Abstract: There are provided a method for controlling the mode of a developing station of a liquid electrophotographic printer and a development roller driving apparatus therefor. In the controlling method, a printing mode, a drip line removal mode and a home mode are sequentially performed, and a development roller is subjected to racing in the home mode to be cleaned. Since the development roller is cleaned in the home mode in which the development roller is spaced apart from a photosensitive belt, the photosensitive belt is not contaminated by the development roller while cleaning the development roller. Also, the cleaning of the development roller is performed after completing a drip line removal mode, so sufficient cleaning time can be obtained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus allowing an image carrier included therein to be desirably cleaned is disclosed. A developing device uses a developing liquid consisting of a carrier liquid and toner dispersed therein. A toner image produced by the developing device is transferred to an intermediate image transfer belt. A cleaning roller cleans the surface of the intermediate image transfer belt after the transfer of the toner image to a paper sheet or similar recording medium. A liquid cleaning device feeds a cleaning liquid to the cleaning roller. The developing liquid may be replaced with a dry developer containing at least powdery toner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus for printing an image onto a print medium with use of a liquid developer which contains a liquid carrier and a toner being dispersed in the liquid carrier. The printing apparatus has: an image holding member having an imaging surface on which a latent image corresponding to the image to be printed is generated: a development unit which provides the liquid developer to the imaging surface to form a toner image corresponding to the latent image; a transfer member which transfers the toner image from the imaging surface to the print medium; and a fibrous wipe member having a cleaning face contacting with the imaging surface for wiping a residual toner falling to be transferred from the imaging surface by moving relatively to the imaging surface in a first direction. The fibers on the cleaning face have a directional distribution which is biased to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A pair of cleaning apparatuses for a liquid electrophotographic printer that can completely remove to residual toner from both a photo receptor belt and a transfer roller, respectively. Each cleaning apparatus is supplied with a liquid solvent used to dissolve toner remaining on the transfer roller and the photo receptor belt after a printing operation. Each of the pair of cleaning apparatuses can engage and disengage to and from the photo receptor belt and the transfer roller respectively upon user actuation or entry of a sheet of recording media into the electrophotographic printing apparatus. Each cleaning apparatus contains in rectangular felt material soaked with solvent positioned to mate with the surfaces of the photo receptor belt and the transfer roller.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming device includes a development roller, a squeeze roller, a cleaning roller, a brush roller, and a reservoir, with voltages being applied to these components. A portion of one side of the reservoir is bent in a V-shape to form a protrusion so as to scrape toner particles from the brush roller. Toner particles adhering to the cleaning roller are mostly removed therefrom to sequentially adhere to the brush roller by a potential difference between the cleaning roller and the brush roller, and by opposing rotation of the cleaning roller and the brush roller in contact therewith. Toner particles remaining on the cleaning roller are scraped off by a cleaning blade to also adhere to the brush roller. Toner particles adhering to the brush roller are scraped off by the protrusion of the reservoir and are then dispersed in the liquid developer within the reservoir.

Abstract: 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, in which a total length of the photoreceptor web is 32±0.25 inches. The total length of the photoreceptor web is set to include a plurality of 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 allowance zone, a drip line removing zone provided 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. Thus, the photoreceptor web does not occupy excess installation space in the printer and development, transfer and drip line removing operations are performed smoothly.

Abstract: A wet-type electrophotography apparatus using a non-volatile, high-viscosity, high-concentration liquid toner as a liquid developer and having a photoconductive medium, a prewetting device applying a film of prewetting solution to the surface of the photoconductive medium, a developing roller feeding the liquid developer to the photoconductive medium while making contact with the photoconductive medium, and causing toner particles in the liquid developer to adhere to the photoconductive medium in accordance with a electric field formed between the developing roller and the photoconductive medium, so that a toner image formed on the photoconductive medium is transferred directly to a printing medium, or to a printing media via an intermediate transfer medium to obtain a printed image.

Abstract: A drying unit coupling apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer in which the engagement of a driving gear installed at a main frame, and a driven gear installed at a cam shaft, are prevented from disengaging when an auxiliary frame supporting the cam shaft is coupled to the main frame. The driven gear is engaged with the driving gear when the auxiliary frame and the main frame are coupled. The apparatus includes a main frame where a driving roller supports a circulating photoreceptor medium, a driving gear installed at the main frame, an auxiliary frame which is slidably installed at the main frame, a cam shaft supported at the auxiliary frame, a drying unit, a driven gear installed at the cam shaft, a cam member installed at the cam shaft, and a position fixing mechanism which fixes the position of the cam shaft when the driving gear and the driven gear are engaged, preventing the driving gear and the driven gear from deviating from each other.

Abstract: A transfer roller cleaning mechanism 12 is brought into contact with a transfer roller 11 so as to remove a harmful substance contained in a developer remaining on the transfer roller 11 after a transfer step. Upon completion of printing of a predetermined number of pages, a fixation roller 13 is moved apart from the transfer roller 11 and a developed image for cleaning is formed over the entire printing area on a photosensitive body 1. This developed image is made into a film shape, which is transferred onto the transfer roller 11. The film-shaped developed image for cleaning is cleaned by the transfer roller cleaning mechanism 12.

Abstract: A toner image dryer is constituted to include a drying belt 11 having a functional material coated on a film surface of a base material, a pressure-contact roller rotated following rotation of an opposing drive roller for rotating and moving a drive belt having a photosensitive body on a surface of the belt by friction torque, with the drying belt 11 and the drive belt interposed between the pressure-contact roller and the opposing drive roller, a heat roller for heating the drying belt and a TS roller for applying predetermined tension to the drying belt, and to rotate and move the drying belt to thereby heat the belt to a predetermined temperature by the heat roller and to allow the drying belt to absorb and vaporize solvent from the photosensitive body closely attached between the opposing drive roller and the pressure-contact roller.

Abstract: A method of cleaning ink remaining on a photoreceptor web when an error occurs in a printer including a development unit for supplying ink to a rotating photoreceptor web to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor web, a transfer roller for transferring a toner image formed on the photoreceptor web to a sheet of paper, and a cleaning roller installed to clean the transfer roller. When an error occurs, a printing operation is stopped so that the printing cannot be performed. Next, the ink adhering to the photoreceptor web is transferred to the transfer roller by rotating the photoreceptor web a predetermined number of times in a state in which the cleaning roller is separated from the transfer roller and the transfer roller contacts the, photoreceptor web. Then, the ink transferred to the transfer roller is removed in a state in which the cleaning roller contacts the transfer roller. Thus, the time required to remove the polluted ink remaining on the photoreceptor web can be reduced.

Abstract: A roller cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer cleans a circumferential surface of a roller where a film is formed due to contact with a photoreceptor medium. The apparatus includes an abrasion member installed to be in contact with the roller for abrading the film using friction. Thus, contamination of the roller can be prevented.

Abstract: A developing roller cleaning apparatus for a liquid printer includes a cleaning brush rotating in contact with a developing roller so that developer adhering to an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller can be cleaned, a blade holder, and a blade installed to be bent as the blade contacts the developing roller for removing foreign material back-plated on the developing roller after being cleaned by the cleaning brush, one end of the blade being coupled to the blade holder and the other end thereof contacting the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller. The blade has a blade interference &dgr;=(R−r), a blade leading edge pressure P, and a cleaning angle &thgr;2 satisfying the below conditions of 1.0 mm≲&dgr;≲1.5 mm, 10 g/cm≲P≲20 g/cm, and 5°≲&thgr;2≲20°.

Abstract: A developer removing apparatus is provided of a liquid printer for removing a developer remaining between a photoreceptor belt and a squeeze roller. The apparatus includes a suction nozzle having a suction portion formed in an axial direction of the squeeze roller to suck the developer and an exhaust portion for exhausting the developer sucked by the suction portion. The apparatus further includes a suction pump providing a suction force to the suction nozzle so that the suction portion can suck the developer and exhaust the developer from the exhaust portion.

Abstract: A squeeze roller elevating apparatus for a liquid electrophotographic printer in which a squeeze roller selectively presses a photoreceptor belt, the photoreceptor belt being supported by a belt, the apparatus including a squeeze frame fixed to the belt frame to support the squeeze roller, the squeeze roller being capable of elevating, and an elevating mechanism for elevating the squeeze roller. The elevating mechanism includes a driving motor, a winch drum being rotated by the driving motor, a mobile pulley rotatably installed at one end portion of a rotation shaft of the squeeze roller, and a wire having one end thereof fixed to the squeeze frame and the other end thereof wound about the winch drum, to support the mobile pulley, wherein, when the winch drum is rotated by the driving motor, the wire is wound or released so that the mobile pulley and the squeeze roller ascend or descend, respectively.

Abstract: An electrophotographic system includes a photoreceptor belt for carrying a toner image including solvent, a solvent absorbing roller for absorbing the solvent from the toner image, a solvent evaporation roller for receiving the solvent from the solvent absorbing roller and evaporating the solvent therefrom, a cleaning roller for cleaning the solvent absorbing roller, and a cleaning roller for removing the toner on the cleaning roller. The electrophotographic system effectively removes the toner from the solvent evaporation roller without damage of thereof.

Abstract: In an apparatus for filtering a solvent of a liquid electrophotographic printer, an exhaust fan exhausts air inside a main body of the printer to the outside thereof. A platinum catalyst filter is installed on a flow route of air exhausted by the exhaust fan and filters solvent included in the exhausted air. A heater selectively heats the platinum catalyst filter, and the solvent collected by the filter is decomposed. Thus, the filter can be reused and generation of waste can be prevented.

Abstract: A wet-type image forming apparatus providing a uniform pressure applied to a photoconductor belt is disclosed. A squeezing roller is provided in the development side of the photoconductor belt and a backup roller in provided in the non-development side of the photoconductor belt. The photoconductor belt is held by the squeezing and backup rollers under a predetermined pressure during development. The squeezing roller is moved toward or away from the photoconductor belt and the longitudinal axis of the backup roller is titled to a predetermined angel with respect to that of the squeezing roller about an longitudinal middle point thereof during the development.

Abstract: A developing device, of a wet type printer, provided with a reservoir for holding developer liquid. A developing roller is installed at an upper region of the reservoir, and contacts a photosensitive belt. A cleaning device for cleaning the developing roller, is in contact with the developing roller. An auxiliary reservoir is installed below the developing roller, and within the reservoir, to hold a predetermined amount of the developer liquid in which the lower portion of the developing roller is immersed to a predetermined depth. The cleaning device is installed within the auxiliary reservoir to be immersed in the developer liquid and is provided with a rotating shaft and a brush installed around the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft. The developing roller is effectively cleaned, by the cleaning device, and particles adhering to the developing roller are easily removed. The removed particles are then recovered and used again in subsequent printing operations.

Abstract: The invention provides a belt type photosensitive member cleaning apparatus for a wet type image forming apparatus which can effectively remove liquid developer pressed out by a pair of pressing out rollers for removing remaining liquid developer from a belt like photosensitive member after developed to prevent such liquid developer from flowing out and soiling to a window for a sensor or the photosensitive member. Each of the pressing out rollers provided in a stage next to a first pressing out roller has grooves formed at the opposite end portions thereof such that liquid developer which tends to be pressed out from the opposite ends of each of the second pressing out rollers is collected in the grooves.

Abstract: A developing device develops a latent image formed on a latent image carrier by supplying a developer to the latent image carrier. The developer comprises a carrier liquid and a toner dispersed in the carrier liquid. A gelling agent adding device adds a gelling agent to the developer remaining in the developing device so as to gel the developer.

Abstract: A system for removing residual contaminants from an image conditioning apparatus that removes excess liquid from a developed image made up of toner particles immersed in a liquid carrier medium on an image bearing member. The system includes a vacuum blotting device that contacts the liquid developed image and absorbs a portion of the liquid carrier and residual contaminants remain thereon. A contact member adapted to be shifted from a non-operative position spaced from the vacuum blotting device, to an operative position in contact with the vacuum blotting device operates to transfer the contaminants therefrom. A scraper removes the transferred contaminants from the contact member. The contact member is pivotally mounted about the pivot point to effect shifting of the contact member between the non-operative and the operative position.

Abstract: A photoreceptor belt cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer includes a photoreceptor belt circulating and supported by a plurality of rollers, a housing installed to be adjacent to the photoreceptor belt, a brush supported on the housing to be brought into contact with the photosensitive surface of the photoreceptor belt, a cleaning blade installed on the downstream side of the brush in a traveling direction of the photoreceptor belt so that its leading edge contacts the photoreceptor belt, a nozzle installed in the housing so that a suction inlet is disposed around the leading edge of the cleaning blade, and a pump connected to the nozzle so as to provide vacuum suction through the suction inlet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provides excellent images free from fogging or the like, even when highly viscous ink is used to form high-quality images, by using a simple cleaning unit capable of satisfactorily removing residual ink from a surface of an image bearing element after image transfer. The image forming apparatus of the invention further provides a viscosity reducing unit for reducing the viscosity of the ink remaining on the surface of the image bearing element after image transfer.

Abstract: A photoreceptor belt cleaning apparatus of a liquid electrophotographic printer for removing a residual developer liquid and foreign matter remaining on a photoreceptor belt used as a photoreceptor medium. The apparatus includes a housing elevatably installed by a reciprocating means provided in a printer body for moving the housing towards or away from the photoreceptor belt, and a traveling cleaning belt supported by a plurality of rollers rotatably installed in the housing. While the cleaning belt travels selectively in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor belt, the surface of the photoreceptor belt can be cleaned.

Abstract: A system for removing excess carrier liquid from an electrostatic image developed with liquid developing material made up of toner particles immersed in a liquid carrier medium on an image bearing member. The system includes an absorbent contact roller for absorbing at least a portion of the liquid carrier off of the liquid image, and vacuum source coupled to the contact roller for generating both negative pressure at the surface of the roller to draw the absorbed liquid through the contact roller, and positive air pressure for pushing contaminated liquid out of the roller.

Abstract: An image forming substance removing apparatus for removing an image forming substance from an image holding member has a separating device for separating the image forming substance from the image holding member by separating a separating member having adhesive force stronger than adhesive force between the image holding member and the image forming substance attached onto this image holding member from the image forming substance on the image holding member after this separating member comes in contact with the image forming substance on the image holding member; and a cleaner for cleaning the separating member by removing the image forming substance attached onto the separating member therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve toner drying on electrostatic printing media is disclosed. A drying apparatus placed between two print stations in a single pass electrostatic printer provides air from two different drying assemblies, one adjacent to one print station and a second adjacent to a second print station.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing back-plated developer from a development device includes a shaft, cleaning media mounted about the outer surface of the shaft, means for loading the cleaning media against the development device, and means for rotating the shaft and the cleaning media, wherein the cleaning media removes back-plated developer from the development device. The cleaning media may include a fiber material having a plurality of flow paths. A fluid flow means can be provided to deliver a cleaning liquid to the cleaning media to flush at least a portion of the removed back-plated developer from the cleaning media.

Abstract: A system for removing excess carrier liquid from an electrostatic image developed with liquid developing material made up of toner particles immersed in a liquid carrier medium on an image bearing member. The system includes an absorbent contact roller for absorbing at least a portion of the liquid carrier off of the liquid image, a vacuum source coupled to the contact roller for generating negative pressure at the surface of the roller to draw the absorbed liquid through the contact roller, and a nonpermeable vacuum sealing membrane member partially surrounding the contact member in an area not adjacent to the image bearing surface for reducing the surface area of the contact roller which is exposed to the ambient atmosphere to create a vacuum sealing arrangement adapted to deliver negative pressure airflow to a selected area adjacent the image bearing surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering and sensing a developer fluid in a printing or copying machine for processing purposes. In order to insure that developer fluid reclaimed from a developing process is free from contamination, a filter/sensor system is provided in the reclaimed fluid path. The reclaimed fluid passes through the filter and then the sensor senses the amount of toner remaining in the fluid. If the toner contamination level is too high, the fluid is recirculated to the filter where it is re-filtered. This process is repeated until the reclaimed fluid is free of contaminants. The filter/sensor system can also indicate process failure in the developing system. Cleaning a developer housing is yet another use for the recirculating sensor/filter process. In this mode the developer fluid in the toner sump is circulated through the sensor/filter until all of toner has been removed from the fluid.