The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 05, 1994
Filed:
Jun. 26, 1992
John A Thompson, Boise, ID (US);
Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention is a liquid toner developer for a laser printer. There is an open bath of liquid toner about 50 microns below a moving outer bottom photoconductor surface energized by actinic light. Immediately downstream of the liquid bath and adjacent to it is a charged, reverse direction developer roller, also about 50 microns below the photoconductor surface. Downstream of the developer roller, and in relatively close spaced-apart relationship from it, is a same direction rigidizing/squeegee roller charged about the same as the developer roller. A blade lies close to or in contact with the rigidizing/squeegee roller slightly upstream of its nip point to provide a drain path along the length of the roller to aid excess toner removal from the roller. A common wiping means cleans both the developer and the rigidizing/squeegee rollers, and directs excess toner into a recycle system to save toner supply and replenish the bath of liquid toner. The image on the photoconductor surface leaving the developer system is very dry, and suitable for direct transfer to a sheet of paper. In a preferred embodiment, a series of the developer systems with different color toners are employed to create a multi-color image on the paper.