Abstract: A magnetic brush developer having a toner dispenser cooperable with a removable toner container of the bottle type so that transfer of toner to the dispenser occurs without spillage or exposure of the toner to the external environment. The bottle and dispenser have mating interfaces which must be properly located, and then rotated, before dumping of toner from the bottle to the dispenser can occur. The dispenser interface is positioned in a slidable cover so that the bottle's toner content can be evenly distributed along the length of the dispenser, this length corresponding substantially to the length of the developer's development zone.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media highly loaded with magnetic oxide particles. This media possesses a very smooth surface finish, and in operation exhibits low media wear, as well as low wear of an associated transducing head. This media includes an internal lubricant tridecyl stearate; i.e.

Abstract: A cleaning paste for use in cleaning the hot portions of a xerographic hot roll fuser, the paste comprising a mixture of a high molecular weight penetrant, e.g., a plasticizer or surfactant, cleansing agent and a finely divided solid to provide a bodying effect to the cleansing agent.

Abstract: A process for plating thick chromium coatings for engineering applications comprises depositing a thin initial layer from a low concentration chromium III/thiocyanate bath and depositing the bulk of the remaining thickness from a relatively higher concentration chromium III/thiocyanate bath. Deposits produced by this two-stage process are more cohesive and smoother than those obtainable by plating the entire thickness from the high concentration bath alone.

Abstract: A pneumatic sampler for use in collecting a sample of xerographic toner from a mass of such toner. A positive-pressure air source is connected to atmosphere through a venturi so as to produce a negative-pressure source. The positive-pressure source is also adapted to be connected through a first conduit to the toner mass. Positive-pressure airflow through this first conduit both purges the first conduit of residual toner and fluidizes at least a portion of the toner mass. A toner sample container is adapted to be simultaneously connected through a second conduit to the venturi. The resulting negative-pressure airflow through the second conduit evacuates the container. Negative-pressure induced airflow also purges the second conduit of residual toner. The container is connected to the toner mass through the series-connected and now-purged first and second conduits, and the negative-pressure within the container produces flow of toner from the toner mass to the container.

Abstract: A toner material for use in developing images in an electrostatographic device is disclosed. The toner particles are initially classified according to a size distribution wherein less than 15% by weight are greater than 16 microns, between 7 and 15% by weight are less than 5 microns the remainder being from 5 to 16 microns and wherein the median particle size by weight is from 8 to 12 microns. The toner is used in a developer mix with carrier particles, and preferably the toner carrier mix is equilibrated such that the action of the developer mix and the machine provide a toner particle size distribution wherein less than 12% by weight are greater than 16 microns, between 15 and 30% by weight are less than 5 microns, the remainder being from 5 to 16 microns, and wherein the median particle size by weight is between 6.5 and 9.5 microns. An equilibrated toner particle distribution is also disclosed.

Abstract: A xerographic copier having a removable, multifunction paper cassette, the cassette functioning as the copier's paper supply, the copier's exit tray and the copier's single-sheet bypass entry station. The cassette is held at an acute angle to the horizontal, and includes a substantially solid upper wall whose lower portion includes a slot which exposes the paper supply stack's top sheet to paper feed roller means. Paper is fed, one sheet at a time, to a paper path which includes a transfer station and a hot roll fusing station. This paper path traverses a loop, such that the finished copy comes to rest on the solid upper wall of the cassette. The lower portion of this solid upper wall includes a movable paper gate which, when closed, allows multiple copies to be stacked before removal by the operator.

Abstract: A very low concentration (below 0.03 M) trivalent chromium plating bath in which the source of chromium is an equilibrated aqueous solution of a chromium (III) - thiocyanate complex gives a deposit of unexpectedly light color. Such a bath is employed to produce thin overcoatings of light colored chromium for decorative applications. The bath and process is also used to plate the initial layer of a thick (greater than 5 micron) deposit for engineering applications, the major part of which is plated from a higher chromium concentration bath. Such thick deposits from a higher concentration bath are more cohesive and smoother when plated over an initial layer from the low concentration bath.

Abstract: A xerographic device having a reusable photoconductor which is subjected in repeating cycles to (1) a charge corona whereat the photoconductor is uniformly charged to a negative voltage, (2) an imaging station whereat a working portion of the photoconductor is selectively discharged, to leave a charged area on this working portion defining a negative electrostatic latent image to be reproduced on copy paper, (3) a magnetic brush developing station whereat negatively charged carrier beads transport positively charged toner to the photoconductor's latent image, to leave a toned image on the photoconductor, (4) a transfer station, including a negative transfer corona, whereat a portion of the photoconductor's toned image is transferred to copy paper, (5) a positive preclean corona whereat the negatively charged photoconductor and its positive residual toner are subjected to a positive charge, and (6) a cleaning station whereat the photoconductor is cleaned by a brush having an affinity for positively charged par

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus of the two-component, dry developer and reusable photoconductor type, having a developer unit, and replenisher for supplying toner to the developer unit. The replenisher includes a first supply of virgin toner, and a second supply of used toner. A toner feed device operates to simultaneously feed toner to the developer unit from the first and second replenisher supplies. The proportion of toner fed from the first and second supplies is variable; however, such proportion requires that virgin toner must always be fed. Used toner is provided by collecting toner at the apparatus' cleaning station. Toner-low indication is provided for only the first supply, so as to prevent the feeding of only used toner. A toner concentration sensor signals the need to feed the combination of virgin/used toner to the developer unit.

Abstract: Generation of hydrogen cyanide at the anode in a chromium (III) - thiocyanate plating bath, resulting from oxidation of thiocyanate anions, is prevented by an additive to the electroplating solution which oxidizes at the anode in preference to the thiocyanate, and whose reaction products will not adversely affect the cathode reaction. Such an additive is potassium iodide.

Abstract: A method for brightening an electroplated chromium deposit wherein the deposited chromium is contacted with a solution having a constituent capable of forming complexes with chromium hydroxide species and of detaching the complexes so formed from the surface of an electroplated deposit. Preferably the solution is an alkaline ferricyanide solution or a solution of sodium dichromate in sulphuric acid.

Abstract: A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel.The combing wheel shingles the leading edge of the stack's top sheet to an open feed roller nip, to be sensed there by a pneumatic sensor. Sensing of this leading edge causes the combing wheel to be lifted off the stack. Subsequently, at a time determined by the copier's control logic, the drive nip closes to thereby feed the top sheet to the copier's paper registration gate, and then to its transfer station. As soon as this sheet's trailing edge has cleared the pneumatic sensor, and the drive nip has opened, the next sheet is staged at the shingled position, in the open drive nip.Side-one copied sheets, of intended duplex copies, are automatically stacked in a duplex bin. The bottom of the duplex bin includes a flat, resilient bottom-of-the-bin pad.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for successively separating and feeding sheets from a stack of sheets is disclosed. A wave generator wheel, rotating in a plane generally parallel to the stack, and about a tiltable axis generally perpendicular to the stack, is tiltable in a first direction to contact the stack for shingling the stack, and in a second direction to contact the stack for restoring the stack to its unshingled state. Sheets in a stack are driven forward or rearward by simply tilting the rotating wheel. The wave generator wheel is used to first drive the stack's top sheet away from a feed nip, and to then drive the stack's top sheet into the feed nip.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copier having a cut sheet, two-bin, paper feed module which is selectively secured in copier-operative position, whereat it is operable to feed sheets to the copier's paper aligner and transfer station, or is removable to a copier-inoperative position whereat the module remains operative to feed sheets for the purpose of examination, analysis, and/or repair and maintenance of the paper feed module.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for offsetting sheets laterally with respect to their travel in a predetermined direction along a path. The method includes directing the sheets away from the path and through a second curved path aligned in skewed relation to their direction of travel in the original path and then directing the sheets back into the original path. Where some sheets are selectively fed through the second path and others only along the original path, they all can then be collected in a single stack in laterally offset relation to each other. The apparatus for offsetting the sheets includes feeding means for feeding the sheets in the predetermined direction along the original path and guide structure for directing the sheets along the curved path. The guide structure is curved about an axis skewed relative to the direction of travel of the sheets along their original path to effect the offsetting.

Abstract: Apparatus in a copier fusing assembly for distributing the wear on a hot roll occasioned by the use of variable length copy sheets. This wear is distributed over the horizontal length of the hot roll by reversing the hot roll, end-for-end. Easy reversal of the hot roll is made possible by utilization of a hot roll subframe which is removably mounted in the copier fuser mainframe. A hot roll handle on the subframe allows for manual removal of the subframe and hot roll from the mainframe and out of the copier where they are reversed and inserted back into the mainframe. Operation of a latch handle moves a sheet detach bar and sheet transport exit-ways away from the downstream side of the fusing nip to facilitate jam clearance.

Abstract: A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding structure which includes a resilient combing wheel. The combing wheel is of a unique resilient construction, such that it exhibits a spring rate and damping factor which minimizes acoustical noise and enhances reliable, repeatable shingling of the top sheet of a stack to a closable sheet drive nip.

Abstract: Apparatus in a copier fusing assembly for distributing the wear on a hot roll occasioned by the use of variable length copy sheets. This wear is distributed over the horizontal length of the hot roll by reversing the hot roll, end-for-end. Easy reversal of the hot roll is made possible by utilization of a hot roll subframe which is removably mounted in the copier fuser mainframe. A handle on the subframe allows for manual removal of the subframe and hot roll from the mainframe and out of the copier where they are reversed and inserted back into the mainframe.

Abstract: A multibin, cut-sheet xerographic copier capable of operating in a simplex or a duplex copy mode, wherein sheets are fed from a selected sheet stack, one at a time, to the copier's transfer station, by a sheet feeding means which includes a combing wheel. The combing wheel shingles the top few sheets, and particularly the single top sheet's leading edge, to a normally open feed nip. This nip is closed by copier logic to feed the top sheet to the transfer station. The feed nip comprises a fixed position, continuously rotating feed roller adapted to cooperate with the top surface of the top sheet. A solenoid controlled, nip-closing, composite pad is pivotable upward to press the top sheet against the feed roller. This composite pad includes a first low friction, nonresilient pressure pad cooperating with the feed roller, and a second, reduced thickness, resilient pad cooperating with the leading edge of the shingled sheets under the top sheet.