Dispenser having reciprocating paddles for discharging particles therefrom

Claim 1

An apparatus for dispensing particles, including: means for storing a supply of particles therein; an elongated tubular member having a plurality of spaced apertures extending in a longitudinal direction therein and having an opening in one end portion thereof coupled to said storing means enabling particles to enter said tubular member therefrom; a shaft member mounted translatably and rotatably interiorly of said tubular member; at least a pair of sets of paddles mounted fixedly on said shaft member with one set of said pair of sets of paddles being angularly and linearly displaced from the other set of said pair of sets of paddles; a motor coupled to said shaft member, said motor indexing said pair of sets of paddles from the operative position with one of said pair of sets of paddles engaging the particles to the inoperative position spacing said pair of sets of paddles from the particle; and a solenoid coupled to said shaft member for translating said pair of sets of paddles from a first position to a second position with said pair of sets of paddles being in the operative position to advance the particles, and returning said pair of sets of paddles to the first position from the second position after said motor rotates said pair of sets of paddles to the inoperative position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for dispensing particles, including: means for storing a supply of particles therein; an elongated tubular member having a plurality of spaced apertures extending in a longitudinal direction therein and having an opening in one end portion thereof coupled to said storing means enabling particles to enter said tubular member therefrom; a shaft member mounted translatably and rotatably interiorly of said tubular member; at least a pair of sets of paddles mounted fixedly on said shaft member with one set of said pair of sets of paddles being angularly and linearly displaced from the other set of said pair of sets of paddles; a motor coupled to said shaft member, said motor indexing said pair of sets of paddles from the operative position with one of said pair of sets of paddles engaging the particles to the inoperative position spacing said pair of sets of paddles from the particle; and a solenoid coupled to said shaft member for translating said pair of sets of paddles from a first position to a second position with said pair of sets of paddles being in the operative position to advance the particles, and returning said pair of sets of paddles to the first position from the second position after said motor rotates said pair of sets of paddles to the inoperative position.

Claim 4

A system for developing an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member, including: a housing defining a chamber; means, disposed in the chamber of said housing, for depositing particles on the latent image; means for storing a supply of particles therein; an elongated tubular member having a plurality of spaced apertures extending in a longitudinal direction therein and having an opening in one end portion thereof coupled to said housing enabling particles to enter said tubular member; a shaft member mounted translatably and rotatably interiorly of said tubular member; at least a pair of sets of paddles mounted fixedly on said shaft member with one set of said pair of sets of paddles being angularly and linearly displaced from the other set of said pair of sets of paddles; a motor coupled to said shaft member, said motor indexing said pair of sets of paddles from the operative position with one of said pair of sets of paddles engaging the particles to the inoperative position spacing said pair of sets of paddles from the particles; and a solenoid coupled to said shaft member for translating said pair of sets of paddles from a first position to a second position with said pair of sets of paddles being in the operative position to advance the particles, and returning said pair of sets of paddles to the first position from the second position after said motor rotates said pair of sets of paddles to the inoperative position.

Claim 5

A system for developing an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member, including: a housing defining a chamber; means, disposed in the chamber of said housing, for depositing particles on the latent image; means for storing a supply of particles therein; an elongated tubular member having a plurality of spaced apertures extending in a longitudinal direction therein and having an opening in one end portion thereof coupled to said housing enabling particles to enter said tubular member; a shaft member mounted translatably and rotatably interiorly of said tubular member; at least a pair of sets of paddles mounted fixedly on said shaft member with one set of said pair of sets of paddles being angularly and linearly displaced from the other set of said pair of sets of paddles; a motor coupled to said shaft member, said motor indexing said pair of sets of paddles from the operative position with one of said pair of sets of paddles engaging the particles to the inoperative position spacing said pair of sets of paddles from the particles; and a solenoid coupled to said shaft member for translating said pair of sets of paddles from a first position to a second position with said pair of sets of paddles being in the operative position to advance the particles, and returning said pair of sets of paddles to the first position from the second position after said motor rotates said pair of sets of paddles to the inoperative position.

Claim 7

A method of supplying additional toner particles to a development system, including the steps of: storing a supply of toner particles in a container; furnishing toner particles from the container to a tubular member having a plurality of apertures therein; translating a shaft member having a plurality of paddles secured thereto from a first position to a second position to advance the toner particles along the tubular member so as to dispense the toner particles from the apertures therein into the development system; energizing a stepping motor to index the shaft through a pre-selected angle, thereby rotating the paddles to space the paddles from the toner particles; translating the shaft member from the second position to the first position; and sweeping the residual toner particles by a brush into an enlarged aperture located at one end of the tubular member.

Claim 8

A method of supplying additional toner particles to a development system, including the steps of: storing a supply of toner particles in a container; furnishing toner particles from the container to a tubular member having a plurality of apertures therein; translating a shaft member having a plurality of paddles secured thereto from a first position to a second position to advance the toner particles along the tubular member so as to dispense the toner particles from the apertures therein into the development system; energizing a stepping motor to index the shaft through a pre-selected angle, thereby rotating the paddles to space the paddles from the toner particles; translating the shaft member from the second position to the first position; and sweeping the residual toner particles by a brush into an enlarged aperture located at one end of the tubular member.