Liquid developer for an electrostatic copying device

In a machine embodying a liquid developing device, the improvement comprising:

• a member for bearing thereon a latent image;
• means disposed in opposition to said image bearing member for applying developer liquid thereto;
• a container for holding developer liquid to be applied to said latent image bearing member and having pump means disposed therein;
• supply pipe means for supplying the developer liquid to said developer liquid applying means from said container, said supply pipe means having an end coupled to said pump means and an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means, at least one of said two ends being coupled releasably;
• return pipe means for returning the developer liquid from said developer liquid applying means to said container, said return pipe means having an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means and an end coupled to said container, at least one of said two ends of said return pipe means being coupled releasably, wherein at least one of said container and said developer liquid applying means is releasably mounted on the machine and is removable therefrom by uncoupling the releasable ends of said supply and return pipe means;
• and
• filter means disposed at a position where the developer liquid returning through said return pipe means flows into said container, said filter means having a developer liquid impinging portion which is angularly disposed with respect to said flow of the developer liquid and is disposed above the surface of the developer liquid container in said container during the operation of said pump means, and a toner accumulating portion which is immersed in the developer liquid in said container at least when said pump means is not in operation to thereby soften and disperse any coagulated toner particles from the developer liquid accumulated thereon.

In a machine embodying a liquid developing device, the improvement comprising:

• a member for bearing thereon a latent image;
• means disposed in opposition to said image bearing member for applying developer liquid thereto;
• a container for holding developer liquid to be applied to said latent image bearing member and having pump means disposed therein;
• supply pipe means for supplying the developer liquid to said developer liquid applying means from said container, said supply pipe means having an end coupled to said pump means, an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means, and a disconnectable portion intermediate said two ends;
• return pipe means for returning the developer liquid from said developer liquid applying means to said container, said return pipe means having an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means, an end coupled to said container, and a disconnectable portion intermediate said two ends, wherein at least one of said container and said developer liquid applying means is releasably mounted on the machine and is removable therefrom by disconnecting the disconnectable portions of said supply and return pipe means;
• and
• filter means disposed at a position where the developer liquid returning through said return pipe means flows into said container, said filter means having a developer liquid impinging portion which is angularly disposed with respect to said flow of the developer liquid and is disposed above the surface of the developer liquid contained in said container during the operation of said pump means, and a toner accumulating portion which is immersed in the developer liquid in said container at least when said pump means is not in operation to thereby soften and disperse any coagulated toner particles from the developer liquid accumulated thereon.

In a machine embodying a liquid developing device, the improvement comprising:

• a member for bearing thereon a latent image;
• means disposed in opposition to said image bearing member for applying developer liquid thereto;
• a container for holding developer liquid to be applied to said latent image bearing member and having pump means disposed therein;
• supply pipe means for supplying the developer liquid to said developer liquid applying means from said container, said supply pipe means having an end coupled to said pump means and an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means, at least one of said two ends being coupled releasably;
• return pipe means for returning the developer liquid from said developer liquid applying means to said container, said return pipe means having an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means and an end coupled to said container, at least one of said two ends of said return pipe means being coupled releasably, wherein one of said supply pipe means and said return pipe means has its releasably coupled end coupled to said developer applying means, and the other of said pipe means has its releasably coupled end coupled to said container, and wherein said one pipe means has a length sufficient to permit its releasable end to be coupled to said container at the position of the releasable coupling of the other said pipe means when said other said pipe means is removed from its said position, whereby a circulation line is formed through said pump means, said one pipe means and said container;
• and
• filter means disposed at a position where the developer liquid returning through said return pipe means flows into said container, said filter means having a developer liquid impinging portion which is angularly disposed with respect to said flow of the developer liquid and is disposed above the surface of the developer liquid contained in said container during the operation of said pump means, and a toner accumulating portion which is immersed in the developer liquid in said container at least when said pump means is not in operation to thereby soften and disperse any coagulated toner particles from the developer liquid accumulated thereon.

In a machine embodying a liquid developing device, the improvement comprising:

• a rotatable drum for bearing thereon a latent image;
• means including a developer electrode disposed in opposition to said image bearing drum for applying developer liquid thereto;
• a container for holding developer liquid to be applied to said latent image bearing drum and having pump means disposed therein;
• supply pipe means for supplying the developer liquid to said developer liquid applying means from said container, said supply pipe means having an end coupled to said pump means and an end releasably coupled to said developer liquid applying means;
• return pipe means for returning the developer liquid from said developer liquid applying means to said container, said return pipe means having an end coupled to said developer liquid applying means and an end releasably coupled to said container, wherein said supply pipe means has a length sufficient to permit its releasable end to be coupled to said container at the position of the releasable coupling of said return pipe means when said return pipe means is removed therefrom, and wherein said return pipe means has a length sufficient to permit its releasable end to be coupled to said developer applying means at the position of the releasable coupling of said supply pipe means when said supply pipe means is removed therefrom, and whereby one of said container and said developer applying means is removable from the machine;
• and
• filter means disposed at a position where the developer liquid returning through said return pipe means flows into said container, said filter means having a developer liquid impinging portion which is angularly disposed with respect to said flow of developer liquid and is disposed above the surface of the developer liquid contained in said container during the operation of said pump means, and a toner accumulating portion which is immersed in the developer liquid in said container at least when said pump means is not in operation to thereby soften and disperse any coagulated toner particles from the developer liquid accumulated thereon.

In a machine embodying a liquid developing device, the improvement comprising:

• a member for bearing thereon a latent image;
• means disposed in opposition to said image bearing member for applying developer liquid thereto;
• a container disposed at a lower position than said developer liquid applying means for holding developer liquid to be applied to said image bearing member;
• means for circulating the developer liquid from said container to said developer liquid applying means and back into said container;
• pump means immersed within the developer liquid in the container, said pump means including a vane wheel and a wall member disposed therearound;
• said wall member defining a slit passage within the developer liquid in the container to allow the outlet flow of the developer liquid from the vane wheel;
• filter means disposed at a position where the developer liquid flows back into said container, said filter means having a developer liquid impinging portion which is angularly disposed with respect to said flow of the developer liquid and is disposed above the surface of the developer liquid contained in said container during operation of said pump means, and a toner accumulating portion which is immersed in the developer liquid in said container at least when said pump means is not in operation to thereby soften and disperse any coagulated toner particles from the developer liquid accumulated thereon;
• and
• means for detecting a concentration of the developer liquid, said detecting means being disposed adjacent an outlet portion of the slit passage to detect a concentration of the developer liquid which flows through said slit passage.