Patent US2059403A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4575218A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4575218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developing apparatus for electrostatic photography
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1984-04-23
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A toner charging member to which a toner is conveyed and supplied is located in the vicinity of a photoconductive element which is to carry an electrostatic latent image thereon. The toner charging member charges the toner conveyed thereto to a selected polarity by friction, so that a thin uniformly charged toner layer is formed on the toner charging member. The charged toner particles are released from the toner layer on the charging member onto the latent image on the photoconductive element. The toner charging member has an insulating member on its surface. A first discharging means is provided to dissipate accumulated charge on the insulator substantially simultaneously with its operation for removing toner particles from the charging member those which were not been supplied to the latent image. A second discharging means is disposed in a position downstream of a station where the first means removes the residual toner and upstream of a station where the toner is supplied to the charging member, in order to remove the charge from the insulator. A number of microelectrodes are formed on the toner charging member or on its insulator to attain a prominent edge effect even when use is made of a one component type developer, which consists of toner particles alone.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Sakamoto
- 👤 Kazuo Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/09; G03G15/0921; G03G15/0928; G03G15/0806; G03G15/0818; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/06; G03G2215/0602; G03G2215/0604; G03G2215/0614; G03G2215/0634; G03G2215/0636; G03G2215/0651; G03G2215/0653
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
In an electrostatographic apparatus including a photoconductive member and means for forming an electrostatic image on the photoconductive member, the improvement comprising: applicator means for applying a toner to the photoconductive member to develop the electrostatic image into a toner image, the applicator means having an electrically insulative surface with electrically conductive microelectrodes distributatively embedded therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
In an electrostatographic apparatus including a photoconductive member and means for forming an electrostatic image on the photoconductive member, the improvement comprising: applicator means for applying a toner to the photoconductive member to develop the electrostatic image into a toner image, the applicator means having an electrically insulative surface with electrically conductive microelectrodes distributatively embedded therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microelectrodes are substantially spherical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the microelectrodes have a diameter between 10 and 500 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the microelectrodes have a diameter of substantially 100 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the microelectrodes comprise iron powder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microelectrodes are linearly elongated and extend parallel to the insulative surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the microelectrodes have substantially rectangular cross sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the applicator means further comprises an electrically conductive core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the applicator means comprises a rotary member, the electrically insulative surface being an endless surface of the rotary member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the rotary member is a sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the rotary member is a belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the insulative surface is formed of an elastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the applicator means further comprises a dielectric layer formed underneath the insulative surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the dielectric layer is formed of an elastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microelectrodes are embedded in the insulative surface in substantially one layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microelectrodes are embedded in the insulative surface in a plurality of layers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the applicator member further comprises an insulative coating formed on top of the insulative surface and the microelectrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microelectrodes are formed of a magnetic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the microelectrodes are formed of a non-magnetic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the insulative surface is constituted by insulative particles which are bound to each other and to the microelectrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the rotary member is hollow, the applicator means further comprising at least one magnet disposed inside the rotary member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which the applicator means further comprises means for maintaining said at least one magnet stationary and rotating the rotary member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrostatographic apparatus as claimed in claim 21, in which the applicator means further comprises means for rotating said at least one magnet about an axis of the rotary member and maintaining the rotary member stationary.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |