US3777173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Xerographic toner concentration measuring apparatus and method
Assignee: DYKE RES VAN
•
Filing: 1972-02-22
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement for measuring the concentration of toner powder in a xerographic developer mixture by causing a sample of the developer to impinge upon a transparent plate. By providing the developer sample in the form of a turbulent stream, inclining the plate at the proper angle, and arranging the geometry of the measuring apparatus so that the stream impinges upon the transparent plate with the proper kinetic energy, a layer of toner powder is formed on the surface of a portion of the plate, the thickness of the toner layer increasing and decreasing with corresponding changes in the concentration of toner in the developer mixture. A photoelectric system is employed to monitor the light transmission of the toner-coated plate to provide a measure of toner concentration.
Inventors
- 👤 J Landrith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855; G03G15/0887; G03G15/0891; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for measuring the toner concentration in the developer of a xerographic copying apparatus, comprising: a toner collecting plate; flow control supply means for providing a stream of said developer only at recurrent periodic intervals; means for directing said periodic stream onto a surface of said collecting plate to (i) caUse toner particles to be dislodged from the developer carrier granules to which the particles are electroscopically adherent to deposit a layer of toner on at least a portion of said collecting plate and (ii) remove toner from said collecting plate portion when the concentration of toner in said periodic stream decreases; and means for sensing the amount of toner deposited in the form of said layer on said collecting plate portion, said sensing means being operative only at times between said intervals when said stream is not impinging on said collecting plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for measuring the toner concentration in the developer of a xerographic copying apparatus, comprising: a toner collecting plate; flow control supply means for providing a stream of said developer only at recurrent periodic intervals; means for directing said periodic stream onto a surface of said collecting plate to (i) caUse toner particles to be dislodged from the developer carrier granules to which the particles are electroscopically adherent to deposit a layer of toner on at least a portion of said collecting plate and (ii) remove toner from said collecting plate portion when the concentration of toner in said periodic stream decreases; and means for sensing the amount of toner deposited in the form of said layer on said collecting plate portion, said sensing means being operative only at times between said intervals when said stream is not impinging on said collecting plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for introducing a substantial amount of turbulence into said periodic stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the kinetic energy of said stream is sufficiently low so that the developer in said stream is not damaged by impact with said collecting plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said toner collecting plate is light transmissive and said sensing means includes a light source for illuminating said collecting plate and a photosensitive element for detecting the light transmitted through said plate by said source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said light source and photosensitive element are situated in first and second respective dust-free housings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supply means includes an orifice for limiting the rate of flow of the developer in said stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said supply means includes a developer sample chamber, said orifice communicating with said chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, further including a developer stream deflecting member disposed below said orifice for introducing a substantial amount of turbulence into said stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the normal to the collecting plate is inclined at an angle on the order of 30* to 75* with respect to the vertical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said angle is on the order of 60*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further including a supply conduit for transporting said developer to said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a valve element within said chamber for permitting developer to enter said chamber from said supply conduit during a first recurrent time interval and for permitting developer to leave said chamber through said orifice during a second recurrent time interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claIm 12, wherein said valve element comprises a rotatable vane, and a valve drive motor for rotating said vane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, further including means responsive to the angular position of said vane for generating a gating signal at times other than those corresponding to each said second recurrent time interval.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said second recurrent time interval is on the order of one to three seconds, the period between recurrences of said second interval being on the order of four to ten seconds.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for measuring the toner concentrartion in the developer of a xerographic copying apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a stream of said developer only at recurrent periodic intervals; directing said periodic stream onto a surface of a collecting plate to form a toner layer on at least a portion thereof; and sensing the amount of toner deposited in the form of said layer on said collecting plate portion, said sensing step being carried out only at times between said intervals when said stream is not impinging on said collecting plate.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for measuring the toner concentrartion in the developer of a xerographic copying apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a stream of said developer only at recurrent periodic intervals; directing said periodic stream onto a surface of a collecting plate to form a toner layer on at least a portion thereof; and sensing the amount of toner deposited in the form of said layer on said collecting plate portion, said sensing step being carried out only at times between said intervals when said stream is not impinging on said collecting plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said periodic stream is directed onto said collecting plate with kinetic energy sufficient to dislodge toner particles from the developer carrier beads to which the particles are electroscopically adherent, said dislodged toner particles being deposited in the form of said layer on said collecting plate portion, the kinetic energy and turbulence of said directed stream being sufficient to remove toner particles from said collecting plate portion when the concentration of toner in said stream decreases, said kinetic energy at the same time being sufficiently low so that said developer is not damaged by impact with said collecting plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |