Methods, apparatus, and systems for cleaning media in printing systems with conductive cleaning members
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsBruce Earl Thayer, Ellery F. Wong, John L. Howard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A web cleaning system includes one or more conductive electrostatic cleaning members that may be grounded or electrically biased, and form an electric field. The conductive cleaning member opposes a conductive backing member that may be grounded or electrically biased. The conductive cleaning member contacts the web as it translates through the cleaning system, and charged debris on the web is affected by the electric field formed by the cleaning member.
Claims14
A method for cleaning a web in a web printing system having a cleaning unit, the cleaning unit including a first portion and a second portion that together define a web channel, and at least one conductive cleaning member that extends from at least one of the first portion and the second portion toward the web channel, the web including a printable surface and being translatable through the web channel, the method comprising:
- applying power to the at least one conductive cleaning member and a backing member to electrically bias the at least one conductive cleaning member and the backing member;
- applying the at least one conductive cleaning member to the printable surface of the web to clean the web,
- wherein the backing member is a conductive fiber pile carpet.
A web cleaning apparatus for cleaning a web having a first side and a second side, the apparatus comprising:
- a cleaning system including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located opposite from the second portion to define a web channel, the web being translatable through the web channel;
- at least one conductive cleaning member, the cleaning member being constructed and arranged to form an electric field for cleaning at least one of the first side and the second side of the web, the at least one conductive cleaning member extending from the cleaning system second portion toward the web channel;
- and
- a backing member, the backing member extending from the cleaning system first portion toward the web channel and opposing the cleaning member, wherein the backing member is a conductive fiber pile carpet.
A web cleaning system, the system comprising:
- a web cleaning means for cleaning a web, the web cleaning means including at least one conductive cleaning member;
- a biasing means for electrically biasing the at least one conductive cleaning member and a conductive backing member to form an electric field, wherein the conductive backing member is a conductive fiber pile carpet;
- and
- a web translation means for moving the web against the electrically biased electrostatic cleaning member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.