US4571060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Housing seal
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1984-10-22
•
Granted: 1986-02-18
•
Expires: 2004-10-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus which seals a housing to prevent the escape of toner particles therefrom. The toner particles are captured and softened to become tacky. Additional toner particles stick to the tacky toner particles preventing their escape. Each successive layer of captured toner particles soften and become tacky capturing other toner particles thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan Bares
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:14
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/0898; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of toner particles therefrom, including: a region of the housing adapted to be sealed; and means, disposed on said region, for capturing the toner particles, said capturing means securing the toner particles and inducing the toner particles to soften and become tacky so that other toner particles stick to the tacky toner particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of toner particles therefrom, including: a region of the housing adapted to be sealed; and means, disposed on said region, for capturing the toner particles, said capturing means securing the toner particles and inducing the toner particles to soften and become tacky so that other toner particles stick to the tacky toner particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said capturing means includes: a polymer matrix base layer; and a plasticizer disposed in said base layer, said plasticizer diffusing into the toner particles to fuse thereto and become tacky for securing other toner particles thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said capturing means includes a layer of adhesive on said base layer for securing toner particles thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plasticizer has a low vapor pressure so as to diffuse into a soluble material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said base layer is made from a polyvinylchloride layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said base layer is made from a polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said base layer is made from a polystyrene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a dibutyl phthalate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a methyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a butyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a butyl benzyl phthalate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a n-octyl-n-decyl phthalate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a dioctyl phthalate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is made from a di butoxy ethyl adipate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plasticizer is a mixture and a plurality of different plasticizers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said base layer having said plasticizer disposed therein ranges from about 0.020 inches to about 0.040 inches in thickness.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said adhesive is electrically conductive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said adhesive is an acrylate based adhesive.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said adhesive is an elastomer based adhesive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said adhesive includes a quarternary salt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, further including means for electrically biasing said adhesive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, further including means for electrically grounding said adhesive.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said base layer is electrically conductive.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, further including means for electrically biasing said base layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, further including means for electrically grounding said base layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further including a member mounted on said region and having said capturing means disposed therein.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus of the type having means for depositing toner particles on an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in an electrophotographic printing machine, wherein the improvement includes: an enclosure having the depositing means disposed therein; and means, disposed in said enclosure, for capturing the toner particles, said capturing means securing the toner particles and inducing the toner particles to soften and become tacky so that other toner particles stick to the tacky toner particles.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus of the type having means for depositing toner particles on an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member in an electrophotographic printing machine, wherein the improvement includes: an enclosure having the depositing means disposed therein; and means, disposed in said enclosure, for capturing the toner particles, said capturing means securing the toner particles and inducing the toner particles to soften and become tacky so that other toner particles stick to the tacky toner particles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said capturing means includes: a polymer matrix base layer; and a plasticizer disposed in said base layer, said plasticizer diffusing into the toner particles to fuse thereto and become tacky for securing other toner particles thereto.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said capturing means includes a layer of adhesive on said base layer for securing toner particles thereto.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said plasticizer has a low vapor pressure.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said base layer is made from a polyvinylchloride layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said base layer is made from a polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a polystyrene.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a dibutyl phthalate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a methyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a butyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a butyl benzyl phthalate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a n-octyl-n-decyl phthalate.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a dioctyl phthalate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said plasticizer is made from a di butoxy ethyl adipate.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said base layer having said plasticizer disposed therein ranges from about 0.020 inches to about 0.040 inches in thickness.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said adhesive is electrically conductive.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said adhesive is an acrylate based adhesive.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said adhesive is an elastomer based adhesive.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said adhesive includes a quarternary salt.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of preventing the escape of toner particles from a housing, including the steps of: adhesively securing toner particles to a crosslinked polymer matrix having a plasticizer therein; and diffusing the plasticizer into the toner particles adhesively secured to the polymer matrix to induce the toner particles to soften and become tacky so that other toner particles are secured to the tacky toner particles.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of preventing the escape of toner particles from a housing, including the steps of: adhesively securing toner particles to a crosslinked polymer matrix having a plasticizer therein; and diffusing the plasticizer into the toner particles adhesively secured to the polymer matrix to induce the toner particles to soften and become tacky so that other toner particles are secured to the tacky toner particles.
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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) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |