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:
Jan. 13, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1996
Jack T Lestrange, Rochester, NY (US);
Lawrence Floyd, Jr, Rochester, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An electrostatographic liquid immersion development (LID) reproduction machine having an image bearing member and a multifunction image developer and conditioning apparatus that significantly reduces the number of components, size, costs, and shear-force related image defects of such machines. The multifunction apparatus includes a housing defining a sump portion, a recovery chamber, and an opening into the recovery chamber; liquid developer material contained in the sump portion for developing a latent image on the image bearing member; and a rotatable multifunction roller assembly for processing a developed image on the image bearing member. This roller assembly includes a rotatable roll having a porous metal core defining an inner surface, and a foam layer formed over the metal core defining a skin or outer surface. The rotatable roller is mounted partially within the recovery chamber and partially through the opening and into contact with the image bearing member to form an image processing nip therewith. The rotatable roller functions to transport liquid developer material into the image processing nip for developing a latent image on the image bearing member, and to apply a mechanical force against the image bearing member for compacting and stabilizing a developed image thereon. The roller assembly also includes a vacuuming device mounted inside the rotatable roller against the inner surface thereof for applying a liquid carrier removing vacuum to a portion of the inner surface of the rotatable roller within the image processing nip.