Patents by Inventor Christopher Snelling

Christopher Snelling has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080219714
    Abstract: An imaging system, method and apparatus for producing an image by sensitizing a charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor, image-wise exposing the charge retentive surface to produce an electrostatic latent image, and then transferring the latent image away from the photoreceptor. An intermediate transfer belt carries the latent image to a proximally located development assembly to accommodate deposit of a toner complex onto the latent image to produce a toned image. The toned image is carried to a proximally located toner image transfer assembly that is located a distance from the photoreceptor. The toned image is transferred or transfused to a media carried by a toner image transfer belt located proximally to the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 7031645
    Abstract: In a development system including a developer transport adapted for depositing developer material on an imaging surface having an electrostatic latent image thereon, comprising: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material comprising carrier and toner; a donor member, mounted partially in the chamber and spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting developer on an outer surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface, the donor member having a magnetic assembly having a plurality of poles, a sleeve, enclosing the magnetic assembly, rotating about the magnetic assembly; a developer bed height of the developer material produce by the rotation of the magnetic assembly on the donor member to a predefined developer bed height within a development nip; and a grid, spaced and interposed between the donor member and the charge retentive surface, the grid having being dispose longitudinal with respect to the charge retentive surface and the donor member, the grid being spaced s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6775504
    Abstract: In a development system including a developer transport adapted for depositing developer material on an imaging surface having an electrostatic latent image thereon, including: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material including carrier and toner; a donor member, mounted partially in the chamber and spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting developer on an outer surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface the donor member having a magnetic assembly having a plurality of poles, a sleeve, enclosing the magnetic assembly, rotating about the magnetic assembly; the magnetic assembly generating a developer bed having a predefined developer bed height; a grid, interposed between the donor roll and the imaging surface within the predefined bed height, the grid having apertures for permitting carrier and toner therethrough; and means for biasing a region between the grid and the imaging surface at a voltage potential so that toner is ejecting towards the imaging surfa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E. Godlove, Richard F. Koehler, Jr., Christopher Snelling, Dale R. Mashtare, Robert W. Phelps
  • Publication number: 20040126146
    Abstract: In a development system including a developer transport adapted for depositing developer material on an imaging surface having an electrostatic latent image thereon, comprising: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material comprising carrier and toner; a donor member, mounted partially in the chamber and spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting developer on an outer surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface, the donor member having a magnetic assembly having a plurality of poles, a sleeve, enclosing the magnetic assembly, rotating about the magnetic assembly; a developer bed height of the developer material produce by the rotation of the magnetic assembly on the donor member to a predefine developer bed height within a development nip; and a grid, spaced and interposed between the donor member and the charge retentive surface, the grid having being dispose longitudinal with respect to the charge retentive surface and the donor member, the grid being spaced su
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Publication number: 20040114967
    Abstract: In a development system including a developer transport adapted for depositing developer material on an imaging surface having an electrostatic latent image thereon, including: a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material comprising carrier and toner; a donor member, mounted partially in the chamber and spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting developer on an outer surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface the donor member having a magnetic assembly having a plurality of poles, a sleeve, enclosing the magnetic assembly, rotating about the magnetic assembly; the magnetic assembly generating a developer bed having predefine developer bed height; a grid, interposed between said and the imaging surface within the predefined bed height, the grid having apertures for permitting carrier and toner therethrough; and means for biasing a region between the grid and the imaging surface at a voltage potential so that toner is ejecting towards the imaging surface after ton
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E. Godlove, Richard F. Koehler, Christopher Snelling, Dale R. Mashtare, Robert W. Phelps
  • Patent number: 6433805
    Abstract: A printing machine is disclosed, that combines charged image pattern creation techniques of electrostatic imaging with the coloration capabilities of dye sublation to produce novel color printing systems offering unique advantages in copy quality, costs, speed, and security. Donor particles having a sublimable dye coated thereon are employed with electrostatic imaging techniques to create a temporary donor image. Uniform heat is applied to sublime dyes from the donor particle pattern into the final image support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6385429
    Abstract: A resonator for applying vibrational energy to a member, for example a photoreceptor belt or developer/donor member, includes an energy transmitting horn member having a platform portion and a horn portion, the horn portion including a contacting portion for contacting a surface of the member, and a piezoelectric material in association with the horn member for driving the horn member to vibrate, the piezoelectric material responsive to a voltage signal from a voltage source. The piezoelectric material is a composite of at least one piezoceramic material and at least one of a polymer or air, and has a 1-3 configuration. By the selection of a piezoceramic/polymer composite material having the specified configuration for use as the vibratory energy producing source, or transducer, of a resonator, improved piezoelectric material performance is achieved, particularly with respect to control and/or elimination of undesired transverse vibration, and manufacturing complexity is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Weber, Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling, Bernard Leibman
  • Patent number: 6321055
    Abstract: Apparatus for non-interactive, dry powder development of electrostatic images on an imageable surface with developer material; including a housing containing developer material; a resonating donor member, spaced from the imageable surface, for transporting developer material to a development zone adjacent the imageable surface, the resonating donor member forming a cloud of developer material in the development zone to develop the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6308032
    Abstract: A rotatable charging apparatus includes a length extending between a first end and a second end, with the rotatable charging apparatus centered about an axis parallel to the length. The rotatable charging apparatus outer periphery forms N apparatus positions. One charging device is fixed to each of N−1 apparatus positions. The remaining (Nth) apparatus position is devoid of a charging device, thus forming an “empty” charging device position. A host printing machine selectively causes the rotatable charging apparatus to rotate about its axis thereby selectively position any of its N−1 charging devices to face a proximately-located photosensitive element. When a problem exists with the current charging device, or when the total number of operating hours of the current charging device exceeds a fixed threshold, the printing machine causes the rotatable charging apparatus to rotate from its current charging device to position a new charging device facing the photosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Weber, Kenneth W. Pietrowski, Joseph D. LaRussa, John S. Facci, Heiko Rommelmann, Alberto Rodriguez, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6295431
    Abstract: An apparatus for non-interactive, dry powder development of electrostatic Images composed of solid areas and fine lines areas on an imageable surface including a housing containing developer material; a magnetic member, spaced a predefined distance from the image, for transporting the developer material from the housing to develop solid areas of the image, the magnetic roll including an magnetic core and a cylindrical sleeve enclosing and rotating about the magnetic core; and a donor member, adjacent to the magnetic roll and spaced from the image receiving member and adapted to transport marking particles to a development zone adjacent the image receiving member; an electrode positioned in the development zone between the image receiving member and the donor member; a voltage supply for electrically biasing the electrode during a developing operation with an alternating current to detach marking particles from said donor member, forming a cloud of marking particles in the development zone, and developing fine
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6208824
    Abstract: An apparatus for non-interactive, dry powder development of electrostatic Images composed of solid areas and fine lines areas on an imageable surface including a housing containing developer material; a magnetic member, spaced a predefined distance from said image, for transporting said developer material from said housing to develop solid areas of said image, said magnetic roll including an magnetic core and a cylindrical sleeve enclosing and rotating about said magnetic core; and a resonating donor member, adjacent to said magnetic roll and spaced from the image receiving member and adapted to transport marking particles to a development zone adjacent the image receiving member; an electrode positioned in the development zone between the image receiving member and the donor member; a voltage supply for electrically biasing said electrode during a developing operation with an alternating current to detach marking particles from said resonating donor member, forming a cloud of marking particles in the develop
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6167228
    Abstract: An apparatus for non-interactive, dry powder development of electrostatic Images composed of solid areas and fine lines areas on an imageable surface including a housing containing developer material; a first magnetic roll, spaced a first predefined distance from the image, for transporting the developer material from the housing to develop solid areas of the image, the magnetic roll including an magnetic core and a cylindrical sleeve enclosing and rotating about the magnetic core; and a second magnetic roll, spaced a second predefined distance from the image, for transporting the developer material from the housing to develop fine line areas of the image, the magnetic roll including an magnetic core and a cylindrical sleeve enclosing and rotating about the magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kristine A. German, Stephen P. Hoover, Robert W. Phelps, Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling, Darryl L. Pozzanghera, Michael J. Price
  • Patent number: 6104904
    Abstract: A pneumatically coupled sonic toner release development apparatus is provided for reliably and uniformly developing latent electrostatic images in a toner image reproduction machine using charged toner particles. The pneumatically coupled sonic toner release development apparatus includes a development housing defining a sump for holding developer material containing the charged toner particles; a developer material moving device mounted within the sump for transporting developer material within the sump; and a pneumatically coupled sonic toner release assembly including an acoustic transducer, a pneumatic coupling device connected to the acoustic transducer, and a pneumatic donor assembly connected to the pneumatic coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6100003
    Abstract: A method that enhances safety while producing toners that are .ltoreq.5.mu. to be used in developing an electrostatic image includes providing selectable color toner liquids on demand to a mixing station; mixing the provided color toner liquids at the mixing station; producing a mist from the mixed toner liquid; collecting color toner particles resulting from the mist cooling; depositing the color toner particles in a development sump that includes carrier beads; and mixing the color toner particles with the carrier beads to produce two-component developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Snelling, Dale R. Mashtare
  • Patent number: 6085061
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing residual charged particles from a charge retentive surface characterized by a self-biasing electrostatic cleaner brush and a flicker bar. The brush includes fibers made of a bi-layer of PVDF films; one of which is PVDF covered over a conductive core. Upon bending in one direction, the fiber will generate an electrical potential which will attract and hold oppositely charged toner, which will then be released when the fiber is flexed by the flicker bar in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6073294
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing residual charged toner particles from a charge retentive surface characterized by a self-biasing pyroelectric cleaner brush and a detoning member for removing the charged particles from the self-biasing pyroelectric cleaner brush. The brush includes a pyroelectric polymer supported by a conductive roll with resistive fibers attached to one surface of the pyroelectric polymer. Heating and cooling of a pyroelectric polymer induces thermal expansion or contraction which create surface charge density charges that are used to supply charge to the resistive fibers. The oppositely charged resistive fibers contact the toner particles on the charge retentive surface to thereby remove them from the charge retentive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6057069
    Abstract: A method for supplying custom color in an image development system includes providing selectable color toner liquids on demand to a mixing station; mixing the provided color toner liquids at the mixing station; providing a mist from the mixed toner liquid; transporting the mist to a developer station; passing the mist between a development electrode and a recording member onto which a latent electrostatic image is positioned; providing an electric field between the development electrode and the recording member; and attracting the mist by means of the electric field to the electrostatic image to thereby develop the electrostatic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Snelling, Dale R. Mashtare
  • Patent number: 6035170
    Abstract: An electrostatic sonic toner release (electrostatic STORE) development apparatus, and a multicolor image reproduction machine including such a development apparatus are provided for creating toner images with reduced development fields. The electrostatic sonic toner release (electrostatic STORE) development apparatus includes a development housing defining a sump for holding developer material containing the toner particles; developer moving assembly mounted within the sump for transporting developer material within the sump; and a donor assembly mounted partially within the sump for receiving toner particles from the developer moving assembly, and for transporting the toner particles through a development nip of the reproduction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 6006057
    Abstract: A piezographic imaging process includes the use of a composite photoreceptor structure that includes a piezoactive layer that enables Xerographic imaging without corona charge/transfer subsystems. Flexure of the photoreceptor structure creates electric fields sufficient for the creation of developable latent electrostatic image patterns. Flexure of the photoreceptor structure following development generates an electric field for transfer of toner images onto paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Snelling
  • Patent number: 5933684
    Abstract: An apparatus in which the developability and interactivity of electrostatically charged particles in a mixture of particulate material is measured. The sensor apparatus includes a transparent member positioned closely adjacent to a developer roller of an electrophotographic printing machine. Electrostatically charged particles are attracted from the particulate mixture being transported by the developer roller to the member. A beam of energy is transmitted through the member. The intensity of the internally reflected beam is detected and a signal generated indicative of the quantity of charged particles adhering to the member. A cleaning field bias is applied, to determine if a signal indicative of the charge particles being removed (interactivity) from the member is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dale R. Mashtare, Christopher Snelling