US4168901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developer housing sealing device for electrophotography
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1977-08-05
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Granted: 1979-09-25
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Expires: 1997-08-05
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a developer treating device for preventing scattering or similar phenomenon of developer in an electrophotographic copying machine. The device is applicable to a developing device, a cleaning device or the like disposed in opposed relationship with the surface of a photosensitive medium to be developed or to be cleaned. In order that the flow of developer may be positively utilized to prevent the same from flowing out of the developing device or the cleaning device, the device has a developer scatter preventing member such as stay or the like which forms a multistage slit between itself and the surface of the photosensitive medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshio Ito
- 👤 Katuhiko Yamada
- 👤 Tadayuki Kitajima
- 👤 Koichi Miyamoto
- 👤 Hiroo Kobayashi
- 👤 Yoshikuni Tohyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/0005; G03G21/007; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/0898
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface; developer means including a housing for holding a supply of powder developer, said developer means being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface for applying powder developer to said surface; means for driving said movable member past said developer means; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said housing at a location adjacent to said image bearing surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream into said housing, wherein said air stream is produced by said movement of said image bearing surface, and wherein said sealing means further includes at least one air stream limiting means disposed closely adjacent said surface, and at least one air stream expanding means disposed adjacent to said limiting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface; developer means including a housing for holding a supply of powder developer, said developer means being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface for applying powder developer to said surface; means for driving said movable member past said developer means; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said housing at a location adjacent to said image bearing surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream into said housing, wherein said air stream is produced by said movement of said image bearing surface, and wherein said sealing means further includes at least one air stream limiting means disposed closely adjacent said surface, and at least one air stream expanding means disposed adjacent to said limiting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface to which powder developer is applied; means for driving said movable member; developer handling means including a housing disposed adjacent said surface, and means for transporting powder developer within said housing; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said housing at a location adjacent to said surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means within said housing operative to direct an air stream away from said image bearing surface in said housing, wherein said air stream is produced in said housing by the movement of said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface to which powder developer is applied; means for driving said movable member; developer handling means including a housing disposed adjacent said surface, and means for transporting powder developer within said housing; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said housing at a location adjacent to said surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means within said housing operative to direct an air stream away from said image bearing surface in said housing, wherein said air stream is produced in said housing by the movement of said surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said developer handling means comprises developing means for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said developer handling means comprises cleaning means for removing residual developer applied to the image bearing surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sealing means includes at least one means disposed closely adjacent said surface for limiting said air stream, and at least one means for expanding said air stream, said expanding means being disposed downstream of said limiting means in the direction of movement of said surface and extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of said movement and wherein said flow limiting means and said flow expanding means include a wall member extending toward said surface at an angle of more than π/2 radians measured from the upstream side with respect to the movement of said surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sealing means is disposed at a predetermined clearance in the range of 0.05 to 0.6 mm, with respect to said surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface to which the developer is applied; means for driving said movable member; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in the vicinity of the surface of the movable member, wherein said developer handling means includes a housing disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means movably mounted on said housing for being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface to prevent said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream in the vicinity of said surface into said housing wherein said air stream is produced by said movement of said surface, said sealing means being selectively movable between a first position in operative relationship to said surface, and a second position spaced from said surface wherein said housing may be freely attached to and removed from said apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface to which the developer is applied; means for driving said movable member; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in the vicinity of the surface of the movable member, wherein said developer handling means includes a housing disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means movably mounted on said housing for being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface to prevent said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream in the vicinity of said surface into said housing wherein said air stream is produced by said movement of said surface, said sealing means being selectively movable between a first position in operative relationship to said surface, and a second position spaced from said surface wherein said housing may be freely attached to and removed from said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means disposed on said sealing means for resiliently urging said sealing means toward said first position, and a spacer member for maintaining a predetermined minimum clearance between said surface and said sealing means irrespective of the relative movement between said housing and said surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said sealing means includes at least one means disposed closely adjacent said surface for limiting said air stream, and at least one means for expanding said air stream, said expanding means being located adjacent to said limiting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising a rotatable drum member having a latent image bearing surface to which powder developer is applied; means for driving said rotatable drum; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in a housing which is disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said developer handling means at a location adjacent to said surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said developer handling means, wherein said sealing means is disposed downstream with respect to an air stream which contains scattered powder and which is caused in said housing by rotation of said image bearing member, said sealing means including at least a first portion for defining a small clearance and a second portion, downstream of said first portion with respect to the air stream, for defining a space adjacent to said first portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising a rotatable drum member having a latent image bearing surface to which powder developer is applied; means for driving said rotatable drum; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in a housing which is disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said developer handling means at a location adjacent to said surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said developer handling means, wherein said sealing means is disposed downstream with respect to an air stream which contains scattered powder and which is caused in said housing by rotation of said image bearing member, said sealing means including at least a first portion for defining a small clearance and a second portion, downstream of said first portion with respect to the air stream, for defining a space adjacent to said first portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said developer handling means comprises developing means for developing a latent image formed on the image bearing member surface, a magnet member and a non-magnetizable member movable relative thereto, and wherein said powder scatter sealing means is located at a downstream portion of a developing position of said developing means with respect to transportation of the developer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
156 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface; developer means including a housing for holding a supply of powder developer, said developer means being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface for applying powder developer to said surface; means for driving said movable member past said developer means; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said housing at a location adjacent to said image bearing surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream into said housing, wherein said air stream is produced by operation of said developer handling means, and wherein said sealing means further includes at least one air stream limiting means disposed closely adjacent said surface, and at least one air stream expanding means disposed adjacent to said limiting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
156 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface; developer means including a housing for holding a supply of powder developer, said developer means being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface for applying powder developer to said surface; means for driving said movable member past said developer means; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said housing at a location adjacent to said image bearing surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream into said housing, wherein said air stream is produced by operation of said developer handling means, and wherein said sealing means further includes at least one air stream limiting means disposed closely adjacent said surface, and at least one air stream expanding means disposed adjacent to said limiting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
168 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface to which the developer is applied; means for driving said movable member; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in the vicinity of the surface of the movable member, wherein said developer handling means includes a housing disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means movably mounted on said housing for being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface to prevent said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream in the vicinity of said surface into said housing wherein said air stream is produced by operation of said developer handling means, said sealing means being selectively movable between a first position in operative relationship to said surface, and a second position spaced from said surface wherein said housing may be freely attached to and removed from said apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
168 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising: a movable member having a latent image bearing surface to which the developer is applied; means for driving said movable member; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in the vicinity of the surface of the movable member, wherein said developer handling means includes a housing disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means movably mounted on said housing for being disposed adjacent said image bearing surface to prevent said powder developer from escaping out from said housing, said sealing means including means operative to direct an air stream in the vicinity of said surface into said housing wherein said air stream is produced by operation of said developer handling means, said sealing means being selectively movable between a first position in operative relationship to said surface, and a second position spaced from said surface wherein said housing may be freely attached to and removed from said apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
157 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising a rotatable drum member having a latent image bearing surface to which powder developer is applied; means for driving said rotatable drum; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in a housing which is disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said developer handling means at a location adjacent to said surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said developer handling means, wherein said sealing means is disposed downstream with respect to an air stream which contains scattered powder and which is caused in said housing by operation of said developer handling means, said sealing means including at least a first portion for defining a small clearance and a second portion, downstream of said first portion with respect to the air stream, for defining a space adjacent to said first portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
157 words
In apparatus of the type having means for developing latent images with a powder form developer, the combination comprising a rotatable drum member having a latent image bearing surface to which powder developer is applied; means for driving said rotatable drum; developer handling means for transporting powder developer in a housing which is disposed adjacent said surface; and powder scatter sealing means disposed on said developer handling means at a location adjacent to said surface for preventing said powder developer from escaping out from said developer handling means, wherein said sealing means is disposed downstream with respect to an air stream which contains scattered powder and which is caused in said housing by operation of said developer handling means, said sealing means including at least a first portion for defining a small clearance and a second portion, downstream of said first portion with respect to the air stream, for defining a space adjacent to said first portion.
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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) | 1982-09-24 | 1983-03-26 | 1983-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-24 | 1987-03-26 | 1987-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-24 | 1991-03-26 | 1991-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |