Method and apparatus for testing xerographic developer mix
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsNeil R. Bankert, Steven R. Heyer, Lawrence Viele, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Xerographic toner and carrier are analyzed by placing a sample thereof in a closed container, the container having upper and lower nonmagnetic and electrically conductive flat plates separated by nonmagnetic and electrically nonconductive walls, and subjecting the container to a vibratory force, while a voltage simulating an electrostatic image is applied to one plate, and while the charge associate with the other plate is monitored.
Claims18
Apparatus for measuring the operational characteristics of a mixture of xerographic toner and carrier, comprising:
- a substantially closed container having a first electrically conductive electrode and a second electrically conductive electrode joined by electrically insulating walls, said container being adapted to hold a sample mixture of the toner and carrier;
- vibratory means associated with said container operable to cause the toner and carrier within said container to alternately impact said first and second electrodes;
- a source of direct current voltage connected to one of said electrodes operable to establish an analog of an electrostatic latent image to be developed by the toner;
- and
- a charge measuring means connected to the other of said electrodes.
A method for analyzing the operational characteristics of a mixture of xerographic nonmagnetic toner and magnetic carrier, comprising the steps of:
- placing a sample mixture in a nonmagnetic, substantially closed container having oppositely disposed electrically conductive flat plates;
- simulating an electrostatic latent image to be xerographically developed by connecting a DC voltage to one of said plates;
- subjecting said container to a vibratory force simulating operation of the developer station of a xerographic device;
- and
- monitoring the resulting charge associated with the other of said plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.