Patent · US Expired

Passive air blow out seal through recirculating chamber

US5682578A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
8References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 5, 1996
Grant dateOct 28, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 5, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G21/007
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A channel for recirculating a stream of air located adjacent a stream of marking particles exiting substantially tangentially from a marking particle transport member within a developer unit is provided. The stream of marking particles defines an inner boundary thereof extending tangentially from a first position adjacent to the transport member and defines an outer boundary thereof spaced from the transport member and the inner boundary. The channel includes a first member positioned outside the stream of marking particles. At least a portion of the first member is positioned substantially adjacent the outer boundary of the stream of marking particles and is spaced from the transport member. The channel also includes a second member connected to the first member and a third member connected to the second member. The second member is positioned adjacent the transport member and is spaced from the stream of marking particles. Substantially all the stream of air being directed by the first member is sequentially directed by the second member and the third member.

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