Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for use in a developer station housing comprising at least one developer drum, including a rotating hollow cylinder and a stationary permanent magnet arrangement disposed inside said cylinder, for conducting developer mix of toner and carrier particles from a pile disposed on the floor of said housing to an inking gap formed between said cylinder and a charge image carrier passing through said developer station for development of the charge images, said magnet arrangement having a plurality of permanent magnet rows disposed longitudinally with said cylinder on a fixed support and in series relationship about the circumference of said cylinder between a first magnet row disposed adjacent said housing floor and a final magnet row disposed adjacent said inking gap, said final magnet row having its longitudinal centerline offset from the narrowmost point of said inking gap in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of said cylinder and being of a width substantially greater than that of any of the remaining said magnet rows, and wherein the furthermost width edge of said final magnet row in the direction of rotation of said cylinder precedes the narrowmost point of said inking gap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for use in a developer station housing comprising at least one developer drum, including a rotating hollow cylinder and a stationary permanent magnet arrangement disposed inside said cylinder, for conducting developer mix of toner and carrier particles from a pile disposed on the floor of said housing to an inking gap formed between said cylinder and a charge image carrier passing through said developer station for development of the charge images, said magnet arrangement having a plurality of permanent magnet rows disposed longitudinally with said cylinder on a fixed support and in series relationship about the circumference of said cylinder between a first magnet row disposed adjacent said housing floor and a final magnet row disposed adjacent said inking gap, said final magnet row having its longitudinal centerline offset from the narrowmost point of said inking gap in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of said cylinder and being of a width substantially greater than that of any of the remaining said magnet rows, and wherein the furthermost width edge of said final magnet row in the direction of rotation of said cylinder precedes the narrowmost point of said inking gap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of said final magnet row is at least twice the width of any of the remaining said magnet rows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said magnet is made up of a juxtaposed series of individual permanent magnets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said magnet row is seated on a respective continuous plate of iron material secured to said support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said magnet row is made up of a juxtaposed series of individual permanent magnets and each said magnet row is seated on a respective continuous plate of iron material secured to said support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said final magnet row has its longitudinal centerline offset from the narrowmost point of said inking gap by an angle of approximately 25° taken from the axis of rotation of said cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a wall concentric about said cylinder and magnet rows for defining a narrow channel with said cylinder through which developer mix is conducted on said cylinder to said inking gap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable doctor means disposed beneath said first magnet row for controlling the layer thickness of developer mix being conducted from said pile onto said cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said doctor means comprises a semicircular shaft longitudinal with said cylinder and mounted for rotation along the floor of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said housing includes a wall concentric about said cylinder and magnet rows for defining a narrow channel with said cylinder through which developer mix is conducted on said cylinder to said inking gap.