Development station for a reproduction apparatus

US6480686B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Thomas K. Hilbert · Rochester, US
• Jerry E. Livadas · Rochester, US
• Scott T. Slattery · Brockport, US
• Patricia D. Reuschle · Hilton, US
• Gary Nichols · Rochester, US
• Michelle Wise · Hamlin, US
• Cathlyn Y. Yu · Penfield, US
• Donald S. Hensel · Rochester, US
• Daniel Francis Vespone · Rochester, US
• Christopher S. Garcia · Malvern, US
• Thomas S. Albrecht · Canandaigua, US
• Michael E. Jacobs · Henrietta, US
• James R. Carey · Windom, US
• Timothy G. Armstrong · Rochester, US
• D. Steven Kepner · Canandaigua, US
• W. Charles Kasiske, Jr. · Webster, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 15, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2002
• Expiry date: Jan 15, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G15/0822
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A magnetic brush development station with a housing forming a reservoir for developer material has a plurality of augers located in the housing for mixing developer material. A drive for the plurality of augers includes an assembly having a body extending through the development station housing. A plurality of bearings are positioned in the body with a spacer between the plurality of bearings. A rotatable shaft is connected between the plurality of augers and an auger drive member. A seal for the rotatable shaft has a lip formed of a material which is able to stretch sufficiently to maintain sealing contact with the shaft while the shaft is being rotated by the auger drive member.