Patent US5540815A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5540815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of recycling an image carrying medium and an image separating member therefor
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-12-09
•
Granted: 1996-07-30
•
Expires: 2014-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of recycling a copy sheet carrying a hydrophobic image thereon by impregnating the sheet with a water-containing separating liquid, causing the to image contact an image separating member, and heating the sheet for thereby transferring the image to the image separating member. The image separating member has a critical surface tension of 25 mN/m or above.
Inventors
- 👤 Masato Igarashi
- 👤 Toshiyuki Kawanishi
- 👤 Eiichi Kawamura
- 👤 Narihito Kojima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:14
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M7/00; B41M7/0009; D; D21; D21C; D21C5/00; D21C5/02; D21C5/025; G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G7/00; G03G8/00; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of recycling an image carrying medium carrying a hydrophobic image thereon comprising the steps of impregnating said image carrying medium with a water-containing separating liquid, causing said hydrophobic image to contact an image separating member, and heating said image carrying medium to transfer said hydrophobic image to said image separating member, wherein said image separating member has a critical surface tension of 25 mN/m or above and a thermal deformation temperature of 80° C. or above.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of recycling an image carrying medium carrying a hydrophobic image thereon comprising the steps of impregnating said image carrying medium with a water-containing separating liquid, causing said hydrophobic image to contact an image separating member, and heating said image carrying medium to transfer said hydrophobic image to said image separating member, wherein said image separating member has a critical surface tension of 25 mN/m or above and a thermal deformation temperature of 80° C. or above.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member has a surface formed of an organic polymer having a critical surface tension of 25 mN/m or above.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, epoxy resin, and polycarbonate resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member has on a surface thereof a hard layer of carbon or of a composition whose major component is carbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member comprises a belt or a drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member has a thermal deformation temperature of 90° C. or above.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member contains titanium oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member contains silicon oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member is made of metal or a metal-containing compound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image separating member is made of silicon dioxide and polyethylene terephthalate, titanium dioxide and polyethylene terephthalate, nickel, aluminum, polyethylene terephthalate or aluminum vaporized on polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic image comprises thermo-softening ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic image comprises toner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said separating liquid is water, ethanol, or a mixture thereof, optionally containing a surface active agent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |