Developer which discharges used carrier particles using a magnetic valve

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a conduit in association with the exit port of the developer unit for discharging developer material therefrom.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first generating means includes a magnetic member disposed about said conduit.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4, further including means for detecting the level of the developer material in the developer unit, said detecting means regulating energization and de-energization of said electromagnet.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 6, further including a conduit in association with the exit port of said housing for discharging developer material therefrom.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first generating means includes a magnetic member disposed about said conduit.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight being added by said discharging means to the chamber of the housing is substantially greater than the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight in the chamber of said housing.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said discharging means includes means for storing a supply of carrier granules and toner particles.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means detects the level of the developer material in the chamber of said developer housing.

Claim 17

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes: means for transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules having toner particles adhering thereto closely adjacent to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer material therein, said transporting means being in communication with the chamber of said housing for receiving developer material, said housing having an exit port for removing developer material from the chamber thereof; means for discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing; means for detecting the quantity of the developer material in the chamber of said housing; and means for sealing the exit port of said housing, said sealing means, responsive to said detecting means indicating that the quantity of the developer material is greater than a predetermined quantity, permits developer material to be discharged reducing the quantity of developer material in the chamber of said housing, said sealing means comprises first means for generating a first magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to form a developer material curtain which prevents the passage of developer material therethrough, and second means for generating, upon energization, a second magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to attract developer material from the developer material curtain with the developer material attracted thereto being discharged therefrom upon de-energization of said second means.

Claim 18

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes: means for transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules having toner particles adhering thereto closely adjacent to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer material therein, said transporting means being in communication with the chamber of said housing for receiving developer material, said housing having an exit port for removing developer material from the chamber thereof; means for discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing; means for detecting the quantity of the developer material in the chamber of said housing; and means for sealing the exit port of said housing, said sealing means, responsive to said detecting means indicating that the quantity of the developer material is greater than a predetermined quantity, permits developer material to be discharged reducing the quantity of developer material in the chamber of said housing, said sealing means comprises first means for generating a first magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to form a developer material curtain which prevents the passage of developer material therethrough, and second means for generating, upon energization, a second magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to attract developer material from the developer material curtain with the developer material attracted thereto being discharged therefrom upon de-energization of said second means.

Claim 19

A printing machine according to claim 13, further including a conduit in association with the exit port of the developer unit for discharging developer material therefrom.

Claim 20

A printing machine according to claim 14, wherein said first generating means includes a magnetic member disposed about said conduit.

Claim 21

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes: means for transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules having toner particles adhering thereto closely adjacent to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer material therein, said transporting means being in communication with the chamber of said housing for receiving developer material, said housing having an exit port for removing developer material from the chamber thereof; a conduit in association with the exit port of said housing for discharging developer material therefrom; means for discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing; means for detecting the quantity of the developer material in the chamber of said housing; and means for sealing the exit port of said housing, said sealing means, responsive to said detecting means indicating that the quantity of the developer material is greater than a predetermined quantity, permits developer material to be discharged reducing the quantity of developer material in the chamber of said housing, said sealing means i comprises first means for generating a first magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to form a developer material curtain which prevents the passage of developer material therethrough, and second means for generating, upon energization, a second magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to attract developer material from the developer material curtain with the developer material attracted thereto being discharged therefrom upon de-energization of said second means, said first generating means comprises a magnetic member disposed about said conduit, said second generating means includes an electromagnet disposed about said conduit adjacent said first magnetic member, said detecting means being adapted to regulate energization and de-energization of said electromagnet.

Claim 22

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member, wherein the improvement includes: means for transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules having toner particles adhering thereto closely adjacent to the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer material therein, said transporting means being in communication with the chamber of said housing for receiving developer material, said housing having an exit port for removing developer material from the chamber thereof; a conduit in association with the exit port of said housing for discharging developer material therefrom; means for discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing; means for detecting the quantity of the developer material in the chamber of said housing; and means for sealing the exit port of said housing, said sealing means, responsive to said detecting means indicating that the quantity of the developer material is greater than a predetermined quantity, permits developer material to be discharged reducing the quantity of developer material in the chamber of said housing, said sealing means i comprises first means for generating a first magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to form a developer material curtain which prevents the passage of developer material therethrough, and second means for generating, upon energization, a second magnetic flux field in the region of the exit port of said housing to attract developer material from the developer material curtain with the developer material attracted thereto being discharged therefrom upon de-energization of said second means, said first generating means comprises a magnetic member disposed about said conduit, said second generating means includes an electromagnet disposed about said conduit adjacent said first magnetic member, said detecting means being adapted to regulate energization and de-energization of said electromagnet.

Claim 23

A printing machine according to claim 16, wherein said discharging means includes means for storing a supply of carrier granules and toner particles.

Claim 24

A printing machine according to claim 16, wherein the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight being added by said discharging means to the chamber of the housing is substantially greater than the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight in the chamber of said housing.

Claim 25

A printing machine according to claim 16, wherein said detecting means detects the level of developer material in the chamber of said housing.