US5229825A — Magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 176 words

A magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus having a shell surrounding a plurality of alternating pole magnets, said shell and magnets being relatively movable to transport developer mix through a development zone, said apparatus comprising: means, located upstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix, for selectively supplying developer mix, including toner particles and carrier particles, to the surface of said shell; means, located downstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix, for selectively removing developer mix from the surface of said shell; means, located proximate said shell, for selectively stripping toner particles from said developer mix on said shell; and control means for (1) activating said supply means and removing means and deactivating said stripping means to provide a source of toner particles for laydown in the development zone, and (2) deactivating said supply means and said removing means and activating said stripping means to provide a source of substantially toner particle depleted developer mix for toner particle pickup in the development zone.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 176 words

A magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus having a shell surrounding a plurality of alternating pole magnets, said shell and magnets being relatively movable to transport developer mix through a development zone, said apparatus comprising: means, located upstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix, for selectively supplying developer mix, including toner particles and carrier particles, to the surface of said shell; means, located downstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix, for selectively removing developer mix from the surface of said shell; means, located proximate said shell, for selectively stripping toner particles from said developer mix on said shell; and control means for (1) activating said supply means and removing means and deactivating said stripping means to provide a source of toner particles for laydown in the development zone, and (2) deactivating said supply means and said removing means and activating said stripping means to provide a source of substantially toner particle depleted developer mix for toner particle pickup in the development zone.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stripping means is located downstream of said supply means and upstream of said development zone, and wherein the proximity of said stripping means to said shell is such that said stripping means meters the amount of developer mix on said shell.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stripping means comprises a rotatably mounted toner control roller.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a second removing means for removing toner particles from the surface of said toner control roller.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second removing means comprises a cleaning skive engaging the surface of said toner control roller.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 5 wherein said supplying means includes a developer mix supply tank, and wherein said toner control roller, located in association with said supply tank, is rotated relative to said cleaning skive such that said cleaning skive causes toner particles removed from the surface of said toner control roller to return to said developer mix supply tank.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a recovery bin, and wherein said toner control roller, located in association with said recovery bin, is rotated relative to said cleaning skive such that said cleaning skive causes toner particles removed from the surface of said toner control roller to pass to the recovery bin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 104 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a recovery bin, wherein said supplying means includes a developer mix supply tank, and wherein when said toner control roller, located in association with said supply tank and said recovery bin, is rotated, relative to said cleaning skive, in one direction, said cleaning skive causes toner particles removed from the surface of said toner control roller to return to said developer mix supply tank, and when said toner control roller is rotated in the opposite direction, said cleaning skive causes toner particles removed from said toner control roller to fall into said recovery bin.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 49 words

The magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus of claim 1 wherein said removing means comprises a take-off skive pivotable to a first position engaging said shell for removing developer mix from said shell and to a second position remote from said shell for allowing developer mix to remain on said shell.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 214 words

A method of selectively laying down or picking up toner particles in a development zone with a magnetic brush, said magnetic brush having a shell surrounding a plurality of alternating pole magnets, said shell and magnets being relatively movable to transport developer mix through the development zone, the method comprising the steps of: a) selectively supplying developer mix, including toner particles and carrier particles, to the surface of the shell at a location on the shell upstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix; b) selectively removing developer mix from the surface of the shell at a location on the shell downstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix; c) selectively stripping toner particles from the developer mix on the surface of the shell; d) providing a source of toner particles for laydown in the development zone by causing developer mix to be supplied to the shell; and e) providing a source of substantially toner particle depleted developer mix for toner particle pickup in the development zone by preventing the removal of developer mix from the shell, preventing the supply of developer mix to the shell and causing toner particles to be stripped from the developer mix on the shell.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 214 words

A method of selectively laying down or picking up toner particles in a development zone with a magnetic brush, said magnetic brush having a shell surrounding a plurality of alternating pole magnets, said shell and magnets being relatively movable to transport developer mix through the development zone, the method comprising the steps of: a) selectively supplying developer mix, including toner particles and carrier particles, to the surface of the shell at a location on the shell upstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix; b) selectively removing developer mix from the surface of the shell at a location on the shell downstream of the development zone relative to a direction of transport of said developer mix; c) selectively stripping toner particles from the developer mix on the surface of the shell; d) providing a source of toner particles for laydown in the development zone by causing developer mix to be supplied to the shell; and e) providing a source of substantially toner particle depleted developer mix for toner particle pickup in the development zone by preventing the removal of developer mix from the shell, preventing the supply of developer mix to the shell and causing toner particles to be stripped from the developer mix on the shell.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method of selectively laying down or picking up toner particles in a development zone as defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of returning the stripped toner particles to a location where they can be remixed with said developer mix.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-07-19	1997-01-18	1997-07-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-07-19	2001-01-18	2001-07-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-07-19	2005-01-18	2005-07-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Magnetic brush laydown/pickup apparatus

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