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. 30, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 24, 1997
Hajime Horinaka, Kashiba, JP;
Hisashi Yoshimura, Nara, JP;
Masaharu Kimura, Daito, JP;
Hiroshi Onda, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Kohji Tsurui, Sakurai, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A photoconductive layer is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface of a light transmissive drum, and a conductive layer is formed on the photoconductive layer and is made up of a plurality of strip-like conductive portions. Provided around the drum are a tank for storing thermo-melting ink, a blade which removes surplus ink on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, a drier for drying the ink filling the gaps between the conductive portions in the conductive layers, a platen roller which presses against the outer peripheral surface of the drum with a sheet of recording paper in between, and a light source which is provided inside the drum, facing the inner peripheral surface thereof. When the light source is selectively operated in accordance with image information, current is made to flow between the conductive portions in the conductive layer via the photoconductive layer at image recording areas, thus causing the ink filling the gap to be transferred to the recording paper.