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:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 29, 2000
Robert Kleckner, Pittsford, NY (US);
Gerald A. Domoto, Briarcliff Manor, NY (US);
F. James Wang, Pittsford, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for drying a liquid image carried on a surface of a medium moving along a predetermined path from an upstream location towards a downstream location. The apparatus includes an air moving device, such as a blower, that moves air. A plenum has an intake that receives air and an outlet permitting the air to exit the plenum. A channel structure communicates with the outlet of the plenum and is disposed generally adjacent to a surface of the medium carrying the image. The channel structure includes an upstream channel portion and a downstream channel portion such that air exiting the outlet of the plenum is diverted to flow towards the upstream location in the upstream channel portion and towards the downstream location in the downstream channel portion. A heater is associated with the medium to heat at least a portion of the medium and thus the image. A method of drying a liquid image on a surface of a medium is also provided. The apparatus and method may arranged so that the direction of air is reversed where the air then moves along the channel structure by suction action rather than by being blown through the channel.