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:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1997
Kiyoshi Tanikawa, Tokyo, JP;
Tadashi Saitoh, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In a method of and an apparatus for regenerating an image support from a used image-bearing support which bears thereon hydrophobic images formed of thermofusible or heat-softening ink, a plurality of image releasing members are used for removing the hydrophobic images from the used image-bearing support. Specifically, at least one of the image releasing members has a first portion which is able to adhere to the hydrophobic images and a second portion which is unable to adhere to the hydrophobic images, and the image releasing members are arranged in series in order of size of the first portion from small to large along a feeding direction of the used image support. Accordingly, the image releasing members are allowed to adhere to the hydrophobic images in order of size of the first portion from small to large so that the hydrophobic images are removed from the used image support effectively. It is preferable that the image releasing member finally allowed to adhere to the hydrophobic images is a solid image releasing member.