US5532100A — Multi-roller electrostatic toning

Claim 1

Independent Claim 67 words

Apparatus for applying non-magnetic and non-conductive toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container having a closed bottom and sides, for containing powdered toner; (b) means for fluidizing the toner in the container; (c) means for simultaneously stirring and electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; and (d) means for transferring toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 67 words

Apparatus for applying non-magnetic and non-conductive toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container having a closed bottom and sides, for containing powdered toner; (b) means for fluidizing the toner in the container; (c) means for simultaneously stirring and electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; and (d) means for transferring toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said container closed bottom is gas pervious, and wherein said means (b) comprises means for directing gas into the powdered toner within the container through said gas pervious bottom.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for replenishing the toner supply in said container when it drops below a desired amount, comprising: an open top of said container; a hopper located above said open top; and sensing means for sensing the level of toner in said container, and controlling said hopper to release powdered toner into said container when the level is below the desired amount.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means (b) further comprises means for vibrating said container.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said vibrating means comprises an electrical vibrator attached to one closed side wall of said container, above the introduction of gas to effect fluidization.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 55 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said gas pervious bottom of said container comprises a false bottom, a solid bottom being provided below said gas pervious bottom, and gas being introduced between said bottoms; and wherein said air pervious bottom is selected from the group consisting essentially of porous polyethylene and porous stainless steel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for replenishing the toner supply in said container when it drops below a desired amount, comprising: an open top of said container; a hopper located above said open top; and sensing means for sensing the level of toner in said container, and controlling said hopper to release powdered toner into said container when the level is below the desired amount.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said hopper includes a slotted feed roller rotatable about a generally horizontal axis located at an open bottom thereof, said sensing and controlling means controlling rotation of said roller in response to a low level condition.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said hopper further comprises sloping wall portions sloping from an upper portion of said hopper toward said slotted roller to facilitate feeding of powdered toner from said hopper to the slots in said roller.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means (d) comprises a plurality of conductive metallic rotating cylinders mounted for rotation about generally horizontal, parallel, axes, having the peripheral surfaces thereof spaced from said container; and means for electrically charging said cylinders.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said plurality of cylinders comprises an applicator cylinder for transferring toner therefrom to the member with an electrostatic pattern, said applicator cylinder actually transferring toner at approximately a three o'clock position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 115 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said plurality of cylinders comprises three cylinders, a first cylinder having the peripheral surface thereof mounted just above the level of toner in said container at an open top portion of said container; a second cylinder having the axis thereof mounted above the axis of rotation of said first cylinder and for removal of opposite sign charged toner and low charge toner from said applicator roller; and said application cylinder having the axis of rotation thereof mounted below the axis of rotation of said first cylinder, and having the peripheral surface thereof adjacent both the peripheral surface of said first roller, and said member with an electrostatic pattern.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 13 further comprising scraper means associated with said first and application cylinders for scraping unused toner therefrom to fall back into said container through the open top thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means (c) comprises a plurality of rotating elements having radially outwardly extending pointed appendages.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 95 words

Apparatus for applying powdered non-magnetic and non-conductive toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container having a closed bottom and sides, for containing powdered non-magnetic and non-conductive powdered toner; (b) means for electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; and (c) means for transferring powdered toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, said means comprising: a plurality of conductive metallic rotating cylinders mounted for rotation about generally horizontal, parallel, axes, having the peripheral surfaces thereof spaced from said container; and means for electrically charging said cylinders.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 95 words

Apparatus for applying powdered non-magnetic and non-conductive toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container having a closed bottom and sides, for containing powdered non-magnetic and non-conductive powdered toner; (b) means for electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; and (c) means for transferring powdered toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, said means comprising: a plurality of conductive metallic rotating cylinders mounted for rotation about generally horizontal, parallel, axes, having the peripheral surfaces thereof spaced from said container; and means for electrically charging said cylinders.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said plurality of cylinders comprises an applicator cylinder for transferring toner therefrom to said member with an electrostatic pattern, said applicator cylinder actually transferring toner at approximately a three o'clock position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 112 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said plurality of cylinders comprises three cylinders, a first cylinder having the peripheral surface thereof mounted just above the level of toner in said container at an open top portion of said container; a second cylinder having the axis thereof mounted above the axis of rotation of said first cylinder and for removal of opposite sign charge toner and low charge to mass ratio toner from said applicator roller; and said applicator cylinder having the axis of rotation thereof mounted below the axis of rotation of said first cylinder, and having the peripheral surface of said first roller, and said member with an electrostatic pattern.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 18 further comprising scraper means associated with said first and applicator cylinders for scraping unused toner therefrom to fall back into said container through the open top thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said member with an electrostatic pattern comprises a rotating image cylinder, rotating in the opposite direction of rotation from said applicator cylinder.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 124 words

Apparatus for applying powdered toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container having a closed bottom and sides, for containing powdered toner; (b) means for fluidizing the toner in the container; (c) means for electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; (d) means for transferring toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern; and (e) means for replenishing the toner supply in said container when it drops below a desired amount, comprising: an open top of said container; a hopper located above said open top; and sensing means for sensing the level of toner in said container, and controlling said hopper to release powdered toner into said container when the level is below the desired amount.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 124 words

Apparatus for applying powdered toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container having a closed bottom and sides, for containing powdered toner; (b) means for fluidizing the toner in the container; (c) means for electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; (d) means for transferring toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern; and (e) means for replenishing the toner supply in said container when it drops below a desired amount, comprising: an open top of said container; a hopper located above said open top; and sensing means for sensing the level of toner in said container, and controlling said hopper to release powdered toner into said container when the level is below the desired amount.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein said hopper includes a slotted feed cylinder rotatable about a generally horizontal axis located at an open bottom thereof, said sensing and controlling means controlling rotation of said cylinder in response to a low level condition.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said hopper further comprises sloping wall portions sloping from an upper portion of said hopper toward said slotted roller to facilitate feeding of powdered toner from said hopper to the slots in said roller.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 107 words

Apparatus for applying powdered toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container for containing powdered toner having a closed bottom and sides, said closed bottom comprising an air pervious false bottom which engages toner, and a solid bottom disposed below said false bottom; (b) means for fluidizing the toner in the container, comprising means for directing gas into the powdered toner within the container between the solid and false bottoms, then through said gas pervious bottom; (c) means for electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; and (d) means for transferring toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 107 words

Apparatus for applying powdered toner to a member containing an electrostatic pattern, comprising: (a) a container for containing powdered toner having a closed bottom and sides, said closed bottom comprising an air pervious false bottom which engages toner, and a solid bottom disposed below said false bottom; (b) means for fluidizing the toner in the container, comprising means for directing gas into the powdered toner within the container between the solid and false bottoms, then through said gas pervious bottom; (c) means for electrically charging the powdered toner in the container; and (d) means for transferring toner from the container to a member containing an electrostatic pattern.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said means (b) further comprises means for vibrating said container.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein said vibrating means comprises an electrical vibrator attached to one closed side wall of said container, above the introduction of gas to effect fluidization.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said air pervious false bottom is of material selected from the group consisting essentially of porous polyethylene and porous stainless steel.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-07-02	2000-01-01	2000-07-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-07-02	2004-01-01	2004-07-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-07-02	2008-01-01	2008-07-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multi-roller electrostatic toning

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