Extended life development system
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJeffrey J. Folkins, Cyril G. Edmunds, Steven C. Hart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus which develops an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member employed in an electrophotographic printing machine having a finite, usable life. The apparatus employs a developer material which ages during the life of the electrophotographic printing machine. A continuous supply of carrier granules is furnished to the developer material. The addition of these carrier granules extends the useful life of the developer material so as to correspond to at least the useful life of the electrophotographic printing machine.
Claims24
An apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image employed in a printing machine having a finite usable life, including:
- means for transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules and toner particles into contact with the electrostatic latent image;
- a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer material therein, said transporting means being in communication with the chamber of said housing for receiving developer material;
- and
- means for discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing with the carrier granules being added to the chamber of said housing so that the usable life of the developer material is at least equal to the usable life of the printing machine and with the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight being supplied to the chamber of said housing being substantially greater than the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight in the chamber of said housing.
An electrophotographic printing machine having a finite usable life, including:
- a photoconductive member adapted to have an electrostatic latent image recorded on the surface thereof;
- means for transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules and toner particles into contact with the surface of the photoconductive member having the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon;
- a housing defining a chamber having a supply of developer material therein, said transporting means being positioned in the chamber of said housing for receiving developer material;
- and
- means for discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing with the carrier granules being added to the chamber of said housing so that the usable life of the developer material is at least equal to the usable life of the electrophotographic printing machine and with the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight being supplied to the chamber of said housing being substantially greater than the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight in the chamber of said housing.
A method of developing an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member employed in an electrophotographic printing machine having a finite usable life, including the steps of:
- transporting a developer material comprising at least carrier granules and toner particles from a housing storing a supply thereof in a chamber to the surface of the photoconductive member having the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon;
- and
- discharging toner particles and carrier granules into the chamber of said housing with the carrier granules being added to the chamber of said housing so that the usable life of the developer material is at least equal to the usable life of the electrophotographic printing machine and with the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight being supplied to the chamber of the housing being substantially greater than the ratio of toner particles to carrier granules by weight in the chamber of said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.