Development system

Claim 3

An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including a housing defining a chamber for storing a supply of particles therein.

Claim 4

An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said advancing means includes: conveyor means mounted for movement within the chamber of said housing to move the particles from a first region to an intermediate region; and rotary driven transport means mounted within the chamber of said housing to move the particles from the intermediate region to a second region for discharge thereat.

Claim 5

An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said advancing means includes means for actuating said conveyor means and said transport means for a variably selectable duration of time.

Claim 6

An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said applying and removing means includes rotary driven developer means mounted within the chamber of said housing closely proximate to said transport means for receiving the particles therefrom during the actuation of said conveyor means and said transport means to deposit particles onto the surface forming a powder pattern thereon, said developer means being arranged to attract other extraneous particles from the surface thereto during the de-actuation of said conveyor means and said transport means.

Claim 7

An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said applying and removing means includes means for actuating said developer means, in response to said conveyor means and said transport means being actuated, and for de-actuating said developer means a variably selectable duration of time after the de-actuation of said conveyor means and said transport means.

Claim 8

An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein: said transport means includes a first tubular member of non-magnetic material, and first magnetic means mounted fixedly interiorly of said first tubular member for generating a magnetic field in the path of the periphery of said first tubular member; and said developer means includes a second tubular member of non-magnetic material, and second magnetic means mounted fixedly interiorly of said second tubular member for creating a magnetic field in the path of the periphery of said second tubular member.

Claim 9

An improved electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a photoconductive member, a corona generating device for charging at least a portion of the photoconductive member to a substantially uniform level, and an exposure mechanism for exposing the charged portion of the photoconductive member to a light image of an original document being reproduced to record thereon an electrostatic latent image thereof, wherein the improvement includes: means, operable for a variable selectable duration of time, for advancing particles; means, in a particle receiving relationship with said advancing means, for applying particles to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member, in response to said advancing means being operable, and for removing other extraneous particles from the photoconductive member in response to said advancing means being inoperable, said applying means being a fixed distance from the photoconductive member; and electromagnetic means operatively associated with said applying and removing means to remove particles therefrom, said electromagnetic means being operable in response to said advancing means being inoperable.

Claim 10

An improved electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a photoconductive member, a corona generating device for charging at least a portion of the photoconductive member to a substantially uniform level, and an exposure mechanism for exposing the charged portion of the photoconductive member to a light image of an original document being reproduced to record thereon an electrostatic latent image thereof, wherein the improvement includes: means, operable for a variable selectable duration of time, for advancing particles; means, in a particle receiving relationship with said advancing means, for applying particles to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member, in response to said advancing means being operable, and for removing other extraneous particles from the photoconductive member in response to said advancing means being inoperable, said applying means being a fixed distance from the photoconductive member; and electromagnetic means operatively associated with said applying and removing means to remove particles therefrom, said electromagnetic means being operable in response to said advancing means being inoperable.

Claim 11

A printing machine as recited in claim 8, further including a developer housing defining a chamber for storing a supply of particles therein.

Claim 12

A printing machine as recited in claim 9, wherein said advancing means includes: conveyor means mounted for movement within the chamber of said developer housing to move the particles from a first region to an intermediate region; and rotary driven transport means mounted within the chamber of said developer housing to move the particles from the intermediate region to a second region for discharge thereat.

Claim 13

A printing machine as recited in claim 10, wherein said advancing means includes means for actuating said conveyor means and said transport means.

Claim 14

A printing machine as recited in claim 11, wherein said applying and removing means includes rotary driven developer means mounted within the chamber of said developer housing closely proximate to said transport means for receiving the particles therefrom during the actuation of said conveyor means and said transport means to deposit particles onto the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member, said developer means being arranged to attract other extraneous particles from the photoconductive member thereto during the de-actuation of said conveyor means and said transport means.

Claim 15

A printing machine as recited in claim 12, wherein said applying and removing means includes means for actuating said developer means, in response to said conveyor means and said transport means being actuated, and for de-actuating said developer means a variably selectable duration of time after the de-actuation of said conveyor means and said transport means.

Claim 16

A printing machine as recited in claim 13, wherein: said transport means includes a first tubular member of non-magnetic material, and first magnetic means mounted fixedly interiorly of said first tubular member for creating a magnetic field in the path of the periphery of said tubular member; and said developer means includes a second tubular member of non-magnetic material, and second magnetic means mounted fixedly interiorly of said second tubular member for creating a magnetic field in the path of the periphery of said second tubular member.