GB1363720A - Electrophotographic method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

1363720 Electro-photographic copying RANK ZEROX Ltd 17 Nov 1971 [17 Nov 1970] 53361/71 Heading G2H A photo-conductive sheet 2 is secured to a table 3 and a charging device 1, pre-wetting device 5, developing device 6 and rinsing device 7 are successively moved over the sheet, the sheet being imagewise exposed between charging and pre-wetting by a system 4, and the developing device 6 comprising an endless belt or roller(s) which act as development electrodes. The process may be repeated to produce a multi-colour image. The pre-wetting device 5 preferably comprises a tank 51 of toner-free developer liquid and a valve 52 and may include rollers 57, Fig.4 (not shown) or an air nozzle 59, Fig. 5 (not shown) to remove excess prewetting liquid. The developing device 6 preferably comprises a tank 62 a valve 63 and a nozzle 64 which feeds developer liquid on to a conductive belt 61 or rollers 67, Figs.7, 8, 9 (not shown). The rinsing device 7 preferably comprises a tank 71 of rinsing liquid (optionally containing a fixing agent) a valve 72 and a nozzle 73. Combined developer-rinsing systems with tanks for different coloured developers are described with reference to Figs.13, 14 (not shown). Sheet 2 may be secured to table 3 by suction, tape, liquid or metal fixtures 34, Fig.12 (not shown) optionally with a resilient sheet (37) between sheet 2 and table 3. Table 3 is preferably pivotable to allow excess liquid to run down grooves 31 into vessels 32.