US5200769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming apparatus provided with shifting means for the toner feed means
Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-11-25
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Granted: 1993-04-06
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Expires: 2011-11-25
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus comprising a pair of electrodes disposed on the opposite surfaces of a substrate having a plurality of toner passages in such a manner that an electric field can be formed inside each of the toner passages so as to allow charged toner to pass therethrough. The charged toner is fed on one electrode by means of a toner feed member. The toner feed member is moved away from the toner passages by means of a shifting member when an image forming operation is not performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Takemura
- 👤 Yoshihiro Koyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:17
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/34; G03G15/344; G03G15/346; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/385; B41J2/41; B41J2/415; B41J2/4155; G03G2217/00; G03G2217/0008; G03G2217/0025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a substrate having a plurality of toner passages extending therethrough, a pair of electrodes, each having holes extending therethrough and communicating with corresponding toner passages of the substrate, he electrodes sandwiching the substrate as an insulating and being disposed so that each hole of each electrode is aligned with a corresponding toner passage, a toner feed means disposed above one electrode for feeding charged toner, a shifting means for moving the toner feed means toward or away from the toner passages in the substrate, and an image information generating means for giving a prescribed potential between the pair of electrodes so that an electric field which causes the charged toner to pass through the toner passages is formed inside the toner passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a substrate having a plurality of toner passages extending therethrough, a pair of electrodes, each having holes extending therethrough and communicating with corresponding toner passages of the substrate, he electrodes sandwiching the substrate as an insulating and being disposed so that each hole of each electrode is aligned with a corresponding toner passage, a toner feed means disposed above one electrode for feeding charged toner, a shifting means for moving the toner feed means toward or away from the toner passages in the substrate, and an image information generating means for giving a prescribed potential between the pair of electrodes so that an electric field which causes the charged toner to pass through the toner passages is formed inside the toner passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shifting means moves the toner feed means toward or away from the substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image forming apparatus comprising; a substrate having a plurality of toner passages extending therethrough, a pair of electrodes, each having holes extending therethrough and communicating with corresponding toner passages of the substrate, the electrodes sandwiching the substrate as an insulation and being disposed so that each hole of each electrode is aligned with a corresponding toner passage, a toner feed means disposed above one electrode for feeding charged toner, a shifting means for moving the toner feed means toward or away from the toner passages in the substrate, and an image information generating means for giving a prescribed potential between the pair of electrodes so that an electric field which causes the charged toner to pass through the toner passages is formed inside the toner passages, and wherein the shifting means moves the toner feed means along the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image forming apparatus comprising; a substrate having a plurality of toner passages extending therethrough, a pair of electrodes, each having holes extending therethrough and communicating with corresponding toner passages of the substrate, the electrodes sandwiching the substrate as an insulation and being disposed so that each hole of each electrode is aligned with a corresponding toner passage, a toner feed means disposed above one electrode for feeding charged toner, a shifting means for moving the toner feed means toward or away from the toner passages in the substrate, and an image information generating means for giving a prescribed potential between the pair of electrodes so that an electric field which causes the charged toner to pass through the toner passages is formed inside the toner passages, and wherein the shifting means moves the toner feed means along the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a nozzle section which faces the toner passages when the toner feed means is moved away from the toner passages of the substrate by the shifting means, so that air is spurted out from the nozzle section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
An image forming apparatus comprising; a substrate having a plurality of toner passages extending therethrough, a pair of electrodes, each having holes extending therethrough and communicating with corresponding toner passages of the substrate, the electrodes sandwiching the substrate as an insulation and being disposed so that each hole of each electrode is aligned with a corresponding over passage, a toner feed means disposed above one electrode for feeding charged toner, a shifting means for moving the toner feed means toward or away from the toner passages in the substrate, and an image information generating means for giving a prescribed potential between the pair of electrodes so that an electric field which causes the charged toner to pass through the toner passages is formed inside the toner passages, and wherein a plurality of toner feed means are disposed rotatably around a support axis, so that each of the toner feed means faces the toner passages of the substrate as they rotate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
160 words
An image forming apparatus comprising; a substrate having a plurality of toner passages extending therethrough, a pair of electrodes, each having holes extending therethrough and communicating with corresponding toner passages of the substrate, the electrodes sandwiching the substrate as an insulation and being disposed so that each hole of each electrode is aligned with a corresponding over passage, a toner feed means disposed above one electrode for feeding charged toner, a shifting means for moving the toner feed means toward or away from the toner passages in the substrate, and an image information generating means for giving a prescribed potential between the pair of electrodes so that an electric field which causes the charged toner to pass through the toner passages is formed inside the toner passages, and wherein a plurality of toner feed means are disposed rotatably around a support axis, so that each of the toner feed means faces the toner passages of the substrate as they rotate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein four toner feed means are provided for feeding magenta, cyan, yellow, and black toners, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-05 | 1996-10-05 | 1997-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-05 | 2000-10-05 | 2001-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-05 | 2004-10-05 | 2005-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |