Xerox Corporation

Robert A Carter

Roger Derek Masham

Edward J Gutman

Don B Jugle

Anil G Bhagwat

Ian Brailsford

An electrostatographic printer has a process unit adapted to be removably mounted in a main assembly of an electrostatographic reproducing machine, the process unit including a developement apparatus at which an electrostatic latent image is developed on an imaging member, and a transfer device which causes a developed toner image to be transferred from the moving imaging member to a copy sheet. The development apparatus is contained within a housing of an electrically insulating material, and comprises conductive means adjacent the exit portion of the development apparatus, i.e. the portion from which the imaging member emerges as it moves towards the transfer device. The conductive means includes a conductive coating on the exit portion of the developer housing, and a conductive seal member through which an electrical discharge path is provided. This reduces the tendency of debris to accumulate in the region of the exit portion, and prevents any debris which does accumulate from building up a charge (which would have detrimental effects on the developed image).

Electrostatographic machine

A sealing arrangement for a container in which an auger having vanes is disposed in the chamber thereof for moving particulate material stored therein. A threaded sealing member is adapted to engage the auger vanes so as to be driven along the container on rotation of the auger. The sealing member is mounted slidingly within the container but is restrained from rotating about the auger. On rotating the auger, in one direction, the sealing member moves along the auger to a storage position located beyond the auger vanes.

Sealing arrangement

A process unit which can be removably mounted in a main assembly of an electrostatographic copying machine has 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 preferably incorporated in the cassette housing. An aperture is present in the housing adjacent corotron so that a copy sheet can enter the unit to have an image transferred thereto from the photoreceptor. A simple resilient cover flap is provided over the aperture which protects the imaging member from contamination, physical damage, and light exposure when the cassette is removed from the main assembly of the copier. The flap is readily displaced as an entering copy sheet bears against it, thus enabling a copy sheet to pass. As the trail edge of the copy sheet leaves the aperture the resilient flap reverts to its former position in which it closes the aperture until the arrival of a subsequent copy sheet. Instead of a resilient flap the cover may be formed by a brush.

Process unit for an imaging apparatus

A cassette for an electrophotographic imaging machine contains a photoreceptor, such as a drum or endless belt photoreceptor and optionally one or more process means, such as a charge corotron, a development device, a transfer corotron and a cleaning device. The photoreceptor belt is loosely held in an open loop, for example by means of belt retaining strips, within a cassette when the cassette is out of the main machine. When the cassette is inserted into a suitably shaped aperture in the main machine, the photoreceptor engages over a plurality of support rollers. At least one of the rollers is movable so as to space it from another roller, thereby tensioning the photoreceptor belt and accurately locating the belt within the main machine. One of the support rollers may also be a drive roller for the belt.

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Springmead, United Kingdom

Robert A Carter