Intermediate transfer member cleaning
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsOmer De-Shalit, Doron Schlumm, Mark Sandler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an example of the disclosure, an intermediate transfer member cleaning system includes an intermediate transfer member (“blanket”), an endless cleaning surface, and a pyrolysis station. The blanket is to receive a thermoplastic print agent from a photoconductive element. The endless cleaning surface can be positioned to rotatably engage with the blanket to transfer a residue of the thermoplastic print agent from the blanket to the endless cleaning surface. The endless cleaning surface can be moved away from the blanket to enter a pyrolysis station. The pyrolysis station is for receiving the endless cleaning surface, for heating the endless cleaning surface to convert the residue to ash, and for removing the ash.
Claims15
An intermediate transfer member cleaning system comprising:
- an intermediate transfer member (“blanket”) to receive a thermoplastic print agent from a photoconductive element;
- a rotatable endless cleaning surface,
- wherein the rotatable endless cleaning surface can be positioned to rotatably engage with the blanket to transfer a residue of the thermoplastic print agent from the blanket to the endless cleaning surface;
- wherein the rotatable endless cleaning surface can be moved away from the blanket to enter a pyrolysis station;
- and
- the pyrolysis station,
- for receiving the rotatable endless cleaning surface,
- for heating the rotatable endless cleaning surface to convert the residue to ash, and
- for removing the ash.
A method for cleaning an intermediate transfer member, comprising:
- determining that an indication that cleaning of an intermediate transfer member (“blanket”) is to be carried out is present, and in response:
- heat an endless cleaning surface;
- and
- engage the endless cleaning surface with the blanket to clean the blanket;
- determining that an indication that cleaning of the endless cleaning surface is to be carried out is present, and in response move the endless cleaning surface away from the blanket to enter a chamber of a pyrolysis station;
- causing the endless cleaning surface to be heated within a chamber of the pyrolysis station to convert the residue to ash;
- and
- causing removal of the ash to prepare the endless cleaning surface for a next cleaning engagement with the blanket.
A print apparatus comprising:
- a photoconductive surface;
- an intermediate transfer member (“blanket”) to receive thermoplastic print agent from the photoconductive surface;
- an endless cleaning surface that can be moved
- to a residue collection position wherein the endless cleaning surface can engage with the blanket to receive a residue from the blanket, and
- to a pyrolysis position wherein the endless cleaning surface is within a chamber of a pyrolysis station;
- and
- the pyrolysis station, the pyrolysis station including
- the chamber,
- a heating element for converting the residue to an ash, and
- an ash evacuation component for removing the ash from the endless cleaning surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.