Compact liquid toner apparatus with straight-through feed

Claim 2

Apparatus for development of images on sheetlike printing base comprising input guide means, output guide means aligned with said input means on a straight-through path, means disposed along said straight-through path for flowing liquid developer onto the active face of said printing base in quantities substantially in excess of the amount required to develop an image, with said printing base feeding substantially straight through from said input guide means to said output guide means, and means spaced from said liquid flow means in the direction of printing base travel for subsequently removing excess developer, said liquid developer depositing means comprising distributing means disposed along one side of said printing base adjacent to the active face thereof and extending across said active face transversely of the direction of feed, said distributing means further including a liquid receptacle elongated transversely of the direction of feed and having an opening at the top thereof extending longitudinally of said receptacle whereby there is produced a curtain of developer descending on the active face of said printing base, said liquid receptacle having a lip spaced a substantial distance above said path and extending longitudinally of said receptacle and transversely of the direction of feed, developer flowing from said opening at the top of said receptacle cascading over said lip as a curtain.

Claim 3

Apparatus for development of images on sheetlike printing base comprising input guide means, output guide means aligned with said input means on a straight-through path, means disposed along said straight-through path for flowing liquid developer onto the active face of said printing base in quantities substantially in excess of the amount required to develop an image, with said printing base feeding substantially straight through from said input guide means to said output guide means, and means spaced from said liquid flow means in the direction of printing base travel for subsequently removing excess developer, said liquid developer depositing means comprising distributing means disposed along one side of said printing base adjacent to the active face thereof, and extending across said active face transversely of the direction of feed, said distributing means further including a liquid receptacle elongated transversely of the direction of feed and having lip means extending longitudinally of said receptacle over which developer flows and descends gravitationally on to the active face of said printing base, the bottom of said receptacle being provided with a plurality of raised bosses having openings therein elongated longitudinally of said receptacle, said bosses providing said lip means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for development of images on sheetlike printing base comprising input guide means, output guide means aligned with said input means on a straight-through path, means disposed along said straight-through path for flowing liquid developer onto the active face of said printing base in quantities substantially in excess of the amount required to develop an image, with said printing base feeding substantially straight through from said input guide means to said output guide means, and means spaced from said liquid flow means in the direction of printing base travel for subsequently removing excess developer, said liquid developer depositing means comprising distributing means disposed along one side of said printing base adjacent to the active face thereof, and extending across said active face transversely of the direction of feed, said distributing means further including a liquid receptacle elongated transversely of the direction of feed and having lip means extending longitudinally of said receptacle over which developer flows and descends gravitationally on to the active face of said printing base, the bottom of said receptacle being provided with a plurality of raised bosses having openings therein elongated longitudinally of said receptacle, said bosses providing said lip means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for development of images on a sheetlike printing base comprising, input guide means, output guide means aligned with said input guide means along a predetermined straight-through planar path, with said printing base feeding along said straight-through path from the input guide means to said output guide means, distributing means disposed transverse to said path of feed and on one side thereof, said distributing means including means for producing a vertical free-falling curtain of liquid developer for depositing said developer directly on the active face of said printing base, said output guide means spaced downstream from said distributing means in the direction of travel of said printing base, said output guide means further including means providing a dam extending across said printing base transversely of the direction of feed and engaging with said active face for damming up liquid developer on said face in quantities substantially in excess of the amount required to develop an image and adapted to remove excess developer from said base upon completion of the development of said image and movement of said base relative thereto, said distributing means including trough means for receiving a quantity of said liquid developer, said trough means having raised edge means defining an opening, whereby the liquid developer can flow upwardly and over said edge means to provide said vertical free-falling curtain of liquid developer.

Claim 6

Apparatus for development of images on a sheetlike printing base comprising, input guide means, output guide means aligned with said input guide means along a predetermined straight-through planar path, with said printing base feeding along said straight-through path from the input guide means to said output guide means, distributing means disposed transverse to said path of feed and on one side thereof, said distributing means including means for producing a vertical free-falling curtain of liquid developer for depositing said developer directly on the active face of said printing base, said output guide means spaced downstream from said distributing means in the direction of travel of said printing base, said output guide means further including means providing a dam extending across said printing base transversely of the direction of feed and engaging with said active face for damming up liquid developer on said face in quantities substantially in excess of the amount required to develop an image and adapted to remove excess developer from said base upon completion of the development of said image and movement of said base relative thereto, said distributing means including trough means for receiving a quantity of said liquid developer, said trough means having raised edge means defining an opening, whereby the liquid developer can flow upwardly and over said edge means to provide said vertical free-falling curtain of liquid developer.