Drum maintenance system with leak detection
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0027315
(2011-02-15)
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등록번호 |
US-8668326
(2014-03-11)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
A printer includes a release agent detector that responds to release agent contacting the detector by generating a signal. The signal is processed by a controller to alter operation of the printer.
대표청구항
▼
1. A printer comprising: a rotatable member having an image receiving surface;a printing system configured to deposit ink onto the surface of the rotatable member;a supply of release agent, the release agent supply including an applicator that is configured for selective engagement with the rotating
1. A printer comprising: a rotatable member having an image receiving surface;a printing system configured to deposit ink onto the surface of the rotatable member;a supply of release agent, the release agent supply including an applicator that is configured for selective engagement with the rotating image receiving member to transfer release agent from the release agent supply to the rotating image receiving member;a release agent detector positioned proximate the release agent supply, the release agent detector including an electrical conductor and a substrate, the substrate responds to contact with release agent to alter electrical continuity of the electrical conductor;an electrical power supply operatively connected to the electrical conductor of the release agent detector; anda controller operatively connected to the electrical conductor of the release agent to monitor electrical current in the electrical conductor of the release agent detector and to detect a change in the electrical continuity of the electrical conductor occurring in response to the substrate contacting release agent. 2. The printer of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is mounted on the substrate and the substrate swells in response to contact with release agent to interrupt the electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 3. The printer of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductor is mounted on the substrate and the substrate dissolves in response to contact with release agent to interrupt the electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 4. The printer of claim 1, the electrical conductor further comprising: a first electrical conductor; anda second electrical conductor, the substrate being positioned between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor to isolate electrically the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor, the substrate being comprised of a material that dissolves in response to contact with release agent to establish electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. 5. The printer of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a conductive foil. 6. The printer of claim 1 wherein the substrate is made of silicone rubber and the electrical conductor is a layer of conductive paint applied to the silicone rubber. 7. A release agent detector for use in a solid ink printer comprising: an electrical conductor; anda substrate, the substrate being configured to respond to contact with release agent to interrupt electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 8. The release agent detector of claim 7 wherein the electrical conductor is mounted on the substrate and the substrate swells in response to contact with release agent to interrupt electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 9. The release agent detector of claim 7 wherein the electrical conductor is mounted on the substrate and the substrate dissolves in response to contact with release agent to interrupt electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 10. The release agent detector of claim 7, the electrical conductor further comprising: a first electrical conductor; anda second electrical conductor, the substrate being positioned between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor to isolate electrically the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor, the substrate being comprised of a material that dissolves in response to contact with release agent to establish electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. 11. The release agent detector of claim 7 wherein the substrate comprises aluminum foil. 12. The printer of claim 7 wherein the substrate is made of silicone rubber and the electrical conductor is a layer of conductive paint applied to the silicone rubber. 13. A method of detecting release agent leaks in a solid ink printer comprising: positioning a substrate proximate an electrical conductor;operatively connecting an electrical current to the electrical conductor; anddetecting an interruption in the electrical current that occurs in response to the substrate contacting release agent. 14. The method of claim 13, the electrical current interruption detection further comprising: detecting the interruption in the electrical current flowing through the electrical conductor in response to the substrate swelling as release agent contacts the substrate. 15. The method of claim 13, the electrical current interruption detection further comprising: detecting the interruption in the electrical current flowing through the electrical conductor in response to the substrate dissolving as release agent contacts the substrate. 16. The method of claim 13, the positioning of the substrate further comprising: interposing the substrate between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor to electrically isolate the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor; andthe electrical current interruption detection further comprising: detecting commencement of a flow of electrical current through the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor in response to release agent contacting the substrate and the substrate dissolving to establish electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. 17. The method of claim 13, the positioning of the substrate further comprising: mounting the electrical conductor on an aluminum foil substrate. 18. The method of claim 13, the positioning of the substrate further comprising: applying a layer of conductive paint to a silicone rubber substrate. 19. A drum maintenance unit for an inkjet printer, the drum maintenance unit comprising: a housing configured for insertion into and removal from an inkjet printer proximate a rotatable image receiving member in the inkjet printer, the housing including a reservoir;a supply of release agent contained within the reservoir;an applicator supported by the housing, the applicator being configured for selective engagement with the rotatable member to transfer release agent from the release agent supply to the rotatable member;a release agent detector secured to the housing proximate the release agent supply, the release agent detector including an electrical conductor and a substrate, the substrate responds to contact with release agent to alter electrical continuity of the electrical conductor; andan electrical connector configured to electrically couple the conductor of the release agent detector to a power supply when the housing is inserted into the solid ink printer. 20. The drum maintenance unit of claim 19, wherein the electrical connector is further configured to operatively connect the electrical conductor to a controller, the controller being configured to monitor electrical current in the electrical conductor of the release agent detector and to detect a change in the electrical continuity of the electrical conductor occurring in response to the substrate contacting release agent. 21. The drum maintenance unit of claim 19 wherein the electrical conductor is mounted on the substrate and the substrate swells in response to contact with release agent to interrupt the electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 22. The drum maintenance unit of claim 19 wherein the electrical conductor is mounted on the substrate and the substrate dissolves in response to contact with release agent to interrupt the electrical continuity of the electrical conductor. 23. The drum maintenance unit of claim 19, the electrical conductor further comprising: a first electrical conductor; anda second electrical conductor, the substrate is positioned between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor to isolate electrically the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor, the substrate being comprised of a material that dissolves in response to contact with release agent to establish electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor. 24. The drum maintenance unit of claim 19 wherein the substrate is an aluminum foil. 25. The drum maintenance unit of claim 19 wherein the substrate is made of silicone rubber and the electrical conductor is a layer of conductive paint applied to the silicone rubber. 26. A method of servicing an inkjet printer comprising: removing a first drum maintenance unit from an inkjet printer, the first drum maintenance unit including a reservoir for containing a supply of release agent, an applicator for transferring release agent from the reservoir to a surface of a rotatable image receiving member of the inkjet printer, and a first release agent detector including a first electrical conductor having a first electrical continuity; andinstalling a second drum maintenance unit in the inkjet printer, the second drum maintenance unit including a reservoir for containing a supply of release agent, an applicator for transferring release agent from the reservoir to the surface of the rotatable image receiving member, and a second release agent detector having a second electrical conductor and a substrate, the second electrical conductor having a second electrical continuity, the substrate being comprised of a material that changes in response to contact with release agent,wherein the second electrical conductor and the substrate are configured in the second drum maintenance unit to enable the second electrical conductor to change from the second electrical continuity to the first electrical continuity in response to the substrate contacting release agent. 27. A method of servicing a drum maintenance unit, the method comprising: removing a first release agent detector from a housing of a drum maintenance unit, the housing including a reservoir for containing a supply of release agent and an applicator for transferring release agent from the reservoir to a rotatable image receiving surface of an inkjet printer, the first release agent detector having a first electrical conductor, the first electrical conductor having a first electrical continuity; andincorporating a second release agent detector into the housing of the drum maintenance unit, the second release agent detector having a second electrical conductor and a substrate, the second electrical conductor having a second electrical continuity, the second being comprised of a material that alters the electrical continuity of the second electrical conductor from the second electrical continuity to the first electrical continuity in response to contact with release agent. 28. The method of claim 27, the removal of the first release agent detector further comprising: removing the housing of the drum maintenance unit from the inkjet printer before the second release agent detector is incorporated into the housing. 29. The method of claim 27 further comprising: inserting the housing of the drum maintenance unit into the inkjet printer after the second release agent detector is incorporated into the housing.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
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Islam, Abu S.; Gordon, Michael C.; Gault, Joseph B.; Fioravanti, Alexander J.; Kessler, Kelly Anne; Hindman, Larry Eugene; Baur, Bruce Karl; Esplin, Ernest I.; Phillips, Scott J.; Leighton, Roger G., Drum maintenance system for an imaging device and method and system for maintaining an imaging device.
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Simon Jay S. (211 State Ct. Northbrook IL 60062) Simon Morris (2050 Mallard Dr. Northbrook IL 60062), Elongate sensor having polymeric electrodes filled with conductive particles and having braided sleeves.
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Mele, Albert, Safety shutoff apparatus and method.
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Talbot, Cary D.; Moberg, Sheldon B.; Causey, III, James D.; Yonemoto, Jay A., Selective potting for controlled failure and electronic devices employing the same.
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Franklin, Robert C., Shutoff valve system with leak detector.
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Franklin,Robert C., Shutoff valve system with leak detector.
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