Method and kit for removing a residue from an imaging member

• US 20060018689A1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Wing, Joseph M., Hildebrand, Robert E., Yuh, Huoy-Jen, Wagner, Moritz P., Turan, Michael J., Lundy, Douglas A., Bonn, Eric, Ryon, Randall C., Lambie, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,218,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/343
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/0005 for removing solid developer or debris from the electrographic recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/0084 Liquid

Abstract

A method for removing a residue, such as lateral charge migration (LCM) film, from an imaging member includes contacting at least a portion of the imaging member with a wash liquid capable of removing the residue. The wash liquid containing the residue is then removed, for example, by applying an absorbent material such as a toner, to the contacted portion of the imaging member.

Claims

1. A method for removing a residue from an imaging member comprising:

contacting at least a portion of the imaging member with a wash liquid capable of removing the residue from the imaging member; and

removing the wash liquid contaminated with residue from the imaging member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the removal of the wash liquid contaminated with residue comprises:

applying an absorbent material to the contacted portion of the imaging member.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the absorbent material includes toner.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein removal of the wash liquid contaminated with residue further comprises:

removing at least a portion of the applied absorbent material and contaminated wash liquid associated with the absorbent material with an electrostatic cleaner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the residue comprises reaction products of corona effluents with volatile organic chemicals.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the residue comprises morpholine and the wash liquid comprises a solvent for morpholine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wash liquid includes water.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wash liquid comprises a fugitive organic chemical.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fugitive organic chemical comprises a lower alcohol selected from C₁ to C₈ alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fugitive organic chemical includes a C₃ alcohol.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the C₃ alcohol includes isopropyl alcohol.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the wash liquid further includes water and wherein the water is present in the wash liquid at a concentration of at least 5% by weight.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the alcohol is present in the wash liquid at a concentration of at least 40%, by weight.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wash liquid comprises about 70% isopropyl alcohol and about 30% water.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting at least a portion of the imaging member with a wash liquid includes:

contacting the imaging member with an applicator which carries the wash liquid; and

driving the imaging member while the applicator is in contact with the imaging member.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, prior to contacting the imaging member with an applicator which carries the wash liquid:

mounting a presoaked pad on a removable module; and

docking the removable module in a selected location adjacent the imaging member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the module is configured for removably replacing a component of an imaging device which incorporates the imaging member and docking of the module includes replacing the component with the module.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the component includes at least one of at least a portion of a transfer deck and at least a portion of a charging station.

19. A wash kit for removing residue from a substrate comprising:

a pad;

a wash liquid carried by the pad; and

means associated with the pad for removably mounting the pad to an associated module capable of maintaining contact between the substrate and the pad; and

packaging which encloses the pad and wash liquid prior to use in a residue removal process.

20. The wash kit of claim 19, wherein the means for mounting comprises a strip of hook or loop material configured for engagement with a corresponding strip of loop or hook material carried by the associated module.

21. A system for removing residue from a substrate comprising:

a pad;

a wash liquid carried by the pad; and

a module configured for mounting adjacent the substrate for contacting the substrate with the pad whereby the residue is brought into contact with the wash liquid;

means associated with the pad for removably mounting the pad to the module.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for mounting comprises a strip of hook or loop material configured for engagement with a corresponding strip of loop or hook material carried by the module.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the module is configured for removably replacing one of a corona generator and a charging station of an associated imaging system for forming latent images on the substrate.

24. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging member;

means for forming a latent image on the imaging member;

means for transferring the latent image to a transfer material;

means for driving the imaging member relative to the forming and transferring means; and

a cleaning module capable of replacing at least a portion of the forming and transferring means, the cleaning module comprising a carrier material soaked with a wash liquid, whereby when the means for driving drives the imaging member, the wash liquid removes residue from the imaging member, the residue being formed during forming of a latent image.

25. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the imaging member comprises a photoreceptor belt.

26. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the means for forming a latent image comprises at least one charging station for charging the imaging member prior to forming a latent image, at least a portion of the charging station being in the form of a removable module;

and the cleaning module is configured for selectively replacing the module of the charging station.

27. The imaging system of claim 24, wherein the means for transferring the latent image includes a removable module comprising a corona generating device and wherein the cleaning module is configured for selectively replacing the removable module comprising the corona generating device.

28. A method for cleaning a substrate surface contaminated with a morphaline deposit comprising:

contacting the substrate with water and an alcohol to remove morpholine deposit and, thereafter, contacting the substrate with a toner.

29. A method for imaging comprising:

forming images on an imaging member;

transferring the images to transfer media, wherein the formation of the images results in a residue being formed on the imaging member which reduces the quality of the transferred image;

contacting the imaging member with a wash liquid to remove residue;

applying a toner composition to the imaging member to remove the wash liquid and residue from the imaging member; and

optionally, removing the toner composition and the associated wash liquid and residue with an electrostatic cleaner.