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, comprising: applicator roll means having a 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 THE DEVELOPING MEDIUM ON ITS SURFACE, means establishing a developing zone including roller means in pressure contact with said applicator roller surface, wiping means acting against and along the length of said applicator roller means in advance of said developing zone, adapted to reduce the quantity of liquid carried on the roller surface to a predetermined level which wiping means comprises holding means for rotatably supporting a wiping rod against said roller, said holding means being received at a channel member equipped with adjusting means for aligning said rod against said applicator roller, and said wiping means operating in conjunction with said applicator roll applying the developer medium at a rate not exceeding 3.0 grams per square meter of copy sheet.

Claim 3

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wiping means is rotated with the rotation of the applicator roller at a linear velocity that is substantially less than the linear velocity of the applicator roll.

Claim 4

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjusting means comprises individually placed coiled spring elements spaced laterally along said channel.

Claim 5

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means includes a V-shaped groove for receiving said rod.

Claim 6

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein drive means are provided for said rod means to constantly rotate said rod at a predetermined rate that is slower in relation to the rotational speed of said applicator roll.

Claim 7

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes cam means for imparting an oscillating motion to said wiping rod.

Claim 8

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: 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 having a substantially smooth, resilient, nonporous carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches and capable of retaining a controlled amount of liquid therein; third roller means longitudinally disposed in a reservoir containing a supply of liquid, said third roller means being in driving engagement with said second roller means thereby applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid; MOVABLY mounted flexible blade means tangentially biased against said second roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith; driving means for said blade means imparting reciprocating movement thereto in a direction transverse to the path of rotation of said second roller means, said blade means being disposed in advance of said transfer zone wiping excess liquid from said surface whereby said controlled amount is retained by said recesses and carried by the roller to the transfer zone.

Claim 9

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: 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 having a substantially smooth, resilient, nonporous carrier surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes whose center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches and capable of retaining a controlled amount of liquid therein; third roller means longitudinally disposed in a reservoir containing a supply of liquid, said third roller means being in driving engagement with said second roller means thereby applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid; MOVABLY mounted flexible blade means tangentially biased against said second roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith; driving means for said blade means imparting reciprocating movement thereto in a direction transverse to the path of rotation of said second roller means, said blade means being disposed in advance of said transfer zone wiping excess liquid from said surface whereby said controlled amount is retained by said recesses and carried by the roller to the transfer zone.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for developing light sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3 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 having a nonporous, resilient carrier surface whose center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, said surface having recesses capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid therein; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid; wiper means biased against said second roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith, said wiper means comprising a flexible blade member having a wiping face in intimate contact with said second roller, and being disposed in advance of said transfer zone wiping excess liquid from said carrier surface whereby said controlled amount is retained by the recesses and is carried by the second roller to the transfer zone.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for developing light sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3 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 having a nonporous, resilient carrier surface whose center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, said surface having recesses capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid therein; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid; wiper means biased against said second roller means forming substantially a line contact therewith, said wiper means comprising a flexible blade member having a wiping face in intimate contact with said second roller, and being disposed in advance of said transfer zone wiping excess liquid from said carrier surface whereby said controlled amount is retained by the recesses and is carried by the second roller to the transfer zone.

Claim 12

The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flexible blade member is formed of flexible spring steel.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3.0 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: pressure applying means; roller means in driving engagement with said pressure applying means 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 center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, capable of retaining a controlled amount of said liquid therein; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid; wiper means biased against said roller forming substantially a line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller enters said transfer zone, said wiper means comprising a flexible blade member having a wiping surface and being mounted adjacent said roller means and biased towards said roller means so that said wiping surface is in intimate contact therewith.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3.0 grams per square meter, the combination comprising: pressure applying means; roller means in driving engagement with said pressure applying means 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 center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches, capable of retaining a controlled amount of said liquid therein; means for applying to a portion of said carrier surface an excess amount of developer liquid; wiper means biased against said roller forming substantially a line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said means for applying said excess liquid and before said roller enters said transfer zone, said wiper means comprising a flexible blade member having a wiping surface and being mounted adjacent said roller means and biased towards said roller means so that said wiping surface is in intimate contact therewith.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pressure applying means includes a roller member mounted in driving engagement with said roller means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pressure applying means is a blade.

Claim 17

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3.0 grams per square meter and including: a liquid applicator roller in communication with a source of developing liquid; rotatable wiper rod means biased against said roller means forming a substantial line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said source of liquid carrying a quantity of liquid; pressure applying means in contact with said roller positioned downstream from the location of said wiper rod forming a developing zone along the line of contact between the roller and said pressure means; the improvement comprising said roller applicator having a nonporous, resilient liquid carrying surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes therein and whoSe center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches rendering said surface capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon.

Claim 18

In an apparatus for developing light-sensitive sheet material by the application thereto of an amount of developer liquid not in excess of 3.0 grams per square meter and including: a liquid applicator roller in communication with a source of developing liquid; rotatable wiper rod means biased against said roller means forming a substantial line contact therewith as said roller emerges from said source of liquid carrying a quantity of liquid; pressure applying means in contact with said roller positioned downstream from the location of said wiper rod forming a developing zone along the line of contact between the roller and said pressure means; the improvement comprising said roller applicator having a nonporous, resilient liquid carrying surface having randomly formed recesses of varying depths and sizes therein and whoSe center line average smoothness is in the range of 10-200 microinches rendering said surface capable of retaining a controlled amount of said developer liquid thereon.