US3867170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for cleaning liquid developers
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-14
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1992-08-14
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatographic imaging system wherein the imaging surface is cyclically cleaned of residual aqueous liquid developer by contacting the imaging surface with a cleaning liquid which is miscible with the liquid developer to disperse substantially all the residual liquid developer. The cleaning liquid is preferably applied to the imaging surface by contacting the imaging surface with an absorbent fibrous material moistened with the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid with any dispersed aqueous developer may be removed from the imaging surface by means of an absorbent fibrous material.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M Ferguson
- 👤 Richard J Komp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:36
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G9/00; G03G9/16; G03G9/18; G03G21/00; G03G21/0088; G03G5/00; G03G5/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
THE METHOD OF CYCLICALLY DEVELOPING ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGES ON A REUSABLE ELECTROSTATOGRAPHIC IMAGING SURFACE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING AN ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE ON THE IMAGING SURFACE, DEVELOPING THE IMAGE WITH AN AQUEOUS LIQUID DEVELOPER, TRANSFERRING THE DEVELOPER FROM THE IMAGING SURFACE TO A RECEIVING SURFACE IN IMAGE CONFGURATION, CONTACTING SAID IMAGING SURFACE WITH A CLEANING LIQUID WHICH IS MISCIBLE WITH SAID AQUEOUS LIQUID DEVELOPER, DISTRIBUTING SAID CLEANING LIQUID OVER SAID IMAGING SURFACE TO DISSOLVE RESIDUAL DEVELOPER LIQUID AND DISPERSE RESIDUAL DEVELOPER SOLIDS IN SAID CLEANING LIQUID AND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY REMOVING THE CLEANING LIQUID AND RESIDUAL DEVELOPER FROM SAID IMAGING SURFACE BY MOVING CONTACT WITH A DRY ABSORBENT FIBROUS MATERIAL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
THE METHOD OF CYCLICALLY DEVELOPING ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGES ON A REUSABLE ELECTROSTATOGRAPHIC IMAGING SURFACE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING AN ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE ON THE IMAGING SURFACE, DEVELOPING THE IMAGE WITH AN AQUEOUS LIQUID DEVELOPER, TRANSFERRING THE DEVELOPER FROM THE IMAGING SURFACE TO A RECEIVING SURFACE IN IMAGE CONFGURATION, CONTACTING SAID IMAGING SURFACE WITH A CLEANING LIQUID WHICH IS MISCIBLE WITH SAID AQUEOUS LIQUID DEVELOPER, DISTRIBUTING SAID CLEANING LIQUID OVER SAID IMAGING SURFACE TO DISSOLVE RESIDUAL DEVELOPER LIQUID AND DISPERSE RESIDUAL DEVELOPER SOLIDS IN SAID CLEANING LIQUID AND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY REMOVING THE CLEANING LIQUID AND RESIDUAL DEVELOPER FROM SAID IMAGING SURFACE BY MOVING CONTACT WITH A DRY ABSORBENT FIBROUS MATERIAL.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
123 words
The method of cyclically developing electrostatic latent images on a reusable electrostatographic imaging surface comprising the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on the imaging surface, developing the image with an aqueous liquid developer, transferring the developer from the imaging surface to the receiving surface in image configuration, contacting the imaging surface with an absorbent fibrous material moistened with a cleaning liquid which is miscible with the aqueous liquid developer, distributing said cleaning liquid over a portion of said imaging surface to dissolve residual develOper liquid and disperse residual developer solids in said cleaning liquid, and substantially completely removing said cleaning liquid containing said dissolved liquid developer therein from said imaging surface to prepare the imaging surface for the next imaging cycle.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
123 words
The method of cyclically developing electrostatic latent images on a reusable electrostatographic imaging surface comprising the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on the imaging surface, developing the image with an aqueous liquid developer, transferring the developer from the imaging surface to the receiving surface in image configuration, contacting the imaging surface with an absorbent fibrous material moistened with a cleaning liquid which is miscible with the aqueous liquid developer, distributing said cleaning liquid over a portion of said imaging surface to dissolve residual develOper liquid and disperse residual developer solids in said cleaning liquid, and substantially completely removing said cleaning liquid containing said dissolved liquid developer therein from said imaging surface to prepare the imaging surface for the next imaging cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said absorbent fibrous material comprises a web in continuous contact with a portion of said imaging surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said absorbent fibrous material is a web in contact with said imaging surface and said step of contacting includes supplying said miscible cleaning liquid to the opposite side of said cleaning web by contact with a liquid reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of removing comprises contacting the imaging surface with a dry, absorbent fibrous material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said miscible cleaning liquid has a boiling point of below 130* C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said imaging member is a reusable photoconductor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the photoconductor is selected from the group consisting of selenium and selenium alloys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said contact is contact under a pressure of from about 0.25 to about 10 pounds per lineal inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said liquid developer has a conductivity of from about 10 4 (ohm-cm) 1 to 10 10 (ohm-cm) 1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |