Filter regeneration in an electrophotographic printing machine

A reproducing machine of the type having a liquid image comprising at least a liquid carrier having pigmented particles dispersed therein transferred to a sheet of support material, wherein the improvement includes:

• means, in the operative mode, for applying heat to the sheet of support material having the liquid image thereon to remove liquid carrier therefrom so as to dry the sheet of support material and fuse the pigmented particles thereto in image configuration, and, in the standby mode when said heat applying means does not apply heat to the sheet of support material, for generating heat;
• means for collecting the liquid carrier removed from the sheet of support material by said heat applying means;
• means for filtering the air flowing from said collecting means to remove residual liquid carrier therefrom;
• means, in the standby mode, for directing heated air from said heat applying means to said filter means to regenerate said filter means;
• and heat exchange means interposed between said heat applying means and said collecting means for receiving the air exiting from said collecting means and said heat applying means to cool the air exiting from said heat applying means and to heat the air exiting from said collecting means with a portion of the heated air from said collecting means exiting from said heat exchange means being directed to said heat applying means and a portion to said filtering means in the operative mode so as to reduce the power required by said heat applying means.

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member developed with a liquid developer material comprising at least a liquid carrier having pigmented particles dispersed therein to form a liquid image thereon that is transferred to a sheet of support material, wherein the improvement includes:

• means, in the operative mode, for applying heat to the sheet of support material having the liquid image thereon to remove liquid carrier therefrom so as to dry the sheet of support material and fuse the pigmented particles thereto in image configuration, and, in the standby mode when said heat applying means does not apply heat to the sheet of support material, for generating heat;
• means for collecting the liquid carrier removed from the sheet of support material by said heat applying means;
• means for filtering the air flowing from said collecting means to remove residual liquid carrier therefrom;
• and
• means, in the standby mode, for directing heated air from said heat applying means to said filter means to regenerate said filter means.

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member developed with a liquid developer material comprising at least a liquid carrier having pigmented particles dispersed therein to form a liquid image thereon that is transferred to a sheet of support material, wherein the improvement includes:

• means, in the operative mode, for applying heat to the sheet of support material having the liquid image thereon to remove liquid carrier therefrom so as to dry the sheet of support material and fuse the pigmented particles thereto in image configuration, and, in the standby mode when said heat applying means does not apply heat to the sheet of support material, for generating heat;
• means for collecting the liquid carrier removed from the sheet of support material by said heat applying means;
• means for filtering the air flowing from said collecting means to remove residual liquid carrier therefrom;
• means, in the standby mode, for directing heated air from said heat applying means to said filter means to regenerate said filter means;
• and
• heat exchange means interposed between said heat applying means and said collecting means for receiving the air exiting from said collecting means and said heat applying means to cool the air exiting from said heat applying means and to heat the air exiting from said collecting means with a portion of the heated air from said collecting means exiting from said heat exchange means being directed to said heat applying means and a portion to said filtering means in the operative mode so as to reduce the power required by said heat applying means.