Xerox Corporation

Thomas W O'Connor

Lewis S Smith

Joseph S Zelazny

Mit G Turakhia

Michael J Bortfeldt

Valentin Sukhenko

John R Farkas

Jeffery Q Hammond

An apparatus in which toner fines are recovered from a recirculating liquid transporting toner pellets cut from extruded toner. The recirculating liquid cleans the pellet cutter and forms a mixture of liquid and toner fines. The recovery unit is positioned between the pellet cutter and a station discharging the pellets. In this way, clean liquid flows into the pellet cutter during each cycle. The recovery unit has a housing defining a chamber having two sections. A sloping screen is located in the chamber covering one of the chamber sections. The mixture of toner fines and liquid is dispensed onto the screen. The liquid passes through the screen and is recirculated. Toner fines collect on the screen. A backwash system washes the toner fines from the screen into the other section of the chamber. The mixture of toner fines and liquid is pumped from the other chamber section into a separator. The toner fines are separated from the liquid and re-used in the extruder. Liquid from the separator is returned to the other chamber section.

Toner fine recovery system

A coarse particle separator for separating and collecting coarse toner particles having a size greater than substantially 500 microns comprises a tank having an inlet and an outlet, the separation being performed within the tank. The inlet to the tank is located at a lower portion of the tank and is connected to an eductor station by an eductor line. Particles are introduced to the inlet by the eductor line at a velocity of approximately 4500 ft/min. The separation of coarse and light toner particles can be performed by reducing the flow velocity so the coarse particles settle out by their own weight. A flow baffle made of a 75 micron screen hinders the passage of coarse particles. The outlet outputs light toner particles to at least one toner storage bin. Alternatively, the tank can have a conical-shaped upper portion which induces a cyclone effect in the flow of toner particles, the cyclone effect resulting in the collection of coarse particles in the lower portion of the tank. The apex of the conical-shaped upper portion terminates in the outlet. The inlet is located at a side of the tank such that a clearance is provided below the inlet for collection of the coarse toner particles.

Coarse particle separator for toner particles

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Thomas W O'Connor