US5493369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for improved liquid developer image conditioning
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1994-08-29
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Granted: 1996-02-20
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Expires: 2014-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A roller for improved conditioning of an image formed from a liquid developer comprised of toner particles and liquid carrier. A wire mesh uniformly covering an inner layer of the roller uniformly distributes an electrical bias closer to the surface of the roller and to the adjacent image bearing surface. The electrical bias has the same sign polarity as that of the toner particles of the image, to electrostatically repel and prevent the toner particles from entering the roller, and for compacting the toner particles to the image. The wire mesh reduces the electrical requirements of the materials used for the roller.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S. Sypula
- 👤 Lawrence Floyd, Jr.
- 👤 Shu Chang
- 👤 Santokh S. Badesha
- 👤 Christine J. Tarnawskyj
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A device for conditioning a liquid image including liquid carrier and toner particles, comprising: a porous member pervious to the liquid carrier and substantially impervious to the toner particles; means for applying an electrical bias to said porous member; and a wire mesh associated with said porous member to substantially uniformly distribute the electrical bias about said porous member for electrostatically repelling the toner particles from said porous member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A device for conditioning a liquid image including liquid carrier and toner particles, comprising: a porous member pervious to the liquid carrier and substantially impervious to the toner particles; means for applying an electrical bias to said porous member; and a wire mesh associated with said porous member to substantially uniformly distribute the electrical bias about said porous member for electrostatically repelling the toner particles from said porous member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said porous member comprises a roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
108 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said roller comprises: a rigid porous core adapted to absorb the liquid carrier; a conformable open cell porous absorption material having an inner surface and an outer surface and adapted to absorb the liquid carrier, the inner surface of said absorption material mounted around said core; and a porous covering in contact with a portion of the outer surface of said absorption material, said covering having a smooth surface, said wire mesh being positioned between said covering and said core, and said wire mesh uniformly surrounding said core, for distributing the bias uniformly and in close proximity to said covering.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rigid core defines a cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said removal means comprises a vacuum source in communication with the cavity of said absorption material to adjust the pressure therein so that the rate of absorption of liquid carrier into said absorption material is substantially equal to the rate of removal of liquid carrier therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising removal means for removing liquid carrier from said absorption material at substantially the same rate as absorption of the liquid carrier into said absorption material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said removal means comprises a vacuum source in communication with said absorption material to adjust the pressure therethrough so that the rate of absorption of liquid carrier into said absorption material is substantially equal to the rate of removal of liquid carrier therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said covering is substantially impervious to toner particles and pervious to liquid carrier to inhibit toner particles from departing the image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said rigid core is electroconductive and coupled to said biasing means, so that the toner particles are further repelled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said absorption material is resistive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said absorption material has a resistivity in the range of about 10 5 ohm-cm to about 10 11 ohm-cm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wire mesh is positioned between said core and said absorbent material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wire mesh is positioned between said absorbent material and said covering.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical bias distributed through said wire mesh is of the same polarity as the toner particles, so as to electrostatically repel the toner particles from the roller and inhibit their entry into the roller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A printing machine of the type having a surface, with an image developed with a liquid developer comprising liquid carrier and toner particles, and a device for conditioning the liquid image, comprising: a porous member pervious to the liquid carrier and substantially impervious to the toner particles; means for applying an electrical bias to said porous member; and a wire mesh associated with said porous member to substantially uniformly distribute the electrical bias about said porous member for electrostatically repelling the toner particles from said porous member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
A printing machine of the type having a surface, with an image developed with a liquid developer comprising liquid carrier and toner particles, and a device for conditioning the liquid image, comprising: a porous member pervious to the liquid carrier and substantially impervious to the toner particles; means for applying an electrical bias to said porous member; and a wire mesh associated with said porous member to substantially uniformly distribute the electrical bias about said porous member for electrostatically repelling the toner particles from said porous member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein said porous member comprises a roller.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein said roller comprises: a rigid porous core adapted to absorb the liquid carrier; a conformable open cell porous absorption material having an inner surface and an outer surface and adapted to absorb the liquid carrier, the inner surface of said absorption material mounted around said core; and a porous covering in contact with a portion of the outer surface of said absorption material, said covering having a smooth surface, said wire mesh being positioned between said covering and said core, and said wire mesh uniformly surrounding said core, for distributing the bias uniformly and in close proximity to said covering.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rigid core defines a cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, further comprising removal means for removing liquid carrier from said absorption material at substantially the same rate as absorption of the liquid carrier into said absorption material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said removal means comprises a vacuum source in communication with said absorption material to adjust the pressure therethrough so that the rate of absorption of liquid carrier into said absorption material is substantially equal to the rate of removal of liquid carrier therefrom.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
A machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein said removal means comprises a vacuum source in communication with the cavity of said absorption material to adjust the pressure therein so that the rate of absorption of liquid carrier into said absorption material is substantially equal to the rate of removal of liquid carrier therefrom.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said covering is substantially impervious to toner particles and pervious to liquid carrier to inhibit toner particles from departing the image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rigid core is electroconductive and coupled to said biasing means, so that the toner particles are further electrostatically repelled.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said absorption material is resistive.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as claimed in claim 24, wherein said absorption material has a resistivity in the range of about 10 5 ohm-cm to about 10 11 ohm-cm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said wire mesh is positioned between said core and said absorbent material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein said wire mesh is positioned between said absorbent material and said covering.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
A machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electrical bias distributed through said wire mesh is of the same polarity as the toner particles, so as to repel the toner particles from the roller and inhibit their entry into the roller.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for conditioning a liquid image including liquid carrier and toner particles, comprising: a roller having a rigid porous core adapted to absorb a liquid carrier; a conformable open cell porous absorption material having an inner surface and an outer surface and adapted to absorb the liquid carrier, the inner surface of said absorption material mounted around said core; and a porous covering in contact with a portion of the outer surface of said absorption material, said covering having a smooth surface; means for applying an electrical bias to said roller; and a wire mesh positioned between said covering and said core and in close proximity to said covering, said wire mesh for substantially uniformly distributing said electrical bias about said roller for electrostatically repelling toner particles from said roller; wherein said absorption material, said wire mesh, and said covering are in the form of a belt, and wherein the inner surface of said absorption material is mounted around said core and a second roller.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for conditioning a liquid image including liquid carrier and toner particles, comprising: a roller having a rigid porous core adapted to absorb a liquid carrier; a conformable open cell porous absorption material having an inner surface and an outer surface and adapted to absorb the liquid carrier, the inner surface of said absorption material mounted around said core; and a porous covering in contact with a portion of the outer surface of said absorption material, said covering having a smooth surface; means for applying an electrical bias to said roller; and a wire mesh positioned between said covering and said core and in close proximity to said covering, said wire mesh for substantially uniformly distributing said electrical bias about said roller for electrostatically repelling toner particles from said roller; wherein said absorption material, said wire mesh, and said covering are in the form of a belt, and wherein the inner surface of said absorption material is mounted around said core and a second roller.
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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) | 1999-02-19 | 1999-08-21 | 2000-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-19 | 2003-08-21 | 2004-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-19 | 2007-08-21 | 2008-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |