US 5,281,982 A · Pixelized toning

Abstract

Electrostatographic toning with charged toner particles which are transported along a conveyor having an array of repeating sets of electrodes upon which an electrostatic traveling wave pattern is established. The traveling wave pattern causes already charged toner particles to slide and roll along the conveyor to a selection site whereat individual toner particles are either directed toward the receiver or are returned to a developer reservoir. The width of each of the electrodes for the traveling wave grid is comparable to the size of the toner particles such that the particles are transported individually along the conveyor. At the selection site, unwanted particles are deflected from the path to a receiver. The receiver can be placed against a conveyor plate to avoid the divergence and bouncing problems.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Apparatus for transporting toner particles of predetermined particle size from a supply of electrically charged toner particles to a receiver positioned remote from said supply, said apparatus comprising:

a support surface extending in an in-track toner transport direction between the toner particle supply and the receiver position;
an array of spaced apart electrodes along said surface, each of said electrodes being elongated in a cross-track direction that is transverse to the toner transport direction, said electrodes having an in-track width substantially equal to the toner particle size;
and
means operatively connected to said electrodes for impressing sinusoidal voltages of different phases to said electrodes so that the phase of an electrode is shifted with respect to adjacent electrodes to create a traveling wave electrostatic field that transports the charged toner particles in a synchronous manner that causes the particles to slide and roll along the surface of the support without jumping and remain in contact with the support as they move in the in-track toner transport direction.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pixelized toning

Life of this patent

Pixelized toning

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14