Method of continuous purification of liquid toner in an electrostatic printing system
US5942095A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/104
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A continuous purification method for removing neutral, as well as ionic, contaminants from liquid toner in an electrostatic printing system is disclosed. This method involves circulating liquid toner from a toner supply tank through a common volume which includes the toning applicator. The liquid toner is introduced to solid and ionic contaminants in the common volume and as the toner is circulated back to the toner supply tank for each toning pass, some contaminants and toner are left in the common volume. Next a wash fluid from a wash fluid supply tank is circulated through the common volume after each toning pass, the wash fluid mixing with the toner and the contaminants. This mixture is then passed through an electrophoretic purifier to remove the contaminants. Then the mixture passes through a porous particulate filter to remove any remaining contaminants before it returns back to the wash fluid supply tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.