Liquid electrophotographic printers
AssigneeHP Indigo B.V.
InventorsShmuel BORENSTAIN, Asaf Anufa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In certain examples, a liquid electrophotographic printer has a compressive element. The compressive element removes a portion of carrier liquid from an inked image on an imaging element. The compressive element is selectively engageable and a controller disengages the compressive element for a first layer of liquid toner so as to retain carrier liquid in the first layer, and engages the compressive element for a subsequent layer of liquid toner so as to remove a portion of carrier liquid from the subsequent layer.
Claims19
-15. (canceled)
A printer comprising:
- an imaging element;
- an image development unit to deposit layers of liquid toner onto the imaging element, wherein each layer of the liquid toner comprises ink particles and a carrier liquid;
- a compressive element to be selectively engaged with the imaging element;
- a controller to:
- for a first layer of liquid toner deposited on the imaging element, disengage the compressive element from the imaging element so as to retain the carrier liquid of the first layer of liquid toner on the imaging element, and
- for a second, subsequent layer of liquid toner deposited on the imaging element, engage the compressive element with the imaging element so as to remove a portion of the carrier liquid of the second layer from the imaging element;
- and
- a heatable transfer element to receive the first and second layers of liquid toner from the imaging element to form an inked image and transfer the inked image to a print substrate.
A method of printing an image in a printer that comprises a roller and a photo imaging element, comprising:
- applying a first layer of liquid toner to the imaging element, the liquid toner comprising ink particles and a liquid carrier;
- retaining the liquid carrier in the first layer by disengaging the roller from the photo imaging element;
- subsequent to the first layer, applying a second layer of liquid toner to the photo imaging element;
- removing a portion of the liquid carrier in the second layer from the photo imaging element by engaging the roller with the photo imaging element;
- and
- transferring an image formed by the first and second layers of liquid toner on the imaging element to a print medium.
An apparatus for modifying a portion of liquid carrier applied to an imaging element in a printer comprising:
- a roller;
- and
- an engagement mechanism coupled to the roller to:
- for a first layer of liquid carrier applied to the imaging element, disengage the roller from the imaging element to retain the liquid carrier in the first layer on the imaging element, and
- for a second layer of liquid carrier applied to the imaging element subsequent to the first layer, engage the roller with the imaging element to remove a portion of the liquid carrier in the second layer from the imaging element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.