Patent · US Expired

Toner concentration detector for dry powder magnetic brush toning system

US3970036A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
9References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 1974
Grant dateJul 20, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 1994

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/0853
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A toner concentration detecting and toner replenishing system for use in an electrostatic copier having a magnetic brush which carries dry developer comprising a mixture of ferromagnetic carrier particles and toner particles into contact with the surface of a photoconductor upon which a latent electrostatic image has been formed, in which system a quantity of developer is removed from the magnetic brush after development of the image and the brush leaves the surface. The removed developer is directed into a dielectric tube having a restricted outlet which inhibits unstable flow through the tube so that developer in the tube determines the inductance of a coil surrounding the tube. The coil is one element of the tuned circuit of a sensing oscillator, the output frequency of which is compared with that of a tunable reference oscillator to provide a frequency difference signal which is a measure of the relative proportion of toner to carrier in the developer. This frequency difference signal is employed to actuate a toner replenishing system to feed toner from the supply to the developer supply as required to maintain the toner concentration substantially constant.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.