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. 04, 2000
Filed:
May. 06, 1998
Marcio da Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, BR;
William Blake Kolb, St. Paul, MN (US);
Kay F Schilli, Portland, OR (US);
Imation Corp., Oakdale, MN (US);
Abstract
A drying system and method for an electrophotographic imaging system employing a gap drying system. The electrophotographic imaging system includes a photoconductor belt. A mechanism moves the photoconductor belt in a first direction along a transport path. A scanner mechanism is positioned along the transport path for scanning a laser beam along the photoconductor belt based on image data to form a latent image of the photoconductor belt. A development station is positioned along the transport path. The development station includes a mechanism for applying a toner to a first major surface of the photoconductor belt, the toner including a carrier liquid. A gap drying system is operably located along the transport path, wherein the gap drying system removes excess carrier liquid from the photoconductor belt. The gap drying system includes a carrier liquid (i.e., solvent) vapor recovery system which is integral the gap drying system, and as such, the electrophotographic imaging system does not require an additional separate carrier liquid recovery/condenser unit.