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US 7,024,126 B2Granted
Developing unit and density control method in electrophotography
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsTruman F. Kellie, William D. Edwards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A developing unit maintains constant density in an electrophotographic imaging process. The developing unit has: a) a developer with a developing surface and a first voltage is applied to the developer; b) a depositor, wherein said depositor is positioned to maintain a gap with the developer and a second voltage is applied to the depositor; c) a cleaning device for said developer, wherein the cleaning device is in contact with the developer; and d) an ink container, wherein the developer, the depositor and the cleaning device are inside the ink container.
Claims19
An ink developing unit comprising:
- a) a developer roll comprising a developer roll surface and a first voltage is applied to said developer roll surface;
- b) a charge depositor, wherein said charge depositor is positioned to maintain a gap with said developer roll and a second voltage is applied to said depositor;
- c) a cleaning device for said developer roll, wherein said cleaning device is in contact with the developer roll surface or an ink layer plated on the developer roll surface;
- and
- d) an ink container, wherein said developer roll, said depositor and said cleaning device are inside said ink container,
- wherein a current measuring device is present to measure current flow between said depositor and said developer roll, or a voltage meter is present to measure a voltage across a known resistor that is in series with a power supply to the depositor.
3 more elements
An ink developing unit comprising:
- a) a developer roll comprising a developer roll surface and a first voltage is applied to said developer roll surface;
- b) a charge depositor, wherein said charge depositor is positioned to maintain a gap with said developer roll and a second voltage is applied to said depositor;
- c) a cleaning device for said developer roll, wherein said cleaning device is in contact with the developer roll surface or an ink layer plated on the developer roll surface;
- d) an ink container, wherein said developer roll, said depositor and said cleaning device are inside said ink container;
- and
- e) a skive device;
- wherein a current measuring device is present to measure current flow between said depositor and said developer roll, or a voltage meter is present to measure a voltage across a known resistor that is in series with a power supply to the depositor wherein said second voltage is applied to said skive device which comprises a conductive material.
4 more elements
A method for maintaining constant density in an electrophotographic imaging process comprising the steps of:
- a. Providing a developing unit comprising a developer, a depositor, a cleaning device, and an ink container, wherein said developer, said depositor and said cleaning device are inside said ink container;
- b. Providing an ink in said ink container;
- c. Applying a first voltage to said developer;
- d. Moving said developer;
- e. Applying a second voltage to said depositor;
- and
- f. Controlling a plating current between said developer and said depositor to obtain a constant thickness of ink plated on a surface of said developer by adjusting said first voltage, said second voltage, or a combination thereof.
4 more elements
An ink developing unit comprising:
- a) a developer roll comprising a developer roll surface and a first voltage is applied to said developer roll surface;
- b) a charge depositor, wherein said charge depositor is positioned to maintain a gap with said developer roll and a second voltage is applied to said depositor;
- c) a cleaning device for said developer roll, wherein said cleaning device is in contact with the developer roll surface or an ink layer plated on the developer roll surface;
- d) a skive device;
- and
- e) an ink container, wherein said developer roll, said depositor and said cleaning device are inside said ink container,
- wherein a current measuring device is present to measure current flow between said depositor and said developer roll, or a voltage meter is present to measure a voltage across a known resistor that is in series with a power supply to the depositor, and wherein the results of measuring the current or the voltage direct control of a plating current between said developer roll and said depositor to obtain a constant thickness of ink plated on a surface of said developer roll by adjusting at least one said first voltage, said second voltage, or a combination thereof.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.