# US 2016/0257147 A1 · System and method for cleaning an image receiving surface in an inkjet printer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0257147 A1 - Document ID: US20160257147A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/638,239 - Filed: 2015-03-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Bruce E. Thayer; Lawrence Floyd, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160257147A1 ## CPC - G03G 21/0058: {using a roller or a polygonal rotating cleaning member; Details thereof, e.g. surface structure (G03G21/0064 takes precedence)} - B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)} - B41J 29/17: Cleaning arrangements - G03G 15/161: {with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent} - G03G 15/168: {with means for conditioning the transfer element, e.g. cleaning} - G03G 21/007: {Arrangement or disposition of parts of the cleaning unit} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A printer cleaning device cleans an image receiving surface with a surface preparation material, includes a roller having a perforated cylindrical wall surrounded by a foam material. The cylindrical wall has an interior volume for holding a fluid pumped into the interior volume by a pump. The pressurized fluid flows through the cylindrical wall into the foam material as the roller is moved into engagement with the image receiving surface. The roller is rotated in a direction opposition to a direction of movement of the image receiving surface to help the foam material to scrub the image receiving surface and apply the fluid to the surface. As the roller is moved away from the surface, the foam material expands to facilitate absorption of fluid and remove material from the image receiving surface. The foam material in one embodiment is hydrophobic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printer cleaning device included in a printing system that treats an image receiving surface with a surface preparation material, the cleaning device comprising: a roller having a cylindrical wall about an interior volume configured to hold a fluid, the cylindrical wall having a plurality of apertures to enable the fluid within the interior volume to pass through the cylindrical wall, the roller being configured with an opening to enable the interior volume of the roller to be fluidly coupled to a source of fluid and the roller being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall; a foam material configured to fit about the cylindrical wall of the roller and receive the fluid passing through the cylindrical wall of the roller; an actuator operatively connected to the roller to move the roller into and out of engagement with the image receiving surface within the printer system; and a controller operatively connected to the actuator, the controller configured to operate the actuator to move the roller into and out of engagement with the image receiving surface to enable the foam material and the fluid in the foam material to remove selectively material from the surface of the printer system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printer cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising: a pump configured to provide fluid through the opening in the roller to the interior volume of the roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printer cleaning device of claim 2, the controller being further configured: to operate the actuator to compress the foam between the cylindrical wall of the roller and the image receiving surface to release a portion of the fluid from the foam material onto the image receiving surface; and to operate the actuator to move the roller away from the image receiving surface to disengage the foam from the image receiving surface to enable the foam material to expand and absorb fluid and material from the image receiving surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The printer cleaning device of claim 3, the pump being further configured: to provide the fluid at a pressure that enables fluid passing through the cylindrical wall of the roller to flush a portion of the absorbed fluid and material from the foam material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The printer cleaning device of claim 3, further comprising: a receptacle positioned to receive flushed fluid and material from the foam material; and a filter positioned within the receptacle to separate fluid from material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The printer cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the pump is fluidly connected to the receptacle to enable the pump to pull filtered fluid from the receptacle and provide the filtered fluid to the interior volume of the roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The printer cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the foam material consists essentially of a hydrophobic foam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The printer cleaning device of claim 5, wherein pores in the filter are essentially less than 0.01 μm in diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The printer cleaning device of claim 5, wherein the filter is further configured to provide at least one of micro-filtration, ultra-filtration, nano-filtration, and reverse osmosis to separate fluid from material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The printer cleaning device of claim 5, further comprising: another receptacle; and the pump is further configured to reverse direction of the fluid being pumped to back-flush the filter and direct material from the filter into the other receptacle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The printer cleaning device of claim 5, the filter being further configured for removal from the receptacle for cleaning or replacement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The printer cleaning device of claim 1, the actuator being further configured to rotate the roller about the longitudinal axis in a direction that is opposite a direction of movement for the image receiving surface; and the controller being further configured to operate the actuator and rotate the roller against the direction of movement for the image receiving surface while the foam material engages the image receiving surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The printer cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises water or a combination of water and a cleaning solution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The printer cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising: a wiper configured to remove fluid and material from the image receiving surface after the image receiving surface has passed the roller; and another actuator operatively connected to the wiper to move the wiper into and out of engagement with the image receiving surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The printer cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the wiper blade consists essentially of at least one of polyurethane, elastomers, and polymers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The printer cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising: an air knife or a heated dryer positioned to direct air or heat, respectively, towards the image receiving surface to remove fluid from the image receiving surface after the image receiving surface has passed the roller. ### Claim 17 A method for cleaning an image receiving surface treated with a surface preparation material, the method comprising: providing with a pump a fluid to an interior volume within a cylindrical wall of a roller having apertures in the wall to enable the fluid to pass through the cylindrical wall of the roller; applying the fluid to the image receiving surface with a foam material mounted about the cylindrical wall; and operating an actuator with a controller to move the roller towards and away from the image receiving surface to enable the foam material to engage and disengage the image receiving surface and remove selectively material from the image receiving surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: operating the actuator with the controller to rotate the roller in a direction opposite a direction in which the image receiving surface is moving while the foam material is engaging the image receiving surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: operating the actuator with the controller to compress the foam material against the image receiving surface to facilitate application of the fluid onto the image receiving surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising: operating the actuator with the controller to move the roller away from the image receiving surface to enable the foam material to expand and absorb fluid and material from the image receiving surface.