US4657369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable photoconductive belt assembly for a printer or a copier
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1985-04-02
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Granted: 1987-04-14
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Expires: 2005-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained photoconductive belt assembly for a printer or a copier is disclosed. The self-contained photoconductive belt assembly is in the form of a cartridge or cassette, comprising a frame, first and second parallel rollers within the frame, and an endless photoconductive belt looped about and rotating with the rollers. The cassette also includes a charging unit and mounting means for detachably mounting the cassette within the printer or cassette. Desirably, the cassette also contains a photosensor for detecting the seam in the photoconductive belt. Desirably also, the cassette is slidably mounted within the housing of the printer or copier in a vertical orientation.
Inventors
- 👤 Shoji Takeuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:35
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1839; G03G21/1842; G03G21/1853; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/28; G03G15/283; G03G21/1661; G03G21/1671; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1615; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A self-contained photoconductive belt assembly for an electrographic printing apparatus, comprising a frame, first and second substantialy parallel rollers rotatably mounted within said frame, said first and second rollers being aligned vertically within said frame, an endless photoconductive belt disposed about and rotating with said first and second rollers, charging means mounted on said frame for charging said photoconductive belt, mounting means for slidably and removably mounting said self-contained photoconductive belt assembly vertically within said electrographic printing apparatus, and sheet guide means mounted integrally on the top of said frame, said sheet guide means and frame defining a horizontal transfer zone for said electrographic printing apparatus on top of said frame,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A self-contained photoconductive belt assembly for an electrographic printing apparatus, comprising a frame, first and second substantialy parallel rollers rotatably mounted within said frame, said first and second rollers being aligned vertically within said frame, an endless photoconductive belt disposed about and rotating with said first and second rollers, charging means mounted on said frame for charging said photoconductive belt, mounting means for slidably and removably mounting said self-contained photoconductive belt assembly vertically within said electrographic printing apparatus, and sheet guide means mounted integrally on the top of said frame, said sheet guide means and frame defining a horizontal transfer zone for said electrographic printing apparatus on top of said frame,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The photoconductive belt assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrographic printing apparatus is a printer connected to a computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoconductive belt assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrographic printing apparatus is a copier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoconductive belt assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrographic printing apparatus has a controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The photoconductive belt assembly of claim 1 further comprising sensing means for detecting a seam in said photoconductive belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The photoconductive belt assembly of claim 1 wherein said belt disposed about said first and second parallel rollers has a predetermined tension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The photoconductive belt assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises snap lock means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
194 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for forming an image on a sheet of a recording medium, comprising a housing, sheet transport means for feeding the sheet and transporting it through said housing, a self-contained photoconductive belt assembly, said self-contained photoconductive belt assembly comprising a frame, first and second substantially parallel rollers rotatably mounted within said frame, said first and second rollers being aligned vertically within said frame, an endless photoconductive belt disposed about and rotating with said first and second rollers, charging means mounted on said frame for charging said photoconductive belt, mounting means for slidably mounting said self-contained photoconductive belt assembly vertically within said housing, and sheet guide means mounted integrally on the top of said frame, said sheet guide means and frame defining a horizontal transfer zone on top of said frame, said self-contained belt assembly being removable vertically from said electrographic printing apparatus as a unit, imaging means for forming an image on said photoconductive belt, developing means for developing said image to produce a toner image, transfer means for transferring said toner image to said sheet, and drive means for rotating said first and second rollers and thereby said photoconductive belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
194 words
An electrographic printing apparatus for forming an image on a sheet of a recording medium, comprising a housing, sheet transport means for feeding the sheet and transporting it through said housing, a self-contained photoconductive belt assembly, said self-contained photoconductive belt assembly comprising a frame, first and second substantially parallel rollers rotatably mounted within said frame, said first and second rollers being aligned vertically within said frame, an endless photoconductive belt disposed about and rotating with said first and second rollers, charging means mounted on said frame for charging said photoconductive belt, mounting means for slidably mounting said self-contained photoconductive belt assembly vertically within said housing, and sheet guide means mounted integrally on the top of said frame, said sheet guide means and frame defining a horizontal transfer zone on top of said frame, said self-contained belt assembly being removable vertically from said electrographic printing apparatus as a unit, imaging means for forming an image on said photoconductive belt, developing means for developing said image to produce a toner image, transfer means for transferring said toner image to said sheet, and drive means for rotating said first and second rollers and thereby said photoconductive belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 comprising a printer connected to a computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 comprising a copier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a controller to control the operation of said apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said recording medium is paper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said belt assembly further comprises sensing means for detecting a seam in said photoconductive belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tension on said photoconductive belt is predetermined.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrographic printing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mounting means comprising snap lock means.
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) | 1990-04-13 | 1990-10-13 | 1991-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-13 | 1994-10-13 | 1995-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-13 | 1998-10-13 | 1999-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |