Development system

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rigid member is a drum.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said belt includes an arcuate region in the development zone ranging from about 10° to about 40°.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one of said pair of rollers is positioned at the entrance to the development zone with the other of said pair of rollers being positioned at the exit to the development zone so as to generate strong magnetic fields in the region of the development zone entrance and exit with the development zone being substantially free of a magnetic field.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said maintaining means tensions said belt to a magnitude preferably of about 0.1 kilograms per linear centimeter.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, further including means for regulating the quantity of developer material being transported into the development zone by said belt.

Claim 8

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a rigid photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes: a flexible belt; a pair of opposed, spaced rollers generating a magnetic field with said belt being movably supported thereon, said belt having at least a portion thereof positioned closely adjacent to the photoconductive member defining a development zone therebetween, for transporting developer material attracted thereto by said pair of rollers into contact with the photoconductive member in the development zone so as to develop the latent image recorded thereon; and means for maintaining said belt at a pre-selected tension of sufficient magnitude to compress the developer material being transported into contact with the photoconductive member and to space said belt therefrom.

Claim 9

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a rigid photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes: a flexible belt; a pair of opposed, spaced rollers generating a magnetic field with said belt being movably supported thereon, said belt having at least a portion thereof positioned closely adjacent to the photoconductive member defining a development zone therebetween, for transporting developer material attracted thereto by said pair of rollers into contact with the photoconductive member in the development zone so as to develop the latent image recorded thereon; and means for maintaining said belt at a pre-selected tension of sufficient magnitude to compress the developer material being transported into contact with the photoconductive member and to space said belt therefrom.

Claim 10

A printing machine according to claim 7, wherein the photoconductive member is a drum.

Claim 11

A printing machine according to claim 8, wherein said belt includes an arcuate region in the development zone ranging from about 10° to about 40°.

Claim 12

A printing machine according to claim 9, wherein one of said pair of rollers is positioned at the entrance to the development zone with the other of said pair of rollers being positioned at the exit from the development zone so as to generate strong magnetic fields in the region of the development zone entrance and exit with the development zone being substantially free of a magnetic field.

Claim 13

A print machine according to claim 9, wherein said maintaining means tensioned said belt to a magnitude preferably of about 0.1 kilograms per linear centimeter.

Claim 14

A printing machine according to claim 9, further including means for regulating the quantity of developer material being transported into the development zone by said belt.