Pitney Bowes Inc.

I-tek, Inc.

James E Genthe

William R Buchan

Paul J Macaluso

Douglas I Morrison

W Raymond Buchan

Charles E Myers

A photoconductive surface, a carbon loaded, elastomeric roller having two levels of impedance under two distinct loading conditions situated adjacent the photoconductive surface, and a device for generating two different loading conditions on the roller to thereby produce the two levels of impedance, wherein when the roller is subjected to the lower level of loading the roller is operable for charging the photoconductive surface and when the roller is subjected to the higher level of loading the roller is operable for transferring a developed image from the photoconductive surface to a receiver sheet.

Electrophotocopier charging and transfer roller

A development powder dispensing apparatus that is in the form of a carousel. The apparatus has a generally cylindrical configuration that is divided into a number of chambers such that the development powder toner within each chamber may be supplied individually to a magnetic brush unit. Because of the separation of the toner into chambers, no toner compression is experienced even though large amounts of toner may be stored.

Developer dispensing apparatus

In a copier including a flexible, endless web-type photoreceptor, and including suitable means for successively advancing the photoreceptor from a storage station and through several processing stations and back to the storage station, there is provided storing apparatus for supporting a major portion of the photoreceptor at the storage station in the form of a series of interconnected U-shaped loops. The supporting apparatus includes a plurality of loop supports, from which the photoreceptor loops are individually hung. In addition, the storing apparatus includes means for intermittently moving the loop supports and thus the photoreceptor loops in timed relation to advancement of the photoreceptor to and from the storage station.

Electrostatic copier including photoreceptor storing apparatus

A system is disclosed which will sense the image-development state of toner in the development subsystem of an electrophotographic copier apparatus. This image-development state is related to both toner concentration and the charge-to-mass ratio (q/m) existing on toner particles. The sensing system employs an optical fiber bundle having both transmitting and receiving fibers. At one end, herein referred to as the common end, and transmitting and receiving fibers are interspersed. This common end is positioned flush with the inside chamber wall on a developer housing. At the other end, the transmitting and receiving fibers are bifurcated. The transmitting fibers of the optical bundle are used to guide light from a light source to the common end, and part of the transmitted light is backscattered and guided through the receiving fibers to an optical sensor. The signal received is inversely proportional to the amount of toner deposited on the end of the bundle and the toner on the surface of carrier particles. This signal can be used to control the amount of toner added to the developer subsystem at any given time.

Developer sensing system and control

A special inexpensive development electrode within a cascade development station is positioned closely adjacent to a xerographic drum to define a development zone therebetween. The electrode is roughened by producing deflection elements thereon forming a waffle-like or diamond-shaped knurled pattern projecting into the development zone, and, at the same time, is designed to be spaced from the drum by a distance which varies from between a relatively wide spacing adjacent the input end of the development zone and a relatively narrow spacing toward the output end of the zone. Together, the variable spacing of the zone and the deflection elements have the effect of increasing the density of the developer in the zone to thus decrease its velocity through the zone so that directional effects in developed images due to a high velocity differential between the developer and the drum can be controlled and substantially eliminated, while at the same time, introducing a radial component of motion to the developer toward the drum. These characteristics result in an increased number of development events, an increased quantity of toner within the development zone, more effective scavenging of toner from background portions of the drum and, in general, greater uniformity and speed in the development operation.

Cascade development station having a roughened development plate for

A toner dispensing apparatus for electrophotographic copiers. The dispenser includes an elongated hollow tubular member extending across the developer assembly of the copier within which is positioned a rotatable auger of novel construction having a helical groove formed around its surface. One end of the auger extends out of the tubular member into a toner supply container which is adapted to feed fresh toner into the groove of the auger. Rotation of the auger transports closely metered amounts of toner from the supply container into and along the tubular member and as it is carried there along, the toner will be automatically dispensed in precise amounts through a plurality of apertures extending along the bottom of the tubular member. According to one important feature of the invention, the toner dispenser is supported across the developer assembly in a position to dispense toner into the developer as it is falling from the development zone toward the elevator sump. This provides an opportunity for effective mixing of the toner with the developer without the need for rotating mixing screws or the like in the elevator sump, although a stationary crossmixer is preferably provided to assist in the mixing activity.

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Newtown, CT, United States of America

James E Genthe