EP0288175A1 - Système de nettoyage - Google Patents

Système de nettoyage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0288175A1
EP0288175A1 EP88302974A EP88302974A EP0288175A1 EP 0288175 A1 EP0288175 A1 EP 0288175A1 EP 88302974 A EP88302974 A EP 88302974A EP 88302974 A EP88302974 A EP 88302974A EP 0288175 A1 EP0288175 A1 EP 0288175A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toner
porous
residual toner
belt
cleaning
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88302974A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Nero R. Lindblad
Henry R. Till
Charles A. Radulski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
Original Assignee
Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
Publication of EP0288175A1 publication Critical patent/EP0288175A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/0088—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge removing liquid developer

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to an electrophotographic printing machine, and more particularly concerns an apparatus for removing residual toner from a photoconductive member.
  • the process of electrophotographic printing includes charging a photoconductive member to a substantially uniform potential to sensitize the surface thereof.
  • the charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced.
  • the latent image is developed by bringing a liquid developer material into contact therewith.
  • the liquid developer material comprises a liquid carrier having pigmented toner particles dispersed therein.
  • the toner particles are deposited, in image configuration, on the photoconductive member.
  • the developed image is transferred to the copy sheet. After transfer, heat is applied to the copy sheet to fuse the pigmented particles permanently to the copy sheet and vaporize the residual liquid carrier adhering thereto.
  • US-A-4 016 812 discloses an apparatus for cleaning ink from the rolls of a printing machine.
  • An endless web cleaning member is soaked in an ink solvent and engages the rolls that are to be cleaned. Ink is transferred from the rolls onto the cleaning web.
  • a wiper assembly is further provided for cleaning the ink from the web.
  • US-A-4 279 501 describes an apparatus for cleaning toner from a photosensitive surface.
  • a foamed polyurethane rubber roll and a scraping blade are employed in combination with a cleaning liquid to effect cleaning.
  • the roller and blade are removable from their cleaning position with the photosensitive member to an inoperative position when the apparatus is not in operation.
  • US-A-4 344 361 teaches a device for cleaning debris from a blanket cylinder of an offset lithographic printing press.
  • a cleaning cloth with supply and take-up rolls, is provided in combination with a bladder member which is expanded by air under pressure. The expanded bladder member forces the cleaning cloth into engagement with the blanket cylinder in order to loosen the debris.
  • a plurality of solvent dispensing tubes are used to provide a solvent to the cleaning cloth to aid in the cleaning process.
  • US-A-4 530 595 discloses a method and apparatus for cleaning toner from the surface of an electrostatic imaging member.
  • a web-like film device comprises an outer electrically insulating side and an inner electrically conductive side.
  • a voltage is impressed between the film member and the imaging surface.
  • toner is removed from the imaging surface to the insulating side of the film member. Thereafter, toner is removed from the film member.
  • US-A-4 639 124 describes a cleaning apparatus for a multicolor electrophotographic printing machine.
  • the cleaning system uses magnetically and electrically biased rolls to clean a photoconductive belt. Toner particles of a desired color may be recovered during the cleaning process for subsequent recycling and reuse in the printing machine.
  • an apparatus for removing residual toner from a member after the transfer of a developed liquid image from the member to a copy sheet includes porous means for disturbing the residual toner and detaching the residual toner from the member. Means, cooperating with the porous means, attract the detached toner to the porous means.
  • an electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a photoconductive member with residual toner adhering thereto after the transfer of a developed liquid image to the copy sheet, and a cleaning apparatus for removing the residual toner from the photoconductive member.
  • the cleaning apparatus includes porous means for disturbing the residual toner and detaching the residual toner from the photoconductive member. Means, cooperating with the porous means, attract the detached toner to the porous means.
  • the electrophotographic printing machine employs a belt 10 having a photoconductive surface deposited on a conductive substrate.
  • the photoconductive surface is made from a selenium alloy, with the conductive substrate being made from an electrically grounded aluminum alloy.
  • Other suitable photoconductive surfaces and conductive substrates may also be employed.
  • Belt 10 moves in the direction of arrow 12 to advance successive portions of the photoconductive surface through the various processing stations disposed about the path of movement thereof.
  • Belt 10 is supported by three rollers 14, 16, and 18 located with parallel axes at approximately the apexes of a triangle.
  • Roller 14 is rotatably driven by a suitable motor associated with a drive (not shown) to move belt 10 in the direction of arrow 12.
  • a corona-generating device indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, charges the photoconductive surface of belt 10 to a relatively high, substantially uniform potential.
  • the charged portion of the photoconductive surface is advanced through exposure station B.
  • an original document 22 is positioned face down upon a transparent platen 24. Lamps flash light rays onto original document 22. The light rays reflected from original document 22 are transmitted through a lens forming a light image thereof. The lens focuses the light image onto the charged portion of the photoconductive surface to dissipate the charge thereon selectively.
  • This records an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document.
  • belt 10 advances the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface to development station C.
  • a developing liquid comprising an insulating carrier liquid and toner particles, is circulated from any suitable source (not shown) through pipe 26 into development tray 28 from which it is withdrawn through pipe 30 for recirculation.
  • Development electrode 32 which may be appropriately electrically biased, assists in developing the electrostatic latent image with the toner particles, i.e. the pigmented particles dispersed in the liquid carrier, as it passes in contact with the developing liquid.
  • the charged toner particles, disseminated throughout the carrier liquid pass by electrophoresis to the electrostatic latent image.
  • the charge of the toner particles is opposite in polarity to the charge on the photoconductive surface.
  • the photoconductive surface is made from a selenium alloy, the photoconductive surface will be positively charged and the toner particles will be negatively charged.
  • the photoconductive surface is made from a cadmium sulfide material, the photoconductive surface will be negatively charged and the toner particles will be positively charged.
  • the amount of liquid carrier on the photoconductive surface is too great.
  • a roller (not shown) whose surface moves in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the photoconductive surface, is spaced from the photoconductive surface and adapted to shear excessive liquid from the developed image without disturbing the image.
  • belt 10 advances the developed image to transfer station D.
  • a sheet of support material 34 i.e. a copy sheet
  • the sheet of support material advances in synchronism with the movement of the developed image on belt 10 so as to arrive simultaneously therewith at transfer station D.
  • Transfer station D includes a corona-generating device 40 which sprays ions onto the back of the copy sheet. This attracts the developed image from the photoconductive surface to the copy sheet.
  • the copy sheet continues to move onto conveyor 42 which advances the sheet to fusing station E.
  • Fusing station E includes a fusing system indicated generally by the reference numeral 44.
  • the fuser assembly vaporizes the liquid carrier from the copy sheet and permanently fuses the toner particles, in image configuration, thereto. After fusing, the copy sheet is advanced to catch tray 46 for subsequent removal from the printing machine by the operator.
  • Cleaning station F includes a cleaning apparatus, indicated generally by the reference numeral 48, which removes residual toner adhering to the photoconductive surface of belt 10.
  • cleaning apparatus 48 disturbs the residual toner and detaches the residual toner from the photoconductive surface of belt 10. The detailed structure of the various embodiments of cleaning apparatus 48 are described hereinafter with reference to Figures 2 through 5, inclusive. Any residual charge left on the photoconductive surface is extinguished by flooding the photoconductive surface with light from lamp 50.
  • the developer material includes a liquid insulating carrier having pigmented particles, i.e. toner particles dispersed therein
  • a suitable insulating liquid carrier may be made from aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as an Isopar, which is a trademark of the Exxon Corporation, having a low boiling point.
  • the toner particles include a pigment, such as carbon black, associated with the polymer.
  • a suitable liquid developer material is described in US-A-4,582,774.
  • cleaning apparatus 48 includes a roller 52 mounted rotatably, by suitable mean, such as ball bearings, on a shaft 54.
  • a cylindrical, metal screen 56 is mounted interiorly of roller 52.
  • Roller 52 rotates in the direction of arrow 58.
  • a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the interior of screen 56 interior of roller 52.
  • Roller 52 is made from a porous material.
  • a pump (not shown) is coupled to pipe 60 to pump a cleaning fluid through pipe 60, in the direction of arrow 62, onto the photoconductive surface of belt 10 before roller 52.
  • roller 52 is made from a microporous polyurethane material, e.g. a foam material.
  • roller 52 In operation, as roller 52 rotates in the direction of arrow 58, the tangential velocity vector at the point of contact with the photoconductive surface of belt 10 is in an opposite direction to the direction of the velocity of belt 10.
  • roller 52 disturbs and detaches the toner from the photoconductive surface of belt 10.
  • the sub-atmospheric pressure maintained in the interior of screen 56 pulls the cleaning fluid and toner into the core of roller 52.
  • the cleaning fluid is pumped from the cleaning apparatus to a liquid management station.
  • Roller 52 is self sealing because of the vacuum, i.e. suction, applied to the foam.
  • the cleaning fluid applied on to the photoconductive surface of belt 10 is the liquid carrier employed in the developer material.
  • cleaning apparatus 48 includes a porous roller 64 mounted rotatably by suitable means, such as ball bearings, on shaft 66.
  • Roller 64 is made from a thin, microporous polyurethane sleeve 68 mounted on a cylindrical, metal screen 70.
  • a vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the interior of screen 70. The vacuum, i.e. suction, at the interior of screen 70, pulls the residual toner into sleeve 68.
  • cleaning fluid is introduced through pipe 72 for lubrication and to enhance cleaning.
  • the cleaning fluid is the liquid carrier used in the developer material.
  • Screen 70 is electrically biased to a suitable voltage and magnitude to attract the dislodged residual toner to sleeve 68. It may not be necessary to utilize a vacuum interior of screen 70 when screen 70 is electrically biased to a suitable magnitude and polarity. In a cleaning apparatus of this type, sleeve 68 is continuously cleaned and it may be used to clean different color toner particles from the photoconductive surface of belt 10.
  • Cleaning apparatus 48 includes a roller 78 similar to roller 64 of Figure 3, being made from a sleeve of resilient, porous material fitting over a core of electrically conductive material.
  • Roller 78 is mounted rotatably on shaft 80 by suitable means, such as ball bearings.
  • suitable means such as ball bearings.
  • roller 78 rotates in the direction of arrow 82, since it is moving in an opposite direction to belt 10, the scrubbing action, at the contact point, disturbs the residual toner and dislodges it from the photoconductive surface.
  • Roller 78 is electrically biased to a suitable polarity and magnitude to attract the detached toner thereto. Shield 89 prevents the toner adhering to roller 78 from being detached therefrom.
  • Blade 86 which is made preferably from a stainless steel, contacts roller 78 to scrape the toner therefrom. Cleaning fluid from pipe 88 washes the toner from blade 86 onto belt 10.
  • the cleaning fluid is liquid carrier from the developer material.
  • Blade 90 has its longitudinal axis extending in a transverse direction to belt 10, i.e. blade 90 is skewed, to seal the cleaning apparatus. By skewing blade 90, the cleaning fluid can be directed to the edge of the belt and then removed by using suction.
  • Pipe 92 is connected to a vacuum pump to suck the cleaning fluid and toner away from belt 10, in the direction of arrow 94. In this way, the residual toner is removed from the vicinity of belt 10.
  • FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of cleaning apparatus 48.
  • cleaning apparatus 48 has a web 96 entrained about a pair of spaced rollers 98 and 100.
  • Roller 100 is driven by a motor coupled thereto by suitable means, such as a belt or gear drive.
  • Roller 100 rotates in the direction of arrow 102 and moves web 96. In this way, web 96 moves in the opposite direction to the direction of belt 10, as indicated by arrow 12, at the contact point.
  • a cleaning fluid flows from pipe 104 onto web 96.
  • Roll 100 is made from an electrically conductive material.
  • a voltage source coupled thereto, electrically biases roll 100 to a suitable polarity and magnitude so as to attract dislodged toner to web 96.
  • the toner adhering to web 96 is washed therefrom by the cleaning fluid flowing from pipe 104.
  • the residual toner and cleaning fluid flow through pipe 106 where the residual toner is reclaimed and the cleaning fluid returns to a liquid management system.
  • Roll 98 may also be made from an electrically conductive material and may be electrically biased to a suitable magnitude and polarity to assist in cleaning the residual toner from web 96.
  • Cleaning fluid flows from pipe 108 on to the photoconductive surface of belt 10 before the point of contact between web 96 and belt 10 in the direction of movement of belt 10, as indicated by arrow 12.
  • the cleaning fluid is the liquid carrier of the developer material.
  • Web 96 is made preferably from a microporous, dielectric material.
  • cleaning fluid flows from pipe 108 on to the photoconductive surface of belt 10 at the entrance to the cleaning zone.
  • the cleaning fluid assists in removing the residual toner from the photoconductive surface, and lubricates the belt.
  • web 96 scrubs belt 10 to detach the residual toner therefrom.
  • the electrical field generated by roll 100 attracts the detached toner to web 96.
  • Web 96 transports the toner to roll 98.
  • cleaning fluid from pipe 104 flushes web 98 to remove the toner therefrom.
  • Roll 98 may have an electrical field associated therewith to aid in the removal of the toner from web 96.
  • the toner removed from web 96 and the cleaning fluid are sucked into pipe 106. Residual toner is reclaimed and the cleaning fluid returned to a liquid management system.
  • the cleaning apparatus of the present invention is adapted to detach residual toner from the photoconductive surface.
  • the detached toner is removed. This is accomplished by the use of a porous roll or belt which scrubs the photoconductive surface of the belt to detach the residual toner therefrom.
  • An electrical field and/or suction remove the detached toner from the photoconductive surface.
  • Cleaning fluid is placed on the photoconductive surface to provide lubrication and to facilitate the cleaning action.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
EP88302974A 1987-04-06 1988-03-31 Système de nettoyage Withdrawn EP0288175A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3424487A 1987-04-06 1987-04-06
US34244 1987-04-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0288175A1 true EP0288175A1 (fr) 1988-10-26

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88302974A Withdrawn EP0288175A1 (fr) 1987-04-06 1988-03-31 Système de nettoyage

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0288175A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS63261293A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU619664B2 (en) * 1989-03-16 1992-01-30 Fujitsu Limited Developing device used in electrophotographic field
US8176632B2 (en) * 2007-01-22 2012-05-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Regenerated elastic roller manufacturing process, regenerated elastic roller, electrophotographic process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1497242B2 (de) * 1965-05-31 1972-12-14 Xerox Corp., Rochester, N.Y.; Bell & Howell Co., Chicago, 111.; (V.StA.) Verfahren und anordnung zur entfernung eines tonerpulver-rueckstandes von einem sich bewegenden elektrofotografischen aufzeichnungsmaterial
US4279501A (en) * 1976-12-29 1981-07-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Cleaning device for photoelectrostatic copying apparatus
US4344361A (en) * 1979-04-19 1982-08-17 Baldwin-Gegenheimer Corporation Automatic blanket cylinder cleaner
DE3231202A1 (de) * 1981-08-24 1983-03-10 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo Toner-reinigungsverfahren und vorrichtung zum durchfuehren desselben

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1497242B2 (de) * 1965-05-31 1972-12-14 Xerox Corp., Rochester, N.Y.; Bell & Howell Co., Chicago, 111.; (V.StA.) Verfahren und anordnung zur entfernung eines tonerpulver-rueckstandes von einem sich bewegenden elektrofotografischen aufzeichnungsmaterial
US4279501A (en) * 1976-12-29 1981-07-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Cleaning device for photoelectrostatic copying apparatus
US4344361A (en) * 1979-04-19 1982-08-17 Baldwin-Gegenheimer Corporation Automatic blanket cylinder cleaner
DE3231202A1 (de) * 1981-08-24 1983-03-10 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo Toner-reinigungsverfahren und vorrichtung zum durchfuehren desselben

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 2, no. 150 (E-78)[9647], 13th December 1978; & JP-A-53 119 048 (RICOH K.K.) 18-10-1978 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 3, no. 119 (E-142)[133], 6th October 1979; & JP-A-54 097 433 (RICOH K.K.) 01-08-1979 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 5, no. 77 (P-62)[749], 21st May 1981; & JP-A-56 024 382 (RICOH K.K.) 03-07-1981 *
XEROX DISCLOSURE JOURNAL, vol. 4, no. 4, page 531, July/August 1979; A.T. MANGHIRMALANI et al.: "Foam air cleaner" *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU619664B2 (en) * 1989-03-16 1992-01-30 Fujitsu Limited Developing device used in electrophotographic field
US8176632B2 (en) * 2007-01-22 2012-05-15 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Regenerated elastic roller manufacturing process, regenerated elastic roller, electrophotographic process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
US8745870B2 (en) 2007-01-22 2014-06-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Regenerated elastic roller manufacturing process, regenerated elastic roller, electropohotographic process cartridge, and electropohotographic image forming apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS63261293A (ja) 1988-10-27

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