Retractable development apparatus

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for moving said applicator roller from the operative position to the nonoperative position.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said moving means includes means for resiliently urging said applicator roller from the operative position toward the non-operative position.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, further including a housing having said applicator roller mounted rotatably therein.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rotating and translating means includes: a rack mounted on said housing; a gear meshing with said rack; and means for rotating said applicator roller and said gear so that as said applicator roller rotates, said housing translates with said applicator roller from the non-operative position to the operative position.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said resilient urging means includes; at least one spring secured to said housing, said spring exerting a force on said housing so that de-energization of said rotating means moves said housing from the operative position to the non-operative position, said rack moving with said housing and rotating said gear in a direction opposed to the direction for translating said housing from the non-operative position to the operative position; and means, responsive to said gear rotating in a direction opposed to the direction for translating said housing from the non-operative position to the operative position, for rotating said applicator roll in a direction opposed to the direction that said applicator roll rotates when said housing translates from the non-operative position to the operative position.

Claim 10

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with a developer material, wherein the improvement includes: an applicator roller mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis and having developer material adhering releasably to at least a portion of the exterior surface thereof; and means for rotating said applicator roller about its longitudinal axis, and, as said applicator roller rotates about its longitudinal axis through an initial angle of rotation, translating said applicator roller from a nonoperative position, spaced from the photoconductive member, to an operative position, closely adjacent the photoconductive member, so that said applicator roller transports developer material to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member.

Claim 11

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with a developer material, wherein the improvement includes: an applicator roller mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis and having developer material adhering releasably to at least a portion of the exterior surface thereof; and means for rotating said applicator roller about its longitudinal axis, and, as said applicator roller rotates about its longitudinal axis through an initial angle of rotation, translating said applicator roller from a nonoperative position, spaced from the photoconductive member, to an operative position, closely adjacent the photoconductive member, so that said applicator roller transports developer material to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member.

Claim 12

A printing machine according to claim 8, further including means for moving said applicator roller from the operative position to the non-operative position.

Claim 13

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with a developer material, wherein the improvement includes: an applicator roller mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis and having developer material adhering releasably to at least a portion of the exterior surface thereof; means for rotating said applicator roller about its longitudinal axis, and, as said applicator roller rotates about its longitudinal axis through an initial angle of rotation, translating said applicator roller from a nonoperative position, spaced from the photoconductive member, to an operative position, closely adjacent the photoconductive member, so that said applicator roller transports developer material to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; and means for moving said applicator roller from the operative position to the non-operative position, said rotating and translating means, responsive to said moving means moving said applicator roller from the operative position to the non-operative position, rotates said applicator roller in a direction opposed to the direction for transporting developer material to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member so as to space the developer material from the latent image.

Claim 14

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with a developer material, wherein the improvement includes: an applicator roller mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis and having developer material adhering releasably to at least a portion of the exterior surface thereof; means for rotating said applicator roller about its longitudinal axis, and, as said applicator roller rotates about its longitudinal axis through an initial angle of rotation, translating said applicator roller from a nonoperative position, spaced from the photoconductive member, to an operative position, closely adjacent the photoconductive member, so that said applicator roller transports developer material to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; and means for moving said applicator roller from the operative position to the non-operative position, said rotating and translating means, responsive to said moving means moving said applicator roller from the operative position to the non-operative position, rotates said applicator roller in a direction opposed to the direction for transporting developer material to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member so as to space the developer material from the latent image.

Claim 15

A printing machine according to claim 10, wherein said moving means includes means for resiliently urging said applicator roller from the operative position toward the inoperative position.

Claim 16

A printing machine according to claim 11, further including a housing having said applicator roller mounted rotatably therein.

Claim 17

A printing machine according to claim 12, wherein said rotating and translating means includes: a rack mounted on said housing; a gear meshing with said rack; and means for rotating said applicator roller and said gear so that as said applicator roller rotates, said housing translates with said applicator roller from the non-operative position to the operative position.

Claim 18

A printing machine according to claim 13, wherein said resilient urging means includes; at least one spring secured to said housing, said spring exerting a force on said housing so that de-energization of said rotating means moves said housing from the operative position to the non-operative position, said rack moving with said housing and rotating said gear in a direction opposed to the direction for translating said housing from the non-operative position to the operative position; and means, responsive to said gear rotating in a direction opposed to the direction for translating said housing from the non-operative position to the operative position, for rotating said applicator roll in a direction opposed to the direction that said applicator roll rotates when said housing translates from the non-operative position to the operative position.