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US5196889A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for applying an electrical bias to a shell of a magnetic brush

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1992-02-04
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Granted: 1993-03-23
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Expires: 2012-02-04
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Abstract

Abstract In accordance with the invention, there is provided a novel device for applying an electrical bias to a conductive shell of a magnetic brush in an image reproduction machine. The conductive shell is rotatable about an axis of rotation and has an end surface generally perpendicular to the axis. The machine includes a source of electrical bias and a bearing block adjacent the end surface. The bearing block defines an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis. The opening has a wide portion toward the end surfaace, a narrow portion away from the end surface and a spring support surface facing the end surface into which the narrow portion opens. The device includes an elongated conductive member, a compression spring and a narrow conductive connecting piece. The spring is positioned in the wide portion between the spring support surface and the conductive member, and urges the conductive member out of the opening and into contact with the end surface. At least the spring is too large to pass through the narrow portion. The narrow conductive connecting piece is positioned in the narrow opening and connects the conductive member to the source of electrical bias.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert J. Ronnenberg
  • 👤 Satyan R. Kalyandurg
  • 👤 John M. Fiske

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 06:45
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/09; G03G15/0907; G03G15/0921; G03G15/0935

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
Apparatus for applying toner to, and/or removing toner from, a surface, said apparatus comprising: a conductive shell rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an end surface generally perpendicular to said axis; a bearing block adjacent said end surface, said bearing block having an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis, said opening having a wide portion toward said end surface, a narrow portion away from said end surface and a spring support surface facing said end surface into which said narrow portion opens; an elongated conductive member, said end surface moving relative to said elongated conductive member when said conductive shell is rotated; a compression spring positioned in the wide portion between the spring support surface and the conductive member, said spring urging said conductive member out of said opening and into contact with the end surface, said conductive member rubbing said end surface when said shell is rotated, at least said spring being too large to pass through the narrow portion; and a narrow conductive connecting means positioned in said narrow portion for connecting said conductive member to a source of electrical bias.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
Apparatus for applying toner to, and/or removing toner from, a surface, said apparatus comprising: a conductive shell rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an end surface generally perpendicular to said axis; a bearing block adjacent said end surface, said bearing block having an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis, said opening having a wide portion toward said end surface, a narrow portion away from said end surface and a spring support surface facing said end surface into which said narrow portion opens; an elongated conductive member, said end surface moving relative to said elongated conductive member when said conductive shell is rotated; a compression spring positioned in the wide portion between the spring support surface and the conductive member, said spring urging said conductive member out of said opening and into contact with the end surface, said conductive member rubbing said end surface when said shell is rotated, at least said spring being too large to pass through the narrow portion; and a narrow conductive connecting means positioned in said narrow portion for connecting said conductive member to a source of electrical bias.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated conductive member is comprised of carbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bearing block is comprised of a rigid, nonconductive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bearing block is comprised of plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bearing block is comprised of a rigid, nonconductive material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bearing block is comprised of plastic.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 208 words
A device for applying an electrical bias to a conductive shell located in an image reproduction machine, the conductive shell being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an end surface generally perpendicular to the axis, the machine including a source of electrical bias and a bearing block adjacent the end surface, the bearing block having an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis, the opening having a wide portion toward the end surface, a narrow portion away from the end surface and a spring support surface facing the end surface into which the narrow portion opens, said device comprising: an elongated conductive member, said end surface moving relative to said elongated conductive member when said conductive shell is rotated; a compression spring positioned in the wide portion with the compression spring positioned between the spring support surface and the conductive member, and urging said conductive member out of said opening and into contact with the end surface, said conductive member rubbing said end surface when said shell is rotated, at least said spring being too large to pass through the narrow portion; and a narrow conductive connecting means positioned in said narrow portion for connecting said conductive member to said source of electrical bias.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 208 words
A device for applying an electrical bias to a conductive shell located in an image reproduction machine, the conductive shell being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an end surface generally perpendicular to the axis, the machine including a source of electrical bias and a bearing block adjacent the end surface, the bearing block having an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis, the opening having a wide portion toward the end surface, a narrow portion away from the end surface and a spring support surface facing the end surface into which the narrow portion opens, said device comprising: an elongated conductive member, said end surface moving relative to said elongated conductive member when said conductive shell is rotated; a compression spring positioned in the wide portion with the compression spring positioned between the spring support surface and the conductive member, and urging said conductive member out of said opening and into contact with the end surface, said conductive member rubbing said end surface when said shell is rotated, at least said spring being too large to pass through the narrow portion; and a narrow conductive connecting means positioned in said narrow portion for connecting said conductive member to said source of electrical bias.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said elongated conductive member is comprised of carbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said narrow conductive connecting means comprises a conductive wire, said wire being electrically isolated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said narrow conductive connecting means comprises a conductive wire, said wire being electrically isolated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 220 words
An implement for supporting a means for applying an electrical bias to a conductive shell located in an image reproduction machine, the conductive shell being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an end surface generally perpendicular to the axis, the machine including a source of electrical bias, the applying means including a narrow conductive connecting means, an elongated conductive member, said end surface moving relative to said elongated conductive member when said conductive shell is rotated, and a compression spring, said implement comprising: a bearing block adjacent said end surface, said bearing block having an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis, said opening having a wide portion toward said end surface, a narrow portion away from said end surface and a spring support surface facing said end surface into which said narrow portion opens, said compression spring being positioned in the wide portion between the spring support surface and the conductive member, and urging said conductive member out of said opening and into contact with the end surface, said conductive member rubbing said end surface when said shell is rotated, at least said spring being too large to pass through the narrow portion, said narrow conductive connecting means being positioned in said narrow portion for connecting said conductive member to said source of electrical bias.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 220 words
An implement for supporting a means for applying an electrical bias to a conductive shell located in an image reproduction machine, the conductive shell being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an end surface generally perpendicular to the axis, the machine including a source of electrical bias, the applying means including a narrow conductive connecting means, an elongated conductive member, said end surface moving relative to said elongated conductive member when said conductive shell is rotated, and a compression spring, said implement comprising: a bearing block adjacent said end surface, said bearing block having an opening elongated generally in the direction of the axis, said opening having a wide portion toward said end surface, a narrow portion away from said end surface and a spring support surface facing said end surface into which said narrow portion opens, said compression spring being positioned in the wide portion between the spring support surface and the conductive member, and urging said conductive member out of said opening and into contact with the end surface, said conductive member rubbing said end surface when said shell is rotated, at least said spring being too large to pass through the narrow portion, said narrow conductive connecting means being positioned in said narrow portion for connecting said conductive member to said source of electrical bias.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
The implement of claim 11 wherein said bearing block is comprised of a rigid, nonconductive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The implement of claim 12 wherein said bearing block is comprised of plastic.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4128328A Cited
US4205622A Cited
JPS56119154A Cited
US4397539A Cited
JPS5857158A Cited
JPS58153966A Cited
JPS63124075A Cited
JPS63188169A Cited
JPS63193164A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-03-22 1996-09-21 1997-03-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-03-22 2000-09-21 2001-03-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-03-22 2004-09-21 2005-03-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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