Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Oce Printing Systems Gmbh

Bernhard Schlageter

Erich Baier

Reinhold Schmidl

Rainer Koefferlein

Josef Ranner

Joseph Knott

Uwe Höllig

Bernd Schoch

Klaus Ströl

Manfred Maier

Christian Heil

Wolfgang Von Tluck

René Froeschl

Rainer K/o/ Efferlein

In a method or device for dosing toner material in an electrophotographic printer or copier, toner material is introduced into at least one bucket chamber rotatably arranged in an opening at a bottom of a toner reservoir. The bucket chamber has a paddle wheel which seals the opening of the toner reservoir. As the paddlewheel rotates, toner material in the bucket chamber is conveyed into a region. The toner material conveyed from the paddlewheel is further conveyed with a screw conveyor. Also a toner reservoir is provided having a toner removal opening shaped to accommodate at least a portion of a paddlewheel.

Device and method for dosing toner material in an electrophotographic printer or copier

In a method and device to separate toner material and air from a toner material-air mixture, and first operating phase at toner material-air mixture is supplied to a filter so that air flows through the filter in a first direction. In a second operating phase, the flow of air through the filter in a first direction is interrupted such that toner material deposited on the filter is loosened. In a second operating phase, air flows through the filter in a direction approximately opposite to the first direction. Also in a method device for dosing toner material in an electrophotographic printer or copier, toner material is introduced into at least one bucket chamber rotatably arranged in an opening at a bottom of a toner reservoir. The bucket chamber has a paddle wheel which seals the opening of the toner reservoir. As the paddlewheel rotates, toner material in the bucket chamber is conveyed into a region. The toner material conveyed from the paddlewheel is further conveyed with a screw conveyor. Also a toner reservoir is provided having a toner removal opening shaped to accommodate at least a portion of a paddlewheel.

In order to replace out-of-date flowing medium in a system, where the medium has a component which ages, out-of-date flowing medium is removed and a quantity of fresh flowing medium or a fresh component are added while maintaining a given level of the flowing medium.

Device and method for the replacement of expired developer

In order to replace out-of date flowing medium () in a system, comprising a component which ages, a defined amount of out-of-date flowing medium () is removed and the same amount of fresh flowing medium or fresh components () added and a given level (&#x2033;) of the flowing medium maintained.

Device and method for the replacement of out-of-date developer

A method of conveying toner material from a refill container is provided, wherein a refill container having an opening for the discharge of toner material is arranged in a receptacle device in a first substantially upright position. In this first position, the opening is closed by a closing device. The refill container is swiveled into the second position with bottom opening with the aid of the receptacle device. Toner material is taken from the refill container via a discharge opening provided in the closing device. Further, the invention relates to a device for conveying toner material and to an associated toner refill container.

Method of conveying toner from a toner refill container

Non-mechanical printer or copier means comprising an exposure means

Isorunning-counterrunning developer station for an electrophotographic

In a developer station for an electrophotographic printing or copying machine, there is provided apparatus which serves to assure a uniform layer thickness and density of developer mix to be conducted by the developer roller to the inking gap with a charge image carrier. This apparatus comprises a stripping roller which is mounted for rotation in the same direction as the developing roller and is arranged adjacent to the developing roller for defining therebetween a nip area through which developer mix must pass in route to the inking gap. The stripping roller serves to define an even level thickness for the developer mix being conducted to the inking gap by stripping away an upper portion of the developer mix layer for return to the main body of developer mix disposed in the lower region of the developer station. A guide plate is disposed beneath the striping roller about the lower end of the developer roller for defining a gap opening between its lead edge and the stripping roller. The excess developer mix stripped by the stripping roller passes through this gap opening for return to the station lower region. The gap is sized such that a small accumulation of excess mix particles develops at the inlet to the nip area for compressing the developer mix layer at this point and, thus, effecting a uniform density of the mix layer passing through the nip area onto the inking gap.

Device for adjusting the level of a developing mixture, which consists

In a developer station for an electrophotographic printing or copying machine, there is provided apparatus which serves to effectively prevent toner dust emergence from the lower region of the developer station which could cause undesirable inking of background areas on the charge image carrier passing through the developer station. This apparatus comprises a generally laterally extending guide plate assembly disposed adjacent the open upper end of the developer station and extending between the magnetic drum or developing roller and an adjacent station sidewall. The guide plate is arranged with a lead end facing the discharge point of the inking gap formed between the developing roller and the charge image carrier for dividing developer mix passing from the inking gap and spilling off the upper end of the developing roller into two branch flows, the first of which passes through the gap formed between the lead end of the guide plate and the adjacent developing roller surface and the second of which is conducted from the opposed trail end of the guide plate against the adjacent station sidewall along which it passes back downwardly into the lower region of the station. The guide plate serves as a solid barrier against the emergence of toner dust from the lower region of the station and the two branch flows serve as fluid seals against such upward escape of toner dust.

Device for the development of charge images, which are arranged on a

In a developer station for an electrophotographic printing or copying machine, there is provided apparatus which affords effective intermixing of carrier and toner particles in the developer mix and which enables the developer mix to be removed from the station prior to replacement in an automatic and simplified fashion. Transport and developer rollers are mounted in the station for conducting developer mix from a supply chamber to communication with a charge image carrier. A pair of rotary screws are disposed in the station on one side of the rollers with conveyance directions opposite to one another for conducting developer mix back and forth through the station enabling fresh toner to blend into the developer mix and maintaining uniform mixing of toner and carrier particles of the mix. On the other side of the developer roller from the mixing screws, there is provided a guide plate assembly which receives developer mix spilled off the top of the developer drum after passing by the image carrier and conducts this spilled-off mix laterally through the housing toward one end of the housing. At this one end of the housing there is provided a discharge opening in the housing floor underlying the flow communication between the first screw receiving the fresh toner and the second screw disposed in the main body mix supply chamber. Overlying the discharge opening and extending between a stripper means acting upon the developer roller and the discharge opening is a discharge plate which serves to conduct stripped away developer mix particles into the discharge opening. For removal of developer mix from the station, particles are conveyed by the mixing screws, the developer and transport rollers, the guide plate assembly, and the discharge plate until substantially all of the developer mix contained in the station is passed into the discharge opening.

Magnetic brush developing station

In a copying apparatus or printing apparatus, charge images of characters to be printed are produced on a band-shaped intermediate carrier having a photoelectric layer, for example. The characters are developed with toner and are subsequently transferred to a recording carrier, for example, paper. A high percentage of the toner, situated on the intermediate carrier, is thereby to be transferred to the recording carrier. Mechanical apparatus is provided by which the intermediate carrier having the side provided with toner is brought into contact with the recording carrier during the transfer process. The intermediate carrier consists of a material of such elasticity that the area, provided therefor, can come temporarily to a stop during the transfer process. The mechanical apparatus can comprise a stationary strip which is arranged on the one side of the intermediate carrier and a movable bar arranged on the other side of the intermediate carrier.

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Unterhaching, Germany

Bernhard Schlageter