US5352558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner dispersant absorption belt system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1993-04-12
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Granted: 1994-10-04
•
Expires: 2013-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for increasing the solids content of an image formed from liquid developer comprising a belt which is comprised of an absorption material containing small pores to absorb dispersant from a dispersant laden image and a pair of rollers bearing the belt wherein the belt on one of the rollers contacts a dispersant laden image bearing portion of an image carrying member such as a photoreceptor drum or an intermediate sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Simms
- 👤 Tab Tress
- 👤 Dana Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:58
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A method for increasing solids content of an image formed on an image carrying member, the image formed from a liquid developer at a developer station, the image comprising toner particles and liquid toner dispersant, the method comprising: contacting a belt comprising an absorption material capable of absorbing the liquid toner dispersant to the image formed on the image carrying member, the belt contacting said image carrying member at a location separate from and downstream from the developer station and prior to transfer of the image to an image receiving member, said absorption material absorbing the toner dispersant and maintaining the toner particles on said image carrying member, said belt extending around a contact roller and a back up roller, said belt only contacting said image carrying member at a portion of said belt located between said image carrying member and said contact roller; and reducing an amount of absorbed liquid toner dispersant carried by said belt before said absorption material is contacted to a subsequent image on said image carrying member by removing said absorbed toner dispersant from said absorption material at said back up roller remote from said contact roller and said image carrying member so that immediately prior to said portion of said belt contacting said image on said image carrying member, said portion is in an uncompressed state having any previously absorbed liquid toner dispersant removed from said belt.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
233 words
A method for increasing solids content of an image formed on an image carrying member, the image formed from a liquid developer at a developer station, the image comprising toner particles and liquid toner dispersant, the method comprising: contacting a belt comprising an absorption material capable of absorbing the liquid toner dispersant to the image formed on the image carrying member, the belt contacting said image carrying member at a location separate from and downstream from the developer station and prior to transfer of the image to an image receiving member, said absorption material absorbing the toner dispersant and maintaining the toner particles on said image carrying member, said belt extending around a contact roller and a back up roller, said belt only contacting said image carrying member at a portion of said belt located between said image carrying member and said contact roller; and reducing an amount of absorbed liquid toner dispersant carried by said belt before said absorption material is contacted to a subsequent image on said image carrying member by removing said absorbed toner dispersant from said absorption material at said back up roller remote from said contact roller and said image carrying member so that immediately prior to said portion of said belt contacting said image on said image carrying member, said portion is in an uncompressed state having any previously absorbed liquid toner dispersant removed from said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising biasing said contact roller with an electrical charge which is the same as a charge of toner particles in said dispersant, such that a resulting electric field repels said toner particles from said absorption material so that minimal toner particles are transferred to said absorption material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said absorption material is electrically conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said absorption material is electrically semi-conductive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said absorption material is comprised of a foam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said foam has a glossy surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein volume porosity of said foam ranges from about 5% to about 95%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising pressing the portion of said belt against said image with said contact roller, thereby reducing pile height of the image and increasing the amount of dispersant being absorbed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of removing said dispersant from said absorbent material by squeezing said absorbent material at said back up roller, thereby removing said dispersant in the form of a liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said absorption material is comprised of pores, said pores ranging in size from about 0.2 microns to about 30 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said image carrying member is a drum having a photoconductive surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said image carrying member is an intermediate transport member to which it has been electrostatically transferred from an electrostatographic imaging member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing said dispersant from said absorption material belt at said back up roller by a squeegee.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 13, further comprising collecting and recycling said dispersant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said reducing comprises passing said absorption material belt between said backup roller and a squeeze roller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 15, further comprising removing said dispersant from said squeeze roller with a wiper blade and collecting said dispersant removed from said squeeze roller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 16, further comprising biasing said squeeze roller with an electric charge which is of opposite polarity to the charge of said toner, thus transferring toner particles on said belt to the squeeze roller, and collecting said transferred toner particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling an exit angle of the belt.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 18, further comprising controlling an entrance angle of the belt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling an entrance angle of the belt.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
227 words
A device for increasing solids content of an image formed on an image carrying member, the image formed using a liquid developer at a developer station, the image comprising toner particles and liquid toner dispersant, the device comprising: a belt at a location separate from and downstream from the developer station and upstream from a transfer station that transfers the image to an image receiving member, the belt comprising an absorption material capable of absorbing the liquid toner dispersant from the image on the image carrying member and maintaining the toner particles on said image carrying member, said belt extending around a contact roller and a back up roller, said belt only contacting said image carrying member at a portion of said belt located between said image carrying member and said contact roller; and means for reducing an amount of absorbed liquid toner dispersant carried by said belt after said belt absorbs said liquid dispersant from the image and before said absorption material contacts a subsequent image on said image carrying member by removing said absorbed liquid toner dispersant from said absorption material at said back up roller remote from said contact roller and said image carrying member so that immediately prior to said portion of said belt contacting said image, said portion is in an uncompressed state having previously absorbed toner dispersant removed from said belt.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
227 words
A device for increasing solids content of an image formed on an image carrying member, the image formed using a liquid developer at a developer station, the image comprising toner particles and liquid toner dispersant, the device comprising: a belt at a location separate from and downstream from the developer station and upstream from a transfer station that transfers the image to an image receiving member, the belt comprising an absorption material capable of absorbing the liquid toner dispersant from the image on the image carrying member and maintaining the toner particles on said image carrying member, said belt extending around a contact roller and a back up roller, said belt only contacting said image carrying member at a portion of said belt located between said image carrying member and said contact roller; and means for reducing an amount of absorbed liquid toner dispersant carried by said belt after said belt absorbs said liquid dispersant from the image and before said absorption material contacts a subsequent image on said image carrying member by removing said absorbed liquid toner dispersant from said absorption material at said back up roller remote from said contact roller and said image carrying member so that immediately prior to said portion of said belt contacting said image, said portion is in an uncompressed state having previously absorbed toner dispersant removed from said belt.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said contact roller is an electrically conductive roller, said absorption material belt being contacted to the image by means of said electrically conductive roller, said electrically conductive roller being biased with an electrical charge which is the same charge as that of the toner particles, such that a resulting electric field repels said toner particles from said absorption material so that minimal toner particles are transferred to said absorption materials.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 22, wherein said absorption material belt is conductive.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 22, wherein said absorption material belt is semi-conductive.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said rollers are comprised of an elastomeric material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said absorption material is comprised of a foam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device according to claim 26, wherein said foam is a glossy surface foam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device according to claim 27, wherein volume porosity of said absorption material ranges from about 5% to about 95%.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said dispersant is a toner solvent.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said absorption material is comprised of pores ranging in size from about 0.2 microns to about 30 microns.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said image carrying member is a drum having a photoconductive surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device according to claim 30, wherein the image carrying member is an intermediate member, said image having been electrostatically transferred from said drum having said photoconductive surface to said intermediate member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device according to claim 21, wherein said absorption material belt is positioned between a squeeze roller and said back up roller, further comprising a blade which removes dispersant from said squeeze roller, said dispersant being collected in a dispersant collection tray.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device for metering and extracting toner solvent according to claim 33, wherein said squeeze roller has an opposite polarity to that of the particles, thus transferring the toner particles to the squeeze roller, said particles being removed by said blade.
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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) | 1997-10-03 | 1998-04-04 | 1998-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-03 | 2002-04-04 | 2002-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-03 | 2006-04-04 | 2006-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |