Electrophotography – Cleaning of imaging surface – Removing liquid developer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-02-20
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Cleaning of imaging surface
Removing liquid developer
C015S256500, C399S099000, C399S347000, C399S350000, C399S357000, C430S125320
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192214
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer, and more particularly, to a roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer for removing a developer film formed on a roller rotating in contact with a photoreceptor medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a liquid electrophotographic printer develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor medium such as a photoreceptor web with developer of a predetermined color and transfers the developed image to a print paper so that a desired image is printed.
The liquid electrophotographic printer, as shown in
FIG. 1
, includes a developing unit
20
for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor web
10
with developer which is a mixture of powdered toner having a predetermined color, liquid carrier and other additives in a predetermined ratio, a drying unit
30
having a drying roller
31
for drying the developed photoreceptor web
10
and a heating roller
32
, a transfer unit
40
for transferring the image on a surface of the photoreceptor web
10
via a transfer roller
41
and a fixation roller
42
to a print paper S.
The drying roller
31
absorbs the liquid carrier of the developer developed on the surface of the photoreceptor web
10
. However, as the drying roller
31
contacts the photoreceptor web
10
, not only carrier but also a small amount of toner is actually absorbed. Thus, with increased use of the drying roller
31
, a developer contamination film can form on the outer circumferential surface of the drying roller
31
.
Also, the transfer unit
40
transfers a toner image on the photoreceptor web
10
to the transfer roller
41
utilizing the difference in surface energy and then prints the image by transferring the toner image on the transfer roller
41
to a print paper S pressed by the fixation roller
42
. However, in doing so, part of the toner image on the transfer roller
41
may be fixed on the surface of the transfer roller
41
, forming a contaminated film. Also, as the developer is sticky, a paper jam can occur due to the print paper S adhering to the surface of the transfer roller
41
as the print paper S moves through the transfer unit
40
.
Therefore, there is a need for a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the outer circumferential surfaces of the drying roller
31
and the transfer roller
41
where a developer contamination film can be easily formed, as they closely contact the photoreceptor web
10
where a toner image is developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To meet the above needs, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer having an improved structure to clean the outer circumferential surface of a roller such as a transfer roller or drying roller contacting a photoreceptor medium so that a developer contamination film can be removed.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided a roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer for cleaning a circumferential surface of a roller where a film is formed due to contact with a photoreceptor medium. The apparatus comprises an abrasion member installed to be in contact with the roller for abrading the film using friction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4739370 (1988-04-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 5359398 (1994-10-01), Echigo et al.
patent: 5723251 (1998-03-01), Moser
patent: 5965943 (1999-10-01), Mizuta
patent: 5970281 (1999-10-01), Park
patent: 6026271 (2000-02-01), Saitoh
patent: 8-248775 (1996-09-01), None
patent: 29-94367 (1999-10-01), None
Kim Kyung-hwan
Rhee Chang-Soo
Chen Sophia S.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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