Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-11-06
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S159000, C399S162000, C399S348000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314259
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 an application entitled A Photoreceptor Belt for Liquid Electrophotographic Printer earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Oct. 27, 1999, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 99-46899 by that Office.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid electrophotographic printer and, more particularly, to a photoreceptor web for a liquid electrophotographic printer that is a medium on which an image is developed and the developed image is printed on a sheet of paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic printer makes a photographic recording of an image formed by the alteration in electrical properties of the sensitive materials, induced by the action of light. An example of a typical electrophotographic printer is a color laser printer. The color laser printer uses a laser beam to reproduce images or text on a photosensitive medium such as a photosensitive belt to which toner is applied. Where the light strikes the photosensitive belt, it will hold developer for transfer to a sheet of paper.
A color laser printer will include a photoreceptor web, a development unit, and a transfer unit. A laser scanner unit forms an electrostatic latent image by scanning a laser beam onto the photoreceptor web. Multiple rollers circulates the photoreceptor web, while a development unit develops the image to be printed on a transfer surface of the photoreceptor web. The developed image on the photoreceptor web is transferred to the paper when it passes the transfer unit.
In the development and transfer process, the photoreceptor web has an image zone where an image is developed and an interval zone between one image zone and the next image zone. The photoreceptor web has some excess developer that is commonly called a drip line. The drip line is periodically wiped off to allow for a clear print on paper.
Therefore, in manufacturing a photoreceptor web, factors such as the image zone, the interval zone, and the area for a drip line removing operation should be taken into consideration. For example, a lengthy photoreceptor web increases the cost and takes more space in the printer. Hence, a photoreceptor web having an optimized length, which does not need a large installation space in the printer and also guarantees that all the above operations are performed smoothly, is needed.
Exemplars of the art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,377 for Single Pass, In-line Color Electrophotographic Printer with Interspersed Erase Device issued to Loewen, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,397 for Photoreceptor Web Steering Apparatus for Printer issued to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,813 for Composite Backup Roller Assembly issued to Cherian, U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,083 for Electrostatic Printer Drum Improvements issued to Beisty, et al. disclose liquid electrophotographic color printers. I have found that the background art does not teach an optimized length of the photoreceptor web.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a photoreceptor web for a liquid electrophotographic printer having an optimized length that does not require a large installation space in the printer and enables smooth performance of development, transfer, and drip line removing operations.
It is another object to reduce the cost of manufacturing of an electrophotographic printerby modifying the photoreceptor web.
It is yet another object to have a more efficient printing process on an electrophotographic printer.
It is a further object to have an electrophotographic printer such as a color laser printer that optimizes the size and efficiency of a photoreceptor web by adjusting the image zone, the interval zone, and the area for a drip line removal operation.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objectives, there is provided a photoreceptor web for a liquid electrophotographic printer on which a predetermined image is developed at a development unit and the developed image is transferred to a transfer unit to be printed on a sheet of paper, where a total length of the photoreceptor web is 32±0.25 inches.
The total length of the photoreceptor web is set to include multiple image zones in which an image to be printed on a sheet of paper is developed, an interval zone provided between the image zones as an allowance zone, a drip line removing zone provide to avoid frictional contact with a squeegee roller of the development unit when the drip line is removed, a seam portion formed by combining both end portions of the photoreceptor web for forming a closed path, and a mark zone where a mark for detecting the seam portion is provided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4400083 (1983-08-01), Beisty et al.
patent: 4636787 (1987-01-01), Kishi
patent: 5229813 (1993-07-01), Cherian
patent: 5557377 (1996-09-01), Loewen et al.
patent: 5966573 (1999-10-01), Yu et al.
patent: 6055397 (2000-04-01), Lee
patent: 6085054 (2000-07-01), Kusayanagi
Chang Kee-son
Kwak Jin-geun
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Chen Sophia S.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Tran Hoan
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