Apparatus and method for removing carrier liquid from an intermediate transfer member surface or from a toned image on an intermediate transfer member

A liquid electrophotographic imaging apparatus containing at least one drying sheet for removing excess carrier liquid in a liquid toner toned latent image on an intermediate transfer member surface or from the intermediate transfer member surface itself, the at least one drying sheet comprising;

• a flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface;
• at least one oleophilic carrier liquid absorptive layer on the first surface of the flexible substrate, and
• the first surface of the flexible substrate facing said intermediate transfer member surface having thereon an electrophotographic image,
• wherein said first surface and said second surface have an oleophilic absorptive layer affixed to each of the first surface and the second surface.

An electrophotographic imaging apparatus having the ability to remove excess liquid carrier from an intermediate transfer member surface, the electrophotographic imaging apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic imaging system capable of providing an electrophotographic image on an intermediate transfer member;
• an absorbent image drying sheet which contacts the intermediate transfer member, the image drying sheet having at least an outer layer which absorbs carrier liquid, the surface of the drying sheet in contact with the intermediate transfer member having a Shore A hardness of 10 to 60;
• wherein the drying sheet after contacting the intermediate transfer member absorbs carrier liquid from a surface of the intermediate transfer member and the drying sheet then becomes a used drying sheet;
• a disbursing cartridge for supplying non-saturated drying sheets for use;
• and
• a receiving cartridge for receiving used drying sheets.

A method of drying a toner image or an intermediate transfer member comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one absorbent drying sheet;
• providing an electrophotographic apparatus comprising at least
• an intermediate transfer member
• at least one supply container and at least one discard container for the at least one absorbent drying sheet;
• providing a toned image on the intermediate transfer member with a liquid toner;
• contacting an absorbent drying sheet from the supply container to the toned image on the intermediate transfer member or to the intermediate transfer member itself after the image is transferred away;
• absorbing liquid carrier with the drying sheet, the drying sheet then becoming a used drying sheet;
• determining whether the used drying sheet is suitable for reuse as an absorbent drying sheet;
• and
• placing the used drying sheet in a container selected from the group consisting of:
• supply container, re-supply container, regeneration container, or discard container depending upon the used drying sheet's determination of suitability of use.

A method of removing carrier liquid a) from a liquid toner image on an intermediate transfer member or b) from an intermediate transfer member after transfer of a liquid toner image to a final substrate comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of absorbent drying sheets in a cartridge, wherein the sheets are stacked such that there is a top of the stack and a bottom of the stack;
• providing an electrophotographic apparatus comprising at least
• an intermediate transfer member
• a cartridge of drying sheets;
• providing a toned image on the intermediate transfer member;
• contacting an absorbent drying sheet from the cartridge to the toned image on the intermediate transfer member, or to the intermediate transfer member itself after the image is transferred away, the drying sheet on absorbing liquid carrier becoming a used drying sheet;
• replacing the used drying sheet at the top of the stack in the absorbent drying sheet cartridge for re-supply or discard.