Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-01-23
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178304
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method for use with an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method in which a latent image is created on a photosensitive medium, the latent image is developed by application to the photosensitive medium, of an ink comprised of a toner dispersed in a liquid solvent, the solvent is removed to solidify the ink, and the developed image is then transferred to The image recording medium such as paper and fixed to provide a permanent image.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in one known type of apparatus, a latent image is created by scanning a photoconductive medium such as a belt or drum with a laser beam or the like modulated in accordance with image data. The latent image is developed using a liquid ink of the type described above. The ink is then dried by removing the solvent, and the developed image is transferred to The image receiving medium such as paper. This is often done with an intermediate transfer medium such as a transfer roller using heat and pressure. The transfer medium may be formed of a material selected to have a greater affinity for the dried toner particles than the photoconductive medium, but a lower affinity for the toner particles than the image receiving medium.
One way the solvent is often removed is first to squeeze as much as possible off the surface of the photoconductive medium with a roller, and then to remove the residue using a drying unit constructed with an absorbing roller for absorbing the solvent and a drying roller for evaporating the solvent absorbed by the absorbing roller by heat.
However, the drying unit used in the conventional image forming apparatus is constructed of a large number of parts and is quite costly.
Furthermore, since the absorbing roller is directly contacted with the drying roller, the ink may deposit on the drying roller to degrade performance of the absorbing roller and the drying roller.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, measures, such as providing a cleaning mechanism for the roller, have been considered. However, such measure increase the number of parts and the cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is worked out in view of the problems set forth above. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method in the image forming apparatus which can efficiently perform solidification of an ink on a photosensitive belt developed and transferred to an image transfer process with simple construction.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus comprises:
a photosensitive belt, on which a latent image is formed;
a developing roller for developing the latent image on the photosensitive belt with an ink prepared by dispersing toner particle in a predetermined solvent;
a transfer roller placed in contact with the photosensitive belt and having a heater therewithin, the transfer roller transferring an ink of a developed image on the photosensitive belt on to a paper;
a fuser roller placed in contact with the transfer roller and having a heater therewithin, the fuser roller being cooperated with the transfer roller for feeding the paper therebetween; and
hot air blowing means located between a developing position where the developing roller is provided and a transfer portion where the transfer roller is provided, for blowing a hot air onto the ink forming the developed image.
By blowing hot air by the hot air blowing means, the solvent in the ink is evaporated for solidification of the ink. Accordingly, by simply means, such as that blowing hot air, ink can be dried. Also, since the ink can be dried without contacting to the photosensitive belt, problem of causing stain due to deposition of the ink and disturbance of the image can be avoided to achieve steady image.
In order to avoid adverse influence for the photosensitive belt by the pressure and head of the hot air of the hot air blowing means, the hot air blowing means may blow hot air onto the photosensitive belt guided by a guide roller at a location between the developing position where the developing roller is provided and the transfer portion where the transfer roller is provided.
By providing a heat source located in the vicinity of the photosensitive belt running from the developing position where the developing roller is provided to the transfer portion where the transfer roller is provided, hot air can be blown onto the photosensitive belt efficiently. On the other hand, by providing a blower for blowing the hot air generated by the heat source toward the photosensitive belt, hot air can be certainly blown onto the photosensitive belt.
By using waste heat of the transfer roller and/or the fuser roller as a heat source of the hot air blowing means, power consumption of the overall apparatus can be reduced. Also, by providing the blower for blowing the hot air generated by the heat source toward the photosensitive belt, waste heat can be efficiently blown onto the photosensitive belt.
It is also possible to provide a blower duct between the transfer roller or the fuser roller and a position opposing to the photosensitive belt between the developing roller and the transfer roller, and the blower is provided within the blower duct for certainly draw waste heat of the transfer roller and/or the fuser roller to toward the photosensitive belt.
Furthermore, by using a hot air generated by a control portion controlling operation of the image forming apparatus as a heat source of the hot air blowing means, heat to be generated in the apparatus can be used further effectively.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus comprises:
a photosensitive belt serving as a photo conductor forming a latent image thereon;
a developing roller for developing the latent image on the photosensitive belt with an ink prepared by dispersing toner particle in a predetermined solvent;
a transfer roller placed in contact with the photosensitive belt and having a heater therewithin, the transfer roller transferring an ink of a developed image on the photosensitive belt on to a paper;
a fuser roller placed in contact with the transfer roller and having a heater therewithin, the fuser roller being cooperated with the transfer roller for feeding the paper therebetween; and
hot air blowing means located between a developing position where the developing roller is provided and a transfer portion where the transfer roller is provided, for blowing a hot air onto the ink forming the developed image.
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Beatty Robert
NEC Corporation
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
LandOfFree
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