US3694071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for prewetting photoelectrostatic offset masters
Assignee: Plastic Coating Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-12
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1989-11-12
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for applying a prewetting solution to an image-bearing surface of a photoelectrostatic master sheet, which apparatus includes a scrubber roll rotatably disposed in pressure contact with the bearing surface of a guide plate which is submersed in a prewetting solution contained in a reservoir, and two spaced sets of rotatably mounted rolls arranged to advance a photoelectrostatic master sheet from an input position where the sheet is submersed, through the nip formed by the scrubber roll against the bearing surface where the image-bearing surface of the master sheet is lightly scrubbed to remove loose toner particles and to prepare it for reproduction, and to an exit position where excess prewetting solution is removed from the surface of the master sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Francis Touchette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for simultaneously applying a prewetting solution to an image-bearing surface of a photoelectrostatic master sheet and removing partially fused toner particles therefrom which comprises a reservoir containing a prewetting solution, first and second sheet transfer means spaced apart from each other and adapted to advance a photoelectrostatic master sheet from an input position through the prewetting solution in said reservoir and to an exit position, said first sheet transfer means comprising two rotatably mounted rolls disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to one another to form a roll nip through which said sheet is passed, said nip being disposed beneath the surface of said prewetting solution in said reservoir, guide means providing a bearing surface, said guide means being disposed between said first and second sheet transfer means and adapted to guide said sheet from said first sheet transfer means to said second sheet transfer means, said bearing surface being submersed in said prewetting solution in said reservoir, and scrubber means disposed adjacent said guide means and adapted to contact the image-bearing surface of a photoelectrostatic master sheet passing over said bearing surface with relative motion between the surface of said photoelectrostatic master sheet and said scrubber means for removing partially fused toner particles from the surface of said photoelectrostatic master sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for simultaneously applying a prewetting solution to an image-bearing surface of a photoelectrostatic master sheet and removing partially fused toner particles therefrom which comprises a reservoir containing a prewetting solution, first and second sheet transfer means spaced apart from each other and adapted to advance a photoelectrostatic master sheet from an input position through the prewetting solution in said reservoir and to an exit position, said first sheet transfer means comprising two rotatably mounted rolls disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to one another to form a roll nip through which said sheet is passed, said nip being disposed beneath the surface of said prewetting solution in said reservoir, guide means providing a bearing surface, said guide means being disposed between said first and second sheet transfer means and adapted to guide said sheet from said first sheet transfer means to said second sheet transfer means, said bearing surface being submersed in said prewetting solution in said reservoir, and scrubber means disposed adjacent said guide means and adapted to contact the image-bearing surface of a photoelectrostatic master sheet passing over said bearing surface with relative motion between the surface of said photoelectrostatic master sheet and said scrubber means for removing partially fused toner particles from the surface of said photoelectrostatic master sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means preceding said roll nip which provide a guide surface which terminates adjacent said roll nip, at least a portion of said guide surface being submersed in said prewetting solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a first guide plate submersed in said prewetting solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first guide plate provides said bearing surface, and inclines upwardly in the direction of movement of said sheet through said prewetting solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first guide plate is pivotably mounted for movement about a substantially horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the path of said sheet through said prewetting solution, and including means for adjusting the angle of inclination of said first guide plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according tO claim 3, wherein said first guide plate has a bearing surface which contacts said sheet, said bearing surface having a coating of a friction-reducing material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first guide plate has a bearing surface, and a sheet of friction-reducing material disposed over said bearing surface and adapted to contact said master sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a guide surface along the path of said sheet through said prewetting solution, said guide surface being disposed along the path of said sheet through said prewetting solution following said bearing surface and adapted to guide said sheet into said second transfer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said guide surface and said bearing surface each incline upwardly in the direction of movement of said sheet through said prewetting solution, said guide surface having a greater angle of inclination than said bearing surface with respect to horizontal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scrubber means comprise a rotatably mounted cylinder having a resilient surface, the axis of said cylinder being parallel to the plane of said photoelectrostatic master sheet and substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said sheet through said prewetting solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, including drive means operably connected to said scrubber means and adapted to rotate said cylinder so that its surface contacting said sheet moves in the same direction as said sheet at a peripheral surface speed greater than the speed of the surface of said sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cylinder carries on its cylindrical surface a layer of synthetic sponge material having substantial thickness and resiliency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sheet transfer means each comprise two rotatably mounted rolls disposed parallel and adjacent to one another to form a roll nip through which said sheet is passed, at least one of said rolls being rotatably driven, and wherein said apparatus includes a drive means arranged to drive at least one of the rolls of said first and second sheet transfer means at substantially equal parallel surface speeds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the nip of each respective set of rolls is spaced from that of the other set of rolls by a distance less than the length of the shortest photoelectrostatic master sheet to be treated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including a single drive means operably connected to each of said first and second sheet transfer means and said scrubber means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for removing excess prewetting solution from said photoelectrostatic master sheet, said means being disposed above the surface of said prewetting solution in said reservoir and at said exit position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for removing excess prewetting solution from said photoelectrostatic master sheet comprise two rolls arranged to form a squeegee nip through which said master sheet is fed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |