Patent US5539498A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5539498A
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US
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Paper receptor material conditioning apparatus and method
Assignee: Xeikon Manufacturing NV
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Filing: 1994-06-08
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Granted: 1996-07-23
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Expires: 2014-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A receptor material conditioning apparatus and method for conditioning a moving paper web suitable for use in an electrostatographic printer. A heated drum reduces the moisture content of paper moving along a paper web path. A cooling box positioned downstream of the heated drum cools the moving receptor material. An electrometer determines the electrical condition of the paper before it leaves the apparatus. By conditioning the paper web, a higher yield of toner transfer in the subsequent electrostatographic printer can be obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 Etienne M. De Cock
- 👤 Lucien A. De Schamphelaere
- 👤 Wim M. V. Smet
- 👤 Eric F. L. Soulliaert
- 👤 Ludo Verluyten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:00
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1695; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00535; G03G2215/00666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus for conditioning a moving paper receptor material suitable for use in an electrostatographic printer, said apparatus comprising: means defining a receptor material path through said apparatus; heating means for reducing the moisture content of said receptor material moving along said receptor material path; cooling means, positioned downstream of said heating means, for cooling said receptor material moving along said receptor material path to provide said receptor material with a predetermined electrical condition; sensing means, positioned downstream of said cooling means, to sense said predetermined electrical condition of said receptor material; and control means for controlling said heating means in response to said predetermined electrical condition of said receptor material sensed by said sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus for conditioning a moving paper receptor material suitable for use in an electrostatographic printer, said apparatus comprising: means defining a receptor material path through said apparatus; heating means for reducing the moisture content of said receptor material moving along said receptor material path; cooling means, positioned downstream of said heating means, for cooling said receptor material moving along said receptor material path to provide said receptor material with a predetermined electrical condition; sensing means, positioned downstream of said cooling means, to sense said predetermined electrical condition of said receptor material; and control means for controlling said heating means in response to said predetermined electrical condition of said receptor material sensed by said sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receptor material is in the form of a web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is enclosed in a heating cabinet having a receptor material entrance, a receptor material exit, means for the entrance of fresh air and exhaust means for expelling moist air produced by heating said receptor material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cooling means comprises a cooling cabinet comprising means for cooling the heated receptor material with dry air to bring its temperature within the range of 15° to 30° C. before leaving said apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is enclosed in a heating cabinet having a receptor material entrance, a receptor material exit, means for the entrance of fresh air, and exhaust means for expelling moist air produced by heating said receptor material; said cooling means comprises a cooling cabinet comprising means for cooling the heated receptor material with dry air to bring its temperature within the range of 15° to 30° C. before leaving said apparatus; and said cooling cabinet is connected to said heating cabinet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises a heated rotatable drum in contact with at least one side of said receptor material as it moves along said receptor material path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises a radiant-heat dryer having at last one radiant-heat source positioned to project infrared radiation onto at least one side of said receptor material as it moves along said receptor material path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said radiant-heat source has a dominant energy output wavelength within the range of from 1.5 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means is positioned for determining the electrical condition of said receptor material before it leaves said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sensing means comprises a corona discharge device positioned adjacent said receptor material path to build up a predetermined electrostatic charge on at least one side of said receptor material and means positioned downstream of said corona discharge device for sensing electrostatic charge retained on said receptor material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensing means comprises a corona discharge device positioned adjacent said receptor material path to build up a predetermined electrostatic charge on at least one side of said receptor material and means positioned downstream of said corona discharge device for sensing decay of electrostatic charge on said receptor material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for sensing the decay of electrostatic charge on said receptor material comprises a plurality of spaced electrometers positioned adjacent said receptor material path and means for comparing output signals from said electrometers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a charge discharging device is positioned downstream of said charge sensing means for discharging the static charge on said receptor material before it leaves said apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A receptor material conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, coupled to an electrostatographic printer for forming an image onto a paper receptor material, which printer comprises: at least one toner image-producing electrostatographic station having rotatable endless surface means onto which a toner image can be formed; means for conveying said receptor material past said stations; and means for transferring said toner image on said rotatable surface means onto said receptor material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for conditioning a moving paper receptor material for use in an electrostatographic printer, said method comprising: moving said receptor material along a receptor material path through a conditioning apparatus; heating said receptor material along said receptor material path to reduce the moisture content thereof; subsequently cooling said receptor material along said receptor material path to provide said receptor material with a predetermined electrical condition; subsequently sensing said predetermined electrical condition of said receptor material; and controlling said heating and cooling of said receptor material in response to said sensed predetermined electrical condition.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for conditioning a moving paper receptor material for use in an electrostatographic printer, said method comprising: moving said receptor material along a receptor material path through a conditioning apparatus; heating said receptor material along said receptor material path to reduce the moisture content thereof; subsequently cooling said receptor material along said receptor material path to provide said receptor material with a predetermined electrical condition; subsequently sensing said predetermined electrical condition of said receptor material; and controlling said heating and cooling of said receptor material in response to said sensed predetermined electrical condition.
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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) | 1999-07-23 | 2000-01-22 | 2000-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-23 | 2004-01-22 | 2004-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-23 | 2008-01-22 | 2008-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |