Magnetically actuated flap seal
OwnerKenneth J. Brown, Donald S. Rimaiinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printer comprising a developer station for holding a supply of carrier particles, a rotating member which accumulates carrier particles during its rotation, a scavenger for removing the accumulated particles from the rotating member during the rotation. The scavenger includes a slot through which the carrier particles travel to return to the developer station and a movable flap covering an opening of the slot for accumulating the carrier particles at the flap until the flap is opened. A source of magnetic field urges the carrier particles through the slot. The carrier particles accumulate at the flap until reaching a volume sufficient to force open the movable flap and fall into the developer station.
Claims20
A printer comprising:
- a developer station for holding a supply of carrier particles;
- a rotating member which accumulates carrier particles during its rotation;
- a scavenger for removing the accumulated particles from the rotating member during said rotation, the scavenger including a slot therethrough and through which the carrier particles travel to return to the developer station;
- and
- a movable flap covering an opening of the slot for accumulating the carrier particles at the flap until the flap is opened.
A printer comprising:
- two volumes separated by a scavenger having an opening therethrough communicating with the two volumes;
- and
- a flap or door that completely covers the opening wherein the flap or door creates a seal between the two volumes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.