Avery Dennison Corporation

Raster Graphics Inc.

Kevin C Von Essen

John A Higginson

Charles Richard Lewis, Jr

Craig David Carroll

A retractable writing instrument that substantially prevents writing fluid from evaporating through the tip when the tip is in a retracted position to eliminate the need for a cap. Within the writing instrument is an enclosure member that has a vapor chamber. In the retracted position, the tip of the writing instrument is within the vapor chamber to substantially seal the tip from ambient air so that writing fluid does not evaporate through the tip. The enclosure member has a lip that opens to allow the tip to move forward and extend from the writing instrument so that writing fluid can be delivered to the writing surface for writing. When the tip is moved back into the retracted position the lip closes to substantially seal the tip from the ambient air. An external compression force may be applied to the lip to assist in sealing the lip. The enclosure member may be made of a material that is durable so that the lip does not wear out after many cycles of moving the tip between the retracted and protracted positions, such as silicone, butyl rubber, and thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) material including butyl rubber cross-linked with polypropylene.

Self-sealing retractable writing instrument

An improved toner applying apparatus is provided for developing an electrographic latent image formed on the charge retaining surface of a moving recording medium. The toner applicator includes a housing defining an internal reservoir and including a series of longitudinal, parallel toner applying recesses which are disposed for developmental engagement with a moving recording medium across its entire width. Each toner applying recess communicates with the reservoir. Internal baffles are provided across a toner inlet to the reservoir chamber to provide uniform fluid pressure throughout the reservoir. The parallel toner applying recesses provide a more even and constant flow of toner than is possible in prior art roller applicators and completely eliminate the problem of electrodeposition or plating up of toner particles on the applicator. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a flexure mounted articulation system is provided for enabling the toner applicator structure to be maintained in an invariant position with closer proximity to a recording medium than was previously possible. The system includes compliant cleaning blades disposed for contacting a drying roller to prevent agglomeration of paper fibers and toner particles on the interface been the roller and scraper blade. The flexure mounted system eliminates the fraction and backlash inherent in prior art sliding bearing articulation systems and achieves substantially instantaneous separation of the toner applicator structure away from the surface of a recording medium when a plot is concluded. This advantageously prevents formation of a meniscus bridge between the toner applicator and recording medium and facilities drying of the toner on the recording medium.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Kevin C Von Essen