Liquid toners handling network for an electrographic printer

Abstract

A liquid color toners handling network for an electrographic printer includes a plurality of developing modules. Each developing module in turn includes a toner handling system having a toner supply reservoir with a toner pump coupled to a reservoir outlet. A T-connector is coupled to the toner pump and is further coupled to a toner supply reservoir inlet. A three-way ball valve is coupled in series with the T-connector and an inlet of the developing module. An additional fluid line couples an outlet of the developing module back to the three-way ball valve. This arrangement allows toner to be trapped between the three-way ball valve and developing module inlet so that toner can be supplied to the developing module in an instant-on manner. The handling network further includes a toner carrier pumping module that can be coupled to any one of the supply reservoirs and a toner concentrate supply container associated with each supply reservoir. This arrangement allows toner carrier and toner concentrate to be mixed within a static mixer associated with the supply reservoirs. A toner/air vacuum separator coupled betwen the developing module outlet and the three-way ball valve is further coupled to a vacuum pumping module. The vacuum pumping module includes a maintenance vacuum separator and a suction cleaning line that can be used to perform routine cleaning maintenance on the developing modules.