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US5153642A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fiber cleaning system for a development system

Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1991-07-29
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Granted: 1992-10-06
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Expires: 2011-07-29
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus in which an elecrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with developer material stored in a developer housing. The developer material advances along a path of travel to a development zone closely adjacent to the latent image. A cleaner, positioned in the path of the developer material and spaced from the photoconductive member, cleans contaminants from the developer material without impeding the flow thereof. The cleaner has a multiplicity of fibers disposed in the path of travel of the developer material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jeffrey J. Folkins
  • 👤 Don B. Jugle

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 14:26
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0887

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a surface with developer material including: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material; means for advancing the developer material along a path of travel to a development zone so as to develop the latent image recorded on the surface; means, spaced from the surface and located in the chamber of said housing, for cleaning contaminants from the developer material without substantially impeding the advancing developer material, said cleaning means comprising a plurality of elongated fibers disposed in the path of travel of the developer material with each of the elongated fibers of said cleaning means including a hook.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 111 words
An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a surface with developer material including: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material; means for advancing the developer material along a path of travel to a development zone so as to develop the latent image recorded on the surface; means, spaced from the surface and located in the chamber of said housing, for cleaning contaminants from the developer material without substantially impeding the advancing developer material, said cleaning means comprising a plurality of elongated fibers disposed in the path of travel of the developer material with each of the elongated fibers of said cleaning means including a hook.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means is located after the development zone in the path of travel of the advancing developer material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning means is operator removable from the chamber of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 91 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said advancing means includes: a donor member spaced from the surface and adapted to transport developer material to the development zone adjacent the surface; means for transporting developer material to said donor member; and an electrode member positioned in the development zone between the surface and said donor member, said electrode member being electrically biased to detach toner from said donor member so as to form a toner cloud in the development zone with detached toner from the toner cloud developing the latent image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said donor member includes a roll.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said electrode member includes a plurality of small diameter wires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 129 words
An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed to form a visible image thereof, wherein the improvement includes: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material; means for advancing the developer material along a path of travel to a development zone so as to develop the latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; and means, spaced from the photoconductive member and located in the chamber of said housing, for cleaning contaminants from the developer material without substantially impeding the advancing developer material, said cleaning means comprising a plurality of elongated fibers disposed in the path of travel of the developer material with each of the elongated fibers of said cleaning means including a hook.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 129 words
An electrophotographic printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed to form a visible image thereof, wherein the improvement includes: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material; means for advancing the developer material along a path of travel to a development zone so as to develop the latent image recorded on the photoconductive member; and means, spaced from the photoconductive member and located in the chamber of said housing, for cleaning contaminants from the developer material without substantially impeding the advancing developer material, said cleaning means comprising a plurality of elongated fibers disposed in the path of travel of the developer material with each of the elongated fibers of said cleaning means including a hook.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
A printing machine according to claim 7, wherein said cleaning means is located after the development zone in the path of travel of the advancing developer material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A printing machine according to claim 7, wherein said cleaning means is operator removable from the chamber of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 95 words
A printing machine according to claim 7, wherein said advancing means includes: a donor member spaced from the photoconductive member and adapted to transport developer material to the development zone adjacent the photoconductive member; means for transporting developer material to said donor member; and an electrode member positioned in the development zone between the photoconductive member and said donor member, said electrode member being electrically biased to detach toner from said donor member so as to form a toner cloud in the development zone with detached toner from the toner cloud developing the latent image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
A printing machine according to claim 10, wherein said donor member includes a roll.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
A printing machine according to claim 11, wherein said electrode member includes a plurality of small diameter wires.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3739748A Cited
US3872826A Cited
US4078520A Cited
US4267245A Cited
US4387982A Cited
US4639115A Cited
US4809035A Cited
US4984019A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-10-06 1996-04-06 1996-10-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-10-06 2000-04-06 2000-10-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-10-06 2004-04-06 2004-10-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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