US4240125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corona generating element
Assignee: Coulter Systems Corp
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Filing: 1979-04-11
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Granted: 1980-12-16
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Expires: 1999-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A corona generating element in the form of a strand of metal wire having thin portions along its length at closely and regularly spaced intervals. When a source of high voltage is connected to the wire, a corona of high intensity is generated along the edges of each thin portion. The corona generating element is particularly useful in applying a uniform electrostatic charge of negative polarity to the surface of a photoconductive member.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred R. Kuehnle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/02; G03G15/0291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A corona generating element for use in applying a uniform electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising a strand of metal wire having a plurality of identical thin portions along its length, the thickness of the thin portions being less than the thickness of the body of the wire, the thin portions being located at closely spaced intervals, each thin portion terminating in at least one edge constituting a corona emission surface, whereby, when a source of high voltage is connected to the corona generating element a corona will be generated along the edge of the thin portions and a substantially uniform corona will be generated along the length of the metal wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A corona generating element for use in applying a uniform electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising a strand of metal wire having a plurality of identical thin portions along its length, the thickness of the thin portions being less than the thickness of the body of the wire, the thin portions being located at closely spaced intervals, each thin portion terminating in at least one edge constituting a corona emission surface, whereby, when a source of high voltage is connected to the corona generating element a corona will be generated along the edge of the thin portions and a substantially uniform corona will be generated along the length of the metal wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 1 in which each thin portion includes a pair of edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 2 in which the edges of each thin portion are located on opposite sides of the wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 3 in which the edge of the thin portions extends outward beyond the body of the wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 4 in which the wire is circular in cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 5 in which the thin portions are disposed in a common plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 6 in which the longitudinal axis of the wire lies in the plane in which the thin portions are disposed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 4 in which the thin portion has a cross-section normal to the longitudinal axis of the wire which is substantially diamond-shaped and has edges which are razor sharp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 4 in which the thin portion has a cross-section normal to the longitudinal axis of the wire which is substantially rectangularly shaped and has edges which form sides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which the thin portions are located at closely and regularly spaced intervals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which the edges of the thin portions have rounded corners.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 1 in which the thickness of the thin portions is about one-third the diameter of the wire, whereby the intensity of the corona produced at each thin section is about twenty-seven times the intensity of the corona that would otherwise be produced at that location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 1 in which the thickness of the thin portions is about 25 microns and the diameter of the wire is about 75 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 13 in which the wire is made of tungsten.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A corona generating element as claimed in claim 14 in which the distance between centers of successive thin portions is about 3 millimeters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for applying a uniform negative electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising a power source whose output is a negative D.C. voltage and a corona generating element connected to the output of the power source, the corona generating element comprising a strand of metal wire having thin portions along its length at closely spaced intervals, the thickness of the thin portions being less than the thickness of the body of the wire, the thin portions terminating in outer edges, the outer edges constituting knife edge type corona emission surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for applying a uniform negative electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising a power source whose output is a negative D.C. voltage and a corona generating element connected to the output of the power source, the corona generating element comprising a strand of metal wire having thin portions along its length at closely spaced intervals, the thickness of the thin portions being less than the thickness of the body of the wire, the thin portions terminating in outer edges, the outer edges constituting knife edge type corona emission surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
109 words
A corona generating element for use in applying a uniform electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising a strand of metal wire having a plurality of identical razor-thin flat portions along its length, the thickness of the flat sections being less than the thickness of the other portions of the wire, the flat portions being located at closely and regularly spaced intervals, the flat portions having sides that terminate in side edges, the side edges constituting corona emission surfaces, whereby, when a source of high voltage is connected to the corona generating element, a corona will be generated along the side edges of each flat portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
109 words
A corona generating element for use in applying a uniform electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising a strand of metal wire having a plurality of identical razor-thin flat portions along its length, the thickness of the flat sections being less than the thickness of the other portions of the wire, the flat portions being located at closely and regularly spaced intervals, the flat portions having sides that terminate in side edges, the side edges constituting corona emission surfaces, whereby, when a source of high voltage is connected to the corona generating element, a corona will be generated along the side edges of each flat portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The corona generating element of claim 17 and wherein the thickness of the flat portions is about one-third the diameter of the wire, whereby the intensity of the corona produced at each flat section is about twenty-seven times the intensity of the corona that would otherwise be produced at that location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The corona generating element of claim 17 and wherein each flat portion contains a pair of side edges.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The corona generating element of claim 19 and wherein the side edges of each flat portion are located on opposite sides of the wire.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The corona generating element of claim 20 and wherein the sides of the flat portions extend outward beyond the surface of the wire.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The corona generating element of claim 21 and wherein the flat portions are generally rectangularly shaped.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The corona generating element of claim 22 and wherein the corners of the flat portions are rounded.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The corona generating element of claim 20 and wherein the wire is circular in cross-section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The corona generating element of claim 24 and wherein the flat portions are disposed in a common plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The corona generating element of claim 25 and wherein the longitudinal axis of the wire lies in the same plane as the plane containing the flat portions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The corona generating element of claim 17 and wherein the thickness of the flat portions is about 25 microns and the diameter of the wire is about 75 microns.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The corona generating element of claim 27 and wherein the wire is made of tungsten.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The corona generating element of claim 28 and wherein the distance between centers of successive flat sections is about 3 millimeters.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for applying a uniform negative electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising power source whose output is a negative D.C. voltage and a corona generating element connected to the output of the power source, the corona generating element comprising a strand of metal wire having razor thin flat portions along its length at closely and regularly spaced intervals, the thickness of the flat portions being less than the thickness of the other portions of the wire, the flat portions having side edges, the side edges constituting knife-edge type corona emission surfaces.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for applying a uniform negative electrostatic charge to the surface of a photoconductive member comprising power source whose output is a negative D.C. voltage and a corona generating element connected to the output of the power source, the corona generating element comprising a strand of metal wire having razor thin flat portions along its length at closely and regularly spaced intervals, the thickness of the flat portions being less than the thickness of the other portions of the wire, the flat portions having side edges, the side edges constituting knife-edge type corona emission surfaces.
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) | 1983-12-16 | 1984-06-16 | 1984-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-16 | 1988-06-16 | 1988-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-06-16 | 1992-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |