Patent · US Expired

Electrostatic copying apparatus

US4310238A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
13References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 1980
Grant dateJan 12, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S222/01
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

First and second sensors (37), (39) are provided in a developing tank (36) containing a liquid developer consisting of a liquid carrier or dispersant and toner particles dispersed in the carrier. The first sensor (37) measures the electrical resistivity of the developer whereas the second sensor (39) measures the optical transmissibility thereof. Additional toner is supplied into the developer to maintain the transmissivity at a value which is a predetermined function of the resistivity. The transmissibility value is reduced as the resistivity increases, thereby maintaining the copy image density constant. The first sensor (37) includes two electrodes immersed in the developer and an A.C. or D.C. voltage is applied thereacross. The current flow through the electrodes (37) and thereby the developer is measured to determine the resistivity of the developer. Where the applied voltage is D.C., an arrangement is provided to mechanically scrape accumulated developer off the electrodes (37) at intermittent intervals.

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