Electrophotography – Control of electrophotography process – Control of developing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2001-04-17
Pendegrass, Joan (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Control of electrophotography process
Control of developing
C399S249000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219500
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my application DEVELOPER LIQUID SQUEEGEE APPARATUS FOR LIQUID ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTER filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Feb. 6, 1999 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 4096/1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid electrophotographic printer and, more particularly, to a developer liquid squeegee apparatus for removing excess developer liquid sticking to and wrapped around the recording surface of a photosensitive medium.
2. Related Art
A liquid electrophotographic printer develops a latent electrostatic image formed on a photosensitive medium using a developer liquid and prints a desired image.
In such a printer, a development region having substantially the same width as that of a development roller of the printer is formed on a photoreceptor belt. Developer liquid sticking to the development region is compressed by a squeegee roller, and only the developer liquid required for development of the latent electrostatic image remains thereon, with excess developer liquid being removed.
However, a problem arises in that the excess developer liquid tends to be pushed outside the development region of the photoreceptor belt by a wrap-around phenomenon in which the excess developer liquid moves to both edges of the squeegee roller along a gap between the squeegee roller and the photoreceptor belt. In that case, an air nozzle can be used to spray air toward the wrap-around developer liquid, thereby preventing the wrap-around developer liquid from flowing outside the development region of the photoreceptor belt.
However, a further problem arises in that, if the air is not properly sprayed or the air spraying force is weak due to clogging of the air nozzle or malfunction of a pump associated therewith, the wrap-around developer liquid flows toward both edges of the development region of the photoreceptor belt. Thus, the wrap-around developer liquid results in developer liquid contamination and degrading of print quality in the printed image. In particular, in the case of a color printer, discoloration of the printed image may occur due to mingling of differently colored inks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a developer liquid squeegee apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer having enhanced print quality by additionally providing an arrangement for cleaning developer liquid wrap-around outside the development region of a photoreceptor belt.
In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a developer liquid squeegee apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer comprising a first squeegee roller for squeegeeing developer liquid supplied to a development region of a photoreceptor belt and removing excess developer liquid, a pair of air nozzles for spraying air toward both edges of the first squeegee roller to prevent the wrap-around developer liquid from being induced thereto, a heating roller for drying the developer liquid on an image developed on the development region of the photoreceptor belt; and a wrap-around developer liquid removing arrangement provided between the first squeegee roller and the heating roller.
According to the present invention, the wrap-around developer liquid removing arrangement includes a detector provided directly under both edges of the development region of the. photoreceptor belt for detecting the presence of the wrap-around developer liquid sticking to both edges of the development region of the photoreceptor belt, a second squeegee roller for removing the wrap-around developer liquid sticking to both edges of the development region of the photoreceptor belt while selectively contacting the photoreceptor belt and rotating according to a signal transmitted from an optical sensor module and indicative of the detection result, and a driving unit for driving the second squeegee roller to selectively contact the photoreceptor belt.
In addition, a ring-shaped cleaning member which is brought into contact with both edges of the development region of the photoreceptor belt to remove the developer liquid thereon may be provided at both ends of the second squeegee roller.
Preferably, the driving unit includes a frame having one end rotated by the driving of the actuator and which rotatably supports both ends of the second squeegee roller, and a controller for driving the actuator according to the signal transmitted from the detector, the second squeegee roller selectively contacting the photoreceptor belt or the heating roller according to the signal transmitted from the detector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5481342 (1996-01-01), Arcaro et al.
patent: 5576815 (1996-11-01), Tecshendorf et al.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Pendegrass Joan
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
LandOfFree
Developer liquid squeegee apparatus for liquid... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Developer liquid squeegee apparatus for liquid..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Developer liquid squeegee apparatus for liquid... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2483286