Apparatus and method for cleaning an image transfer device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsOmer Gila, Michael H. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for cleaning an image transfer surface in an image transfer device. The cleaning apparatus includes a first cleaning station and a second cleaning station positioned to consecutively clean the image transfer surface. The first and second cleaning stations apply cleaning fluid to the image transfer surface and remove cleaning fluid with residual material from the image transfer surface. A first tank supplies cleaning fluid to, and receives cleaning fluid with residual material from, the first cleaning station. A second tank supplies cleaning fluid to, and receives cleaning fluid with residual material from, the second cleaning station. The second tank also supplies cleaning fluid to the first tank.
Claims32
An apparatus for cleaning an image transfer surface in an image transfer device, comprising:
- a first cleaning station for applying cleaning fluid to the image transfer surface and removing cleaning fluid with a first portion of residual material from the image transfer surface;
- a second cleaning station for applying cleaning fluid to the image transfer surface and removing cleaning fluid with a second portion of residual material from the image transfer surface, wherein the first and second cleaning stations are positioned to consecutively clean the image transfer surface;
- a first tank in fluid communication with the first cleaning station, the first tank supplying cleaning fluid to the first cleaning station, and receiving cleaning fluid with residual material from the first cleaning station;
- and
- a second tank in fluid communication with the second cleaning station, and in fluid communication with the first tank, the second tank supplying cleaning fluid to the second cleaning station, and receiving cleaning fluid with residual material from the second cleaning station, and supplying cleaning fluid to the first tank.
A liquid electrophotographic (LEP) device comprising:
- a photoconductive surface for creating an image thereon, the image formed by liquid including imaging oil;
- a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the photoconductor surface, the cleaning apparatus including a first cleaning station and a second cleaning station, the first and second cleaning stations positioned to consecutively clean the photoconductor surface;
- a first cleaning fluid tank fluidically connected to the first cleaning station for supplying cleaning fluid to the first cleaning station;
- and
- a second cleaning fluid tank fluidically connected to the second cleaning station and to the first tank for supplying cleaning fluid to the second cleaning station and to the first tank.
An apparatus for cleaning an image transfer surface in an image transfer device, comprising:
- a first sponge roller for contacting the image transfer surface to apply cleaning fluid from a first tank to the image transfer surface and absorb cleaning fluid and residual material from the image transfer surface;
- a first squeegee roller for contacting the first sponge roller to remove cleaning fluid and residual material from the first sponge roller;
- a first cleaning blade for pressing against the image transfer surface for removing cleaning fluid and residual material remaining on the image transfer surface after contact with the first sponge roller;
- a second sponge roller for contacting the image transfer surface to apply cleaning fluid from a second tank to the image transfer surface and absorb cleaning fluid and residual material from the image transfer surface;
- a second squeegee roller for contacting the second sponge roller to remove cleaning fluid and residual material from the second sponge roller;
- and
- a second cleaning blade for pressing against the image transfer surface for removing cleaning fluid and residual material remaining on the image transfer surface after contact with the second sponge roller;
- wherein cleaning fluid and residual material removed by the first sponge roller, squeegee roller and cleaning blade is returned to the first tank, wherein cleaning fluid and residual material removed by the second sponge roller, squeegee roller and cleaning blade is returned to the second tank, and wherein the first tank is fluidically connected with and replenished with cleaning fluid from the second tank.
A method of cleaning residual material from an image transfer surface in an image transfer device, the method comprising:
- positioning a first cleaning station and a second cleaning station to consecutively clean the image transfer surface;
- supplying the first cleaning station with a first cleaning fluid from a first tank;
- supplying the second cleaning station with a second cleaning fluid from a second tank;
- and
- refreshing the cleaning fluid in the first tank with cleaning fluid from the second tank.
A method of cleaning residual material from an image transfer surface in an image transfer device, the method comprising:
- applying a first cleaning fluid to an image transfer surface having residual material thereon;
- removing a first portion of the first cleaning fluid and residual material therein from the image transfer surface;
- diluting a remaining portion of first cleaning fluid and residual material therein with a second cleaning fluid;
- and
- removing a first portion of the diluted cleaning fluid and residual material therein from the image transfer surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.