Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Thorp

Bruce E. Thorp 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).

  • Patent number: 5341199
    Abstract: Electrostatographic printing apparatus comprising an endless imaging surface and a blade cleaning station for removing residual toner particles therefrom, the blade cleaning station being positioned on top of the imaging surface at about the twelve o'clock position and including a cleaner sump housing containing a cleaning blade mounted on said sump to provide front and rear sump portions and in interference with the imaging surface for removing residual toner therefrom, the cleaner sump housing has an active toner moving device such as a rotatable paddle wheel which moves agglomerated cleaned toner away from the top of the cleaning blade to reduce the head height of toner that is agglomerated at the cleaning blade/photoreceptor interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Thorp, Richard L. Forbes, II
  • Patent number: 5323218
    Abstract: Electrostatographic printing apparatus comprising an endless imaging surface and a blade cleaning station for removing residual toner particles therefrom, the blade cleaning station being positioned on top of the imaging surface at about the twelve o'clock position and includes a cleaner sump housing containing a cleaning blade mounted on the sump to provide front and rear sump portions and in interference with the imaging surface for removing residual toner therefrom, the cleaner sump housing having a passive sump fill baffle mounted thereon to direct residual toner to the front and rear portions of the cleaner sump, the passive sump fill baffle being positioned above and relative to said cleaning blade to split a mass of accumulated residual toner, limit the toner head height and direct residual cleaned toner to both the front and rear sump portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Forbes, II, Bruce E. Thorp
  • Patent number: 5170211
    Abstract: A copying apparatus which includes a filtering system defining an inlet and an outlet to the corotron cavity. Both the inlet and the outlet include filter material for filtering the air before it is delivered to the corotron cavity and filtering effluents generated during actuation of scorotron wires. The pathways to the inlet and the scorotron cavity are sealed to ensure little or no leakage of contaminated air which could be exposed to the scorotron wires. For this purpose two activated charcoal filters are doped with silver on a foam substrate, utilized both for the inlet and the outlet filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: George J. Haupt, Bruce E. Thorp
  • Patent number: 4690544
    Abstract: A blade cleaning station is provided for an electrostatographic reproducing apparatus comprising an endless, flexible belt having an imaging surface thereon supported for movement between two support members defining a substantially horizontal top run therebetween. The cleaning station comprises a rigid stationary cleaning platen under the top run of the belt between the support members and a cleaning blade mounted in opposed relationship thereto on the imaging surface of the belt in interference with the imaging surface on said belt such that its beam deflection provides the force required to clean the imaging surface and the toner cleaned from the imaging surface lubricates the nip between the cleaning blade and the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Forbes, II, Bruce E. Thorp
  • Patent number: 4681426
    Abstract: Cleaner apparatus for electrostatographic reproducing apparatus comprises a cleaning blade in cleaning engagement with the endless charge retentive surface and end seals at each end of the charge retentive surface comprising a dense fibrous brush of resiliently flexible fibers fixed to a backing with the fibers being oriented in compression interference sealing contact with the charge retentive surface and in sealing engagement with the ends of the cleaning blade to provide a physical containment wall for bulk toner in the cleaner housing and a seal between the wall and the charge retentive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd F. Bean, Richard L. Forbes, II, Joseph A. Swift, Bruce E. Thorp