US4693206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-seating toning shoe for electrostatic drum printers
Assignee: BONINO RICHARD J
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Filing: 1986-05-09
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Granted: 1987-09-15
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Expires: 2006-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A toner applicator assembly for electrostatic drum printers featuring a toning shoe with a biasing mechanism in which the toning shoe is biased only at a single point. The toning shoe scans a sheet having an electrostatic latent image supported on a rotating drum, in a helical path, and applies liquid developer to the sheet to develop the latent image. The toning shoe has a normal orientation which is skewed with respect to the drum's rotation axis so as to follow a helical path. The toning shoe is movable with respect to three degrees of freedom relative to the normal orientation so as to automatically adjust its orientation to match the orientation of the sheet. The biasing mechanism comprises a base fixed relative to the drum, a lever body pivotally mounted to the base, a pin mounted on an end of the lever body and engaging a detent in the back of the shoe, and a spring connected to both the base and the end of the lever body opposite from the pin. The spring provides torque to cause the pin to push against the shoe. The toning shoe is loosely secured to the base by partially inserted screws which limit the shoe's forward movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Gene F. Day
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0142; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/101; G03G15/11; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A toning shoe assembly for an electrostatic drum printer comprising, a drum having a round outer circumferential surface capable of supporting a sheet carrying an electrostatic latent image, a toning shoe having a toning surface matching a region of the circumferential surface of the drum, with a raised outer periphery in contact with said sheet and a depressed central region in communication with a supply of fluid developer for applying the developer to the sheet, and means for positionally biasing said shoe against said sheet at a single point thereof, said shoe being movable relative to a normal orientation about first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes through said single point of said shoe so as to be responsive to the local orientation of said sheet on said drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A toning shoe assembly for an electrostatic drum printer comprising, a drum having a round outer circumferential surface capable of supporting a sheet carrying an electrostatic latent image, a toning shoe having a toning surface matching a region of the circumferential surface of the drum, with a raised outer periphery in contact with said sheet and a depressed central region in communication with a supply of fluid developer for applying the developer to the sheet, and means for positionally biasing said shoe against said sheet at a single point thereof, said shoe being movable relative to a normal orientation about first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes through said single point of said shoe so as to be responsive to the local orientation of said sheet on said drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises, a base fixed relative to said drum, a lever body pivotally mounted to said base, a pin on one end of said lever body contacting a back of said shoe, and means for applying a torque to said lever body so as to cause said pin to push against said shoe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein said torque applying means comprise, a downwardly depending tab fixed to said base, and a spring connected to said tab and to an end of said lever body opposite from said pin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein said shoe is loosely secured to said base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein screws partially inserted into said base define a limit of forward movement of said shoe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein said pin engages a detent in said shoe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first axis is perpendicular to said circumferential surface at said single point, said second axis is parallel to an axis of rotation of said drum, and said third axis is tangent to said circumferential surface at said single point in a direction of drum rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said shoe is movable about each of said mutually orthogonal axes up to a maximum limit from said normal orientation, said maximum limit being in a range from one-tenth to eight degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said shoe in said normal orientation is askew with respect to a rotation axis of said drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The assembly of claim 1 further comprising, a drying roller spaced from said shoe for removing excess developer from said sheet, and means for returning said excess developer to said supply.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The assembly of claim 10 wherein said means for returning excess developer to said supply comprises, a scraper blade in developer removing contact with said drying roller, and a drain in communication with said supply of fluid developer, said drain disposed to receive said excess developer from said blade.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
163 words
A apparatus for applying fluid developer to a latent image on a sheet supported by a backing member comprising, a toning shoe with raised peripheral edges conforming to the shape of a supported sheet bearing a latent image, said shoe having a central recessed area surrounded by said edges, said edges contacting said sheet and having an opening defined therein, said opening oriented downward forming a spillway, means for injecting fluid developer into said recessed area thereby creating a flow of developer to said spillway, means for positionally biasing said shoe against said sheet, said shoe being biased at a single point thereof and being movable relative to a normal orientation about first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes through said single points, said shoe being responsive to a local orientation of said sheet on said drum, means for translating said shoe in a direction across said sheet, and p1 means for removing excess developer from said spillway and away from said sheet.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
163 words
A apparatus for applying fluid developer to a latent image on a sheet supported by a backing member comprising, a toning shoe with raised peripheral edges conforming to the shape of a supported sheet bearing a latent image, said shoe having a central recessed area surrounded by said edges, said edges contacting said sheet and having an opening defined therein, said opening oriented downward forming a spillway, means for injecting fluid developer into said recessed area thereby creating a flow of developer to said spillway, means for positionally biasing said shoe against said sheet, said shoe being biased at a single point thereof and being movable relative to a normal orientation about first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes through said single points, said shoe being responsive to a local orientation of said sheet on said drum, means for translating said shoe in a direction across said sheet, and p1 means for removing excess developer from said spillway and away from said sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said sheet is supported on a rotatable drum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said shoe in said normal orientation is askew with respect to a rotation axis of said drum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said biasing means comprises, a base fixed relative to said drum, a lever body pivotally mounted to said base, a pin on one end of said lever body contacting a back of said shoe, and means for applying a torque to said lever body so as to cause said pin to push against said shoe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly of claim 15 wherein said torque applying means comprise, a downwardly depending tab fixed to said base, and a spring connected to said tab and to an end of said lever body opposite from said pin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly of claim 15 wherein said shoe is movable about each of said mutually orthogonal axes up to a maximum limit from said normal position, said maximum limit being in a range from one-tenth to eight degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 15 wherein said shoe is loosely secured to said base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assembly of claim 18 wherein screws partially inserted into said base define a limit of forward movement of said shoe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 15 wherein said pin engages a detent in said shoe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 12 wherein said shoe in said normal orientation is askew with respect to a rotation axis of said drum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The assembly of claim 12 further comprising, a drying roller spaced from said shoe for removing excess developer from said sheet, and means for returning said excess developer to said supply.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The assembly of claim 22 wherein said means for returning excess developer to said supply comprises, a scraper blade in developer removing contact with said drying roller, and a drain in communication with said supply of fluid developer, said drain disposed to receive said excess developer from said blade.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3752119A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-09-14 | 1991-03-16 | 1991-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-09-14 | 1995-03-16 | 1995-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-09-14 | 1999-03-16 | 1999-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |