Device for large format printing comprising a single central conditioning unit for controlling and monitoring the condition of the developer

US6246424A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Agfa-Gevaert NV · BE

Inventors

• Guido Desie · Mortsel, BE
• Hilbrand Van den Wijngaert · Grobbendonk, BE
• Jacques Leonard · Ekeren, BE
• Peter Bourbon · Sint-Katelijne-Waver, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 1999
• Grant date: Jun 12, 2001
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G2217/0025
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A large format single pass printer, having a printing width (PW) for printing a toner image on a substrate, the substrate having a width (WS) and a length (LS), comprising a printhead structure with an array of printing apertures, with length, L.sub.A, and control electrodes associated therewith, a charged toner conveyer, CTC, with a length, L.sub.CTC.gtoreq.L.sub.A and a number n, equal to or larger than 2, of toner applicators with width PWE.sub.i <L.sub.CTC for applying charged toner particles to said CTC, said number n being chosen such that ##EQU1## wherein PA1 i) a single central conditioning unit for controlling and monitoring the condition of the developer is provided, and ii) the central conditioning unit is equipped with means for circulating the developer to all of the toner applicators and back to the central unit.