US3593842A - Powder level sensing - Google Patents

Powder level sensing Download PDF

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Publication number
US3593842A
US3593842A US867495A US3593842DA US3593842A US 3593842 A US3593842 A US 3593842A US 867495 A US867495 A US 867495A US 3593842D A US3593842D A US 3593842DA US 3593842 A US3593842 A US 3593842A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
bar
shaft
supply
powder
diminution
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US867495A
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard C Berg
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.)
3M Co
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3593842A publication Critical patent/US3593842A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0856—Detection or control means for the developer level

Definitions

  • This invention' relates to an improved apparatusfor use with a supply tray having. a bottom wall forsensing the diminution of a supply of developer powder in thetray and for externally blocked by developer powder and which shines through a I transparent window when the supply of developerpowder is diminishedtMore recently, however, it has been found-advantageous to remotely indicate thediminution of the supply of developer powder so that the supply may be maintained at any desired location-as, for example, withina photocopying machine. This has beenattempted by-the use of a photocell which is directed towards light and activated upon diminution of the supply of powder. between the two. However, this arrangement has been undesirable since the photocell may become coated with developer powder and it will not be. activated even when the entire supply of powder has been used.
  • an apparatus which mechanically senses the diminution of a supply of developer powder and remotely indicates the same.
  • The'apparatus also provides for movementof developer powder toward a dispensing. position at the same time;it senses the diminutiottofa supply of powder.
  • the present invention has the advantages desired of apparatus for use with a hidden supply tray having a bottomwall for sensing the diminution of a-supplyof developer powder in the tray and comprises a shaft rotated above the. bottomwall of the tray, spaced electrical contact means on the bottom wall of the tray, a. conductive bar having a blunt surface to restrict penetration of the bar when contacting the supply of developer powder, resilient means for connecting the bar to the shaft to provide movement of the bar about the axis of the shaft and for permitting the barto float on.
  • P16. 1' is a perspective view of apparatus for sensingrthe diminution of a supply of developer powder made in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2- is a schematic view illustrating the device of FIG. 1 in use with'developer powder at a first level
  • FIG. 1 16.3 is a schematic view illustrating the device of FIG. 1 in use with developer diminished to a second level.
  • FIG. 1 Apparatus for sensing the diminution of a supply of developer powder constructed in accordance with the present invention-and generally designated 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1
  • the shaft 12 is supported at its ends in a pair ofend plates 23 and 24 for rotation above a bottom normally horizontal wall 27 of a developer powder tray 26 and about an axis parallel to the bottom wall 27 of the tray 26.
  • the electrical contacts 18 and 19 are supported on and suitably insulated from the bottom wall 27 of the tray 26. They are generally triangular in cross section and extend in a'direction perpendicular to. the shaft 12 generally equal distances to each side of a vertical line through the axis of the shaft 12.
  • An insulated lead wire 29 is connected to contact 19 and extends out of the tray 26 and a similar lead wire30 is connected to contact 18.
  • the lead wires 29 and 30 are connected to the signal circuit 21 to form an dicularly from the shaft.
  • the conductive bar17 is formed with a straight section equal to the distance between the springs 14 and 15 and. it is bent atright angles to its length at its ends to extend into the coil of the springs where it is securedh
  • the .springs 14 and 15 are similar and support theconductive bar 17 with its length parallel to the axis of the shaft 12.
  • the springs 14 and 15 support the bar 17 at asufficient distance 7 from the shaft to contact the conductive bar 17 against both electrical contacts 18 and19 when there. is no powder above thecontacts to complete the signal circuit 21 and thereby to light the lamp 32.
  • the springs 14 and 15 are sufficiently flexible and'the edge of the bar contacting the powder isv sufficiently blunt so thatw-hen there is developer powder 34 in the tray 26 above the electrical contacts 18and 19.
  • the springs will bend to permit the bar 17 to float on a supply of powder and to pass between the shaft l2.and the electrical contacts 18 and 19 without touchingv the contacts.
  • the conductive bar 17 as illustrated is circular in cross section to'restrict its penetration into the powder 34 to aid the springs 14 and 15 in floating it on the powder.
  • Rotation of the shaft 12 is provided by a pulley 36 secured to the shaft at one end extending through the end plate '24 and driven by a belt 37 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed "in-FIG. 2.
  • the belt 37 extends around a drive roller 38, an
  • the discharge roller 40 may comprise a nonconductive sleeve .within which magnets are arranged about andsecured to a central shaft with the shaft and the sleeve being relatively rotatable to move powder out of the tray 26 such as for application to an exposed photoconductive web in a document reproducing machine.
  • the conductive-bar 17 is formedof 0.198 cm. (0.078 inch) diameter stainless steel rod.
  • the vertical spacing between, the shaft 12 and the electrical contacts 18 and '19 is about 1.587 cm. (0.625 inch) while the springs 14 and: 15 are 2.54 cm. (1.0 inch) long and are formed of 0.030 cm. (0.012
  • a conductive bar having a blunt surface-to restrict penetration of said bar when contacting a said supply of signal means responsive to contact of said bar and said electrical contact means for indicating the diminution of a said supply of developer powder.
  • said resilient means comprises a plurality of helical springs normally extending from said shaft generally perpendicular to the axis of parallel to the axis of said shaft.
  • a shaft rotatably mounted above said bottom wall, means for rotating said shaft, r I a bar having a blunt surface to restrict penetration of said bar when contacting a said supply of developer powder while affording movement of saidsupply of powder in the 1 direction of movement of said bar,
  • resilient means for connecting said bar to said shaft to provide movement of said bar with said shaft about the axis of said shaft, to permit said bar to float on said supply of powder and to increase the displacement of said bar from said shaft upon diminution of said supply of developer powder, and
  • said resilient means comprises a plurality of helical springs normally extending from said shaft generally perpendicular to the axis of said shaft.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
  • Non-Mechanical Conveyors (AREA)
US867495A 1969-10-20 1969-10-20 Powder level sensing Expired - Lifetime US3593842A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US86749569A 1969-10-20 1969-10-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3593842A true US3593842A (en) 1971-07-20

Family

ID=25349890

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US867495A Expired - Lifetime US3593842A (en) 1969-10-20 1969-10-20 Powder level sensing

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3593842A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4920226B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2053141B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2064437B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1302687A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4174902A (en) * 1976-10-20 1979-11-20 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Detection of developer powder amount contained in a developer reservoir
US4270487A (en) * 1977-10-27 1981-06-02 Hitachi, Ltd. Developer regulating device in developing apparatus
US4292530A (en) * 1980-03-03 1981-09-29 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Developer material level sensor

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3979022A (en) * 1972-06-28 1976-09-07 Xerox Corporation Monitoring device
DE2843937A1 (de) * 1978-10-09 1980-04-24 Hoechst Ag Vorrichtung zur anzeige des unterschreitens einer bestimmten fuellhoehe des in einem behaelter befindlichen dosiergutes
US5694974A (en) * 1996-01-24 1997-12-09 Goss Graphic Systems, Inc. Fluid level detection system for ink in a printing press

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2909766A (en) * 1958-07-08 1959-10-20 Michael J Bozich Bin level indicator
US2977772A (en) * 1960-01-04 1961-04-04 Dole Valve Co Ice level sensing mechanism

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2909766A (en) * 1958-07-08 1959-10-20 Michael J Bozich Bin level indicator
US2977772A (en) * 1960-01-04 1961-04-04 Dole Valve Co Ice level sensing mechanism

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4174902A (en) * 1976-10-20 1979-11-20 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Detection of developer powder amount contained in a developer reservoir
US4270487A (en) * 1977-10-27 1981-06-02 Hitachi, Ltd. Developer regulating device in developing apparatus
US4292530A (en) * 1980-03-03 1981-09-29 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Developer material level sensor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2053141A1 (de) 1971-05-06
FR2064437B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-09-20
JPS4920226B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-05-23
DE2053141B2 (de) 1973-02-15
GB1302687A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-01-10
FR2064437A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-23

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