Cleaning surfaces for print apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11860557-B2
Application number	US-202217580886-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2022
Priority date	Mar 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

In an example, a print apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer member to receive thermoplastic print agent from a photoconductive surface, a rotatably mounted endless cleaning surface to receive a layer of thermoplastic print agent from the intermediate transfer member and a heater, to heat the endless cleaning surface. The endless cleaning surface may be to engage with the intermediate transfer member when heated to transfer residue from the intermediate transfer member to the layer of thermoplastic print agent on the endless cleaning surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A print apparatus comprising:
an intermediate transfer member to receive thermoplastic print agent from a photoconductive surface;
a rotatably mounted endless cleaning surface, to receive a layer of thermoplastic print agent from the intermediate transfer member;
control circuitry to engage and disengage the cleaning surface from the intermediate transfer member; and
a heater, to heat the endless cleaning surface,
wherein the endless cleaning surface is to engage with the intermediate transfer member when heated, to transfer residue from the intermediate transfer member to the layer of thermoplastic print agent on the endless cleaning surface.

2. The print apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heater is to heat the endless cleaning surface to a temperature between 70-150° C.

3. The print apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the endless cleaning surface comprises a surface of a roller.

4. The print apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the heater is provided within the roller.

5. The print apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the endless cleaning surface comprises a belt.

6. The print apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to engage and disengage the cleaning surface from the intermediate transfer member based on whether a temperature of the intermediate transfer member is lower than a predetermined temperature.

7. A method comprising:
applying a layer of thermoplastic print agent to a first surface of a print apparatus;
transferring the layer of thermoplastic print agent from the first surface to an endless cleaning surface of the print apparatus;
applying an image of a print job to the first surface of the print apparatus and, with the image on the first surface, applying an additional layer of print agent to another portion of the first surface;
transferring the image from the first surface to a substrate and the additional layer of print agent to the endless cleaning surface;
heating the layer of thermoplastic print agent on the endless cleaning surface to a temperature at which the thermoplastic print agent acts as an adhesive; and
engaging the endless cleaning surface with the first surface of the print apparatus to transfer residue from the first surface of the print apparatus to the heated layer of thermoplastic print agent on the endless cleaning surface.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein applying a layer of thermoplastic print agent to the first surface comprises applying a continuous area of print agent to the first surface of sufficient size to later clean the first surface when transferred to the endless cleaning surface.

9. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
heating the layer of print agent on the cleaning surface to a first temperature matching a temperature of the first surface during a print job; and
heating the layer of print agent on the cleaning surface to a second temperature, higher than the first temperature after completion of the print job.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first surface is a surface of an intermediate transfer layer, the method further comprising applying a fresh layer of print agent from the intermediate transfer member to the endless cleaning surface in response to a determination that a current layer of print agent on the endless cleaning agent has reduced ability to transfer the residue from the intermediate transfer member.

11. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising, prior to engaging the endless cleaning surface with the first surface, allowing the first surface to cool such that it is at a lower temperature than the rotatable cleaning surface.

12. A method comprising:
apart from forming an image of a print job, applying a layer of thermoplastic print agent to a cleaning surface by applying the print agent to an intermediate transfer member and transferring the print agent from the intermediate transfer member to the cleaning surface;
determining that cleaning of the intermediate transfer member is to be carried out, and in response:
heating the print agent on the cleaning surface; and
engaging the cleaning surface with the intermediate transfer member to adhere residue on the intermediate transfer member to the print agent on the cleaning surface.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein determining that cleaning of the intermediate transfer member is to be carried out comprises determining that a predetermined number of print impressions has been made.

14. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising, after engaging the cleaning surface with the intermediate transfer member, determining that a reapplication of thermoplastic print agent to the cleaning surface is indicated, and in response, applying a further layer of thermoplastic print agent to the cleaning surface.

15. A method according to 14 , wherein determining that a reapplication of thermoplastic print agent to the cleaning surface is indicated comprises determining that the cleaning surface has engaged with the intermediate transfer member a predetermined number of times.

16. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising applying the print agent on the intermediate transfer member spanning a seam portion of the intermediate transfer member.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Kedem Amir
• Kokotov Michael
• Ploshnik Elina
• Nesher Guy
• Feygelman Alex
• Shiran Eran
• Shalem Nadav
• Talmor Chen

Classifications

• G03G15/161 Primary

  with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent · CPC title

• G03G15/0806

  on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller (complete developer unit G03G15/0896) · CPC title

• G03G15/11

  Removing excess liquid developer, e.g. by heat · CPC title

• G03G15/162

  details of the the intermediate support, e.g. chemical composition · CPC title

• G03G2215/1661

  of transfer belt · CPC title