Patent US4974541A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4974541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming apparatus utilizing wet type development
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1989-10-24
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Granted: 1990-12-04
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Expires: 2009-10-24
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus for coating a recording medium having a latent image thereon with toners and other materials for latent image development, including: a reservoir for separately preserving a first solution including the toners and a second solution including the other materials when the apparatus is not used, and a spray head for mixing the first and second solutions to form a wet toner solution and spraying the wet toner solution of the recording medium to thereby develop the latent image when the apparatus is used.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Miyabayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:33
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/104; G03G15/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
An image forming apparatus for coating a recording medium having an electrostatic latent image thereon with toners and other components for latent image development to thereby develop the latent image, comprising: a reservoir for separately preserving a first solution including the toners and a second solution including the other components; and a developing unit means for mixing the first and second solutions to form a wet toner solution and spraying the wet toner solution on the recording medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
An image forming apparatus for coating a recording medium having an electrostatic latent image thereon with toners and other components for latent image development to thereby develop the latent image, comprising: a reservoir for separately preserving a first solution including the toners and a second solution including the other components; and a developing unit means for mixing the first and second solutions to form a wet toner solution and spraying the wet toner solution on the recording medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first solution further includes one of hardener and vehicle and the second solution includes the other of hardener and vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said reservoir includes two membranes for partitioning the inner space of said reservoir into first to third chambers, the first and second solutions being separartely preserved in said first and third chambers respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a withdrawing unit for withdrawing a surplus wet toner solution on the recording medium and returning the surplus wet toner solution to said second chamber of said reservoir, the toners and the one of hardener and vehicle in the withdrawn surplus wet toner solution being passed through one of said membranes to said first chamber and the other of hardener and vehicle being passed through the other of said membranes to said third chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said membranes comprise ion-exchange membranes for passing positive ions therethrough when negatively polarized and passing negative ions therethrough when positively polarized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the toners and the one of hardener and vehicle are charged at the same polarity and the other of hardener and vehicle is charged at the opposite polarity, and wherein said ion-exchange membranes are kept at predetermined potentials having the opposite polarity to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second solution includes a solvent having low affinity to the recording medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the solvent is lipophilic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first solution includes a hydrophilic solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a withdrawing unit for withdrawing a surplus wet toner solution on the recording medium and returning the surplus wet toner solution to said reservoir, the first and second solutions in the surplus wet toner solution being naturally separated into two phases and preserved in said reservoir.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3084063A
Cited
US3377938A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-03 | 1994-06-04 | 1994-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-03 | 1998-06-04 | 1998-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-03 | 2002-06-04 | 2002-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |