EP0148676B1 - Development installation and stocking device for an electrostatic printing apparatus - Google Patents

Development installation and stocking device for an electrostatic printing apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0148676B1
EP0148676B1 EP84402559A EP84402559A EP0148676B1 EP 0148676 B1 EP0148676 B1 EP 0148676B1 EP 84402559 A EP84402559 A EP 84402559A EP 84402559 A EP84402559 A EP 84402559A EP 0148676 B1 EP0148676 B1 EP 0148676B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartments
concentrate
installation
developer
wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP84402559A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0148676A1 (en
Inventor
Vojin Jeremijevic
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Schlumberger SA
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Schlumberger SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Schlumberger SA filed Critical Schlumberger SA
Publication of EP0148676A1 publication Critical patent/EP0148676A1/en
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Publication of EP0148676B1 publication Critical patent/EP0148676B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/10—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a liquid developer
    • G03G15/104—Preparing, mixing, transporting or dispensing developer

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a development installation for an electrostatic printing apparatus using a development product and a liquid vehicle concentrate and a device for storing these products for development.
  • the development product used is a mixture of particles and dispersant, for example formed from micro-particles of carbon electrically charged and suspended in a liquid such as kerosene.
  • the development product is contained in a reserve located in the lower part of the apparatus and from which it is brought to the development station, a loop circuit being established for a circulation of the product from the reserve to the station development and, in return, to the reserve.
  • the quantity of particles contained in the development product decreases, resulting in a relative dilution of the mixture.
  • the concentrate is also a mixture of particles and dispersant, but with a much lower proportion of dispersant than for the development product.
  • the development product is for example obtained by diluting a volume of concentrate in approximately one hundred volumes of dispersant.
  • the object of the present invention is in particular to provide a simplified and therefore less expensive development installation than those of the prior art, while allowing an easy change of the device for storing the products necessary for development.
  • the invention also has the advantage of providing a product storage device for an electrostatic printing device reducing the risk of unintentional use of a concentrate incompatible with the development product.
  • a development installation comprises: a first container of development product; a circuit for circulating said development product between said first container and a development station; a second container of concentrated product; and means with valve for passing, on command, concentrated product from the second to the first container.
  • Said first and second containers are two compartments of a removable tank, said compartments having closable outward openings, either before being placed in the device by first closing means isolating the two compartments to allow the transport of the two produced by means of said reservoir, either after being placed in the apparatus, by second closing means including means for accessing the two compartments of said circulation circuit and said means with valve, respectively.
  • a device for storing a development product and a liquid vehicle concentrate for the development installation of an electrostatic printing apparatus comprises: a reservoir formed in a single piece and comprising at least two compartments separated by a wall, said tank comprising two juxtaposed openings located on either side of said wall, said two compartments being accessible from the development installation by said two juxtaposed openings to allow, after placing in place of the reservoir in the printing apparatus, the passage of concentrate from one compartment to the other, said openings being closable by a first common plug adapted to isolate the two compartments from one another for transport without mixing the development product and the concentrate.
  • the installation illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended for supplying development product to a development station 1 of an electrostatic printing machine.
  • the development product is a liquid vehicle. It is taken from a reserve 2 to be brought into a development tank 3 of station 1. The excess product is brought back from tank 3 to reserve 2, a continuous circulation of the development product being established during the operation of the device. .
  • a supply circuit comprises a tube 4 plunging at one end into the reserve 2, fitted with a pump 5, and forming at its other end two branches 4a, 4b ending at the ends of a tube 6 which extends longitudinally in the tray 3.
  • the development product is sprayed outside the tube 6 through perforations distributed over the length thereof, then is collected in the grooves of a rotary roller (not shown) to allow the deposition of the charged particles on a displaced printing medium in contact with the grooved roller.
  • the excess development product is collected in the tank and, from there, brought back into the reserve 2 by gravity by means of a return tube 7 which connects an orifice formed at the bottom of the tank 3 to the reserve 2.
  • a reserve of concentrate 9 is provided for, if necessary, recharging the development product circulating in the device.
  • the reserves of development product and of concentrate are located in two adjacent compartments 11, 12 which can communicate with each other via a link passing through their partition wall 13.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show the compartments 11 and 12 integrated in a tank 10 formed in one piece for example by assembling two symmetrical half-shells molded or thermoformed in a plastic material such as a polyurethane or a polyethylene.
  • the reservoir 10 is normally delivered to the user with its compartments 11 and 12 filled with the respective liquid reserves.
  • the compartment 12 occupies part of the upper zone of the tank.
  • the compartments 11 and 12 have two adjacent openings 11a, and 12a surrounded by a threaded neck 53 and closed by the same plug 14.
  • the latter comprises a crown 14a provided with a thread which is screwed onto the threaded neck 53 of the reservoir 10.
  • the plug 14 also includes a disc 14b mounted so as to allow the crown 14a to rotate while being held axially by shoulders 54, 55 of this crown.
  • the disc 14b is crossed by the tubes 4 and 7 which access the compartment 11.
  • the realization in two parts 14a, 14b of the plug 14 makes it possible to screw the latter until contact on the neck 53 and the wall 13 without driving the tubes 4 and 7.
  • connection between the compartments 11 and 12 is carried out by means of a tube 15 sealingly passing through an orifice 16 at the bottom, horizontal in the example illustrated, of the wall 13, and provided with a valve 20.
  • the tube 15 has a conical lower end 15a ending in a point, and the orifice 16 is formed by perforating the wall 13 by means of this end when the tube 15 is put in place.
  • This installation is carried out by screwing the plug 14, causing the disc 14b and the tube 15 which is integral with it to descend by the threaded part 15b.
  • the material along the edge of the opening 16 forms a lip 17 which, after perforation, tightens on the periphery of the tube 15 thus ensuring sealing.
  • the internal volume of the tube 15 communicates with the interior of the compartment 12 at the lower part thereof through one or more lateral orifices 18.
  • the tube 15 has an internal section of reduced diameter forming a slightly eccentric passage 19 which opens in compartment 11.
  • the valve 20 opens and closes the communication between the compartments 12 and 11 through the orifice (s) 18, the interior of the tube 15 and the passage 19.
  • This valve 20 comprises a part 21 forming a valve, located at inside the tube 15 and cooperating with a seat 22 surrounding the upper end of the passage 19.
  • the valve 21 is provided with a rod, the upper part of which constitutes or is integral with the armature of a fixed electromagnet 24 to the tube 15 outside the canister 10.
  • the coil of the electromagnet 24 is connected to the output of a circuit (not shown) which, in a manner known per se, reacts to the detection of a lack of particles in the development product or at a darker print request by producing a command signal to add concentrate.
  • the valve 21 When the electromagnet 24 is energized, the valve 21 is moved upward, opening communication between the compartments 12 and 11 for the duration of the excitation signal. The concentrate flows by gravity into compartment 11. As soon as the electromagnet 24 ceases to be excited, the valve 21 falls back, pushed by a return spring 27, to close the passage 19.
  • the compartment 12 preferably includes a single opening 12a. However, for certain uses, it may include an additional opening 25, closed by a removable plug 26, to allow, if necessary, the filling of this compartment in order to renew the reserve of concentrate without having to remove the plug 14 and, by there, the tube 15.
  • the container 10 When necessary, the container 10 is replaced by a new identical container 10 'as shown in FIG. 4.
  • This new container is provided with reserves of development product and of concentrate in its compartments 11 ′ and 12 ′ isolated from the one from the other by the wall 13 '.
  • the adjacent openings 11a, 12a ( Figure 3) of these compartments are closed with sealingly with a thin aluminum pellet 56 sealed on the upper surface of the neck 53 and of the wall 13, the whole being closed by a plug 14 'screwed onto the threaded neck 53.
  • the plug 14 ' is removed and replaced by the plug 14 fitted with tubes 4 and 7. During this operation, the tubes 4, 7 and 15 are forced through the aluminum pellet 56.
  • the present invention is also applicable to multicolor printing apparatuses using at least two different development products with a liquid vehicle. It is sufficient to associate with each development product circuit an assembly formed by two adjacent compartments containing the reserve of development product and the corresponding reserve of concentrate, and to provide a connection through the partition wall of these compartments.
  • the various compartments can be provided in a container formed in one piece, such as the container 40 in FIG. 5.
  • This can is intended for a polychrome electrostatic printing device. It includes four compartments of concentrates 41, 42, 43 and 44 overhanging four respective compartments of development product 45, 46, 47 and 48 separated by vertical walls 49, 50 and 51.
  • the connection of the can 40 to each of the four development product circuits is therefore carried out as described above for the can 10 and 10 '.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Wet Developing In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne une installation de développement pour appareil d'impression électrostatique utilisant un produit de développement et un concentré à véhicule liquide et un dispositif de stockage de ces produits pour le développement.The present invention relates to a development installation for an electrostatic printing apparatus using a development product and a liquid vehicle concentrate and a device for storing these products for development.

Dans les appareils de ce type, le produit de développement utilisé est un mélange de particules et de dispersant, par exemple formé de micro- particules de carbone chargées électriquement et en suspension dans un liquide tel que du kérosène.In devices of this type, the development product used is a mixture of particles and dispersant, for example formed from micro-particles of carbon electrically charged and suspended in a liquid such as kerosene.

De façon usuelle, le produit de développement est contenu dans une réserve située dans la partie inférieure de l'appareil et d'où il est amené au poste de développement, un circuit en boucle étant établi pour une circulation du produit de la réserve au poste de développement et, en retour, à la réserve.Usually, the development product is contained in a reserve located in the lower part of the apparatus and from which it is brought to the development station, a loop circuit being established for a circulation of the product from the reserve to the station development and, in return, to the reserve.

Au fur et à mesure de l'utilisation de l'appareil, la quantité de particules contenues dans le produit de développement diminue, d'où une relative dilution du mélange.As the device is used, the quantity of particles contained in the development product decreases, resulting in a relative dilution of the mixture.

L'utilisation d'un dispersant très volatil, comme c'est le cas du kérosène, peut compenser cette dilution dans une certaine mesure.The use of a highly volatile dispersant, such as kerosene, can compensate for this dilution to some extent.

Toutefois, il est généralement nécessaire de disposer d'une réserve de concentré pour rétablir une proportion correcte entre particules et dispersant, notamment pour compenser une consommation élevée de particules lorsqu'une impression très noire ou intensive est demandée.However, it is generally necessary to have a reserve of concentrate to restore a correct proportion between particles and dispersant, in particular to compensate for a high consumption of particles when a very black or intensive printing is requested.

Le concentré est également un mélange de particules et de dispersant, mais avec une proportion de dispersant beaucoup plus faible que pour le produit de développement. A titre indicatif, le produit de développement est par exemple obtenu en diluant un volume de concentré dans environ cent volumes de dispersant.The concentrate is also a mixture of particles and dispersant, but with a much lower proportion of dispersant than for the development product. As an indication, the development product is for example obtained by diluting a volume of concentrate in approximately one hundred volumes of dispersant.

Il est connu d'utiliser des systèmes permettant de détecter automatiquement la teneur en particules du produit de développement pour commander, le cas échéant, l'ajout d'une certaine quantité de concentré. De façon en soi connue, cette teneur est détectée par la mesure de caractéristique électrique du produit de développement, ou de façon optique.It is known to use systems making it possible to automatically detect the content of particles in the development product in order to control, if necessary, the addition of a certain quantity of concentrate. As is known per se, this content is detected by measuring the electrical characteristic of the development product, or optically.

Dans ces systèmes connus, lorsqu'il est nécessaire d'ajouter du concentré, celui-ci est prélevé dans une réserve de concentré située dans l'appareil, et injecté dans le circuit du produit de développement. Il est alors généralement prévu un circuit particulier entre la réserve de concentré et un point du circuit du produit de développement, avec, dans certains cas, interposition d'une chambre intermédiaire. On pourra en particulier se référer aux brevets US-3 650 196 et US-4119989.In these known systems, when it is necessary to add concentrate, it is taken from a reserve of concentrate located in the apparatus, and injected into the circuit of the development product. A special circuit is then generally provided between the reserve of concentrate and a point on the circuit of the development product, with, in certain cases, the interposition of an intermediate chamber. We can in particular refer to patents US-3,650,196 and US-4119989.

La présente invention a notamment pour but de fournir une installation de développement simplifiée et donc moins coûteuse que celles de l'art antérieur, tout en permettant un changement aisé du dispositif de stockage des produits nécessaires au développement.The object of the present invention is in particular to provide a simplified and therefore less expensive development installation than those of the prior art, while allowing an easy change of the device for storing the products necessary for development.

L'invention a aussi pour avantage de fournir un dispositif de stockage de produits pour appareil d'impression électrostatique réduisant le risque d'utilisation involontaire d'un concentré incompatible avec le produit de développement.The invention also has the advantage of providing a product storage device for an electrostatic printing device reducing the risk of unintentional use of a concentrate incompatible with the development product.

Selon l'invention, une installation de développement comprend : un premier récipient de produit de développement ; un circuit pour faire circuler ledit produit de développement entre ledit premier récipient et un poste de développement ; un deuxième récipient de produit concentré ; et des moyens avec vanne pour faire passer, sur commande, du produit concentré du deuxième au premier récipient. Lesdits premier et deuxième récipients sont deux compartiments d'un réservoir amovible, lesdits compartiments comportant des ouvertures vers l'extérieur obturables, soit avant mise en place dans l'appareil par des premiers moyens de fermeture isolant les deux compartiments pour permettre le transport des deux produits au moyen dudit réservoir, soit après mise en place dans l'appareil, par des deuxièmes moyens de fermeture incluant des moyens d'accès aux deux compartiments dudit circuit de circulation et desdits moyens avec vanne, respectivement.According to the invention, a development installation comprises: a first container of development product; a circuit for circulating said development product between said first container and a development station; a second container of concentrated product; and means with valve for passing, on command, concentrated product from the second to the first container. Said first and second containers are two compartments of a removable tank, said compartments having closable outward openings, either before being placed in the device by first closing means isolating the two compartments to allow the transport of the two produced by means of said reservoir, either after being placed in the apparatus, by second closing means including means for accessing the two compartments of said circulation circuit and said means with valve, respectively.

Suivant un autre aspect de l'invention, un dispositif pour le stockage d'un produit de développement et d'un concentré à véhicule liquide pour l'installation de développement d'un appareil d'impression électrostatique comprend : un réservoir formé en une seule pièce et comportant au moins deux compartiments séparés par une paroi, ledit réservoir comportant deux ouvertures juxtaposées situées de part et d'autre de ladite paroi, lesdits deux compartiments étant accessibles depuis l'installation de développement par lesdites deux ouvertures juxtaposées pour permettre, après mise en place du réservoir dans l'appareil d'impression, le passage de concentré d'un compartiment à l'autre, lesdites ouvertures étant obturables par un premier bouchon commun adapté à isoler les deux compartiments l'un de l'autre pour le transport sans mélange du produit de développement et du concentré.According to another aspect of the invention, a device for storing a development product and a liquid vehicle concentrate for the development installation of an electrostatic printing apparatus comprises: a reservoir formed in a single piece and comprising at least two compartments separated by a wall, said tank comprising two juxtaposed openings located on either side of said wall, said two compartments being accessible from the development installation by said two juxtaposed openings to allow, after placing in place of the reservoir in the printing apparatus, the passage of concentrate from one compartment to the other, said openings being closable by a first common plug adapted to isolate the two compartments from one another for transport without mixing the development product and the concentrate.

D'autres particularités et avantages de l'installation et du dispositif conformes à l'invention ressortiront à la lecture de la description faite ci-après, à titre indicatif mais non limitatif, en référence aux dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • - la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'une installation conforme à l'invention,
  • - la figure 2 est une vue partielle en coupe et à échelle agrandie du bidon contenant les réserves de concentré et de produit de développement dans l'installation de la figure 1,
  • - la figure 3 est une vue partielle en coupe du bidon de la figure 2 avant sa mise en place dans l'installation, et
  • - les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en perspective montrant des dispositifs de stockage selon l'invention.
Other features and advantages of the installation and of the device in accordance with the invention will emerge on reading the description given below, by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an installation according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 is a partial view in section and on an enlarged scale of the container containing the reserves of concentrate and of development product in the installation of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the container of FIG. 2 before it is placed in the installation, and
  • - Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views tive showing storage devices according to the invention.

L'installation illustrée par la figure 1 est destinée à l'alimentation en produit de développement d'un poste de développement 1 d'une machine d'impression électrostatique.The installation illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended for supplying development product to a development station 1 of an electrostatic printing machine.

Le produit de développement est à véhicule liquide. Il est prélevé dans une réserve 2 pour être amené dans un bac de développement 3 du poste 1. Le produit en excès est ramené du bac 3 à la réserve 2, une circulation continue du produit de développement étant établie lors du fonctionnement de l'appareil.The development product is a liquid vehicle. It is taken from a reserve 2 to be brought into a development tank 3 of station 1. The excess product is brought back from tank 3 to reserve 2, a continuous circulation of the development product being established during the operation of the device. .

Un circuit d'amenée comprend un tube 4 plongeant à une extrémité dans la réserve 2, muni d'une pompe 5, et formant à son autre extrémité deux branches 4a, 4b aboutissant aux extrémités d'un tube 6 qui s'étend longitudinalement dans le bac 3. Comme connu en soi, le produit de développement est projeté à l'extérieur du tube 6 à travers des perforations réparties sur la longueur de celui-ci, puis est recueilli dans des cannelures d'un rouleau rotatif (non représenté) pour permettre le dépôt des particules chargées sur un support d'impression déplacé en contact avec le rouleau cannelé. Le produit de développement en excès est recueilli dans le bac et, de là, ramené dans la réserve 2 par gravité au moyen d'un tube de retour 7 qui relie un orifice formé au fond du bac 3 à la réserve 2.A supply circuit comprises a tube 4 plunging at one end into the reserve 2, fitted with a pump 5, and forming at its other end two branches 4a, 4b ending at the ends of a tube 6 which extends longitudinally in the tray 3. As known per se, the development product is sprayed outside the tube 6 through perforations distributed over the length thereof, then is collected in the grooves of a rotary roller (not shown) to allow the deposition of the charged particles on a displaced printing medium in contact with the grooved roller. The excess development product is collected in the tank and, from there, brought back into the reserve 2 by gravity by means of a return tube 7 which connects an orifice formed at the bottom of the tank 3 to the reserve 2.

Une réserve de concentré 9 est prévue pour, en cas de besoin, recharger le produit de développement circulant dans l'appareil.A reserve of concentrate 9 is provided for, if necessary, recharging the development product circulating in the device.

Conformément à l'invention, les réserves de produit de développement et de concentré sont situées dans deux compartiments adjacents 11, 12 pouvant communiquer l'une avec l'autre par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison traversant leur paroi de séparation 13.In accordance with the invention, the reserves of development product and of concentrate are located in two adjacent compartments 11, 12 which can communicate with each other via a link passing through their partition wall 13.

Les figures 1 et 2 montrent les compartiments 11 et 12 intégrés dans un réservoir 10 formé en une seule pièce par exemple par assemblage de deux demi-coquilles symétriques moulées ou thermoformées en une matière plastique telle qu'un polyuréthane ou un polyéthylène.Figures 1 and 2 show the compartments 11 and 12 integrated in a tank 10 formed in one piece for example by assembling two symmetrical half-shells molded or thermoformed in a plastic material such as a polyurethane or a polyethylene.

Le réservoir 10 est normalement livré à l'utilisateur avec ses compartiments 11 et 12 remplis des réserves de liquides respectifs.The reservoir 10 is normally delivered to the user with its compartments 11 and 12 filled with the respective liquid reserves.

Le compartiment 12 occupe une partie de la zone supérieure du réservoir. Les compartiments 11 et 12 présentent deux ouvertures adjacentes 11a, et 12a entourées par un goulot fileté 53 et obturées par un même bouchon 14. Ce dernier comprend une couronne 14a munie d'un taraudage qui se visse sur le goulot fileté 53 du réservoir 10. Le bouchon 14 comprend aussi un disque 14b monté de façon à pouvoir laisser tourner la couronne 14a tout en étant maintenu axialement par des épaulements 54, 55 de cette couronne. Le disque 14b est traversé par les tubes 4 et 7 qui accèdent au compartiment 11. La réalisation en deux parties 14a, 14b du bouchon 14 permet de visser ce dernier jusqu'au contact sur le goulot 53 et la paroi 13 sans entraîner en rotation les tubes 4 et 7.The compartment 12 occupies part of the upper zone of the tank. The compartments 11 and 12 have two adjacent openings 11a, and 12a surrounded by a threaded neck 53 and closed by the same plug 14. The latter comprises a crown 14a provided with a thread which is screwed onto the threaded neck 53 of the reservoir 10. The plug 14 also includes a disc 14b mounted so as to allow the crown 14a to rotate while being held axially by shoulders 54, 55 of this crown. The disc 14b is crossed by the tubes 4 and 7 which access the compartment 11. The realization in two parts 14a, 14b of the plug 14 makes it possible to screw the latter until contact on the neck 53 and the wall 13 without driving the tubes 4 and 7.

La liaison entre les compartiments 11 et 12 est réalisée au moyen d'un tube 15 traversant de façon étanche un orifice 16 à la partie inférieure, horizontale dans l'exemple illustré, de la paroi 13, et muni d'une vanne 20.The connection between the compartments 11 and 12 is carried out by means of a tube 15 sealingly passing through an orifice 16 at the bottom, horizontal in the example illustrated, of the wall 13, and provided with a valve 20.

Avantageusement, le tube 15 présente une extrémité inférieure 15a conique se terminant en pointe, et l'orifice 16 est formé par perforation de la paroi 13 au moyen de cette extrémité lorsque le tube 15 est mis en place. Cette mise en place est réalisée par vissage du bouchon 14, provoquant la descente du disque 14b et du tube 15 qui lui est solidaire par la partie filetée 15b. On notera que le matériau le long du bord de l'ouverture 16 forme une lèvre 17 qui, après perforation, se resserre sur la périphérie du tube 15 assurant ainsi l'étanchéité. Le volume interne du tube 15 communique avec l'intérieur du compartiment 12 à la partie inférieure de celui-ci à travers un ou plusieurs orifices latéraux 18. A son extrémité inférieure faisant saillie dans le compartiment 11, le tube 15 présente une section interne de diamètre réduit formant un passage 19 légèrement excentré qui s'ouvre dans le compartiment 11.Advantageously, the tube 15 has a conical lower end 15a ending in a point, and the orifice 16 is formed by perforating the wall 13 by means of this end when the tube 15 is put in place. This installation is carried out by screwing the plug 14, causing the disc 14b and the tube 15 which is integral with it to descend by the threaded part 15b. It will be noted that the material along the edge of the opening 16 forms a lip 17 which, after perforation, tightens on the periphery of the tube 15 thus ensuring sealing. The internal volume of the tube 15 communicates with the interior of the compartment 12 at the lower part thereof through one or more lateral orifices 18. At its lower end projecting into the compartment 11, the tube 15 has an internal section of reduced diameter forming a slightly eccentric passage 19 which opens in compartment 11.

La vanne 20 réalise l'ouverture et la fermeture de la communication entre les compartiments 12 et 11 à travers le ou les orifices 18, l'intérieur du tube 15 et le passage 19. Cette vanne 20 comprend une pièce 21 formant soupape, située à l'intérieur du tube 15 et coopérant avec un siège 22 entourant l'extrémité supérieure du passage 19. La soupape 21 est munie d'une tige dont la partie supérieure constitue ou est solidaire de l'armature d'un électro-aimant 24 fixé au tube 15 à l'extérieur du bidon 10. La bobine de l'électro-aimant 24 est reliée à la sortie d'un circuit (non représenté) qui, de façon connue en soi, réagit à la détection d'un manque de particules dans le produit de développement ou à une demande d'impression plus noire en produisant un signal de commande d'ajout de concentré. Lorsque l'électro-aimant 24 est excité, la soupape 21 est déplacée vers le haut, ouvrant la communication entre les compartiments 12 et 11 pendant la durée du signal d'excitation. Le concentré s'écoule par gravité dans le compartiment 11. Dès que l'électro-aimant 24 cesse d'être excité, la soupape 21 retombe, poussée par un ressort de rappel 27, pour obturer le passage 19.The valve 20 opens and closes the communication between the compartments 12 and 11 through the orifice (s) 18, the interior of the tube 15 and the passage 19. This valve 20 comprises a part 21 forming a valve, located at inside the tube 15 and cooperating with a seat 22 surrounding the upper end of the passage 19. The valve 21 is provided with a rod, the upper part of which constitutes or is integral with the armature of a fixed electromagnet 24 to the tube 15 outside the canister 10. The coil of the electromagnet 24 is connected to the output of a circuit (not shown) which, in a manner known per se, reacts to the detection of a lack of particles in the development product or at a darker print request by producing a command signal to add concentrate. When the electromagnet 24 is energized, the valve 21 is moved upward, opening communication between the compartments 12 and 11 for the duration of the excitation signal. The concentrate flows by gravity into compartment 11. As soon as the electromagnet 24 ceases to be excited, the valve 21 falls back, pushed by a return spring 27, to close the passage 19.

Le compartiment 12 comporte, de préférence, une seule ouverture 12a. Toutefois, pour certaines utilisations, il peut comporter une ouverture supplémentaire 25, fermée par un bouchon amovible 26, pour permettre, le cas échéant, le remplissage de ce compartiment afin de renouveler la réserve de concentré sans avoir à retirer le bouchon 14 et, par là-même, le tube 15.The compartment 12 preferably includes a single opening 12a. However, for certain uses, it may include an additional opening 25, closed by a removable plug 26, to allow, if necessary, the filling of this compartment in order to renew the reserve of concentrate without having to remove the plug 14 and, by there, the tube 15.

Lorsque cela est nécessaire, le bidon 10 est remplacé par un nouveau bidon identique 10' tel que représenté sur la figure 4. Ce nouveau bidon est muni de réserves de produit de développement et de concentré dans ses compartiments 11' et 12' isolés l'un de l'autre par la paroi 13'. Pour le transport, les ouvertures adjacentes 11a, 12a (figure 3) de ces compartiments sont obturées de façon étanche par une pastille mince d'aluminium 56 scellée sur la surface supérieure du goulot 53 et de la paroi 13, le tout étant fermé par un bouchon 14' vissé sur le goulot fileté 53. Lorsque le bidon 10' est installé dans l'appareil d'impression, on enlève le bouchon 14' et on le remplace par le bouchon 14 équipé des tubes 4 et 7. Pendant cette opération, on force les tubes 4, 7 et 15 au travers de la pastille d'aluminium 56.When necessary, the container 10 is replaced by a new identical container 10 'as shown in FIG. 4. This new container is provided with reserves of development product and of concentrate in its compartments 11 ′ and 12 ′ isolated from the one from the other by the wall 13 '. For transport, the adjacent openings 11a, 12a (Figure 3) of these compartments are closed with sealingly with a thin aluminum pellet 56 sealed on the upper surface of the neck 53 and of the wall 13, the whole being closed by a plug 14 'screwed onto the threaded neck 53. When the container 10' is installed in the printing device, the plug 14 'is removed and replaced by the plug 14 fitted with tubes 4 and 7. During this operation, the tubes 4, 7 and 15 are forced through the aluminum pellet 56.

Un bidon tel que celui 10 ou 10' formé en une seule pièce avec ses deux compartiments, constitue un mode préféré de réalisation d'un dispositif de stockage selon l'invention et présente les avantages suivants : simplification au niveau de l'emballage, du transport et de la gestion des stocks de réserves de concentré et produit de développement, et garantie pour l'utilisateur de la compatibilité entre concentré et produit de développement.A can such as that 10 or 10 ′ formed in one piece with its two compartments, constitutes a preferred embodiment of a storage device according to the invention and has the following advantages: simplification in terms of packaging, transport and management of stocks of concentrate and development product reserves, and guarantee for the user of compatibility between concentrate and development product.

On a envisagé ci-avant le cas d'appareils d'impression en noir et blanc.The case of black and white printing devices has been considered above.

Toutefois, la présente invention est applicable également à des appareils d'impression multicolore utilisant au moins deux produits de développement différents à véhicule liquide. Il suffit d'associer à chaque circuit de produit de développement un ensemble formé par deux compartiments adjacents contenant la réserve de produit de développement et la réserve de concentré correspondant, et de prévoir une liaison à travers la paroi de séparation de ces compartiments. Avantageusement, les différents compartiments peuvent être prévus dans un bidon formé en une seule pièce, tel que le bidon 40 de la figure 5.However, the present invention is also applicable to multicolor printing apparatuses using at least two different development products with a liquid vehicle. It is sufficient to associate with each development product circuit an assembly formed by two adjacent compartments containing the reserve of development product and the corresponding reserve of concentrate, and to provide a connection through the partition wall of these compartments. Advantageously, the various compartments can be provided in a container formed in one piece, such as the container 40 in FIG. 5.

Ce bidon est destiné à un appareil d'impression électrostatique polychrome. Il comprend quatre compartiments de concentrés 41, 42, 43 et 44 surplombant quatre compartiments respectifs de produit de développement 45,46,47 et 48 séparés par des parois verticales 49, 50 et 51. On retrouve, pour chaque ensemble formé par un compartiment de produit de développement et un compartiment de concentré, la structure du bidon 10 ou 10' des figures 1 à 3. Le raccordement du bidon 40 à chacun des quatre circuits de produit de développement est donc réalisée comme décrit plus haut pour les bidons 10 et 10'.This can is intended for a polychrome electrostatic printing device. It includes four compartments of concentrates 41, 42, 43 and 44 overhanging four respective compartments of development product 45, 46, 47 and 48 separated by vertical walls 49, 50 and 51. We find, for each set formed by a compartment of development product and a concentrate compartment, the structure of the can 10 or 10 ′ in FIGS. 1 to 3. The connection of the can 40 to each of the four development product circuits is therefore carried out as described above for the can 10 and 10 '.

Claims (12)

1. A development installation for an electrostatic printing apparatus using a liquid developer and concentrate, comprising :
a first container (11) of developer ;
a circuit for circulating said developer between said first container and a developing station (1) ;
a second container (12) of concentrate ; and
valve means (15, 20) operable for passing concentrate from the second to the first container ; characterized in that said first and second containers are two compartments of a removable reservoir (10), said compartments comprising openings (11a, 12a) to the exterior thereof, adapted to be closed, either before installation in the apparatus, by first closing means (17, 56, 14') separating said two compartments for the transportation of said developer and concentrate in said reservoir, or after installation in the apparatus, by second closing means including access means (14b, 15b) for communicating said compartments with said circulating circuit (4, 7) and said valve means (15, 20) respectively.
2. An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said reservoir (1.0) is a one piece reservoir and comprises a wall (13) separating said compartments.
3. An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that said openings (11 a, 12a) are adjacent and located on each side of said wall, said firts closing means comprising a first common closing member (14') for closing the openings of both compartments, and said second closing means comprising a second common closing member (14) carrying said access means to said compartments.
4. An installation according to claim 3, characterized in that said valve means (15, 20) comprises a tube (15) adapted to pass in sealed manner through the separating wall between the compartments, said tube including at least a firts orifice (18) communicating the interior of the tube with the compartment of concentrate, at least a second orifice (19) communicating the interior of the tube with the compartment of developer and a valve (20) located in the interior of the tube for establishing or interrupting communication between the first orifice (18) and the second orifice (19).
5. An installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the tube (15) is installed through the separating wall (13) by perforating said separating wall with one end of the tube when the latter is set..
6. An installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the tube (15) is removably fixed through said second common closing member (14).
7. A storage device for a liquid developer and concentrate for the development installation of an electrostatic printing apparatus, characterized by comprising :
a one-piece removable reservoir (10) comprising at least two compartments (11, 12) separated by a wall (13), said reservoir comprising two adjacent openings (11a. 12a) located on each side of said wall (13), the development installation being able to have access to both compartments through said adjacent openings so that concentrate can pass from one compartment to the other after installation of the reservoir in the printing apparatus, said openings being adapted to be closed by a first common closing member (14') for separating said compartments from each other in a sealed manner for the transportation of the developer and concentrate without mixing them.
8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that said openings (11 a, 12a) are adapted to be closed by a second common closing member (14) which is part of the printing apparatus for connecting said compartments (11, 12) with said printing apparatus (1) in order that said developer and concentrate be used by said apparatus.
9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in that said wall (13) is adapted for perforation by a part (15) introduced through one of said openings for establising a communication between the compartments through said wall (13).
10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that said second closing member (14) is adapted to contact said wall (13) to prevent communication between the two compartments.
11. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10 for storing several developers and several concentrates, characterized by comprising several compartments (45-48) of developer and an equal number of corresponding compartments of concentrate (41-44) each said compartment of concentrate being adjacent to a corresponding compartment of developer.
12. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that each compartment of concentrate has an opening adjacent to an opening of a corresponding compartment of developer, said adjacent openings being adapted to be closed by a common closing member.
EP84402559A 1983-12-16 1984-12-12 Development installation and stocking device for an electrostatic printing apparatus Expired EP0148676B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8320223 1983-12-16
FR8320223A FR2556854B1 (en) 1983-12-16 1983-12-16 SUPPLY PLANT AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING AN ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING APPARATUS WITH A LIQUID VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT PRODUCT

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0148676A1 EP0148676A1 (en) 1985-07-17
EP0148676B1 true EP0148676B1 (en) 1988-09-28

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EP84402559A Expired EP0148676B1 (en) 1983-12-16 1984-12-12 Development installation and stocking device for an electrostatic printing apparatus

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US (1) US4634252A (en)
EP (1) EP0148676B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS60153071A (en)
DE (1) DE3474369D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2556854B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS60153071A (en) 1985-08-12
EP0148676A1 (en) 1985-07-17
FR2556854B1 (en) 1987-02-20
JPH0443583B2 (en) 1992-07-17
FR2556854A1 (en) 1985-06-21
US4634252A (en) 1987-01-06
DE3474369D1 (en) 1988-11-03

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