Patent · US Expired

Toner recycle control system of electrophotographing device using viscous liquid developing solution

US6687477B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
3References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 14, 2003
Grant dateFeb 3, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 14, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G21/12
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides a toner recycling control system which stably feeds a liquid developer of an appropriate concentration to a liquid developing apparatus employing a high-viscosity liquid developer; appropriately adjusts the concentration of residual developer collected after development and after transfer; and feeds the adjusted developer to the developing apparatus. The toner recycling control system collects a post-development residual developer from a developer-bearing body and a post-transfer residual developer from an image-bearing body; performs developer concentration adjustment to yield an adjusted developer; and feeds the adjusted developer back to the developer-bearing body. Thus, the toner recycling control system includes a concentration adjustment tank which stores the collected developer and is replenished with a concentrated developer and carrier liquid for developer concentration adjustment; and a buffer tank which receives and stores a liquid developer which has undergone concentration adjustment in the concentration adjustment tank. Once adjusted to an appropriate concentration, the liquid developer is fed to the developer-bearing body from the buffe…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.