical transport means affixed to said base member for receiving an illumination image and directing same at said electrically photosensitive member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means to advance said exposure head comprises: a drive pulley and at least one idler pulley having a cable wrapped therearound and fixed at both ends to said exposure head, said pulleys positioned relative to each other and said exposure head such that rotation of said drive pulley causes said print head to move along a path parallel to the axis of said platen.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 88 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said exposure means further comprises: a movable opaque mask having multiple imagewise-shaped transparent portions therethrough; illumination means for directing illumination through one of said transparent portions at a time to said optical transport means; means to move said opaque mask relative to said illumination means whereby others of said multiple imagewise-shaped portions may be selectively illuminated; and control means to activate said means to move said opaque mask relative to said illumination means, said control means connected to said control logic circuitry.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said opaque mask is a substantially circular disc having said transparent portions along the periphery thereof in a helical arrangement, said disc rotatably about its center under the influence of said means to move.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 13 further including supply and driven takeup means on said frame member adapted to selectively hold portions of the insulating web member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said development means further includes a driven closed loop donor web cooperating with said means for loading and said means for supporting whereby marking material may be loaded on said donor web and presented for transfer to the insulating web member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 15 further including a corotron means selectively positioned to charge the area between the insulating web member and said photosensitive member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 116 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said development means comprises: a. a housing having an opening therein for receiving the insulating web member with the electrostatic latent image thereon directed into said housing, said housing further including a chamber, below said opening, for holding a quantity of magnetic marking material; b. first magnet means adjacent said housing for transporting the magnetic marking material from said chamber to said opening, whereby at least part of the magnetic marking material adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the insulating web member; and c. means cooperating with said first magnet means to move said first magnet means from a position near said chamber to a position near said opening.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means to move said first magnet means comprises a second magnet means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said housing comprises a concave arcuate outside wall opposite said opening extending at least from said chamber to a position substantially parallel with the top of said opening, and said first magnet means moves along said arcuate wall to transport the marking material from said chamber to the electrostatic latent image.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means to move said first magnet means includes pivotable magnetically attractable support arm means attached to said first magnet means, and said second magnet means is positioned to attract said support arm means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said support arm means is mechanically biased in a direction opposite to which said second magnet means tends to move it.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 21 further including means to jiggle said support arm means and first magnet means when said first magnet means reaches said opening.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said means to jiggle comprises a rotatable cam adapted to contact said support arm means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said first magnet means comprises permanent magnet means and said second magnet means comprises electro-magnet means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said first magnet means comprises a multiplicity of individual permanent magnets closely spaced adjacent each other along the length of said housing, said support arm means comprises a support arm attached to each of said multiplicity of permanent magnets, and said second magnet means comprises a single electro-magnet capable of simultaneously attracting all of the multiplicity of support arms.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said second magnet means further comprises a multiplicity of electro-magnets each capable of acting upon an individual support arm to move an individual permanent magnet from said chamber to said opening.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said means to move further includes means to selectively actuate said electromagnets.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 27 further including auger means in said chamber to continuously agitate the developer material therein.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said transfer means comprises: a heated flexible pressure plate movably mounted to press the insulating web member into contact with the receiving medium on said platen.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus of claim 29 wherein: said electrically photosensitive member is mounted for translation from a first position adjacent said development means to a second position adjacent said corotron, and said exposure head is mounted adjacent said first position whereby the creation of an electrostatic latent image on said electrically photosensitive member and the insulating web member is accompanied substantially simultaneously with development of the latent image on the insulating web member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 69 words

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said movable exposure head comprises: a base member slidably mounted on a fixed support extending at least the length of said platen whereby said base member may, by action of said control logic circuitry, be selectively positioned anywhere along said support; and optical transport means affixed to said base member for receiving an illumination image and directing same at said electrically photosensitive member.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said means to advance said exposure head comprises: a drive pulley and at least one idler pulley having a cable wrapped therearound and fixed at both ends to said exposure head, said pulleys positioned relative to each other and said exposure head such that rotation of said drive pulley causes said print head to move along a path parallel to the axis of said platen.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 88 words

The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said exposure means further comprises: a movable opaque mask having multiple imagewise-shaped transparent portions therethrough; illumination means for directing illumination through one of said transparent portions at a time to said optical transport means; means to move said opaque mask relative to said illumination means whereby others of said multiple imagewise-shaped portions may be selectively illuminated; and control means to activate said means to move said opaque mask relative to said illumination means, said control means connected to said control logic circuitry.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said opaque mask is a substantially circular disc having said transparent portions along the periphery thereof in a helical arrangement, said disc rotatable about its center under the influence of said means to move.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 34 further including supply and driven takeup means on said frame member adapted to selectively hold portions of the insulating web member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 35 further including a corotron means selectively positioned to charge the area between the insulating web member and said photosensitive member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-09-05	1981-03-07	1981-09-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-09-05	1985-03-07	1985-09-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-09-05	1989-03-07	1989-09-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrostatic imaging apparatus

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