Xerox Corporation

Timothy L Huss

Paul Martin Wegman

Mikhail Vaynshteyn

Dale E Boudreau

William R Enderle, Jr

A particle filling line comprises a vertically-oriented conduit that includes a conduit hollow. The conduit includes a conduit top and a conduit bottom. The conduit bottom defines an outlet. The conduit is arranged so that particles supplied to the conduit top flow through the outlet to be received by one or more containers disposed on a movable conveyor belt. The conduit hollow includes one or more conduit hollow elements disposed therein. The one or more conduit hollow elements include any of a plurality of agitators and an auger. The particle filling line is arranged for determining a resistance that is based on the spacing between the one or more conduit hollow elements and the conduit inner walls. When the resistance is determined to be less than a threshold resistance value, the particle filling process ceases.

Continuity-detecting method of dispensing particles, a particle filling line and apparatus for dispensing particles

A system and method are provided for notifying a user of a document left at a xerographic apparatus, such as a printer or copier. The system includes a sensor module for sensing the document and determining whether the user is within a predetermined distance of the xerographic apparatus. The system further includes a notification module for notifying the user of the document left if the copier user is outside the predetermined distance of the copier. The system and method can utilize RFID transponders each worn by a respective copier user or input data for determining the identity of the user. Notification can be accomplished by one of several methods, such as transmitting an electronic message to the user, actuating an alarm located near or at the xerographic apparatus, and preventing further use of the apparatus until the document is retrieved.

System and method for notifying a user of a document left at a xerographic apparatus

A particle filling line comprises a vertical conduit that is arranged to dispense particles to one or more containers that are disposed on an included movable conveyor belt. The conduit includes a conduit hollow, a conduit top and a conduit bottom that defines an outlet. Particles supplied to the conduit top flow through the outlet to fill the containers. The conduit is filled with particles. The particles include a particle spacing air. The particle spacing air is reduced by means of a porous tube that is fixed in the conduit hollow and coupled to a vacuum source. After reducing the particle spacing air, the particles flow through the outlet to be received in the containers.

Method of dispensing particles, a particle filling line, and apparatus for dispensing particles

Particles are packed in a container. The container is either cylindrical-shaped or box-shaped. The container has a container inner wall and an inner bottom. A ramp is disposed on the container inner bottom. The ramp has a ramp base that is narrower than the container inner bottom. A conical-shaped inclined ramp surface extends upward from the ramp base at a substantially constant ramp surface angle with respect to horizontal and towards the container inner wall. The inclined ramp surface defines a ramp upper rim that is substantially proximate to the container inner wall. The particles have an angle of repose that is less than the ramp surface angle. The particles flow down the inclined ramp surface towards the ramp base. The particles are removed from the container using a vacuum feed nozzle that is disposed proximate to the particles in the container.

Container with conical-shaped ramp and method of removing particles from the same

An apparatus and method for supplying particulate material from a hopper is disclosed. A conduit is operably connected to the hopper and extends downwardly therefrom, the conduit permitting a flow of particulate material therewithin in a supplying operation. A nozzle assembly is connected to the conduit and extending downwardly therefrom. The nozzle assembly defines an inlet thereof for receiving particulate material from the conduit and defines an outlet thereof for dispensing particulate material from the nozzle assembly. A conveyor within the conduit assists in providing the flow of particulate material through the conduit. Within the nozzle assembly is a porous nozzle with dimensions selected so as to provide a ratio of the inlet cross-sectional area to the outlet cross-sectional area and selection and application of an air boundary layer to the inner surface of the porous nozzle to maximize the porous nozzle's compression ratio such that the flow of particulate material does not seize as it progresses through the nozzle. The nozzle assembly is part of a mechanical valve, the nozzle assembly being slidably supported with respect to the conduit. The slidable nozzle assembly moves up and down with respect to a flow control device to respectively open and close the valve. In the closed position the flow control device blocks the flow of particulate material from the nozzle assembly and in the open position the flow control device allows particulate material to flow from the nozzle assembly.

High speed air nozzle with mechanical valve for particulate systems

An electrostatographic reproduction machine including a movable photoconductive member having an image bearing surface; devices for forming a latent image electrostatically on the image bearing surface; a development unit including toner particles for developing the latent image to be transferred onto a sheet; a moving device for moving waste toner particles from the image bearing surface and from the development unit; and a waste developer material cartridge having a housing defining a surface area, a waste developer material chamber, and a waste developer material receiving opening for receiving waste developer material from the moving device, wherein the waste developer material cartridge housing has an accessible sealing device mounted over the receiving opening; and a label assembly reuseable as a sealing device for effectively resealing the accessibly-sealed waste developer material receiving opening during shipping of the cartridge. The label assembly-sealing device includes a first label member for attaching permanently to a portion of the surface area of the housing; detailed instructions on the first label member on resealing and shipping the waste developer material cartridge for recycling; and a second and removable label member-sealing device mounted removably onto the first label member for removal and reuse to effectively reseal the accessibly-sealed waste developer material receiving opening during shipping of the cartridge. The second and removable label member has simple label instructions thereon directing the customer to remove it and to read the detailed instructions on the first label member thereunder before shipping the waste developer material cartridge to a distant location for recycling.

Reproduction machine including a developer material cartridge having a

An electrostatographic reproduction machine including a movable photoconductive member having an image bearing surface; devices for forming a latent image electrostatically on the image bearing surface; a developing assembly including toner particles for developing the latent image to be transferred onto a sheet; a moving device for moving waste toner particles from the image bearing surface and from the developing assembly; a toner particle cartridge having a waste toner receiving opening for receiving waste toner particles from the moving device; and a non-interfering dual-use cartridge sealing device for accessibly presealing the receiving opening for receiving waste toner particles, and for effectively resealing the receiving opening during shipping of the toner cartridge to a recycling location. The non-interfering dual-use cartridge sealing device includes a flexible substrate having a first portion and a second portion where the first portion has a resilient member mounted to the flexible substrate, slits formed through the resilient member and through the flexible substrate in the first portion, and a device for attaching the first portion over the receiving opening. The second portion is long enough and foldable over the resilient member, and has a device for effectively attaching and sealing the second portion to the resilient member, thus effectively resealing the slits over the receiving opening against waste toner particle spillage during shipping of the toner cartridge to a recycling location.

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Ontario, NY, United States of America

Timothy L Huss