Traveling-wave delivery of single-component developer

• Published in: IEEE transactions on industry applications 1989-09, Vol.25 (5), p.956-961
• Main Authors: Melcher, J.R., Warren, E.P., Kotwal, R.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Breakdown voltage; Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields; Classical electromagnetism, maxwell equations; Classical field theories; Dielectrics and electrical insulation; Electrodes; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency measurement; Industry Applications Society; Particle measurements; Physics; Printed circuits; Propulsion; Pumps
• ISSN: 0093-9994; 1939-9367
• DOI: 10.1109/28.41264

With the objective a controlled electrical delivery of single-component toner from a hopper to an image developing region, the traveling-wave induced pumping of dilute triboelectrified particles along the semi-insulating surface of a 100 mu m thick insulating layer is studied. Fabricated on a circuit board underlying the layer are electrodes connected to a six-phase high-voltage system so as to give a traveling-wave of 7 mm wavelength and frequency that varies from 1 to 100 Hz. Measurements of the migration of a band of particles, displaying synchronous and asynchronous pumping regimes, are compared to a theoretical model developed elsewhere. Provision for leakage of image triboelectrification charge is shown to provide for unipolar pumping. Synchronous pumping, with particles hopping along the surface in positive and/or negative bands displaced by a half-wavelength, is shown to prevail up to a critical frequency beyond which the well-controlled phase bands are replaced by a asynchronous motions that tend to be airborne.< >