US PATENT CLASS 399
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 399/
This class provides for electrophotos:graphically reproducing an original (e.g., document) by the action of light directly from the original to a photoconductive member whose electrical conductivity, electrical charge, magnetic condition, or electrical emissivity of a photoconductive medium is selectively altered by the action of light to produce an electrostatic latent image which persists after imaging based upon differences in such electrical property. The latent image is made visible by development; and the developed image may be made permanent by transfer and fixing, or fixing. This class provides for the subcombinations directed to charging, developing, transferring, fixing, cleaning, or sheet feeding for an electrophotos:graphic apparatus whether or not the imaging light is directly from the original. This class also provides for methods and means for perfecting the apparatus provided above (e.g., control of electrophotos:graphic process, diagnostics, operator interface, etc.).
(1) Note. The apparatus herein classified generally involves the application of a uniform electrostatic charge to a photoresponsive medium comprising a conductive support coated with a photoconductive insulator. Latent electrostatic images are formed by exposure of an original directly onto the photoresponsive medium through an optical lens system. The charge applied to the light sensitive medium is selectively discharged by exposure and remains only on selected portions of the photoresponsive medium (i.e., those areas which correspond to the original image). The photoresponsive medium is moved to a developing station where toner is applied to the charged areas of the photoresponsive medium forming a visible image thereupon. The photoresponsive medium is then moved to a transfer station where the toned image is transferred to a copy substrate (e.g., a piece of paper). The toned substrate is then fed to a fixing station where the toner is permanently affixed to the paper, usually by heat or pressure. The photoresponsive medium is then moved to a cleaning station where untransferred toner and any leftover electrical charge are removed so another copy cycle can begin.
(2) Note. The use of the limitation "directly" above excludes image formation systems in which an image of an original is detected and converted to electrical signals which are subsequently utilized to generate further illumination signals to optically form an image of the original on the medium. This excluded subject matter may be found, for example, in Class 347, subclasses 112+, and in Class 358, subclasses 400+ and more specifically 401. However, the nominal recitation of a light image to an electrical signal or an equivalent statement would not serve
to exclude subject matter from Class 399. Also, Electrophotography has no modification of converted electrical signals.
OTHER CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
Each subclass definition may contain an OTHER CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS listing that is to be used for informational purposes only. These classification listings may change at any time after their publication and are therefore not guaranteed to be current. In addition, the classification listing does not necessarily indicate the sole relationship between the U.S. Patent Classification System and foreign classifications. Even where a single classification is listed for a single U.S. subclass, a one-to-one correlation should not be inferred. As a result, information contained therein is considered to be only a guide to related subject matter.
Types of other classification systems may include IPC[supscrpt]6[end supscrpt] which indicates an International Patent Classification (sixth edition) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), JPO/FI which indicates the Japanese Patent Office and its File Index (FI is a subdivision of the IPC with related subject matter) classifications, or the European Patent Classification (EPC) which indicates the European Patent Office's classification and also further subdivides the IPC into related subject matter.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY APPARATUS CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE In Class 250, Radiant Energy, subclass 315.3 provides for xeros:graphic copying methods and apparatus which utilize invisible radiation, subclass 317.1 provides for infrared or thermal image document pattern copying methods or apparatus, and subclasses 582 and 583 provides for methods and apparatus to expose by radiant energy a recording detector. Copying methods are classified in Class 430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof.
ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY APPARATUS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER STRUCTURE OR STRUCTURES AND CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE
Claims which recite apparatus for photographing something other than an original or carrier as herein defined and also for copying an original or carrier are classified in Class 396, Photography, especially subclasses 310+, 322+, and 429+, or Class 346, Recorders. Class 386, Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproducing, subclasses 30, 42, 43, 128+, and 130+ provide for the photocopying which includes forming a television image where a cathode-ray tube is recited. Class 396, Photography, subclasses 429+, provides for patents where only a nominal cathode-ray tube is recited. The combination of a detailed register with a broadly or specifically claimed copier is classified in Class
235, Registers. (See the first paragraph of the Class 235 class definition.)
ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY SUBCOMBINATIONS CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE
Class 226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, especially subclasses 52+, provides for film advancing mechanisms where no more than a nominal optical or photocopying element is claimed. Photos:graphic lights and projection lights, per se, are in Class 362, Illumination, subclasses 3+ and 257+. Class 271, Sheet Feeding or Delivering, provides for sheet feeding or delivering means where no specific electrophotos:graphic structure is recited. Class 359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements, provides for lenses in subclasses 642+, reflectors in subclasses 838+, and optical absorption filters in subclasses 885+.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
15, Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning, for devices for merely cleaning the photosensitive medium, particularly
1.51+, for electrostatic cleaning.
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids, for devices for treating a coating, including fusing or coalescing a particulate coating by solvent vapor treatment, per se.
74, Machine Element or Mechanism, 2+, for related subject matter concerning automatic operation or control of machine elements and mechanisms.
101, Printing, for printers where the ink or imaging material is affected by an electrostatic field.
118, Coating Apparatus, for apparatus for producing configured coatings applied to a support material under the control or direction of electrical, magnetic, or radiant energy applied to the coating material in a predetermined pattern; for applying a light sensitive coating to a support material; for development or transfer, by a coating operation, of images made by electric photography, or for applying protective coatings to the developed or transferred image; also any or all of these combined with aftertreatment of the developed image or cleaning of the light sensitive medium, especially
51, 58+, 72+, 200+, 308+, 620+, 720+, and 722+.
134, Cleaning and Liquid Contact With Solids, for methods of cleaning the photosensitive medium, particularly
1+, for cleaning including the application of electrical,
radiant, or wave energy.
137, Fluid Handling, appropriate subclasses for generic fluid handling apparatus which may be used to apply liquid toner to a latent image to make it visible.
178, Telegraphy,
77+, for teles:graphic devices combined with other instruments (e.g., an electrophotos:graphic copier).
188, Brakes,
381+, for generic braking devices which may be used to stop scanning devices, for example, while minimizing vibrations. 192, Clutches and Power-Stop Control,
116.5+, for generic stop mechanisms which may be used for power stop control of electrophotos:graphic movable platen scanners.
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy, appropriate subclasses for methods and apparatus for forming or developing an image by electrolysis, electro-osmosis, electrophoresis, or cathode sputtering, and combinations of electric photos:graphic apparatus therewith.
206, Special Receptacle or Package,
316.1, for special receptacles for an optical or photos:graphic means.
226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, especially
52+, for film advancing means in a copier where no more than one optical element is claimed and where no detailed optics are recited, and appropriate subclasses for means to advance, for example, photoresponsive electrophotos:graphic copy paper on rolls.
235, Registers, for a detailed register in combination with a broadly or specifically claimed copier.
236, Automatic Temperature and Humidity Regulation,
44+, for means to control the humidity of paper used in an electrophotos:graphic copier or the atmosphere within the copier, for example.
239, Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing, appropriate subclasses for apparatus used to apply liquid developer to latent image-bearing material.
242, Winding, Tensioning, or Guiding, 159+, and 324+ for apparatus used to wind or unwind rolls of
photoresponsive electros:graphic material, reeling and unreeling means of the type employed in still picture apparatus and for the type used in motion picture devices, for subject matter where no cooperation between an optical element and reeling mechanism is recited, where no detailed optical element is set forth, and where only one nominally claimed optical element is present.
250, Radiant Energy,
315.3, for methods and apparatus for xeros:graphic copying by use of invisible radiation, subclass 316.1 for related electrostatic recorders using infrared or thermal radiation to form the latent image of an original which is copied by electrophotography, subclasses 317.1+ for document copies relying upon infrared or thermal patterns of the document transferred to the copy paper, and subclasses 582 and 583 for an apparatus to expose, by invisible radiation generally, a recording detector generally.
252, Compositions, for subject matter, especially
501.1, photosensitive electrically conductive or emissive compounds, used as electrophotos:graphic photoresponsive media, as well as for other compositions used in electrophotos:graphic devices.
261, Gas and Liquid Contact Apparatus,
75+, for generic apparatus which places a document or item to be developed in contact with liquid developer or vice versa.
269, Work Holders,
289+, for detailed holders for an original.
270, Sheet-Material Associating,
1.1+, for generic sheet material associating with printing. 271, Sheet Feeding or Delivering, for generic sheet feeding or delivering apparatus, where no specific optical or photos:graphic structure is set forth.
323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems, for power supplies, per se.
346, Recorders,
74.2+, for related magnetos:graphic recording devices, subclasses 107.1+ for light or beam recording, and subclasses 150.1+ for related electrostatic recording apparatus and processes.
347, Incremental Printing and Symbolic Information,
1, 109 for ink jets, particularly subclass 55 for applying an
electric field ejection intermittently; subclasses 111 through 170 for electric marking, particularly subclass 158 for delivering to the recording medium visible particles to develop a latent image; subclasses 171 through 223 for thermal printers; and subclasses 224 through 264 for light (i.e., ROS scanners).
352, Optics: Motion Pictures, for photocopying apparatus and methods involving a motion picture camera or motion picture projector.
353, Optics: Image Projectors, appropriate subclasses for picture carriers, projection printing of composite images, and for editing or auxiliary viewing devices associated with image projectors.
356, Optics: Measuring and Testing, appropriate subclasses for optical measurement and test instruments used in diagnostic testing of an electrophotos:graphic copier.
358, Facsimile,
300, for electrostatic or electrolytic facsimile recording apparatus which may be combined with electrophotos:graphic copiers. Class 399, Electrophotography has no modification of converted electrical signals. 359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements, appropriate subclasses for optical elements of an electrophotos:graphic copier's illumination and image formation system, especially
642+, for lenses, in subclasses 838+ for reflectors, and subclasses 885+ for optical absorption filters.
361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
212+, for means to discharge or prevent accumulation of static electric charge and subclasses 225+ for electric charge generating or conducting means.
362, Illumination,
3+, and 257+ for photos:graphic and projection light source subcombinations which may include condenser lenses having no other photocopying structure, and subclasses 227+ for plural sources of illumination.
364, Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems,
130+, for generic data processing control systems.
365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval,
48+, for subject matter related to magnetos:graphic electrophotography.
369, Dynamic Information Storage and Retrieval, 125, for having photos:graphic storage medium (e.g., variable density or area).
374, Thermal Measuring and Testing,
1+, for thermal calibration devices.
377, Electrical Pulse Counters, Pulse Dividers, or Shift Registers: Circuits and Systems,
1+, for applications of counters, including subclass 8 for counting flat articles (e.g., sheets).
378, X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices,
28+, for xeroradios:graphic subject matter.
380, Cryptography,
23+, for cryptos:graphic user authentication systems and subclass 54 for changing the visible appearance of an object to encrypt visible markings.
386, Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproducing,
30, 42, 43, 128+, and 130 for a photos:graphic recorder in combination with detailed television means for first transmitting an image of the original to the surface of a cathode-ray tube and then photographing that image.
395, Information Processing System Organization, 100+, for data presentation computer applications.
396, Photography, especially
310+, 322+, and 429+ for photocopying in combination with photographing of an object other than a sheet or film strip and also for copying a sheet or film strip by first transmitting an image of the original to the surface of a nominally claimed cathode-ray tube and then photographing the image on the surface of the cathode-ray tube.
427, Coating Processes, especially
458+, for related subject matter involving the direct application of electrical, magnetic, or wave energy to form, cure, or otherwise affect electrophotos:graphic coatings.
430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof, appropriate subclasses for radiation imagery chemistry, process, composition, or product, especially
31+, for related electrophotos:graphic processes; for
purposes of classification, Class 430, subclasses 31+, controls over Class 399; where the process claimed is expressed in terms of Class 399 apparatus or subcombinations thereof, placement is appropriate in Class 399.
454, Ventilation,
49+, for ventilation systems used as part of an electrophotos:graphic machine to remove harmful vapors produced by the machine.
474, Endless Belt Power Transmission Systems or Components, appropriate subclasses for generic systems and components which may be used to drive electrophotos:graphic, photoresponsive, endless webs or belts.
492, Roll or Roller, 8, for specific magnet or electromagnetic structure.
702, Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing, appropriate subclasses for computer data processing for measuring, calibrating, or testing that may include photos:graphic devices.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery, appropriate subclasses for generic diagnostic testing involving data processing.
GLOSSARY:
ELECTROSTATOGRAPHY
The formation and utilization of latent electrostatic charge patterns for recording or reproducing patterns in viewable form, for example: reproducing information from an original or carrier by selectively exposing a photoconductive member to an electrical or magnetic condition that produces a latent image whereby the image is developed to a visible image, then transferred and fixed from the photoconductive member to a medium.
LIGHT SOURCE
The source of illumination for the copier. The light source includes filters, reflectors, screens, and other light modifiers used to affect the spectral distribution, spatial distribution, and intensity of the illumination.
IMAGE
The representation of an object (e.g., original, carrier) produced by the transmission or reflection of light incident upon the original.
IMAGE-BEARING MEMBER A substrate for holding an electrostatic charge pattern or a toner image.
IMAGE, LATENT
The invisible image produced by the action of light alone or with other electrostatic charge-producing means on, or in, a photoreceptor. A latent image may be made visible by development.
IMAGING
Forming an image that is a reproduction of an original.
MACHINE
A complete unit, in itself, for imaging an original or carrier onto a receiver. It may also include means for developing, transferring, and fixing the image, as well as means for handling the record carrier on which the image is fixed.
MASTER
(a) The negative or positive original from which reproductions are made, (b) a microform copy used for the production of copies, or (c) a copy from which additional reproductions are made.
NEGATIVE
A visible image on a copy material in which the dark portions of an original appear light and the light portions appear dark.
ORIGINAL Any object (generally two-dimensional) from which a copy is made by forming an image thereof on a photoconductor.
PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL
A material that is an insulator in the dark and conducts electricity in proportion to the amount of impinging light or actinic radiation. This is usually provided as a layer of electrically conductive material on a conductive support. During use, the electrical conductor is charged (sensitized) in the dark, and light (in image configuration) allows or causes the electrically conductive layer to conduct so that the charge leaks through to the conductive layer leaving a charge pattern corresponding to the original image (electrostatic latent image).
PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MEMBER
A medium whose electrical conductivity, electrical charge, magnetic condition, or electrical emissivity is selectively
altered by the action of electromagnetic radiation during imaging.
PLATEN
A flat or curved piece of rigid material on or against which an original is placed for imaging the original onto a photoconductive member.
TONER
Charged material (e.g., finely divided powder; i.e., usually thermoplastic or pigmented polymer particles), ink, or magnetic particles used in electrostatic processes to make visible a latent image and which may be treated (e.g., fused, dried, etc.) to render the image permanent. Toner can be charged by triboelectric action, by the direct application of charge (e.g., corona), or by inducing the charge through the action of the electrostatic latent image. The material may include or exclude a carrier element and may also be called "marking particles" or "developer material."