Method and apparatus for enhancing electrostatic images

摘要

Method and apparatus for eliminating stray background toner in electrostatic printer images by first electrostatically neutralizing any background toner charge and then removing neutralized toner. An ac corona wire positioned between a developer unit and a background toner scavenger is employed to neutralize unwanted background toner. Alternately, a high current density ac discharge between two electrodes separated by a dielectric layer may be employed as a bipolar ion source. Toner may be scavenged using either a vacuum suction manifold and/or a rotating brush.