Liquid developing apparatus for electrophotography

Claim 2

A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising: a. means for supplying a developing solution; b. tank means, having at least one side wall, for holding the developing solution supplied by said supplying means and including at its top an apertured plate having an upper surface and a multiplicity of small apertures formed therein to permit the developing solution to flood through the apertures onto said upper surface in a uniform manner; c. a developing roller located adjacent to the tank means with its surface disposed for directly receiving the flooding developing solution from said upper surface of the apertured plate and rotating at a peripheral speed greater than the speed at which a copy sheet having a surface to be developed is passed thereby; and d. a guide means for constraining the copy sheet so as to maintain the surface to be developed thereon in contact with the developing solution on the upper surface of the apertured plate and the surface of the roller while the sheet is being passed thereby.

Claim 3

A developing apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the apertured plate is formed with apertures of substantially 1 mm in diameter at a density from 10 to 30 per square centimeter.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the surface of said developing roller forms at least part of said one side wall of said tank.

Claim 5

A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising: a. tank means, having at least one side wall, for retaining and supplying a developing solution; b. an apertured plate at the top of said tank means having a multiplicity of small apertures formed therein to permit the developing solution to flood therethrough in a uniform manner; c. supply means for causing said developing solution to flood said apertured plate; d. a developing roller having a peripheral surface located adjacent to the tank means and driven for rotation at a peripheral speed greater than the speed at which a sheet having a surface to be developed is passed thereby for directly receiving said flooded developing solution from said apertured plate onto its peripheral surface at a first point in its rotational path so that a layer of developing solution is formed in a region defined across the apertured plate and the adjacent peripheral surface of the developing roller; e. a guide plate for constraining the sheet so as to maintain the surface to be developed thereon in contact with the layer of developing solution which is supplied to the apertured plate and roller while the sheet is being passed thereby; and f. a cleaning member abutting against the peripheral surface of the developing roller at a second point in its rotational path prior to said first point for receiving said flooded developing solution for scraping off the developing solution which tends to return to said region moving with the surface of the developing roller.

Claim 6

A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising: a. tank means, having at least one side wall, for retaining and supplying a developing solution; b. an apertured plate at the top of said tank means having a multiplicity of small apertures formed therein to permit the developing solution to flood therethrough in a uniform manner; c. supply means for causing said developing solution to flood said apertured plate; d. a developing roller having a peripheral surface located adjacent to the tank means and driven for rotation at a peripheral speed greater than the speed at which a sheet having a surface to be developed is passed thereby for directly receiving said flooded developing solution from said apertured plate onto its peripheral surface at a first point in its rotational path so that a layer of developing solution is formed in a region defined across the apertured plate and the adjacent peripheral surface of the developing roller; e. a guide plate for constraining the sheet so as to maintain the surface to be developed thereon in contact with the layer of developing solution which is supplied to the apertured plate and roller while the sheet is being passed thereby; and f. a cleaning member abutting against the peripheral surface of the developing roller at a second point in its rotational path prior to said first point for receiving said flooded developing solution for scraping off the developing solution which tends to return to said region moving with the surface of the developing roller.

Claim 7

A developing apparatus according to claim 4 in which the cleaning member comprises a brush.

Claim 8

A developing apparatus according to claim 4 in which only a portion of said cleaning member abuts the peripheral surface and wherein the cleaning member comprises a film of polyester having a number of cuts formed in the portion abutting against the peripheral surface of the developing roller.

Claim 9

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the surface of said developing roller forms at least part of said one side wall of said tank.

Claim 10

Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said cleaning member forms at least part of said one side wall of said tank.

Claim 11

A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising: a. means for providing a supply of developing solution; b. an apertured plate on said supply means having an upper surface with at least one edge and a multiplicity of small apertures formed therein to permit the developing solution to flood through the apertures onto said upper surface in a uniform manner; c. a developer drawing roller means, having a peripheral surface with shallow V-shaped grooves in the form of a helix therein, disposed adjacent said one edge of said apertured plate and rotating at a peripheral speed greater than the speed at which a copy sheet having a surface to be developed is passed thereby, for drawing the developing solution which has flooded the upper surface of said apertured plate onto its peripheral surface to form a layer of developing solution across the apertured plate and said adjacent peripheral surface of said roller means; and d. means for bringing the surface of the copy sheet to be developed into contact with said layer of developing solution while the sheet is being passed thereby.

Claim 12

A developing apparatus for electrophotography comprising: a. means for providing a supply of developing solution; b. an apertured plate on said supply means having an upper surface with at least one edge and a multiplicity of small apertures formed therein to permit the developing solution to flood through the apertures onto said upper surface in a uniform manner; c. a developer drawing roller means, having a peripheral surface with shallow V-shaped grooves in the form of a helix therein, disposed adjacent said one edge of said apertured plate and rotating at a peripheral speed greater than the speed at which a copy sheet having a surface to be developed is passed thereby, for drawing the developing solution which has flooded the upper surface of said apertured plate onto its peripheral surface to form a layer of developing solution across the apertured plate and said adjacent peripheral surface of said roller means; and d. means for bringing the surface of the copy sheet to be developed into contact with said layer of developing solution while the sheet is being passed thereby.