US3776631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid developer cleaning system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1971-12-13
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatographic imaging surface is cleaned of liquid developer by selectively applying to the charged or image areas of the imaging surface a finely divided, dry, absorbent powder. The powder may be selectively applied by charging the powder to a polarity opposite that which the imaging surface bears and presenting a charged powder loaded applicator adjacent the imaging surface such that the charged powder is transferred to the imaging surface with an electrostatic assist from the residual charge on the imaging surface.
Inventors
- 👤 J Mammino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/005; G03G21/00; G03G21/0088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 including means to change said finely divided dry absorbent powder to a polarity opposite the polarity of the image area on the imaging member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
The imaging system of claim 2 wherein said charging means comprises granular carrier material in contact with said finely divided dry absorbent powder, said granular material being larger in size than said absorbent powder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The imaging system of claim 3 wherein said means to remove said powder from the imaging surface includes means to electrically assist said removal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The imaging system of claim 4 wherein said electrostatic assist means comprises a corotron.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The imaging system of claim 3 wherein said carrier material has a particle size of from about 50 to about 600 microns and said finely divided dry absorbent powder has an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 20 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The imaging system of claim 3 wherein said applying means comprises a porous, resilient cellular foam member a portion of which is in contact with the granular carrier and absorbent powder and a portion of which is adjacent the imaging member and means to move said foam member sequentially past said portions to transport said charged dry absorbent powder to said imaging member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The imaging system of claim 7 wherein applying means comprises a rotatable mounted cylindrical roll having a porous resilient cellular foam surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
An imaging system comprising an electrostatographic imaging member, means to place an electrostatic latent image on said imaging member, means to develop said electrostatic latent image with a liquid developer, means to transfer said liquid developer in image configuration from said imaging member to a receiver surface, and cleaning means to remove substantially all residual liquid developer remaining on said imaging surface; said cleaning means comprising a porous resilient powder applicator, means to charge finely divided absorbent powders, means to apply said powders to said applicator, means to move said applicator against said imaging member bearing residual liquid developer, means to distribute said powder over said imaging member and means to remove said absorbent powder and absorbed liquid developer from said imaging member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The imaging system of claim 5 wherein said charging means comprises granular carrier material in contact with said finely divided absorbent powder in a reservoir and said applicator comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical roll partly immersed below the level of carrier material and dry powder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
An imaging system comprising an electrostatographic imaging member, and in sequence, means to place an electrostatic latent image on said imaging member, means to develop said electrostatic latent image with liquid developer, means to transfer said liquid developer in image configuration from said image member to a receiver surface, and cleaning means to remove substantially all liquid developer remaining on said imaging surface; said cleaning means comprising means to charge finely divided dry absorbent powder to a polarity opposite the polarity of the image area on the imaging member, means to selectively apply said finely divided dry absorbent powder to the developed areas of said imaging mEmber, means to uniformly distribute said dry powder on said imaging member to thereby absorb substantially all of said residual liquid developer from said imaging member and remove said absorbent powder containing absorbed residual developer liquid from said imaging surface, and means to sequentially position said imaging member past said aforesaid means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The imaging system of claim 11 wherein said charging means comprises granular carrier material in contact with said finely divided dry absorbent powder, said granular material being larger in size than said absorbent powder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The imaging system of claim 12 wherein said carrier material has a particle size of from about 50 to about 600 microns and said finely divided dry absorbent powder has an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 20 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The imaging system of claim 11 wherein said applying means comprises means comprising a porous, resilient, cellular foam member, a portion of which is in contact with the granular carrier and absorbent powder and a portion of which is adjacent to the imaging member, and means to move said foam member sequentially past said portions to transport said charged dry absorbent powder to said imaging member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The imaging system of claim 14 wherein the applying means comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical roll having a porous, resilient, cellular foam surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
An imaging system comprising an electrostatographic imaging member, and in sequence, means to place an electrostatic latent image on said imaging member, means to develop said electrostatic latent image with liquid developer, means to transfer said liquid developer in image configuration from said image member to a receiver surface, and cleaning means to remove substantially all liquid developer remaining on said imaging surface; said cleaning means comprising means to charge finely divided dry absorbent powder to a polarity opposite the polarity of the image area on the imaging member, means to selectively apply said finely divided dry absorbent powder to the developed areas of said imaging member to thereby absorb substantially all of said residual liquid developer from said imaging member, means to remove said absorbent powder containing absorbed residual developer liquid from said imaging surface, and means to sequentially position said imaging member past said aforesaid means.
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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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |