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. 28, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 09, 1999
Tsutomu Sasaki, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiko Itaya, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a developing liquid collected from an image carrier and/or an intermediate transfer body is caused to migrate through a gap between two electrodes to each of which a particular electrode is applied. An electric field formed between the electrodes sequentially increases in strength in the direction of migration of the developing liquid, so that toner and other solids contained in the developing liquid are retained by electrodeposition. One or more foam blocks each having continuous cells absorb the collected liquid under the action of the electric field and thereby retain the solids therein. As a result, only a carrier liquid is recovered from the collected liquid and reused for development.