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:
Jun. 18, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
Richard Allen Fotland, Franklin, MA (US);
Thomas D. Kegelman, Palm Harbor, FL (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 1/508 ; G03G 2/100 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 1/508 ; G03G 2/100 ;
Abstract
Method and apparatus for eliminating stray background toner in electrostatic printer images by first electrostatically neutralizing any background toner charge and then removing neutralized toner. An ac corona wire positioned between a developer unit and a background toner scavenger is employed to neutralize unwanted background toner. Alternately, a high current density ac discharge between two electrodes separated by a dielectric layer may be employed as a bipolar ion source. Toner may be scavenged using either a vacuum suction manifold and/or a rotating brush.