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US 6,205,313 B1Granted
Toner charging system for atom imaging process
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorLloyd F. Bean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Toner charging and/or delivery systems and methods charge and deliver charged toner particles to an image development zone without using carrier particles. Toner particles for imaging process are charged by filling the grooves or cups of a gravure member with uncharged toner particles and charging the toner particles in the grooves or cups using a corona discharge device. The charged toner particles are then transported directly or indirectly to an imaged photoreceptor, where the charged toner particles are used to develop a latent electrostatic image on the imaged photoreceptor. The developed image is then transferred to a copy sheet and permanently fused to the copy sheet.
Claims59
A toner particle charging apparatus, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure member, the gravure member movable relative to the chamber, the gravure member having toner retaining elements formed on a surface of the gravure member, the toner retaining elements formed to hold a precise amount of toner particles;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure member to that which is contained in the toner retaining elements;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles on the gravure member to a desired voltage and polarity.
2 more elements
A toner particle charging apparatus, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure belt member, the gravure belt member movable relative to the chamber, the gravure belt member having toner retaining grooves formed on a surface of the gravure belt member;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member to a desired voltage and polarity,
- wherein the grooves of the gravure belt member are at an angle of between 150° and 175° relative to the process direction of the gravure belt member.
3 more elements
A toner particle charging apparatus, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure belt member, the gravure belt member movable relative to the chamber, the gravure belt member having toner retaining elements formed as grooves on a surface of the gravure belt member;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member to a desired voltage and polarity,
- wherein the grooves of the gravure belt member are at an angle of 165° relative to the process direction of the gravure belt member.
3 more elements
A toner particle charging apparatus, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure member, the gravure member movable relative to the chamber, the gravure member having a relaxable coating layer and toner retaining elements formed on a surface of the gravure member;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure member;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member to a desired voltage and polarity,
- wherein the relaxable coating layer acts as an insulator during a toner charging period.
3 more elements
A charged toner delivery system, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure member, the gravure member movable relative to the chamber, the gravure member having at least one toner retaining element formed on a surface of the gravure member, the toner retaining elements formed to hold a precise amount of toner particles;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure member to that which is contained in the toner retaining elements;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles on the gravure member to a desired voltage and polarity.
2 more elements
A charged toner particle delivery system, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure belt member, the gravure belt member moveable relative to the chamber, the gravure belt member having grooves as toner retaining elements formed on a surface thereof;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles on the gravure belt member to a desired voltage and polarity,
- wherein the grooves of the gravure belt member are at an angle of between 150 degrees and 75 degrees relative to the process direction of the gravure belt member.
3 more elements
A charged toner particle delivery system, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure belt member, the gravure belt member moveable relative to the chamber, the gravure belt member having grooves as toner retaining elements formed on a surface thereof;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure belt member;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles on the gravure belt member to a desired voltage and polarity;
- wherein the grooves of the gravure belt member are at an angle of 165 degrees relative to the process direction of the gravure belt member.
3 more elements
A charged toner delivery system, comprising:
- a chamber that stores a supply of uncharged toner particles;
- a gravure member, the gravure member movable relative to the chamber, the gravure member having a relaxable coating layer and toner retaining elements formed as grooves on a surface of the gravure member;
- a toner metering blade that limits an amount of toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure member;
- and
- a corona discharge device that charges the previously uncharged toner particles distributed on the surface of the gravure member to a desired voltage and polarity;
- wherein the relaxable coating layer acts as an insulator during a toner charging period.
3 more elements
A method for charging uncharged toner particles, comprising:
- supplying the uncharged toner particles to a gravure member in a precise amount;
- charging the toner particles on the gravure member to a desired potential and polarity;
- and
- delivering the charged toner particles to one of at least a gravure member and a development photoreceptor.
1 more element
A method for charging uncharged toner particles, comprising:
- supplying the uncharged toner particles to a gravure member;
- removing excess uncharged toner particles from the gravure member;
- charging the toner particles on the gravure member to a desired potential and polarity;
- and
- delivering the charged toner particles to one of at least a gravure member and a development photoreceptor,
- wherein delivering the charged toner particles includes allowing acquired charges in a gravure member cycle to be dissipated through a relaxable coating layer.
3 more elements
A method for charging uncharged toner particles, comprising:
- supplying the uncharged toner particles to a gravure member;
- removing excess uncharged toner particles from the gravure member;
- charging the toner particles on the gravure member to a desired potential and polarity;
- and
- delivering the charged toner particles to one of at least a gravure member and a development photoreceptor,
- wherein delivering the charged toner particles includes preventing charges on the charged toner particles from dissipating the gravure member during a toner charging period.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.