# US 8,059,984 B2 · Carrier bead collection assembly for a xerographic printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,059,984 B2 - Document ID: US8059984B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/434,834 - Filed: 2009-05-04 - Published: 2010-11-04 - Granted: 2011-11-15 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-04 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Dara Nanette Lubin; Amy L. Stamp; Robert B. Anderson, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8059984B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/00: Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge - G03G 2215/00413: Fixing device - G03G 2221/0078: Magnetic - G03G 2221/1624: transporting cleaned toner into separate vessels, e.g. photoreceptors, external containers - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A carrier bead collection assembly in a xerographic printer is disclosed. The carrier bead collection assembly may include a tray defining a cavity for retention of carrier beads, wherein the tray is located below a slot in a media transport surface in the xerographic printer and is removable so that it may be cleaned, and a magnet that is disposed beneath the tray, wherein the magnet attracts carrier beads that reside on the media transport surface such that as a result of the attraction, the carrier beads come to rest in the tray. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A carrier bead collection assembly in a xerographic printer, comprising: a tray defining a cavity for retention of carrier beads, wherein the tray is located below a slot in a media transport surface in the xerographic printer and is removable so that it may be cleaned; and a magnet that is disposed beneath the tray, wherein the magnet attracts carrier beads that reside on the media transport surface such that as a result of the attraction, the carrier beads come to rest in the tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray rests on a rail beneath the media transport surface such that it may slide out to be cleaned. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray is disposed 1-3 mm below the media transport surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray is 14.30-14.35 inches long. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray is 2-4 mm deep and 15-30 mm wide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnet comprises a rare earth sintered neodymium 35. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the xerographic printer is one of a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray is one of u-shaped, v-shaped and semi-circular shaped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The carrier bead collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnet is one of attached to the tray, attached to the xerographic printer, and rests beneath the tray. ### Claim 10 A xerographic printer, comprising: a media transport section having a media transport surface that enables media sheets to be transported between sections of the xerographic printer; a tray defining a cavity for retention of carrier beads, wherein the tray is located below a slot in the media transport surface in the xerographic printer and is removable so that it may be cleaned; and a magnet that is disposed beneath the tray, wherein the magnet attracts carrier beads that reside on the media transport surface such that as a result of the attraction, the carrier beads come to rest in the tray. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the tray rests on a rail beneath the media transport surface such that it may slide out to be cleaned. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the tray is disposed 1-3 mm below the media transport surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the tray is 14.30-14.35 inches long. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the tray is 2-4 mm deep and 15-30 mm wide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the magnet comprises a rare earth sintered neodymium 35. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the xerographic printer is one of a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the tray is one of u-shaped, v-shaped and semi-circular shaped. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The xerographic printer of claim 10, wherein the magnet is one of attached to the tray, attached to the xerographic printer, and rests beneath the tray. ### Claim 19 A media transport section having a media transport surface that transports media sheets between areas within a xerographic printer, comprising: a tray defining a cavity for retention of carrier beads, wherein the tray is located below a slot in the media transport surface in the xerographic printer and is removable so that it may be cleaned; and a magnet that is disposed beneath the tray, wherein the magnet attracts carrier beads that reside on the media transport surface such that as a result of the attraction, the carrier beads come to rest in the tray. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the tray rests on a rail beneath the media transport surface such that it may slide out to be cleaned. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the tray is disposed 1-3 mm below the media transport surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the tray is 14.30-14.35 inches long. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the tray is 2-4 mm deep and 15-30 mm wide. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the magnet comprises a rare earth sintered neodymium 35. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the xerographic printer is one of a copier, a printer, a facsimile device, and a multi-function device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the tray is one of u-shaped, v-shaped and semi-circular shaped. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The media transport section of claim 19, wherein the magnet is one of attached to the tray, attached to the xerographic printer, and rests beneath the tray.