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An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes an apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier including a conveyance housing divided into a mixing space adjacent to a second separate transport spa

An apparatus and method for dispensing toner in an electrostatographic printer includes an apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier including a conveyance housing divided into a mixing space adjacent to a second separate transport space, the second transport space located adjacent to a development roller, a powder conveying device located in the conveyance housing comprising two or more augers and a conveyance controller for controlling the powder conveying device, including the one or more augers, such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space and transports in the second transport space as the powder conveying device conveys the powder toward the imaging device of a print engine.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier comprising: a. a development station housing divided into a feed apparatus located adjacent to a development roller and a powder conveyance device; b. the powde

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier comprising: a. a development station housing divided into a feed apparatus located adjacent to a development roller and a powder conveyance device; b. the powder conveyance device having a single channel divided into a first mixing space adjacent to a second separate transport space, the second transport space located adjacent to the feed apparatus; the powder conveyance comprising two or more augers each having a shaft; and c. a conveyance controller for controlling the powder conveying device, including the two or more augers, such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space by minimizing P/F (Push/Flip) and transports in the second transport space as the powder conveying device conveys the powder toward the feed apparatus by maximizing P/F(Push/Flip). 2. The developing apparatus of claim1, further comprises preferentially mixing the powder and magnetic carrier in the first mixing space before it moves into the second transport space. 3. The developing apparatus of claim 1, the conveyance controller further controlling a paddle angle to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier moved both axially and radially toward one or more shaft. 4. The developing apparatus of claim 3, conveyance controller further controlling the ratio of a powder volume to a magnetic carrier volume moved both axially and radially toward one or more shaft. 5. The developing apparatus of claim 3, conveyance controller further controlling the ratio of the powder volume and magnetic carrier moved axially toward one or more shaft to the powder volume and magnetic carrier moved radially toward one or more shaft. 6. The developing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the paddle angle ranges from 20-40 degrees. 7. The developing apparatus of claim 1,the conveyance controller further controlling a blade paddle orientation to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier moved both axially and radially toward one or more shaft. 8. The developing apparatus of claim 7, conveyance controller further controlling the ratio of a powder volume to a magnetic carrier volume moved both axially and radially toward one or more shaft. 9. The developing apparatus of claim 7, conveyance controller further controlling the ratio of the powder volume and magnetic carrier moved axially toward one or more shaft to the powder and magnetic carrier volume moved radially toward one or more shaft. 10. The developing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the blade paddle orientation ranges from 90 to 180 degrees. 11. The developing apparatus of claim 1, the conveyance controller further controlling a direction of the rotation of the blade to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier moved both axially and radially toward one or more shaft. 12. The developing apparatus of claim 1, the conveyance controller further controlling a direction of the rotation of the blade to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that moves up wall and down wall to preferentially mix or push the powder and magnetic carrier volume. 13. The developing apparatus of claim 1, the conveyance controller further controlling a blade wall distance spacing Z to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 14. The developing apparatus of claim 1, the conveyance controller further controlling a conveyance-housing diameter to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 15. The developing apparatus of claim 14,the conveyance controller further controlling the conveyance-housing diameter to between 10 and 75mm. 16. The developing apparatus of claim 14, the conveyance controller further controlling the conveyance-housing diameter to greater than 10 mm. 17. A method of conveying powder to a development roller, the method comprising: a. moving the powder between a first mixing space to a second transport space located adjacent to the development roller using a powder conveying device comprising two or more augers; b. controlling the powder conveying device having a single channel such that the powder is conveyed toward the imaging device of a print engine through the second separate transport space, and c. controlling the two or more augers such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space by minimizing P/F (Push/Flip) and transports in the second transport space by maximizing P/F (Push/Flip) simply using auger rotation. 18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising controlling the paddle angle range from 20-40 degrees. 19. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising controlling a blade (paddle) orientation from 90 to 180 degrees. 20. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising controlling the paddle angle range from 20-40 degrees and a blade (paddle) orientation from 90 to 180 degrees. 21. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising controlling a direction of the rotation of the blade to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that moves up wall and down. 22. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising controlling a blade wall distance (spacing) to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 23. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising controlling a conveyance controller further controlling a conveyance housing diameter to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 24. An apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier comprising: a. a development station housing divided into a feed apparatus located adjacent to a development roller and a powder conveyance device; b. the powder conveyance device divided into a first mixing space adjacent to a second separate transport space, the second transport space located adjacent to the feed apparatus; the powder conveyance comprising two or more augers each having a shaft; and c. a conveyance controller for controlling the powder conveying device, including the two or more augers, such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space and transports in the second transport space as the powder conveying device conveys the powder toward the feed apparatus, the conveyance controller further controlling a blade wall distance spacing Z to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 25. A method of conveying powder to a development roller, the method comprising: a. moving the powder between a first mixing space to a second transport space located adjacent to the development roller using a powder conveying device comprising two or more augers; b. controlling the powder conveying device such that the powder is conveyed toward the imaging device of a print engine through the second separate transport space, and c. controlling the two or more augers such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space and transports in the second transport space simply using auger rotation and further controlling a blade wall distance spacing to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 26. The method of claim 25 further comprising controlling a conveyance controller further controlling a conveyance-housing diameter to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 27. An apparatus for transporting powder into a developer station containing at least powder and magnetic carrier comprising: a. a development station housing divided into a feed apparatus located adjacent to a development roller and a powder conveyance device; b. the powder conveyance device divided into a first mixing space adjacent to a second separate transport space, the second transport space located adjacent to the feed apparatus; the powder conveyance comprising two or more augers each having a shaft; and c. a conveyance controller for controlling the powder conveying device, including the two or more augers, such that the auger preferentially mixes in the first mixing space and transports in the second transport space as the powder conveying device conveys the powder toward the feed apparatus , the conveyance controller further controlling a conveyance housing diameter to further control the volume of powder and magnetic carrier that is preferentially mixed or pushed. 28. The developing apparatus of claim 27, the conveyance controller further controlling the conveyance-housing diameter to between 10 and 75 mm. 29. The developing apparatus of claim 27, the conveyance controller further controlling the conveyance-housing diameter to greater than 10 mm.