Patent US4001838A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4001838A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for cleaning paper in a high speed electrostatic printing apparatus
Assignee: Markem Imaje Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract In an electrostatic high speed line printer, a pair of lightly wetted cylindrical rollers are sequentially arranged upstream of the print station to engage the paper surface to be printed. The roller surfaces are wetted with a very thin film of non-staining viscous film such as isopar, and driven at roughly the same speed as the paper causing the paper surface to be very slightly wetted, thereby tending to attract debris particles from the surface of the paper to the roller and also tending to cause other debris particles to be adhered to the paper surface at least until after they have passed through the print head. A dancer roller is positioned on the opposite side of the paper from the wet rollers, between the wetted rollers, to provide approximately 30° of wrap across each wetted roller. The foregoing is disclosed in combination with an electrostatic high speed line printer wherein an image (or data) modulated stream of air ions is attracted toward an electrode positioned behind and supporting the print receiving paper. The modulated ion stream passes through a fine mist or cloud of substantially uncharged ink particles which are charged in a pattern corresponding to the modulated pattern of the ion stream and attracted to the paper surface to cause printing in accordance with such patterns. Very high speed operation, up to and exceeding 10,000 lines of print per minute, are shown.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronnie Joseph Maddox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6597; G03G15/22; G03G15/34; G03G15/344; G03G15/346; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00367; G03G2215/00409; G03G2215/00443; G03G2215/00451; G03G2215/00455; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for controlling unwanted loose or easily loosened particulate matter on paper comprising: means for edgewise transporting the paper along a path; roller means positioned to engage one surface of the paper during transport along the path, said roller mounted for rotation such that its surface velocity substantially matches that of the paper at their respective points of engagment; and means for wetting the paper-engaging surface of said roller means with a thin film of liquid to wet the paper tending to cause a portion of the particulate matter to be held on the paper surface and to cause another portion of the particulate matter to be removed from the paper surface by adhering to said roller means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for controlling unwanted loose or easily loosened particulate matter on paper comprising: means for edgewise transporting the paper along a path; roller means positioned to engage one surface of the paper during transport along the path, said roller mounted for rotation such that its surface velocity substantially matches that of the paper at their respective points of engagment; and means for wetting the paper-engaging surface of said roller means with a thin film of liquid to wet the paper tending to cause a portion of the particulate matter to be held on the paper surface and to cause another portion of the particulate matter to be removed from the paper surface by adhering to said roller means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said roller means comprises at least two rollers positioned sequentially in the paper path, so that one of said rollers removes a portion of the unwanted particulate matter and the other of said rollers removes a further portion thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for driving said roller means at said substantially matching surface velocity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said wetting means applies the liquid to said roller means in quantities such that the liquid is deposited on the paper at the rate of about 5 micrograms/sq. cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said wetting means applies the liquid to said roller means in quantities such that the liquid is deposited on the paper at the rate of between about 2.5 micrograms/sq. cm. and 20 micrograms/sq. cm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5 further comprising means for driving said roller means at said substantially matching surface velocity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said roller means comprises at least two rollers positioned sequentially in the paper path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said liquid has a viscosity of about 1-200 cp. at 20° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said wetting means comprises a liquid bath wetting the lower portion of said roller means, and further comprises a blade engaging said roller means to scrape the wetting surface of said roller means before it reaches the paper engaging position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said liquid has a viscosity of about 1 to 200 cp. at 20° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said wetting means comprises a liquid bath wetting the lower portion of said roller means and further comprises a blade engaging said roller means to scrape the wetted surface of said roller means before it reaches the paper engaging position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid has a viscosity of about 1 to 200 cp. at 20° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said liquid has a viscosity of about 1 to 200 cp. at 20° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said roller means has a cylindrical surface for engagement with the paper, said cylindrical surface being of a hard, smooth material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said hard smooth material is polished metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said polished metal is electroless nickel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for wetting said roller means with a thin film of liquid includes means for applying liquid to said cylindrical surface of said roller means, and means for removing a portion of the applied liquid from said cylindrical surface to leave a controllably thin film of liquid on said cylindrical surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said means for removing consists of a blade engaging said cylindrical surface to scrape said surface after liquid is applied but before it engages the paper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said blade is controllably tensioned against said cylindrical surface to control the thinness of liquid film left thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for controlling loose or easily loosened matter on sheet-like material comprising: means for edgewise transporting the material along a path; roller means having a hard, smooth cylindrical surface positioned to engage one surface of the material, said roller mounted for rotation such that its surface velocity substantially matches that of the paper at their respective points of engagement; and means for wetting said cylindrical surface of said roller means with a thin film of liquid to wet the material tending to cause a portion of the particulate matter to be held on the paper surface and to cause another portion of the particulate matter to be removed from the paper surface by adhering to said roller means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for controlling loose or easily loosened matter on sheet-like material comprising: means for edgewise transporting the material along a path; roller means having a hard, smooth cylindrical surface positioned to engage one surface of the material, said roller mounted for rotation such that its surface velocity substantially matches that of the paper at their respective points of engagement; and means for wetting said cylindrical surface of said roller means with a thin film of liquid to wet the material tending to cause a portion of the particulate matter to be held on the paper surface and to cause another portion of the particulate matter to be removed from the paper surface by adhering to said roller means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said roller means comprises at least two rollers positioned sequentially in the paper path so that one of said rollers removes a portion of the unwanted particulate matter and the other of said rollers removes a further portion thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said liquid has a viscosity of about 1 to 200 cp. at 20° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said roller means comprises at least one roller, said roller having a diameter of at least about 1 inch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said wetting means comprises a liquid bath wetting only the lower portion of said roller means, and further comprises a blade engaging said roller means to scrape the wetted surface of said roller means before it reaches the paper engaging position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
168 words
In apparatus for controlling unwanted particulate matter on print receiving material in an electrostatic printer having an electrostatic print head, including a source of air ions, an apertured ion stream modulator and means for generating an ink mist in the path of the modulated ion stream, a back electrode, and means for edgewise transporting the material along a path passing the print head for depositing print on the material, the improvement comprising: roller means positioned to engage one surface of the material during transport along the path, said roller mounted for rotation such that its surface velocity substantially matches that of the paper at their respective points of engagement; and means for wetting the material-engaging surface of said roller means with a thin film of liquid to wet the material tending to cause a portion of the particulate matter to be held on the paper surface and to cause another portion of the particulate matter to be removed from the paper surface by adhering to said roller means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
168 words
In apparatus for controlling unwanted particulate matter on print receiving material in an electrostatic printer having an electrostatic print head, including a source of air ions, an apertured ion stream modulator and means for generating an ink mist in the path of the modulated ion stream, a back electrode, and means for edgewise transporting the material along a path passing the print head for depositing print on the material, the improvement comprising: roller means positioned to engage one surface of the material during transport along the path, said roller mounted for rotation such that its surface velocity substantially matches that of the paper at their respective points of engagement; and means for wetting the material-engaging surface of said roller means with a thin film of liquid to wet the material tending to cause a portion of the particulate matter to be held on the paper surface and to cause another portion of the particulate matter to be removed from the paper surface by adhering to said roller means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said liquid is semi-conductive or conductive so that electrostatic charges on the material tend to be dispelled upon deposit of the thin liquid film thereupon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said liquid is isopar.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said roller means is positioned to hold said material against the back electrode in the print head so that the tendency of the material to flap in the print head is thereby reduced.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising a resiliently mounted roller positioned to engage the surface of the material on the opposite side of the material from said roller means between said roller means during transport of the material along the path, to tension the material and urge it against said roller means, and also to cause the material to undergo at least several degrees of wrap about said roller means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said roller means is positioned immediately adjacent said print head.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said roller means comprises at least two rollers positioned sequentially in the material path so that one of said rollers removes a portion of the unwanted particulate matter and the other of said rollers removes further portions thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising means for driving said roller means at a surface velocity substantially matching the velocity of the material at their respective points of engagement.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said wetting means applies the liquid to said roller means in quantities such that the liquid is deposited on the material at the rate of about 5 micrograms/sq. cm.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said wetting means applies the liquid to said roler means in quantities such that the liquid is deposited on the material at the rate of between about 2.5 micrograms/sq. cm. and 20 micrograms/sq. cm.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising means for driving said roller means at a circumferential velocity substantially the same as the velocity at which the material is transported by the transporting means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said wetting means comprises a liquid bath wetting the lower portion of said roller means, and further comprising a blade engaging said roller means to scrape the wetting surface of said roller means before it reaches the material engaging position.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of controlling unwanted particulate matter on paper comprising: applying liquid to the surface of a roller; removing a portion of the applied liquid from the roller surface leaving a controllable amount of the applied liquid on the roller surface as a liquid film; rolling the film wetted surface of the roller along the paper to wet the paper and cause at least some of the particulate matter to adhere to the roller; and washing adhered particulate matter from the roller after engagement with the paper, wherein the washing and wetting steps are carried out with a single liquid bath.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of controlling unwanted particulate matter on paper comprising: applying liquid to the surface of a roller; removing a portion of the applied liquid from the roller surface leaving a controllable amount of the applied liquid on the roller surface as a liquid film; rolling the film wetted surface of the roller along the paper to wet the paper and cause at least some of the particulate matter to adhere to the roller; and washing adhered particulate matter from the roller after engagement with the paper, wherein the washing and wetting steps are carried out with a single liquid bath.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of preparing sheetlike material for subsequent treatment comprising: wetting a roller with a controllably thin film of semi-conductive or conductive liquid; and rolling the wetted surface of the roller across the material at a surface velocity approximating the velocity of the material at their respective points of engagement to wet the material thereby removing electrostatic charge from the sheet-like material, and causing the loose or easily loosened particulate matter on the sheet-like material to cling to the roller and/or sheet-like material.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of preparing sheetlike material for subsequent treatment comprising: wetting a roller with a controllably thin film of semi-conductive or conductive liquid; and rolling the wetted surface of the roller across the material at a surface velocity approximating the velocity of the material at their respective points of engagement to wet the material thereby removing electrostatic charge from the sheet-like material, and causing the loose or easily loosened particulate matter on the sheet-like material to cling to the roller and/or sheet-like material.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of controlling loose or easily loosened particulate matter on the print receiving surface of a print receiving material in an electrostatic printer having a print head including a corona ion source, back electrode, appertured modulator, and ink mist generator, and further having means for transporting the print receiving material past the print head for receiving print thereon, such method comprising: forming a controllably thin film of viscous liquid on the surface of at least one roller; engaging the film-wet portion of the roller against the print receiving surface of the print receiving material adjacent and prior to the print head to wet the print receiving material and to adhere particulate matter to the roller; and causing the roller to rotate at a surface velocity approximating the transport velocity of the print receiving material at their respective points of engagement.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of controlling loose or easily loosened particulate matter on the print receiving surface of a print receiving material in an electrostatic printer having a print head including a corona ion source, back electrode, appertured modulator, and ink mist generator, and further having means for transporting the print receiving material past the print head for receiving print thereon, such method comprising: forming a controllably thin film of viscous liquid on the surface of at least one roller; engaging the film-wet portion of the roller against the print receiving surface of the print receiving material adjacent and prior to the print head to wet the print receiving material and to adhere particulate matter to the roller; and causing the roller to rotate at a surface velocity approximating the transport velocity of the print receiving material at their respective points of engagement.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of controlling unwanted particulate matter on paper comprising: applying liquid to the surface of a roller; removing a portion of the applied liquid from the roller surface, leaving a controllable amount of the applied liquid on the roller surface as a liquid film; and rolling the film wetted surface of the roller along the paper at a surface velocity substantially matching the velocity of the paper at their respective points of engagement to wet the paper and cause at least some of said particulate matter to adhere to the roller.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of controlling unwanted particulate matter on paper comprising: applying liquid to the surface of a roller; removing a portion of the applied liquid from the roller surface, leaving a controllable amount of the applied liquid on the roller surface as a liquid film; and rolling the film wetted surface of the roller along the paper at a surface velocity substantially matching the velocity of the paper at their respective points of engagement to wet the paper and cause at least some of said particulate matter to adhere to the roller.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 40, wherein the liquid has a viscosity of about 1 to 200 cp. at 20° C.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 41, wherein the liquid is electrically conductive or semi-conductive.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 40, wherein the roller deposits liquid on the paper at a rate of between about 2.5 micrograms/sq. cm. and 20 micrograms/sq. cm.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 40, wherein the liquid is electrically conductive or semi-conductive.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 40, wherein the step of wetting the roller with a thin film of liquid includes the steps of wetting a portion of the roller with a liquid bath and then scraping that portion of the roller with a blade to remove unwanted amounts of liquid and form the thin film before that portion of the roller engages the paper.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 40, including the further step of washing adhered particulate matter from the roller after engagement with the paper, wherein the washing and wetting steps are carried out with a single liquid bath.
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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) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |