Method for utilizing toner fines as an electrostatic spray coating material

Claim 1

A method of utilizing a residue portion of manufactured toner particles which are generally of a size unacceptable for photocopying, said method comprising the charge-responsive formation of a coating by: manufacturing toner particles; segregating said manufactured toner particles into toner particles generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes, and residue toner particles generally of a smaller size not acceptable for photocopying purposes; diverting said toner particles which are generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes to toner packaging means for the packaging thereof; diverting said residue toner particles to coating material preparation means comprising means for packaging said residue toner particles for use in charge-responsive spray coating; supplying said residue toner particles to charge-responsive spray coating means; and electrostatically spraying said residue toner particles from said charge-responsive spray coating means to form a continuous coating on a substrate with, an air gap separating said charge-responsive spray coating means and said substrate and providing an air path through which said residue toner particles are electrostatically projected from said spray coating means to said substrate.

Claim 2

A method of utilizing a residue portion of manufactured toner particles which are generally of a size unacceptable for photocopying, said method comprising the charge-responsive formation of a coating by: manufacturing toner particles; segregating said manufactured toner particles into toner particles generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes, and residue toner particles generally of a smaller size not acceptable for photocopying purposes; diverting said toner particles which are generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes to toner packaging means for the packaging thereof; diverting said residue toner particles to coating material preparation means comprising means for packaging said residue toner particles for use in charge-responsive spray coating; supplying said residue toner particles to charge-responsive spray coating means; and electrostatically spraying said residue toner particles from said charge-responsive spray coating means to form a continuous coating on a substrate with, an air gap separating said charge-responsive spray coating means and said substrate and providing an air path through which said residue toner particles are electrostatically projected from said spray coating means to said substrate.

Claim 3

A method of utilizing a residue portion of manufactured toner particles which are generally of a size unacceptable for photocopying, said method comprising the preparation of material for the charge-responsive formation of a coating by: manufacturing toner particles; segregating said manufactured toner particles into toner particles generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes, and residue toner particles generally of a smaller size not acceptable for photocopying purposes; diverting said toner particles which are generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes to toner packaging means for the packaging thereof; diverting said residue toner particles to coating material preparation means comprising means for packaging said residue toner particles for use in charge-responsive spray coating; said packaged residue toner particles being operable and suitable for charge-responsive spray coating with charge-responsive spray coating means to form a continuous coating on a substrate with, an air gap separating said charge-responsive spray coating means and said substrate and providing an air path through which said residue toner particles are electrostatically projected from said spray coating means to said substrate; and using charge-responsive spray coating means, spray coating an article with said diverted and packaged, residue toner particles.

Claim 4

A method of utilizing a residue portion of manufactured toner particles which are generally of a size unacceptable for photocopying, said method comprising the preparation of material for the charge-responsive formation of a coating by: manufacturing toner particles; segregating said manufactured toner particles into toner particles generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes, and residue toner particles generally of a smaller size not acceptable for photocopying purposes; diverting said toner particles which are generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes to toner packaging means for the packaging thereof; diverting said residue toner particles to coating material preparation means comprising means for packaging said residue toner particles for use in charge-responsive spray coating; said packaged residue toner particles being operable and suitable for charge-responsive spray coating with charge-responsive spray coating means to form a continuous coating on a substrate with, an air gap separating said charge-responsive spray coating means and said substrate and providing an air path through which said residue toner particles are electrostatically projected from said spray coating means to said substrate; and using charge-responsive spray coating means, spray coating an article with said diverted and packaged, residue toner particles.

Claim 5

A method of utilizing a residue portion of manufactured toner particles which are generally of a size unacceptable for photocopying, said method comprising the charge-responsive formation of a coating by: supplying residue toner particles to charge-responsive spray coating means; said supplied residue toner particles having been manufactured by manufacturing toner particles, segregating said manufactured toner particles into toner particles generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes, and residue toner particles of a smaller size not acceptable for photocopying purposes; diverting said toner particles which are generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes to toner packaging means for the packaging thereof; diverting said residue toner particles to coating material preparation means comprising means for packaging said residue toner particles for use in charge-responsive spray coating; and electrostatically spraying said toner particles from said charge-responsive spray coating means to form a continuous coating on a substrate with an air gap separating said charge-responsive spray coating means and said substrate and providing an air path through which said residue toner particles are electrostatically projected from said spray coating means to said substrate.

Claim 6

A method of utilizing a residue portion of manufactured toner particles which are generally of a size unacceptable for photocopying, said method comprising the charge-responsive formation of a coating by: supplying residue toner particles to charge-responsive spray coating means; said supplied residue toner particles having been manufactured by manufacturing toner particles, segregating said manufactured toner particles into toner particles generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes, and residue toner particles of a smaller size not acceptable for photocopying purposes; diverting said toner particles which are generally of a size acceptable for photocopying purposes to toner packaging means for the packaging thereof; diverting said residue toner particles to coating material preparation means comprising means for packaging said residue toner particles for use in charge-responsive spray coating; and electrostatically spraying said toner particles from said charge-responsive spray coating means to form a continuous coating on a substrate with an air gap separating said charge-responsive spray coating means and said substrate and providing an air path through which said residue toner particles are electrostatically projected from said spray coating means to said substrate.