Image production device vacuum cleaner

Abstract: An electrophotographic reproduction device includes an air blower (15) having a vacuum pressure inlet (14) and a positive pressure outlet (16). The inlet and/or outlet is connected to provide blower induced airflow at device stations, such as a sheet detack station (11), that require blower induced airflow for proper operation thereof. The duct or conduit (13) that connects to the blower inlet may be attached to a flexible vacuum cleaner hose (22) by service personnel. The vacuum cleaner hose (22) is then manually usable to clean the interior of the device of the buildup of toner, paper dust and debris, as the device is periodically serviced.

Description: Field of the invention This invention relates to the field of image production devices, such as electrophotographic devices, and more specifically to the maintenance and cleanup of image production devices by the use of a vacuum cleaner to remove residual debris from the interior of the image production device. Background of the Invention The use of a blower or air pump to induce airflow within an electrophotographic image production device (for example a copier or a printer) to aid components thereof in accomplishing an image production function is well known. One example is the use of a fiber brush and vacuum airflow to remove residual toner from the photoconductor after transfer of a major portion of the photoconductor's toner image to paper has taken place. United States patent 3,932,910 is an example. It is also known that image production devices must be periodically maintained or serviced, at least in a preventative maintenance sense. One maintenance procedure is to manually vacuum or clean the interior of the device, thereby removing the loose toner powder, paper dust and other debris that has accumulated within the device during a period of extensive use. Maintenance personnel generally use conventional vacuum cleaners for this purpose. In some cases the image production device itself is provided with a storage area in which a small size vacuum cleaner is placed. In this way, the service personnel need not carry a vacuum cleaner in their usually heavy maintenance tool kit. JP-A-57 171 369 describes a device for facilitating the removal of debris from the interior of an image production device during periodic servicing. Summary of the Invention The present invention according to claim 1 relates to an image production device for applying an image to a substrate, having a servicing aid device being connected to an image production device station, providing a pump induced vacuum airflow for proper operation of said station in an image production mode, and facilitating the removal of debris from the interior of said image production device in a cleaner mode. The air servicing aid device comprises an air blower having a vacuum inlet and an outlet, duct means connecting the vacuum inlet to the station in the image production mode, and a vacuum cleaner hose coupling forming a portion of the duct means. The image production device is characterised by a vacuum cleaner hose adapted to be attached to the hose coupling in the cleaner mode, a replaceable air filter means located in the duct means intermediate the hose coupling and the vacuum inlet, removable cover means forming a sealed portion of the duct means. The hose coupling is located under the cover means in the image production mode, and is accessible when the cover means is removed in the cleaner mode. Additionaly, the invention according to claim 19 provides an image production device for applying an image to a substrate, having a servicing aid device being connected to an image production device station providing a pump induced positive pressure airflow for proper operation of the station in an image production mode, and facilitating the removal of debris from the interior of the image production device in a cleaner mode. The servicing aid device comprises: a pump having a blower inlet and a blower outlet, duct means connecting said blower outlet to the station in the image production mode, a vacuum cleaner hose coupling at the blower inlet, characterised by a vacuum cleaner hose adapted to be attached to said hose coupling in the cleaner mode, a replaceable air filter means located intermediated the hose coupling and the pump. Further particular embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. An image production device in which the present invention finds utility is any type of device having a blower that provides a source of airflow to certain device components or stations. An example of vacuum induced airflow is in an electrophotographic device having a sheet detack station whereat the sheet's leading edge is lifted from the surface of the photoconductor at the device's toner transfer station. This lifting force is produced by means that includes vacuum pressure induced airflow. In such an image production device the blower's inlet is connected to the device's station by way of a closed duct or conduit that usually includes a replaceable filter. This filter is located intermediate the station and the blower's inlet. For example, the duct may include a slide that receives a removable flat cartridge filter. This slide is sealed by a removable cover that comprises a portion of the duct wall. Any debris entrapped in the vacuum air flowing from the station to the blower inlet is removed from the air stream as the debris is trapped in the mass of the filter fibers. Other reproduction devices exist where the blower's outlet is connected to a device station such as a document feeder by way of a closed duct. The present invention provides a construction and arrangement wherein a vacuum cleaner hose is attached to the blower inlet. Vacuum induced air now flows through the hose to the blower inlet, as the hose is used to clean the device. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a removable bag filter is mounted adjacent the vacuum cleaner hose. This bag filter comprises the vacuum cleaner's renewable filter element. In a preferred embodiment, a construction and arrangement provides for air leakage when the bag filter is not in place within the duct. Thus, use of the vacuum cleaner without a bag filter is prevented. These and other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention. Brief Description of the Drawing FIGS. 1 - 20 disclose embodiments of the invention wherein the reproduction device's air utilization means uses vacuum induced airflow. FIG. 21 discloses an embodiment of the invention wherein the device's air utilization means uses positive-pressure induced airflow. FIG. 1 discloses a first embodiment of the present invention, having a stationary hose coupling in the form of a pipe nipple located within the vacuum duct, and having a removable cartridge filter that functions both during image production and vacuum cleaning; FIGS. 2 - 6 disclose a second embodiment of the invention, having a stationary pipe nipple located within the vacuum duct, having both a removable cartridge filter and a removable bag filter, wherein the construction and arrangement of the bag filter is such that the device will operate in its image production mode with or without the bag filter in place; however, vacuum cleaner operation is prevented, due to lack of vacuum at the pipe nipple, when the bag filter is not in place; FIGS. 7 - 14 disclose a third embodiment of the invention, having a movable pipe nipple that is extendable out of the wall confines of the vacuum duct, having a removable cartridge filter and a removable bag filter, wherein the bag filter positions the pipe nipple in its extended position, and the bag filter must be removed after vacuum cleaner operation has been completed; and FIGS. 15 - 20 disclose a fourth embodiment of the invention, having a movable pipe nipple that is extendable out of the confines of the vacuum duct, having a removable cartridge filter and a removable bag filter, wherein the bag filter must be in place in order for the pipe nipple to latch in its extended position, and the bag filter must be removed after vacuum cleaner operation has been completed, where-upon the pipe nipple automatically retracts into the vacuum duct. The Invention FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of an electrophotographic image production device, such as a copier or a printer, that includes the present invention. Numeral 10 designates the device's rotating photo-conductor drum. As is well known, this drum cooperates with a number of process stations, such as a charging station, an imaging station, a developing station and a cleaning station (none of which are shown) in order to produce a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor drum. This toner image then is transferred to the surface of a substract sheet, such as a sheet of plain paper, at transfer station 11. The leading edge of the sheet is subjected to the vacuum force of air that flows across the back side of the sheet. This force insures that the sheet's leading edge will detach or detack from the surface of the drum after toner transfer has occured. This airflow is induced adjacent to the sheet by virtue of negative or vacumm air pressure that is supplied to plenum 12 by duct or conduit 13. This duct connects the inlet 14 of air blower 15 to plenum 12. Blower 15 includes an outlet 16. The apparatus of FIG. 1 is representative of many types of image production devices in which the present invention finds utility, and the apparatus of FIG. 1 is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The apparatus of FIG. 1 is contained within the external housing (not shown) of the image production device. Since the environment immediately adjacent to transfer station 11 is likely to contain airborne toner and paper dust, it is necessary to mount a replaceable filter element or cartridge 17 in duct 13, at a conveniently accessible location, intermediate transfer station 11 and blower inlet 14. As is known to those skilled in the art, filter 17 has a relatively large filter capacity, so that the filter replacement occurs relatively infrequently. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, duct 13 include an internally mounted, open pipe nipple 20. In its broadest sense, pipe nipple 20 is to be considered to be any equivalent open hose coupling means. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, nipple 20 is mounted on a plate 119 that blocks airflow, thereby causing all duct air to flow through the nipple. The duct's wall immediately adjacent to nipple 20 is sealed by a manually removable cover 18. Removal of this cover exposes nipple 20, and also connects the upstream side of plate 119 and plenum 12 to ambient air pressure. In accordance with the present invention, the end 21 of a vacuum cleaner hose 22 is now manually mounted on the end of nipple 20 in the well known manner. With hose 22 thus connected, the vacuum induced airflow of blower 15 is available at cleaning nozzle 23. Nozzle 23 is now used to clean the interior of the image production device's housing. Once the vacuum cleaning mode of operation has been completed, it is preferred that duct cover 24 be manually removed, and that filter 17 be replaced. FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this showing only the portion of duct 13 associated with pipe nipple 19 is disclosed. FIG. 2 is a side view of a duct housing 30 having an outlet nipple 31 that is connected to the inlet of blower 15, and an pple 32 that connects to plenum 12. In this embodiment, removable cartridge filter 17 of FIG. 1 is mounted in the portion of duct 13 that extends between nipple 32 and plenum 12. For simplicity, this duct construction and arrangement is not shown. FIG. 3 is a top view of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front view thereof, showing the housing's cover plates 37 and 38 removed. In the construction and arrangement of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, pipe nipple 19 is supported on a flat vertical plate 33. Plate 33 divides the upper portion of housing 30 into an input compartment 48 and an intermediate compartment 47. The bottom of input compartment 47 is open, as indicated by airflow path arrow 36. The bottom of intermediate compartment 47 is also open, as indicated by airflow path arrow 34. Airflow path 34 extends through pipe nipple 19. With reference to FIG. 3, intermediate compartment 47 includes a bottom horizontal wall member 43. Airflow path 34 passes down through an elongated opening 42 that is formed in this horizontal wall member. As will be apparent, airflow path 34 enters the interior of the filter bag 46 (shown in FIG. 6) when this filter bag is in place within the housing's filter compartment 49. As stated, input compartment 48 is open immediately below nipple 19, in the area identified as 35 in FIG. 2, such that airflow path 36 is blocked when the bag filter is in place within filter compartment 49. The housing's left vertical panel (FIG. 2) is sealed by two removable plates 37 and 38. For simplicity, the interior foam seals carried by plates 37 and 38, and the means for removably securing plates 37 and 38 to housing 30, are not shown. The horizontal boundary where compartments 47 and 48 meet compartment 49 includes a pair of horizontally extending filter bag slideways 39 and 40, best seen in FIG. 4. These slideways are adapted to receive and hold the rigid cardboard upper plate 41 of a bag filter that is shown in the top view of FIG. 5 and the front view of FIG. 6. As seen in FIG. 2, these slideways may not extend to the housing's right wall. Thus, the sideways are cleaned of debris with each insertion of a filter bag. As seen in FIG. 5, the upper horizontal surface of plate 41 includes a foam seal 44. When the filter bag is in place within filter compartment 49, seal 44 mates with the underside of input compartment 48 and intermediate compartment 47. In this position, filter opening 45 and the closed interior of filter bag 46 are aligned with the opening 42 in housing wall 43. With the filter bag in place within filter compartment 49, the front portion 147 of plate 41 blocks airflow path 36. As will be apparent, this airflow blocking function of the filter bag prevents use of pipe nipple 19 in the vacuum cleaner mode of operation when the filter bag is not in place within filter compartment 49. The front portion of cardboard plate 41 includes a manual handle or tab 146. This tab normally hangs in a vertical attitude, as shown in FIG. 6. Tab 146 is pulled to a horizontal position when the filter bag is manually installed or removed from slideways 39 and 40. While it is not shown in FIG. 5 or 6, bag 46 includes means, such as stitching, which restricts the opening or inflation of the bag. The inner wall surface of the compartment, adjacent bag 46, may include ribs. These ribs additionally prevent the inflated bag's porous material from being sealed by engagement with a wall surface. The construction and arrangement of this embodiment can operate in the image production mode with or without the bag filter of FIGS. 5 and 6 being in place within filter compartment 49. If the bag filter is in place, only air path 34, through bag 46, is operable. However, filter bag 46 receives very little if any debris because large capacity cartridge filter 17 is located upstream of the filter bag. If the filter bag is in place, its tab is folded to hang vertically under panel 38. If the filter bag is not in place, both of the airflow paths 34 and 36 exist. When this construction and arrangement is to be used in its vacuum cleaner mode, plate 37 is removed, thereby exposing pipe nipple 19. Hose 22 of FIG. 1 is now placed on nipple 19. However, note that when the filter bag is not in place within filter compartment 49, ambient air flows through opening 35, and little or no vacuum force occurs at hose nozzle 23. In this case, it is necessary to remove plate 38, insert a filter bag, and then replace plate 38, before the apparatus can be used in its vacuum cleaner mode. While it is not necessary to have the filter bag in place during operation in the image production mode, it is desirable to remove the filter bag after use in the vacuum cleaner mode. Use in the vacuum cleaner mode tends to fill the small capacity of the filter bag. In the event that the filter bag is left in place after vacuum cleaner use, it may comprise a major restriction to airflow from plenum 12. Thus, it is preferred that when vacuum cleaner use has been completed, panel 38 is removed, and the used filter bag is removed and replaced with a new filter bag. In this way, the apparatus is ready for subsequent use in the vacuum cleaner mode. FIGS. 7 - 14 disclose a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the multi-compartment housing 30 of FIGS. 2 - 4 is replaced by a housing 50 having but one internal compartment, namely filter compartment 51. FIG. 7 is a side view of housing 50, showing the housing in its vacuum cleaner mode of operation. FIG. 9 is a top view of the housing, showing the housing in its image production mode of operation, with the exception that the housing's front cover 54 (FIG. 10) has been removed to show the hose coupling member in its image production, inoperative, stored position. FIG. 8 is a top front of FIG. 9. Housing 50 includes an airflow inlet nipple 52 and an airflow outlet nipple 53. These two nipples are connected to the image production device in the same manner as nipples 32 and 31 of FIGS. 2 - 4 are connected, and this description will not be repeated. The two opposing, upper, side wall portions of the housing includes two slideways 56 and 57 (best seen in FIG. 8 and the FIG. 9 top view). These slideways receive removable hose coupling member 55 (see FIG. 11), as will be described. As is best seen in FIG. 11, hose coupling member 55 includes an open pipe nipple 58 that penetrates a front vertical wall member 59 thereof. Pipe nipple 58 forms an opening through wall 59. Wall member 59 forms an L-shape with top wall member 60. Top wall member 60 cooperates with the housing's slideways 56 and 57, which slideways provide a means to slideably and removably mount hose coupling member 55 closely adjacent to the top horizontal wall (not numbered) of housing 50. The hose coupling member's vertical wall 59 is provided with a pair of notches (not numbered) that slideably receive slideways 56 and 57. This construction and arrangement allows hose coupling member 55 to be manually moved between its vacuum cleaner position (shown in FIG. 7) and its inoperative, image production position (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9). As shown in FIG. 8, the hose coupling member's horizontal top wall 60 includes horizontal slideways 61 and 62 which are located on the underside of wall 60. FIG. 11 shows how filter bag member 63 mounts on the hose coupling member by means that includes these slideways 61 and 62. Top wall 60 also includes a pair of filter locking tabs 64 and 65, whose function will be described in relation to FIGS. 11 - 13. FIGS. 12 and 13 are a front view and a top view, respectively, of filter member 63. Filter member 63 includes a porous cloth filter bag 66 that is mounted to a foldable, L-shaped, rigid cardboard frame having a front leg 67 and a top leg 68. Filter member 63 is foldable where legs 67 and 68 join. Front leg 67 includes an opening 69 that is surrounded by a resilient gasket 70. Gasket 70 receives and seals pipe nipple 58, as seen in FIG. 11. Top leg 68 is formed with two notches 71 and 72. These notches mate with tabs 64 and 65 carried by hose member 55 (see FIG. 11). In this way, filter bag member 63 is mounted on hose coupling member 55. Operation of this embodiment of the present invention is as follows. When operating in the image production mode, a filter bag member 63 is not mounted on hose coupling member 55, and the hose coupling member is manually moved to its retracted position, as shown in FIG. 9. The housing's front side is covered and sealed by cover 54 (FIG. 10). In this condition, air flows directly from inlet nipple 52 to outlet nipple 53. When the vacuum cleaner mode of operation is to be instituted, cover 54 is removed, and hose coupling member is then removed from housing 50. An unused filter member 63 is now mounted on hose coupling member 55, as is shown in FIG. 11. The hose coupling member is now replaced. Due to the length of top leg 68 of the filter member (see FIG. 11), the hose coupling member can be pushed into housing 50 only to the extent shown in FIG. 7. In this position, front leg 67 of the filter bag member substantially closes the open front of the housing's filter compartment 51. As seen in FIG. 8, this portion of the housing includes a pair of internal tabs 73 and 74 against which leg 67 is now positioned. As a final step, cover 75 of FIG. 14 is secured to the housing. Opening 76 in cover 75 receives pipe nipple 58. The housing is now sealed. Vacuum cleaner hose 22 (FIG. 1) is now secured to pipe nipple 58, and nozzle 23 is used to vacuum the image production device. When vacuum cleaner operation has been completed, cover 75 is removed, filter member 63 is removed from hose coupling member 55, the hose coupling is placed back in the housing, in its stored and retracted position, and cover 54 is reinstalled. From the above description it can be seen that the device of FIGS. 7 - 14 will not operate in its image production mode with a filter member in place, and will not operate in its vacuum cleaner mode if a filter member is missing. FIGS. 15 - 20 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is like the embodiment of FIGS. 7 -14 in that this embodiment also provides a sliding hose coupling member 80. Member 80 includes an open pipe nipple 81 (FIG. 19) to which vacuum cleaner hose 22 is adapted to be connected when hose coupling member 80 is in its extended vacuum cleaner mode position (FIGS. 17 and 18). A cam link 82 is provided in this embodiment to ensure that filter member 83 (FIG. 20) is in place in order for hose coupling member 80 to remain in the FIG. 17 position. This prevents vacuum cleaner operation without filter member 83 being in place. When filter member 83 is in place, cam link 82 locks hose coupling member 80 in its vacuum cleaner mode position (FIGS. 17 and 18). If a filter member 83 is not in place, hose coupling member 80 returns to its retracted, inoperative, image production position (FIGS. 15 and 16), due to operation of coil spring 92. In FIG. 15 the image production mode vacuum pressure induced airflow path is shown by arrows 85 and 86. In FIGS. 15 - 18 the duct housing that surrounds the disclosed parts is intentionally only partially shown. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed parts are contained in a duct housing, much like that disclosed relative the prior embodiments of the present invention. Airflow path 85 extends from plenum 12. Airflow path 86 extends to inlet 14 of blower 15. When hose coupling member 80 is in its retracted, image production position (FIGS. 15 and 16), vacuum pressure induced air flows from arrow 85, through a housing opening 87, past pipe nipple 81, through a housing opening 88, to arrow 86. Note that the housing's right-hand opening 89, which is defined by housing walls 90 and 91, is at this time sealed by a door, not shown for purposes of simplicity. Hose coupling member 80 is held in this retracted position by operation of coil spring 92. Note that filter member 83 cannot be in position at this time. Filter member 83 (FIG. 20) is much like prior described filter members. It includes a porous filter bag 93 whose open top is sealingly attached to a stiff cardboard top plate 94 having an airflow opening 95 that extends into the bag. Top plate 94 includes a foldable handle tab 96. Bag 93 includes means, not shown, whereby inflation of the bag is limited, so that the inflated bag's exterior surface does not physically contact surrounding housing walls. Hose coupling member 80 is held in an upward position, against the lower surface of housing wall 98, by a pair of flat springs 99. When filter member 83 is in place (FIGS. 17 and 18), these springs seal the top of plate 94 to the open underside of hose coupling member 80. The construction and arrangement of coupling member 80 is best seen in FIG. 19. As seen in that figure, the coupling member includes a solid top wall 100 that operates to seal housing opening 87 when the coupling member is in the vacuum cleaner mode position of FIGS. 17 and 18. In this position, airflow path 85 is blocked. Coupling member 80 also includes an extending boss or tab 101 that is adapted to cooperate with cam link 82 when the coupling member is in its vacuum cleaner mode position, and a filter member 83 is in place, as will be described. A hook 102 on the coupling member's forward wall 103 is the means whereby coil spring 92 is attached to the coupling member. This spring force biases the coupling member toward the housing's back wall 104. Cam link 82 is pivoted to the housing at pivot point 105. Link 82 normally hangs as shown in FIG. 15, due to the force of gravity or due to operation of a spring (not shown). Thus, when hose coupling member 80 is manually pulled forward, to its FIG. 17 position, member 80 is not stable in that position, and will retract back into the housing, unless a filter member is manually mounted to the coupling member as the coupling member is held in this forward position. A filter member is so mounted by manually sliding the filter member's top plate 94 between flat springs 99 and the open under side of coupling member 80. When this is done, a cam actuating extension 106 on link 82 engages the under side of plate 94 (see FIG. 18). This construction and arrangement causes link 82 to be held in its FIG. 17 position. In this position, a notch 107 formed in link 82 mates with boss 101 carried by the hose coupling member. Member 80 is now latched in its forward, vacuum cleaner mode position. Vacuum cleaner hose 22 is now connected to pipe nipple 81. A door member, much like door 75 of FIG. 14 (not shown) is used to close the housing's open portion 89 (FIG. 15). When this is done, airflow 86 is directed through nozzle 23, hose 22, pipe nipple 81 and filter bag 93, to the blower's vacuum inlet 14. This is the embodiment's vacuum cleaner mode position. When the device has been cleaned, hose 22 is removed, filter bag member 83 is removed, whereupon hose coupling member 80 returns to the retracted position of FIG. 15, and housing opening 89 is closed by the use of a door member much like 54 of FIG. 10. This is the embodiment's image production mode position. From the above description it can be seen that the device of FIGS. 15 - 20 will not operate in its image production mode with a filter member in place, and will not operate in its vacuum cleaner mode if a filter member is missing. FIG. 21 is a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the outlet of a blower or air pump 200 is connected to provide positive-pressure induced airflow to a reproduction device air utilization means 201 during operation of the device in the reproduction mode. Means 201 is, for example, a document feeder or a sheet feeder. In the reproduction mode of operation, air inlet 202 provides ambient pressure air that flows to the suction side of pump 200. For example, ambient air flows from within the reproduction device housing to the pump. This air is pressurized by pump 200, and higher than ambient pressure air is supplied by way of duct 203 to utilization means 201. When operating in the vacuum cleaner mode of operation, vacuum cleaner means such as FIG. 1's nozzle 21 is connected to inlet 202. This connection is made either directly or by way of size changing duct adapter. In order to provide a replaceable vacuum cleaner filter bag in the suction side of pump 200, a filter compartment is provided, for example as at 204. As disclosed relative previous embodiments of the invention, this filter bag includes an opening that faces inlet 202, and a porous bag that is expanded by air flowing from inlet 202, through pump 200, to duct 203. Duct 203 may include a cover 205 that is removed when this embodiment is operating in the vacuum cleaner mode of operation.

Claims: An image production device for applying an image to a substrate, having a servicing aid device being connected to an image production device station (11), providing a pump induced vacuum airflow for proper operation of said station in an image production mode, and facilitating the removal of debris from the interior of said image production device in a cleaner mode, said servicing aid device comprising: an air blower (15) having a vacuum inlet (14) and an outlet (16), duct means (13) connecting said vacuum inlet to said station in said image production mode, a vacuum cleaner hose coupling (20) forming a portion of said duct means, characterized by a vacuum cleaner hose (22) adapted to be attached to said hose coupling (20) in said cleaner mode, a replaceable air filter means (17) located in said duct means intermediate said hose coupling and said vacuum inlet, removable cover means (18) forming a sealed portion of said duct means (13), said hose coupling (20) being located under said cover means (18) in said image production mode, said hose coupling being accessible when said cover means (18) is removed in said cleaner mode. The device of claim 1 wherein a further image production device station is connected to the blower outlet (16). The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein said filter means (17) is located closely adjacent to said hose coupling (20), and wherein said filter means includes a porous filter member and an air impervious rigid wall member, said wall member forming a portion of said duct means intermediate said hose and said vacuum inlet (14) when said filter means is in place, such that a vacuum pressure is not developed at said hose when said filter means is removed. The device of any preceding claim including a removable cartridge filter located in said duct means (13) intermediate said vacuum inlet (14) and said station (11). The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said duct means (30) has: a filter compartment (49) having an outlet (31) connected to said vacuum inlet, and having a first (49a) and a second (49b) inlet, an input compartment (48) having an inlet (32) connected to said station, having a first outlet (35) connected to the first inlet of said filter compartment, and having a second outlet (48b), an intermediate compartment (47) having a hose coupling inlet (19) connected to the second outlet (48b) of said input compartment, and having a second outlet (47b) connected to the second inlet (49b) of said filter compartment, replaceable filter means (41, 44, 45, 46) mounted in said filter compartment, said filter means when so mounted operating to block the first outlet (35) of said inlet compartment, and providing air filter means at the second outlet (47b) of said intermediate compartment, removable cover means (37) forming a sealed wall of said input compartment. The device of claim 5 wherein said filter means comprises: a rigid top plate (41) having seal means (44) operable to seal said first outlet of said input compartment (48), and having an opening (45) surrounded by said seal means mating with said second outlet (47b) of said intermediate compartment (47), and an air permeable filter bag (46) attached to said top plate (41) so as to form a closed bag with the exception of said opening (45), whereby pump induced vacuum airflow operates to expand said filter bag. The device of claim 6 wherein the boundary of said input and intermediate compartments to said filter compartment occupies a plane (43), and including a filter slideway (39, 40) which is adapted to receive the top plate (41) of said filter means and is located in said plane. The device of claim 4 and 6 wherein said cartridge filter (17) is a large capacity filter as compared to the filtering capacity of said filter bag (46), wherein the interior of said duct means (13) includes a slide for receiving said cartridge filter, and wherein a removable cover (18) sealingly closes said duct means adjacent to said slide. The device of claims 1 or 2 comprising: said duct means including a housing (50) having a filter compartment (51) having an outlet (53) connected to said vacuum inlet, and having an inlet (52) connected to said station, removable hose coupling means (55, 58, 59, 60) mounted in said filter compartment, said hose coupling means being in a first stored position whereat airflow from the compartment's inlet to its outlet is not blocked in said image production mode, and being in a second operative position in said cleaner mode, first removable cover means (54) providing sealed access to the interior of said filter compartment, so that said hose coupling means may be manually moved from its stored position to its operative position, replaceable filter means (63, 66 to 72) adapted to be mounted on said hose coupling means, said filter means when so mounted operating to provide air filtration between said hose coupling means and the outlet (53) of said filter compartment, and restrict movement of said hose coupling means to only said operative position within said filter compartment (51), second removable cover means (75), usable when said hose coupling means is at said operative position, said second removable cover means sealing said filter compartment, and including an opening (76) providing access to said hose coupling means, and a vacuum cleaner hose adapted to be attached to said hose coupling means when said hose coupling means is in said operative position, and said second cover means is in place on said housing. The device of claim 9 wherein said hose coupling means (55) comprises a solid top plate (60) having slideways (61, 62) adapted to removably receive a top mounting plate (68) of said filter means (63), and a hose coupling plate (59) attached to said top plate (60) at substantially a right angle, said hose coupling plate mounting an open pipe nipple (58), and wherein said filter means (63) comprises an air permeable filter bag (66) which is attached to a top mounting plate (68) and to a side mounting plate (67), said side mounting plate being attached to said top mounting plate at substantially a right angle, said side plate including an opening (69) adapted to receive the pipe nipple of said hose coupling means, so as to form a closed bag with the exception of said opening, whereby pump induced vacuum airflow operates to expand said filter bag. The device of claim 9 comprising said duct means having said hose coupling means (80) the housing thereof comprising a top wall (100), forward wall (103) and sidewalls (101a,b) with a boss (101), spring means (92, 102) biasing said hose coupling means to said stored position, and cam actuated catch means (82, 101) operable to hold said hose coupling means (80) in said operative position, said filter means (83) when so mounted operating to (1) provide air filtration between said hose coupling means and the outlet (53) of said filter compartment (51), and (2) actuate said cam actuated catch means so as to maintain said hose coupling means in said operative position. The device of claim 11 wherein said hose coupling means comprises a solid top plate (94) adapted to block airflow from said station (11), and an open bottom plate adapted to removably receive a top mounting plate of said filter means (63), and a hose coupling plate (103) attached to said top plate (94) at substantially a right angle, said hose coupling plate mounting a pipe nipple (81), and wherein said filter means comprises an air permeable filter bag (93) which is attached to said top mounting plate (94), said top mounting plate including an opening (95) adapted to mate with the open bottom plate of said hose coupling member, so as to form a closed bag with the exception of said opening. The device of claims 6, 7, 10 or 12 including means associated with said bag to prevent said bag, when in its expanded state, from physically engaging the interior surface of said duct means. The device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said vacuum cleaner hose is a manually operable vacuum cleaner to facilitate the removal of debris from the image production device during periodic servicing thereof, said vacuum cleaner hose coupling being mounted in a non-disturbing manner within said duct means. The device of claim 14 wherein said air filter means includes a porous filter bag whose open end is secured to said vacuum cleaner hose coupling in a manner such that said pump induced vacuum airflow operates to expand said bag. The device of any preceding claim wherein said image production device station is an electrophotographic device wherein toner powder is applied to said substrate in the image production mode. The device of claim 16 wherein said image production device station is a toner transfer station (11). The device of claims 6 - 8 including an additional filter means mounted in said duct means intermediate an inlet of said filter compartment (49) and said device station having a relatively high capacity as compared to said filter bag having a relatively low filter capacity. An image production device for applying an image to a substrate, having a servicing aid device being connected to an image production device station (201) providing a pump induced positive pressure airflow for proper operation of said station in an image production mode, and facilitating the removal of debris from the interior of said image production device in a cleaner mode, said servicing aid device comprising: a pump (200) having a blower inlet (202) and a blower outlet (206), duct means (203) connecting said blower outlet to said station in said image production mode, a vacuum cleaner hose coupling (207) at the blower inlet (202), characterized by a vacuum cleaner hose (22) adapted to be attached to said hose coupling in said cleaner mode, a replaceable air filter means (204) located intermediate said hose coupling (207) and said pump (200). The device of claim 19 wherein said blower inlet (202) is connected to a second image production station that requires pump induced vacuum airflow for proper operation in said image production mode. The device of claims 19 or 20 including means (205) to open said duct means (203) to atmosphere only in said cleaner mode.

Inventors: GINGERICH CHARLES OLIVER, GROSZBACH ROBERT JOSEPH, POST ALVIN MARION, RHODES WILLIAM TAYLOR, TIMMERMAN RANDY CARL, WILZBACH BERNARD LEE, GINGERICH, CHARLES OLIVER, GROSZBACH, ROBERT JOSEPH, POST, ALVIN MARION, RHODES, WILLIAM TAYLOR, TIMMERMAN, RANDY CARL, WILZBACH, BERNARD LEE
Applicants: IBM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G03G21
IPC codes: H04N1, G03G21