Liquid developing apparatus

Claim 2

In a developing apparatus of the type in which a liquid developing medium from a supply source is applied to an exposed latent image bearing copy sheet, in amounts not exceeding 3.0 grams per square meter, comprising applicator roller means having a smooth nonporous resilient layer whose surface has a centerline average smoothness in the range of 10-200 microinches and being associated with said supply source for carrying a quantity of developing medium on its surface, means establishing a developing zone including roller means in pressure contact with said applicator surface, wiper means including a wiper surface in contact with the surface of said applicator roller means as it emerges from said supply source and before said surface enters said developing zone for reducing the quantity of liquid carried in the applicator roller surface to a predetermined level, said wiper means comprising holding means for rotatably supporting a wiper rod against said roller, said holding means being received in a channel member equipped with adjusting means for aligning said rod against said applicator roller, The improvement wherein said wiper means is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic surface.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluorocarbon plastic is a tetrafluoroethylene polymer.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluorocarbon is a trifluorochloroethylene polymer.

Claim 5

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application to the sheet of an amount of a developer liquid not in excess of 3 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: first and second roller means in driving engagement with each other forming a transfer zone along the line of contact therebetween, said second roller means being a nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon, means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid, wiper means in biased engagement against said second roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller surface enters said transfer zone, wiping excess liquid from said carrier surface, which wiper means comprises a substantially flat, flexible blade member, having a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface causing said blade member to be bent into an arcuate shape whereby said blade member makes tangential contact with the second roller along its surface.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application to the sheet of an amount of a developer liquid not in excess of 3 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: first and second roller means in driving engagement with each other forming a transfer zone along the line of contact therebetween, said second roller means being a nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon, means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid, wiper means in biased engagement against said second roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller surface enters said transfer zone, wiping excess liquid from said carrier surface, which wiper means comprises a substantially flat, flexible blade member, having a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface causing said blade member to be bent into an arcuate shape whereby said blade member makes tangential contact with the second roller along its surface.

Claim 7

In a developing apparatus of the type in which a liquid developing medium from a supply source is applied to an exposed latent image bearing copy sheet, in amounts not exceeding 3.0 grams per square meter, applicator roller means having a smooth nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, and being associated with said supply source for carrying a quantity of the developing medium on said surface, means establishing a developing zone including roller means in pressure contact with said applicator surface, wiper means including a wiping surface in contact with the surface of said applicator roller means as it emerges from said supply source and before said surface enters said developing zone for reducing the quantity of liquid carried on said surface to a predetermined level, said wiper means comprising an elongated rod and driving means for imparting oscillatory rotational movement to said rod, the improvement wherein said wiper means is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface.

Claim 8

In a developing apparatus of the type in which a liquid developing medium from a supply source is applied to an exposed latent image bearing copy sheet, in amounts not exceeding 3.0 grams per square meter, applicator roller means having a smooth nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, and being associated with said supply source for carrying a quantity of the developing medium on said surface, means establishing a developing zone including roller means in pressure contact with said applicator surface, wiper means including a wiping surface in contact with the surface of said applicator roller means as it emerges from said supply source and before said surface enters said developing zone for reducing the quantity of liquid carried on said surface to a predetermined level, said wiper means comprising an elongated rod and driving means for imparting oscillatory rotational movement to said rod, the improvement wherein said wiper means is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface.

Claim 9

In a developing apparatus of the type in which a liquid developing medium from a supply source is applied to an exposed latent image bearing copy sheet in amounts not to exceed 3 grams per square meter of the surface thereof, applicator roller means having a smooth nonporous resilient layer whose surface has a center line average smoothness in the range of 10-200 microinches and being associated with said supply source for carrying a quantity of the developing medium on said surface, means establishing a developing zone including roller means in pressure contact with said applicator surface, wiper means including a wiping surface in contact with the surface of said applicator roller means as it emerges from said supply source and before said surface enters said developing zone for reducing the quantity of liquid carried on the applicator roller surface to a predetermined level, said wiper means comprising a resilient blade member extending longitudinally in a direction parallel to the applicator roller axis and biased thereagainst, forming an arcuately shaped wiping surface, and drive means for imparting reciprocating motion to the blade member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said applicator roller, the improvement wherein said wiper means is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface.

Claim 10

In a developing apparatus of the type in which a liquid developing medium from a supply source is applied to an exposed latent image bearing copy sheet in amounts not to exceed 3 grams per square meter of the surface thereof, applicator roller means having a smooth nonporous resilient layer whose surface has a center line average smoothness in the range of 10-200 microinches and being associated with said supply source for carrying a quantity of the developing medium on said surface, means establishing a developing zone including roller means in pressure contact with said applicator surface, wiper means including a wiping surface in contact with the surface of said applicator roller means as it emerges from said supply source and before said surface enters said developing zone for reducing the quantity of liquid carried on the applicator roller surface to a predetermined level, said wiper means comprising a resilient blade member extending longitudinally in a direction parallel to the applicator roller axis and biased thereagainst, forming an arcuately shaped wiping surface, and drive means for imparting reciprocating motion to the blade member in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said applicator roller, the improvement wherein said wiper means is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application to the sheet of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: pressure-applying means; roller means in driving engagement with said pressure-applying means for forming a transfer zone along a line of contaCt therebetween, said roller means including a nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid, wiper means biased against said roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller surface enters said transfer zone, said wiper means comprising a flexible blade member having a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface, said blade member being biased against said roller means so that said blade is arcuately shaped so as to make tangential contact with said roller surface.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application to the sheet of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: pressure-applying means; roller means in driving engagement with said pressure-applying means for forming a transfer zone along a line of contaCt therebetween, said roller means including a nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid, wiper means biased against said roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller surface enters said transfer zone, said wiper means comprising a flexible blade member having a fluorocarbon plastic wiping surface, said blade member being biased against said roller means so that said blade is arcuately shaped so as to make tangential contact with said roller surface.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pressure applying means includes a roller member mounted in driving engagement with said roller means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pressure-applying means is a blade.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: pressure-applying means; roller means in driving engagement with said pressure-applying means for forming a transfer zone along a line of contact therebetween, said roller means including a nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid, wiper means biased against said roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith as said applicator roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller surface enters said transfer zone, said wiper means comprising an elongated rod as the liquid wiping element and mounting means for rotatably mounting said rod for imparting rotational movement thereto and in contact with said applicator roller, the improvement comprising wherein the surface of said rod is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic layer.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: pressure-applying means; roller means in driving engagement with said pressure-applying means for forming a transfer zone along a line of contact therebetween, said roller means including a nonporous resilient carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose centerline average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid, wiper means biased against said roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith as said applicator roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller surface enters said transfer zone, said wiper means comprising an elongated rod as the liquid wiping element and mounting means for rotatably mounting said rod for imparting rotational movement thereto and in contact with said applicator roller, the improvement comprising wherein the surface of said rod is provided with a fluorocarbon plastic layer.