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:
Nov. 18, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 12, 2013
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Ian G. Harpur, Welwyn Garden City, GB;
Michael John Wilsher, Letchworth, GB;
Richard David Emms, Welwyn Garden City, GB;
Derek William Judd, Stevenage, GB;
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
An approach is provided for reducing an amount of residual toner remaining in a rotating container. The approach involves rotating a rotatable vessel configured to contain a toner. The approach also involves a causing a plurality of beads that include at least one material configured to be attracted to a magnetic strip that extends in a direction parallel to an axial direction of movement of the toner between a first end and a second end of the vessel. The plurality of beads, when attracted to the magnetic strip, cooperate with helical features of the vessel and the internal surface of a body section of the vessel to transport at least a portion of the toner in an axial direction from the first end of the vessel to the second end of the vessel as the vessel is rotated.