Movable charge-metering member for a single component development system
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorPaul van Woerkens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single component development system of an image forming system includes a movable charge-metering member. The development system includes a motion-imparting system in cooperation with the charge-metering member for periodically shifting the charge-metering member to expose a fresh surface for charging and metering toner on a developer member. The motion-imparting system is indexed to expose a fresh surface for charging and metering of toner particles by rotating, shifting or translating the charge-metering member.
Claims21
In an image forming system, a developer unit for developing a latent image with toner particles, said developer unit comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber for storing a supply of toner particles therein,
- a developer member for applying the toner particles to an imaging member to develop the latent image;
- and
- a rotatable charge-metering member cooperating with said developer member to charge said toner particles on the developer member and to regulate a thickness of a layer of toner particles on the developer member, wherein the charge-metering member comprises an endless belt.
In an image forming system, a developer unit for developing a latent image with toner particles, said developer unit comprising
- a housing defining a chamber for storing a supply of toner particles therein,
- a developer member for applying the toner particles to an imaging member,
- a charge-metering member comprising a blade having a straight edge cooperating with said developer member, wherein a first portion of the charge-metering member contacts the toner particles in order to charge the toner particles and to regulate a thickness of a layer of toner particles on said developer member;
- and
- a motion-imparting system for shifting said charge-metering member in a lateral direction to expose a second, different portion of the charge-metering member to the toner particles when said developer member is stationary.
In an image forming process, a method of developing a latent image with toner particles comprising the steps of:
- storing a supply of toner particles in a housing;
- advancing said toner particles on a surface of a developer member from the housing towards the latent image;
- regulating a thickness of a layer of toner particles on the surface of the developer member with a first portion of a charge-metering member, wherein the charge-metering member comprises a blade having a straight edge cooperating with said developer member;
- and
- laterally shifting said charge-metering member to expose a second, different portion of the charge-metering member to the toner particles.
In an image forming process, a method of developing a latent image with toner particles comprising the steps of:
- storing a supply of toner particles in a housing;
- advancing said toner particles on a surface of a developer member from the housing towards the latent image;
- regulating a thickness of a layer of toner particles on the surface of the developer member with a first portion of a charge-metering member, wherein the charge-metering member comprises an endless belt;
- and
- rotating said charge-metering member to expose a second, different portion of the charge-metering member to the toner particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.