LIQUID SEPARATOR, LIQUID MIXTURE SUPPLYING SYSTEM ADOPTING SUCH LIQUID SEPARATOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A liquid separator for separating and extracting a dispersoid and a dispersion medium from a liquid sample containing the dispersoid and the dispersion medium, comprising:
- a liquid storage container capable of storing the liquid sample;
an electrode roller including a rotary shaft, arranged to touch the liquid sample in the liquid storage container, capable of conveying the liquid sample along the outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatable about the rotary shaft; and
a separating member held in contact with the electrode roller for separating the dispersion medium from the liquid sample being conveyed along the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller,wherein the liquid storage container includes a first container positioned at a specified distance to the electrode roller and a second container detachably attachable to the first container.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid separator is a device for separating and extracting a dispersoid and a dispersion medium from a liquid sample containing the dispersoid and the dispersion medium. The liquid separator is provided with a liquid storage container capable of storing the liquid sample; an electrode roller including a rotary shaft, arranged to touch the liquid sample in the liquid storage container, capable of conveying the liquid sample along the outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatable about the rotary shaft; and a separating member held in contact with the electrode roller for separating the dispersion medium from the liquid sample being conveyed along the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller. The liquid storage container includes a first container positioned at a specified distance to the electrode roller and a second container detachably attachable to the first container.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A liquid separator for separating and extracting a dispersoid and a dispersion medium from a liquid sample containing the dispersoid and the dispersion medium, comprising:
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a liquid storage container capable of storing the liquid sample; an electrode roller including a rotary shaft, arranged to touch the liquid sample in the liquid storage container, capable of conveying the liquid sample along the outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatable about the rotary shaft; and a separating member held in contact with the electrode roller for separating the dispersion medium from the liquid sample being conveyed along the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller, wherein the liquid storage container includes a first container positioned at a specified distance to the electrode roller and a second container detachably attachable to the first container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A liquid mixture supplying system, comprising:
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a liquid consuming device for consuming a liquid mixture containing a dispersoid and a dispersion medium; a liquid supplying unit for supplying the liquid mixture to the liquid consuming device; a collection system for collecting the liquid mixture that has been supplied to the liquid consuming device, but has not been consumed by the liquid consuming device; and a liquid separator provided in the collection system for separating and extracting the dispersoid and the dispersion medium from the collected liquid mixture, wherein the liquid separator includes; a liquid storage container capable of storing the liquid mixture; an electrode roller including a rotary shaft, arranged to touch the liquid mixture in the liquid storage container, capable of conveying the liquid mixture along the outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatable about the rotary shaft; a separating member held in contact with the electrode roller for separating the dispersion medium from the liquid mixture being conveyed along the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller; and a collecting member for collecting the dispersoid from the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller at a position downstream of the contact position with the electrode roller and the separating member in a rotating direction of the electrode roller, wherein the liquid storage container includes a first container positioned at a specified distance to the electrode roller and a second container detachably attachable to the first container.
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19. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
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a photoconductive drum for bearing a toner image on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a developing device for supplying a liquid developer containing toner particles and a carrier liquid to the photoconductive drum; a developer producer for producing the liquid developer of the toner particles and the carrier liquid for supply to the developing device by adjusting the mixing ratio of the toner particles and the carrier liquid; a first supply system for supplying a developer having a higher toner density than the developer used in the developing device to the developer producer; a second supply system for supplying the carrier liquid to the developer producer; a third supply system for supplying the liquid developer produced in the developer producer to the developing device via a reserve tank; a collection system for collecting the liquid developer that has been supplied to the developing device, but has not been consumed by the developing device or the photoconductive drum, and supplying the liquid developer to the developer producer; and a liquid separator provided in the collection system for separating and extracting the toner particles and the carrier liquid from the collected liquid developer, wherein the liquid separator includes; a liquid storage container capable of storing the liquid developer; an electrode roller including a rotary shaft, arranged to touch the liquid developer in the liquid storage container, capable of conveying the liquid developer along the outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatable about the rotary shaft; a separating member held in contact with the electrode roller for separating the carrier liquid from the liquid developer being conveyed along the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller; and a collecting member for collecting the toner particles from the outer circumferential surface of the electrode roller at a position downstream of the contact position with the electrode roller and the separating member in a rotating direction of the electrode roller, wherein the liquid storage container includes a first container positioned at a specified distance to the electrode roller and a second container detachably attachable to the first container. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification