US4579441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detacking apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1984-07-02
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2004-07-02
Abstract
Abstract Electrostatographic apparatus comprising an imaging surface with an electrostatic transfer evice to transfer toner particles to a receiving sheet and an apparatus to detack the sheet from the drum comprising a plurality of conductive fibers extending cross the rear side of the receiving sheet which are spaced from the sheet and have applied thereto a low voltage direct current potential of a polarity opposite the polarity on the receiving sheet and sufficient to cause air breakdown between the receiving sheet and the end of the fibers to provie a controlled neutralization of charge on the receiving sheet to a potential level above zero and thereby separate the receiving sheet from the drum by virtue of its own weight and beam strength.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence M. Hart
- 👤 Oscar G. Hauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:22
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6532; G03G15/6535; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S271/00; Y10S271/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
Electrostatographic apparatus comprising means to form an electrostatic latent image of a first polarity on an imaging surface, means to develop said electrostatic latent image with charged toner particles, means to contact said developed image with a toner image receiving substrate, means to electrostatically transfer charged toner particles from the imaging surface to the receiving substrate in image configuration by applying a charge of said first polarity to said receiving surface while said receiving surface is in contact with said imaging surface, and means to detack said receiving substrate from said imaging surface, said detack means comprising a plurality of conductive fibers extending across the rear side of the receiving substrate tacked to the imaging surface, said fibers being maintained spaced from and out of contact with the receiving surface and having applied thereto a low voltage direct current potential of a polarity opposite the polarity applied by said electrostatic transfer means to said receiving surface and sufficient to cause air breakdown between the receiving substrate and the ends of the fibers to provide a controlled neutralization of charge on the receiving substrate to a potential level above zero and thereby permit said receiving substrate to separate from said imaging surface by virtue of its own weight and beam strength.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
Electrostatographic apparatus comprising means to form an electrostatic latent image of a first polarity on an imaging surface, means to develop said electrostatic latent image with charged toner particles, means to contact said developed image with a toner image receiving substrate, means to electrostatically transfer charged toner particles from the imaging surface to the receiving substrate in image configuration by applying a charge of said first polarity to said receiving surface while said receiving surface is in contact with said imaging surface, and means to detack said receiving substrate from said imaging surface, said detack means comprising a plurality of conductive fibers extending across the rear side of the receiving substrate tacked to the imaging surface, said fibers being maintained spaced from and out of contact with the receiving surface and having applied thereto a low voltage direct current potential of a polarity opposite the polarity applied by said electrostatic transfer means to said receiving surface and sufficient to cause air breakdown between the receiving substrate and the ends of the fibers to provide a controlled neutralization of charge on the receiving substrate to a potential level above zero and thereby permit said receiving substrate to separate from said imaging surface by virtue of its own weight and beam strength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of fibers are arranged in the configuration of a fibrous brush.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said fibers have a conductivity of from about 1×10 -10 (ohm-cm) -1 to about 1×10 4 (ohm-cm) -1 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said fibers are carbon or stainless steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said brush is mounted on an insulating support and a plurality of insulating guards are mounted to said support to provide a guide path for the sheet being detacked from the imaging surface to pass the ends of the brush without contacting them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said imaging surface is the surface of a rotatable cylindrical imaging drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the potential on the receiving substrate is reduced to a level above the level at which toner will not be electrostatically attracted to the imaging surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detack ends of the plurality of fibers is spaced from about 0.030 inches to about 0.050 inches from the imaging surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to electrostatically transfer toner comprises a corona discharge device to place a charge on the receiving substrate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of detacking a toner image receiving substrate tacked to an electrostatographic imaging surface comprising the steps of providing a plurality of conductive fibers extending across the rear side of the receiving substrate tacked to the imaging surface, maintaining said fibers spaced from and out of contact with the receiving surface and applying thereto a low voltage direct current potential of a polarity opposite the polarity applied by said electrostatic transfer means to said receiving surface and sufficient to cause air breakdown between the receiving substrate and the ends of the fibers to provide a controlled neutralization of charge on the receiving substrate and thereby permit said receiving substrate to a potential level above zero from said imaging surface by virtue of its own weight and beam strength.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of detacking a toner image receiving substrate tacked to an electrostatographic imaging surface comprising the steps of providing a plurality of conductive fibers extending across the rear side of the receiving substrate tacked to the imaging surface, maintaining said fibers spaced from and out of contact with the receiving surface and applying thereto a low voltage direct current potential of a polarity opposite the polarity applied by said electrostatic transfer means to said receiving surface and sufficient to cause air breakdown between the receiving substrate and the ends of the fibers to provide a controlled neutralization of charge on the receiving substrate and thereby permit said receiving substrate to a potential level above zero from said imaging surface by virtue of its own weight and beam strength.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said plurality of fibers are arranged in the configuration of a fibrous brush.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein said fibers have a conductivity of from about 1×10 -10 (ohm-cm) -1 to about 1×10 4 (ohm-cm) -1 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein said fibers are carbon or stainless steel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the potential on the receiving substrate is reduced to a level above the level at which toner will not be electrostatically attracted to the imaging surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the detack ends of the plurality of fibers are spaced from about 0.030 inches to about 0.050 inches from the imaging surface.
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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) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |