Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively transferring various kinds of powder

US6542707B2 · kind B2 · utility

55Cited by
26References
71Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 2001
Grant dateApr 1, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2021

Classification

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

Abstract

A powder pump includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a through-hole formed with two grooves extended in a stator spiral form. The rotor is rotated inside the through-hole of the stator. The rotor extends in a rotor spiral form such that spaces for accommodating a powder are formed between an outer circumferential surface of the rotor and an inner circumferential surface of the through-hole of the stator. The rotor is rotated to move the spaces and to transfer the powder. A cross-sectional engagement amount formed in the stator. An outer diameter engagement amount is formed in the rotor. When the rotor has a cross-sectional diameter RA millimeters and an outer diameter RB millimeters, and the through-hole of the stator has a least inner diameter SN millimeters and a largest inner diameter SX millimeters, RA, RB, SN, and SX are defined to satisfy formulas ofRA−SN≧0.4 andRB−(SN+SX)/2≧0.4.

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