US4571071A — Cleaning apparatus and method for a polychromatic…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

In a cleaning apparatus for removing colorant adhered to a surface, the apparatus including a plurality of skiving means each associated with the removal of colorant of a respective color from said surface, means for sequentially advancing each skiving means into engagement with the surface to remove colorant of the respective color therefrom and for maintaining the other skiving means associated with the removal of colorants of other colors not currently being removed from said surface out of engagement with the surface; plural collecting means one of each associated with a respective one of said skiving means for collecting the colorant of a respective color removed by the respective skiving means; and the improvement which comprises: means for sealing each of said collecting means when its respective skiving means is out of engagement with the surface to block colorant of a different color than that associated with said collecting means from being collected by said collecting means while said colorant of a different color is being removed by one of said skiving means and collected by its respective collecting means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 180 words

In a cleaning apparatus for removing colorant adhered to a surface, the apparatus including a plurality of skiving means each associated with the removal of colorant of a respective color from said surface, means for sequentially advancing each skiving means into engagement with the surface to remove colorant of the respective color therefrom and for maintaining the other skiving means associated with the removal of colorants of other colors not currently being removed from said surface out of engagement with the surface; plural collecting means one of each associated with a respective one of said skiving means for collecting the colorant of a respective color removed by the respective skiving means; and the improvement which comprises: means for sealing each of said collecting means when its respective skiving means is out of engagement with the surface to block colorant of a different color than that associated with said collecting means from being collected by said collecting means while said colorant of a different color is being removed by one of said skiving means and collected by its respective collecting means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 95 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the collecting means comprises a rotating helical conveyor; means defining a chamber substantially surrounding said conveyor and including an arm moveable into respective positions for opening and closing of the chamber; means for securing said skiving means to the arm; and wherein the advancing means moves the arm to a first position to open the chamber and place the skiving means in engagement with the surface and moves the arm to a second position to close the chamber and place the skiving means out of engagement with the surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the colorant is electrostatically charged to one polarity and means for electrically biasing the surface where engaged by the skiving means to an opposite polarity to facilitate removal of the colorant from the surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 3 and including photoconductor cleaning means for removing colorant from a photoconductor before the colorant is removed by the skiving means from the surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 4 and including means for moving the surface proximate the photoconductor cleaning means and means for electrically biasing the surface to a polarity for attracting colorant to move from the photoconductor cleaning means to the surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the photoconductor cleaning means is a magnetic brush.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the colorant is comprised of nonmagnetic toner particles and magnetic carrier particles are carried at the periphery of the magnetic brush for removing toner particles from the surface of the photoconductor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 144 words

In a polychromatic electrophotographic reproduction apparatus, a cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner particles from one or more photoconductors having respective image areas each containing residual toner particles of a respective color and whose areas are serially delivered to the cleaning station, the apparatus including: first means for removing toner particles from the image areas as they serially pass through the cleaning apparatus; second means for serially removing toner particles of different colors from the first means said second means including plural collecting means each for collecting toner particles of a respective color after the respectively colored toner particles are serially removed from the first means; and said second means further including sealing means substantially blocking toner-entrained air from carrying toner particles of a color being removed from said first means to deposit in collecting means for collecting toner particles of other respective colors.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 144 words

In a polychromatic electrophotographic reproduction apparatus, a cleaning apparatus for removing residual toner particles from one or more photoconductors having respective image areas each containing residual toner particles of a respective color and whose areas are serially delivered to the cleaning station, the apparatus including: first means for removing toner particles from the image areas as they serially pass through the cleaning apparatus; second means for serially removing toner particles of different colors from the first means said second means including plural collecting means each for collecting toner particles of a respective color after the respectively colored toner particles are serially removed from the first means; and said second means further including sealing means substantially blocking toner-entrained air from carrying toner particles of a color being removed from said first means to deposit in collecting means for collecting toner particles of other respective colors.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 145 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second means means further comprises: means defining a toner collecting chamber for each of said collecting means; and a movable skiving blade means cooperating with each of said collecting means for removal of toner particles of a respective color from the first means and for guiding the toner particles of the respective color to a respective toner collecting chamber for collecting toner particles of such color; and wherein the sealing means each comprise: a member movable into respective positions for opening and closing of the chamber; and advancing means for moving the member to a first position to open the chamber and place the skiving blade means in engagement with the first means and for moving the member to a second position to close the chamber and move the skiving blade out of engagement with the first means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first means comprises: magnetic brush means including a nap of magnetic particles for removing residual toner particles from the one or more photoconductors, and detoning means having a surface portion movable proximate to the magnetic brush means for removing toner particles from the magnetic brush means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the toner particles are charged to one polarity and including first biasing means for electrically biasing the surface portion of the detoning means to a polarity for attracting toner particles to move from the magnetic brush means to the surface portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the skiving blade means engages said surface of said detoning means to remove toner particles therefrom and second biasing means for electrically biasing the surface, when at a location proximate the skiving blade means, to a polarity for repelling toner particles from the surface onto the skiving blade means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 95 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the detoning means comprises a plurality of moving surfaces electrically insulated from each other and said first and second biasing means electrically bias each of said surfaces such that when any one surface of said surfaces is proximate the magnetic brush means the said one surface is biased electrically to attract toner particles from the magnetic brush and another one surface of said surfaces is simultaneously proximate the skiving blade and is biased electrically to repel toner particles from the said another one surface to the skiving blade means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 13 and wherein the skiving blade means comprises plural skiving blades each cooperating with but one respective collecting chamber to remove toner particles of a respective color from the surfaces of said detoning means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus of claim 14 and including means for driving the detoning means to cause each of said surfaces thereof to make a pass past said magnetic brush means and said skiving blade means for each color of toner particles to be removed from said one or more photoconductors and said first means including scavenger means for removing toner particles from said surfaces that are not removed by said skiving blade means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 155 words

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus for making polychromatic reproductions on receiver sheets of color information, including means for forming related discrete, transferable color images with electroscopic toners in serially spaced areas on a moving transfer member, means for transferring the related images from the transfer member onto a receiver sheet in superposed relation to form the polychromatic reproduction, means for removing residual toners remaining on the transfer member following transfer of the related images and collecting means having access openings for individually collecting by color, without substantially comingling of colors, the removed residual toners, the improvement comprising: means operatively associated with the removing means for selectively closing said openings; and, control means responsive to and operating in synchronism with the movement of said areas into proximity with said removing means for closing all of said openings, except that opening through which passes toner of the color then on the area proximate to said removing means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 155 words

In an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus for making polychromatic reproductions on receiver sheets of color information, including means for forming related discrete, transferable color images with electroscopic toners in serially spaced areas on a moving transfer member, means for transferring the related images from the transfer member onto a receiver sheet in superposed relation to form the polychromatic reproduction, means for removing residual toners remaining on the transfer member following transfer of the related images and collecting means having access openings for individually collecting by color, without substantially comingling of colors, the removed residual toners, the improvement comprising: means operatively associated with the removing means for selectively closing said openings; and, control means responsive to and operating in synchronism with the movement of said areas into proximity with said removing means for closing all of said openings, except that opening through which passes toner of the color then on the area proximate to said removing means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 16 and wherein said collecting means includes means for returning individually collected toners to said forming means for reuse.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 111 words

In an apparatus for cleaning serially deposited residual electrostatographic toners of discrete colors from serially spaced areas on a moving surface and including means for individually collecting, without substantially comingling colors, the colored toners from such surface areas, said collecting means having access openings through which toners pass during collection, the improvement comprising: means operatively associated with the collection means for selectively closing said openings; and control means responsive to and operating in synchronism with the movement of said areas into proximity with said collecting means for closing all of said openings, except that opening through which passes toner of the color then on the area proximate to said collecting means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 111 words

In an apparatus for cleaning serially deposited residual electrostatographic toners of discrete colors from serially spaced areas on a moving surface and including means for individually collecting, without substantially comingling colors, the colored toners from such surface areas, said collecting means having access openings through which toners pass during collection, the improvement comprising: means operatively associated with the collection means for selectively closing said openings; and control means responsive to and operating in synchronism with the movement of said areas into proximity with said collecting means for closing all of said openings, except that opening through which passes toner of the color then on the area proximate to said collecting means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 153 words

In a method for removing differently colored colorants adhered to a surface and collecting the colorants in respective collecting chambers, the method including the steps of advancing in turn each of several elements into engagement or proximity with the surface so that each removes a respective colorant from the surface, maintaining these elements associated with colorants not currently being removed out of engagement or proximity with the surface; collecting colored colorants in the respective collecting chambers as the colorants are each being removed by the respective elements; and the improvement which comprises: sealing each of said collecting chambers when its respective element is out of engagement or proximity with the surface to block colorant of a color not to be collected in said collecting chamber from being collected by said collecting chamber while colorant of a different color is being removed by one of said elements and collected by its respective collecting chamber.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 153 words

In a method for removing differently colored colorants adhered to a surface and collecting the colorants in respective collecting chambers, the method including the steps of advancing in turn each of several elements into engagement or proximity with the surface so that each removes a respective colorant from the surface, maintaining these elements associated with colorants not currently being removed out of engagement or proximity with the surface; collecting colored colorants in the respective collecting chambers as the colorants are each being removed by the respective elements; and the improvement which comprises: sealing each of said collecting chambers when its respective element is out of engagement or proximity with the surface to block colorant of a color not to be collected in said collecting chamber from being collected by said collecting chamber while colorant of a different color is being removed by one of said elements and collected by its respective collecting chamber.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 19 and including the steps of charging the colorants to one polarity and electrically biasing the surface where engaged by or in proximity to the elements to an opposite polarity to facilitate removal of the colorants from the surface.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 20 and including the step of removing the colorants from a photoconductor before the colorants are removed by the elements from the surface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 21 and including the step of placing the colorants upon the surface after removal from the photoconductor by electrically biasing the surface to the opposite polarity as the colorants for attracting the colorants to the surface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 123 words

In a method for removing differently colored colorants adhered to a surface and for collecting the colorants in respective collecting chambers, the method including the steps of serially removing the colorants one color at a time from the surface and collecting the colorants by color, without substantial commingling of colors, in respective collecting chambers as each color is in turn removed from the surface; the improvement which comprises: sealing each of the other collecting chamber(s) when their respective colored colorant(s) are not being currently removed from the surface and when a colorant of another color is being removed from the surface and collected by its respective collecting chamber to block such colorant of another color from being collected by said other collecting chamber(s).

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 123 words

In a method for removing differently colored colorants adhered to a surface and for collecting the colorants in respective collecting chambers, the method including the steps of serially removing the colorants one color at a time from the surface and collecting the colorants by color, without substantial commingling of colors, in respective collecting chambers as each color is in turn removed from the surface; the improvement which comprises: sealing each of the other collecting chamber(s) when their respective colored colorant(s) are not being currently removed from the surface and when a colorant of another color is being removed from the surface and collected by its respective collecting chamber to block such colorant of another color from being collected by said other collecting chamber(s).

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 23 and including the steps of electrostatically charging the colorants to one polarity and electrically biasing the surface from where the colorant is being removed to the same polarity to facilitate removal of the colorants from the surface.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 24 and including the step of removing the colorants from a photoconductor before the colorants are removed from the surface.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 25 and including the step of placing the colorant upon the surface after removal from the photoconductor by electrically biasing the surface to an opposite polarity as the colorants for attracting the colorants to the surface.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of cleaning residual particulate color toners remaining on serially spaced areas on a moving transfer member following transfer of color toner images from such areas, which method comprises: removing the residual color toners sequentially from the spaced areas; collecting the removed toners in individual receptacles; and closing off all of the receptacles except the one receptacle containing the color toner then being currently removed to prevent contamination, by toner being currently removed, in the closed off receptacles.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of cleaning residual particulate color toners remaining on serially spaced areas on a moving transfer member following transfer of color toner images from such areas, which method comprises: removing the residual color toners sequentially from the spaced areas; collecting the removed toners in individual receptacles; and closing off all of the receptacles except the one receptacle containing the color toner then being currently removed to prevent contamination, by toner being currently removed, in the closed off receptacles.

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

Cleaning apparatus and method for a polychromatic electrophotographic copier

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