US 6,208,822 B1 · Liquid material supplier and image forming apparatus comprising the same

Abstract

A liquid material supplier capable of effectively preventing a liquid material, such as ink, held on a surface of a liquid material holding member from drying and an image forming apparatus provided with the same. The supplier includes a liquid material holding member for holding a liquid material on a surface thereof. The liquid material holding member is rotatable in a predetermined direction and supplying, during rotation, the liquid material to a member to be supplied at a given supply position. The supplier further includes a supply station for supplying the liquid material to the surface of the liquid material holding member and a regulating member for regulating the liquid material on the liquid material holding member to a specified thickness. The regulating member is disposed at a position downstream of the supply station and upstream of the supply position in the direction of rotation of the liquid material holding member. The supplier further includes a removing member disposed at a position downstream of the supply station and upstream of the regulating member in the direction of rotation of the liquid material holding member.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A liquid material supplier comprising:

a liquid material holding member for holding a liquid material on a surface thereof, the liquid material holding member being rotatable in a predetermined direction and supplying, during rotation, the liquid material to a member to be supplied at a given supply position;
a driver for driving and rotating the liquid material holding member in the predetermined direction;
a supply station for supplying the liquid material to the surface of the liquid material holding member;
a regulating member for regulating the liquid material on the liquid material holding member to a specified thickness, the regulating member being disposed at a position downstream of the supply station and upstream of the supply position in the direction of rotation of the liquid material holding member;
a removing member for removing the liquid material from the surface of the liquid material holding member;
and
a controller for selectively effecting a supply mode for supplying the liquid material from the liquid material holding member to the member to be supplied or a removal mode for removing the liquid material from the surface of the liquid material holding member.

4 more elements

An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image carrying member for carrying a latent image;
a liquid material holding member for holding a liquid material on a surface thereof, the liquid material holding member being rotatable in a predetermined direction and directly or indirectly supplying, during rotation, the liquid material to the image carrying member at a given supply position to visualize the latent image;
a driver for driving and rotating the liquid material holding member in the predetermined direction;
a supply station for supplying the liquid material to the surface of the liquid material holding member;
a regulating member for regulating the liquid material on the liquid material holding member to a specified thickness, the regulating member being disposed at a position downstream of the supply station and upstream of the supply position in the direction of rotation of the liquid material holding member;
a removing member for removing the liquid material from the surface of the liquid material holding member;
and
a controller for selectively effecting a supply mode for supplying the liquid material from the liquid material holding member to the image carrying member or a removal mode for removing the liquid material from the surface of the liquid material holding member.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liquid material supplier and image forming apparatus comprising the same

Life of this patent

Liquid material supplier and image forming apparatus comprising the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28