Method and apparatus for determining toner charge-to-mass ratio
US5235388A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0848
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the charge-to-mass ratio of electroscopic toner particles of the type used in electrostatographic recording to develop electrostatic images. The apparatus uses a biased electrode for attracting toner particles thereto, and a microprocessor-based logic and control unit for sampling the mass of toner particles deposited on the electrode after the deposited toner particles have neutralized the electric field produced by the electrode bias. This toner mass information, together with certain toner constants and known parameters, is used by the logic and control unit to calculate the toner's charge-to-mass ratio. The output of the apparatus is useful for controlling process parameters (e.g. primary charging and exposure levels, development electrode bias, toner concentration) which affect image quality.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.