US5332642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum assisted dispersant reduction system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1993-02-12
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Granted: 1994-07-26
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Expires: 2013-02-12
Abstract
Abstract In a device and method for increasing the solids content of an image formed from a liquid developer, absorption material is contacted with a toner dispersant laden image, and the absorbed dispersant is vacuumed out of the absorption material. The absorption material preferably is a conductive cover on a porous roller biased with an electrical charge which is the same as the charge of the toner particles, such that the resulting electric field repels the toner particles from the absorption material so that minimal toner particles are transferred to the absorption material.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Simms
- 👤 Henry Till
- 👤 Robert K. Waring
- 👤 John Gardner
- 👤 Tab Tress
- 👤 James Simpson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for removing toner dispersant from an image formed by depositing a liquid developer comprising toner and toner dispersant on a movable image carrying member of an electrostatographic printing system using a developer station, said toner dispersant being removed before said image is transferred to a receiving medium from said movable image carrying member by a transfer station, said method comprising: contacting an outer, absorptive surface of an absorption material to said image on said image carrying member, so that said absorption material absorbs at least some of said toner dispersant from said image, said absorption material having an inner surface and being capable of passing absorbed toner dispersant therethrough from said outer surface to said inner surface, said absorption material located between the developer station and the transfer station of the electrostatographic printing system; and vacuuming absorbed dispersant through and out of the absorption material by applying a vacuum to the inner surface of said absorption material, a vacuum pressure of said vacuum being less than a capillary pressure of pores of the absorption material so that said absorption material remains filled with said dispersant and so that substantially no air is introduced into said pores by said vacuum during removal of said dispersant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for removing toner dispersant from an image formed by depositing a liquid developer comprising toner and toner dispersant on a movable image carrying member of an electrostatographic printing system using a developer station, said toner dispersant being removed before said image is transferred to a receiving medium from said movable image carrying member by a transfer station, said method comprising: contacting an outer, absorptive surface of an absorption material to said image on said image carrying member, so that said absorption material absorbs at least some of said toner dispersant from said image, said absorption material having an inner surface and being capable of passing absorbed toner dispersant therethrough from said outer surface to said inner surface, said absorption material located between the developer station and the transfer station of the electrostatographic printing system; and vacuuming absorbed dispersant through and out of the absorption material by applying a vacuum to the inner surface of said absorption material, a vacuum pressure of said vacuum being less than a capillary pressure of pores of the absorption material so that said absorption material remains filled with said dispersant and so that substantially no air is introduced into said pores by said vacuum during removal of said dispersant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said absorption material covers a porous roller, with said inner surface of said absorption material, opposite from said outer surface, located closer to said roller than said outer surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the dispersant is vacuumed out of said absorption material from a central cavity of said roller.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said roller is comprised of an elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein pores of said porous roller range in average diameter from about 0.05 microns to about 30 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising biasing said roller with an electrical charge which is the same as an electrical charge of toner particles forming said image, such that a resulting electric field repels said toner particles from said absorption material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 6, wherein said absorption material is electrically conductive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said absorption material is comprised of a foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein volume porosity of said foam ranges from about 5% to about 95%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said absorption material comprises a belt passing around at least two rollers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising forcing said absorption material against said image sufficiently to reduce a pile height of the image and increase the amount of dispersant being absorbed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said absorption material pores range in average diameter from about 0.2 microns to about 30 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein a percent solids content of the image is increased from about 10% to greater than about 50%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said movable image carrying member is an electrostatographic imaging member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrostatographic printing system comprising: a movable image carrying member; a developer station for depositing a toner dispersant laden image on said image carrying member; a transfer station for transferring said image formed on said imaging member to a receiving medium; an absorption material, located between said developer station and said transfer station, capable of absorbing toner dispersant from the image formed on said image carrying member from a liquid developer, said absorption material having an outer surface in contact with said image carrying member and an inner surface, said absorption material capable of passing toner dispersant therethrough from said outer surface to said inner surface; and a vacuum source in fluid communication with said inner surface of said absorption material, said vacuum source applying a vacuum to said absorption material having a vacuum pressure less than a capillary pressure of pores of the absorption material so that said absorption material remains filled with said dispersant and so that substantially no air is introduced into said pores by said vacuum during removal of said dispersant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrostatographic printing system comprising: a movable image carrying member; a developer station for depositing a toner dispersant laden image on said image carrying member; a transfer station for transferring said image formed on said imaging member to a receiving medium; an absorption material, located between said developer station and said transfer station, capable of absorbing toner dispersant from the image formed on said image carrying member from a liquid developer, said absorption material having an outer surface in contact with said image carrying member and an inner surface, said absorption material capable of passing toner dispersant therethrough from said outer surface to said inner surface; and a vacuum source in fluid communication with said inner surface of said absorption material, said vacuum source applying a vacuum to said absorption material having a vacuum pressure less than a capillary pressure of pores of the absorption material so that said absorption material remains filled with said dispersant and so that substantially no air is introduced into said pores by said vacuum during removal of said dispersant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device according to claim 15, further comprising a porous roller, said absorption material covering said porous roller with said inner surface located closer to said roller than said outer surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 16, wherein said roller is biased with an electrical charge sufficient to repel electrically charged toner particles in said liquid developer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said roller is comprised of an elastomeric material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device according to claim 16, wherein said porous roller includes a central cavity, and said vacuum source is in fluid communication with said central cavity of said porous roller, and is in fluid communication with said absorption material through pores in said porous roller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 19, wherein said pores in said porous roller range in average diameter from about 0.5 microns to about 30 microns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 15, wherein said absorption material is comprised of a foam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein volume porosity of said foam ranges from about 5% to about 95%.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 15, wherein said absorption material pores range in average diameter from about 0.2 microns to about 30 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein said image carrying member is a photoreceptor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein said image carrying member is an ionographic receptor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 15, wherein said absorption material comprises a belt passing around at least two rollers.
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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) | 1997-07-25 | 1998-01-24 | 1998-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-25 | 2002-01-24 | 2002-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-25 | 2006-01-24 | 2006-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |