Patent US5138382A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5138382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for creating a developer housing seal via a curtain of carrier beads
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-27
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2011-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom. Carrier beads are captured and suspended in a magnetic field extending across a region adapted to be sealed, forming a curtain of carrier beads for preventing the escape of airborne material, including toner particles, therepast. The carrier bead curtain is continuously collapsed and regenerated as carrier beads are captured, accumulated, and deposited into the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack E. Van Duser
- 👤 Ronald A. Fraser
- 👤 Frank V. Onorati
- 👤 Carl F. Oresick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/0898; G03G15/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom, comprising: means, disposed in said housing, for transporting developing material including at least toner particles and carrier beads; and means, disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface, for removing carrier beads therefrom, said carrier bead removing means being further disposed proximate to said transporting means such that carrier beads on said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads therebetween.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom, comprising: means, disposed in said housing, for transporting developing material including at least toner particles and carrier beads; and means, disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface, for removing carrier beads therefrom, said carrier bead removing means being further disposed proximate to said transporting means such that carrier beads on said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transporting means includes means for depositing toner particles on the photoconductive surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transporting means includes means for removing residual toner particles from the photoconductive surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for applying an electrical biasing voltage across said carrier bead removing means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom, comprising: means, disposed in said housing for transporting developing material including at least toner particles and magnetic carrier beads; means, disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface, for removing magnetic carrier beads therefrom, said carrier bead removing means being further disposed sufficiently proximate to said transporting means such that magnetic carrier beads on said transporting means and magnetic carrier beads on said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads therebetween, wherein: said carrier bead removing means includes a rotatably mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said carrier bead removing means and the photoconductive surface to remove magnetic carrie beads from the photoconductive surface; and said transporting means includes a fixedly mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means to suspend magnetic carrier beads therein so as to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom, comprising: means, disposed in said housing for transporting developing material including at least toner particles and magnetic carrier beads; means, disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface, for removing magnetic carrier beads therefrom, said carrier bead removing means being further disposed sufficiently proximate to said transporting means such that magnetic carrier beads on said transporting means and magnetic carrier beads on said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads therebetween, wherein: said carrier bead removing means includes a rotatably mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said carrier bead removing means and the photoconductive surface to remove magnetic carrie beads from the photoconductive surface; and said transporting means includes a fixedly mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means to suspend magnetic carrier beads therein so as to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rotatably mounted magnetic member includes a plurality of bar magnets, each being disposed such that opposite poles thereof are adjacent one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rotatably mounted magnetic member includes a cylindrical multi-pole magnet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said carrier bead removing means further includes a non-magnetic matrix for encasing said rotatably mounted magnetic member therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electrophotographic printing apparatus having at least one housing for storing material including at least toner particles therein, said at least one housing comprising: means, disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface, for transporting developing material including at least toner particles and carrier beads; and means for removing carrier beads from the photoconductive surface, said carrier bead removing means being disposed proximate to said transporting means so that carrier beads on said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to form a curtain of carrier beads therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electrophotographic printing apparatus having at least one housing for storing material including at least toner particles therein, said at least one housing comprising: means, disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface, for transporting developing material including at least toner particles and carrier beads; and means for removing carrier beads from the photoconductive surface, said carrier bead removing means being disposed proximate to said transporting means so that carrier beads on said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to form a curtain of carrier beads therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said transporting means includes means for depositing toner particles on the photoconductive surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said transporting means includes means for removing residual toner particles from the photoconductive surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 9, further including means for applying an electrical biasing voltage across said carrier bead removing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrophotographic printing apparatus having at least one housing disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface for storing developed material including at least toner particles and magnetic carrier beads therein, said at least one housing comprising: means for transporting the developing material; means for removing carrier beads from the photoconductive surface, said carrier bead removing means being disposed sufficiently proximate to said transporting means so that magnetic carrier beads on said transporting means and magnetic carrier beads on said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to form a curtain of carrier beads therebetween, wherein: said carrier bead removing means includes a rotatably mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said carrier bead removing means and the photoconductive surface to attract magnetic carrier beads from the photoconductive surface; and said transporting means includes a fixedly mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means to suspend magnetic carrier beads therein, so as to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electrophotographic printing apparatus having at least one housing disposed adjacent to a photoconductive surface for storing developed material including at least toner particles and magnetic carrier beads therein, said at least one housing comprising: means for transporting the developing material; means for removing carrier beads from the photoconductive surface, said carrier bead removing means being disposed sufficiently proximate to said transporting means so that magnetic carrier beads on said transporting means and magnetic carrier beads on said carrier bead removing means are captured therebetween to form a curtain of carrier beads therebetween, wherein: said carrier bead removing means includes a rotatably mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said carrier bead removing means and the photoconductive surface to attract magnetic carrier beads from the photoconductive surface; and said transporting means includes a fixedly mounted magnetic member for generating a magnetic field between said transporting means and said carrier bead removing means to suspend magnetic carrier beads therein, so as to create a seal-forming curtain of carrier beads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said rotatably mounted magnetic member includes a plurality of bar magnets, each being disposed such that opposite poles thereof are adjacent one another.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said rotatably mounted magnetic member includes a cylindrical multi-pole magnet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sealing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said carrier bead removing means further includes a non-magnetic matrix for encasing said magnetic member therein.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom, comprising the steps of: transporting developing material, including at least toner particles and carrier beads, on a magnetic roller to a photoconductive surface; removing carrier beads from the photoconductive surface on a bead pickoff roller; and generating a magnetic field across a region to be sealed between the magnetic roller and the bead pickoff roller so as to attract carrier beads from both the magnetic roller and the bead pickoff roller into the magnetic field to form a curtain of carrier beads therein.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for sealing a housing to prevent the escape of airborne material therefrom, comprising the steps of: transporting developing material, including at least toner particles and carrier beads, on a magnetic roller to a photoconductive surface; removing carrier beads from the photoconductive surface on a bead pickoff roller; and generating a magnetic field across a region to be sealed between the magnetic roller and the bead pickoff roller so as to attract carrier beads from both the magnetic roller and the bead pickoff roller into the magnetic field to form a curtain of carrier beads therein.
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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) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |