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US4142655A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Toner dispensing and supply arrangement

Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1977-05-31
•
Granted: 1979-03-06
•
Expires: 1997-05-31
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Abstract

Abstract A dispensing hopper within the xerographic machine arranged to support a quantity of finely divided particulate material. The hopper is provided with a first reservoir with a dispensing opening through which the material is dispensed to a developer sump. A cylindrical dispensing roll or other control device is rotatably suported in the first reservoir in or adjacent the dispensing opening and the dispensing roll is rotated sequentially through the material in the first reservoir and past the dispensing opening to dispense toner into the developer chamber. The dispenser also includes a second reservoir adjacent the first reservoir into which toner in excess of a preselected amount is directed. A remote toner container is coupled to the dispensing hopper by a closed loop transport arrangement consisting of a first transport which continuously delivers toner from the remote container to the first reservoir at a rate in excess of that dispensed to the developer chamber, the excess toner falling into the second reservoir. A second transport removes toner from the second reservoir back to the remote toner supply container.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph Fantuzzo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 14:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0877; G03G15/0879; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 115 words
A toner dispensing and resupply arrangement for dispensing toner to a development system of a xerographic machine, comprising a toner dispenser including a hopper formed into two toner reservoirs, one of said reservoirs including an opening and means for dispensing toner through said opening into said development system, a remote toner container, a first auger transport for continuously delivering toner to said one toner reservoir from said container at a rate in excess of the rate at which toner is dispensed into said development system to thereby create a toner overflow, said other reservoir arranged to accept said overflow and a second auger transport in said other reservoir to return said overflow to said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 115 words
A toner dispensing and resupply arrangement for dispensing toner to a development system of a xerographic machine, comprising a toner dispenser including a hopper formed into two toner reservoirs, one of said reservoirs including an opening and means for dispensing toner through said opening into said development system, a remote toner container, a first auger transport for continuously delivering toner to said one toner reservoir from said container at a rate in excess of the rate at which toner is dispensed into said development system to thereby create a toner overflow, said other reservoir arranged to accept said overflow and a second auger transport in said other reservoir to return said overflow to said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said reservoirs are adjacent each other and separated by a common wall over which said overflow toner spills.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3244325A Cited
US3550792A Cited
US3726392A Cited
US3954331A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-03-05 1982-09-04 1983-03-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-03-05 1986-09-04 1987-03-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-03-05 1990-09-04 1991-03-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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