EP0306217A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concentrated toner solution and pressurized toner dispensing mechanism
Assignee: Savin Corp
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Filing: 1988-08-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-25
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is directed to electrophotographic copying equipment and more particularly to a high concentration toner supply and an apparatus (10) to dispense a high concentration toner supply to a reservoir (14) which contains a liquid developer composition. Generally, the apparatus comprises a pressurized toner supply means in fluid communication with a conduit (11). The conduit (11) forms a circulation loop with the reservoir and is arranged to circulate liquid developer composition from the reservoir and through conduit. The pressurized toner supply means is selectively operable to dispense the high concentration toner supply under pressure to the conduit (11) to mix with the liquid developer composition. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid developer flow through the conduit is a turbulent flow to facilitate the mixing of the toner concentrate and the liquid developer composition.
Inventors
- 👤 Benzion Landa
- 👤 Haim Hochman
- 👤 Avner H. Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:14
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G05; G05D; G05D21/00; G05D21/02; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
Dispensing apparatus for an electrophotographic copying machine, the apparatus being operable to dispense a material, for example a toner concentrate having a preselected concentration of toner pigment particles and/or a charge director to a reservoir that contains a liquid developer composition, which apparatus comprises: (a) a selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means containing said material; and (b) an actuator means associated with said selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means and operable to selectively discharge said material under pressure from said selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means to thereby dispense said material under pressure into said liquid developer composition reservoir.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
Dispensing apparatus for an electrophotographic copying machine, the apparatus being operable to dispense a material, for example a toner concentrate having a preselected concentration of toner pigment particles and/or a charge director to a reservoir that contains a liquid developer composition, which apparatus comprises: (a) a selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means containing said material; and (b) an actuator means associated with said selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means and operable to selectively discharge said material under pressure from said selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means to thereby dispense said material under pressure into said liquid developer composition reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: conduit means forming a closed fluid circulation loop with said liquid developer reservoir; and means to circulate said liquid developer composition through said fluid circulation loop at a preselected rate of circulation, said pressurized supply means being in selective fluid communication with said conduit means, and said actuator means being operable to selectively discharge material under pressure from said supply means to said conduit means to mix said material and said liquid developer composition within said conduit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
Dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conduit means including means to cause a turbulent, high shear fluid circulation through said conduit means, said conduit preferably being of a generally U-shaped configuration; and said means to cause a turbulent, high shear circulation preferably comprising baffles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means comprises a cylindrical, pressurized cartridge, said cartridge preferably including a toner supply compartment, a pressurized gas compartment and an expandable piston means in selective fluid communication with said pressurized gas compartment and arranged between said toner supply compartment and said pressurized gas compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
Dispensing apparatus according to claim 4 including a valve element selectively operable to cause a pressurized gas discharge from said pressurized gas compartment to said expandable piston to expand said piston into said toner supply compartment to dispense said toner having a preselected concentration of toner pigment particles under pressure through said valve element, said valve element being in fluid communication with said conduit means and operatively associated with said actuator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
Dispensing apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 further including by a clamp mechanism arranged to removably mount said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge in selective fluid communication with said conduit means and adjacent said actuator means; said clamp mechanism preferably comprising: a pair of opposed, rotatable clamp elements each including a gripping surface arranged to engage said cylindrical pressurized cartridge, said clamp elements being arranged and configured relative to one another so as to be co-operatively rotatable into engagement with said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge whereby said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge is engaged by and gripped between said gripping surfaces; and locking means to lock said clamp elements in a fixed position with said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge grippingly engaged by said gripping surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge includes a crimp portion adjacent one end thereof; and said gripping surfaces are arranged to engage and grip said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge about said crimp portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said selectively dischargeable, pressurized supply means comprises an aerosol can; and further including monitoring means associated with said actuator to control discharge of material from said aerosol can.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said monitoring means includes a conductivity sensor to monitor the conductivity of the liquid developer composition within the reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising monitoring means associated with said actuator to control the discharge of material, said monitoring means preferably including an optical sensor to monitor the optical density of the liquid developer composition within the reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the material comprises 15%-35% concentration of toner pigment particles in carrier liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
Dispensing apparatus according to any of claims 6-11 wherein said cylindrical, pressurized cartridge includes a discharge valve means; said actuator means comprising a lever element rotatably mounted on said clamp mechanism and rotatable to operatively engage said discharge valve means; and an electro-mechanical control means for example comprising a solenoid is mechanically connected to said lever element and operative to rotate said lever element to operatively engage said discharge valve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Means for replenishing toner solids to a liquid developer reservoir in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising: a toner supply solution containing at least 15% and preferably 20%-30% toner solids, and means for dispensing said toner supply solution to said liquid developer reservoir.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
Means for replenishing toner solids to a liquid developer reservoir in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising: a toner supply solution containing at least 15% and preferably 20%-30% toner solids, and means for dispensing said toner supply solution to said liquid developer reservoir.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of replenishing toner solids to a liquid developer reservoir in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising: supplying a toner solution having at least 15% and preferably 20%-30% toner solids to said liquid developer reservoir.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of replenishing toner solids to a liquid developer reservoir in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising: supplying a toner solution having at least 15% and preferably 20%-30% toner solids to said liquid developer reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toner supply solution for replenishing the toner solids to a liquid developer reservoir in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising at least 15% and preferably 20%-30% toner solids.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toner supply solution for replenishing the toner solids to a liquid developer reservoir in an electrophotographic copying machine comprising at least 15% and preferably 20%-30% toner solids.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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