Xerox Corporation

Alan C Howard

David M Newbury

Geoffrey Watts

Roger Derek Masham

Anil G Bhagwat

Philip R Thompson

Raymond A Harvey

Chistopher Pearce

Anilkumar G Bhagwat

Edward J Byrne

A photoreceptor assembly and a xerographic cassette for a printing or copying machine, the cassette including a photoreceptor drum, a drum cleaner, a waste toner container, for storing waste toner; and a waste toner conveyor for conveying waste toner cleaned off said photoreceptor drum by the cleaner into the waste toner container characterized in that the waste toner container is positioned in the interior of the photoreceptor drum and is reversibly removable therefrom. The conveyor typically includes a flexible helical wire which acts as an auger. Once filled with waste toner, the waste toner container is removed from the drum and is replaced by a fresh container.

Photoreceptor with internal waste toner container

The invention relates to a dispensing cartridge adapted to discharge material therefrom to a receiving member during a dispensing operation. The cartridge includes an inner tubular member with an inner port therein. The cartridge also includes an outer tubular member with an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer port therein. The inner tubular member is mounted rotatably within the outer member and is in sliding contact therewith. A cover is coupled to the inner tubular member and is adapted to rotate the inner tubular member in response to movement of the cover from a first position, wherein the inner port and the outer port are aligned with one another to define an exit aperture for discharging material from the cartridge to the receiving member, to a second position, wherein the inner port and the outer port are misaligned from one another to define a closed position preventing discharge of material from the cartridge. The cartridge further includes a receiver for receiving material contained in the cartridge during a dispensing operation and a housing having inner and outer tubular members. The inner member is concentrically mounted to and is in sliding contact within the outer member for either clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation therewith. Each member has a port. The ports are arranged to align with one another when the inner member is rotated in a first direction. The ports further are arranged to misalign with one another when the inner member is rotated in an opposed direction, to define a closed off position desirable prior to removal of the cartridge from the receiver.

Dispensing cartridge

A process unit which is removably mounted in the main assembly of a reproducing machine such as a xerographic copier, has a housing enclosing an imaging member and, optionally, other processing capability such as a development device, and a cleaner. The unit also has two charging devices, namely a charge scoroton and a transfer corotron which are mounted so as to have a limited degree of vertical movement relative to the unit housing. The charging devices are provided with spacers at their opposite ends which abut a support member in the main assembly when the process unit is inserted therein. In this way the charging devices are automatically accurately located relative to the imaging member when the process unit is inserted in its operative position in the main assembly. Preferably the charging devices are urged towards the support by springs which, in the case of the charge scorotron are included within the cassette housing and, in the case of the transfer corotron form part of the main assembly of the copier.

Removable process unit with charging device located relative to main

A process unit which can be removably mounted in a main assesmbly of a reproducing machine such as a xerographic copier. The unit comprises a housing enclosing an imaging member and, optionally, other processing means such as a development device, a cleaner, and a charge corotron. The unit also comprises an integral transfer corotron which has one end hingedly mounted on the housing enabling the corotron to be pivoted open for jam clearance. Preferably, the end of the corotron remote from the pivoted end is retained in the unit by a latch which is opened automatically to release the corotron when the unit is inserted into the main assembly. A flexure within the main assembly normally urges the corotron to its operative position when the unit is inserted in the main assembly, but the flexure may be withdrawn so that the corotron pivots open about its hinged end to permit jam clearance. When the unit is withdrawn from the main assembly the corotron is automatically latched back into the unit housing.

Process unit for an imaging apparatus

A process unit which can be removably mounted in a main assembly of an electrostatographic copying machine. The unit comprises a housing enclosing an imaging member and, optionally, other processing means such as a development device, a cleaner, and a charge corotron. The transfer corotron, for transferring a toner image from the photoreceptor to a copy sheet is incorporated in the cassette housing, thus avoiding the need to provide a separate movable cover to protect the imaging member from contamination, physical damage, and light exposure when the cassette is removed from the main assembly of the copier.

Apparatus for separating residual toner material from the surface of a reusable photoreceptor in a reproducing machine has a cleaner blade assembly comprising a cleaner blade in a holder. The cleaner blade assembly is movable between two positions. In a first position the blade operatively engages the photoreceptor to clean off the residual toner material which is then collected in a generally enclosed chamber below. In the second position the blade assembly is spaced apart from the photoreceptor but covers the entrance to the chamber forming a sealed enclosure for the contents. Thus the toner collecting chamber is sealed by the cleaner blade alone without relying on the photoreceptor to perform a sealing function which makes the apparatus particularly suitable for use in a process cassette comprising at least a photoreceptor and, optionally, other process elements wherein the photoreceptor cannot seal the chamber because it is only loosely retained when the cassette is not in the working position in the machine.

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Westoning, United Kingdom

Alan C Howard