Methods and devices for dispersion of high solids toner

A device for dispersion of high solids toner into a working developer solution comprising:

• a shaft;
• a metal band partially wrapped around said shaft to define a contact area, said shaft and metal band being rotatable relative to each other;
• and
• a dispenser for directing said high solids toner into a nip created between said metal band and said shaft so that said high solids toner is sheared in said contact area into smaller particles to be dispersed into said working developer solution.

A device for dispersion of high solids toner into a working developer solution comprising:

• a hollow tube having first and second ends;
• a mesh covering said second end;
• a shearing blade located in said hollow tube, said hollow tube and blade being rotatable relative to each other;
• and
• a dispenser for directing said high solids toner into the first end of said hollow tube so that said high solids toner exits said tube at the second end through a contact area between the mesh and the shearing blade, the high solids toner being sheared in the contact area into smaller particles sufficient in size to pass through the mesh and to be dispersed into said working developer solution.

An image forming device comprising:

• a) latent image means for creating a latent image;
• b) developer means for developing said latent image;
• c) transfer means for receiving said developed latent image onto a predetermined image medium;
• d) developer supplying means for recirculating a working developer solution through said developer means;
• e) replenishing means for supplying concentrated developer solution to said developer supplying means;
• and
• f) dispersion means for dispersing said concentrated developer solution from said replenishing means into said working developer solution of said developer supplying means, said dispersion means comprising a rotatable member, means for rotating said rotatable member, and a stationary member located adjacent to said rotatable member to define a contact area between said rotatable and stationary members, said contact area creating a shear force on said concentrated developer solution to disperse said concentrated developer solution into said developer solution, wherein said contact area has a length between about 0.5-1.0 inches.

A method of dispersing high solids toner having an initial particle size into a developer solution comprising the steps:

• placing said high solids toner in a contact area between a rotatable shaft member and a stationary band member;
• rotating said rotatable shaft member;
• and
• shearing said high solids toner into smaller particles having a size smaller than said initial particle size at said contact area to be dispersed into said working developer solution.