The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 04, 1999
Christopher Snelling, East Rochester, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A pneumatically coupled sonic toner release development apparatus is provided for reliably and uniformly developing latent electrostatic images in a toner image reproduction machine using charged toner particles. The pneumatically coupled sonic toner release development apparatus includes a development housing defining a sump for holding developer material containing the charged toner particles; a developer material moving device mounted within the sump for transporting developer material within the sump; and a pneumatically coupled sonic toner release assembly including an acoustic transducer, a pneumatic coupling device connected to the acoustic transducer, and a pneumatic donor assembly connected to the pneumatic coupling device. The pneumatic donor assembly is mounted partially within the sump for receiving charged toner particles from the developer material moving device and for transporting the charged toner particles through a development nip of a reproduction machine for high quality image development. The acoustic transducer and pneumatic coupling device produce uniform acoustic motions in the pneumatic donor assembly for uniformly releasing charged toner particles from the pneumatic donor assembly, thereby resulting in high quality toner image development.