Patent ID: 7439004
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A method for washing and de-watering a toner, comprising: (a) pumping an initial toner slurry into a filter plate of a horizontal filter press; (b) applying pressure to the initial toner slurry with a diaphragm to drive an initial liquid through a filter cloth and forming an initial toner cake; (c) releasing pressure from the initial toner cake; (d) pumping a first washing liquid into the filter plate to form an intermediate toner slurry; (e) applying pressure to the intermediate toner slurry with the diaphragm to drive a reforming liquid through the filter cloth, recovering the reforming liquid and forming an intermediate toner cake; (f) releasing pressure from the intermediate toner cake; (g) determining an impurity content of the reforming liquid; (h) comparing the impurity content of the reforming liquid with a target impurity content range; (i) if the impurity content of the reforming liquid is not within the target impurity content range, reforming the intermediate toner slurry, the reforming process comprised of: and wherein once the impurity content of the reforming liquid is within the target impurity content range, proceeding to (j)-(n); (j) pumping a second washing liquid into the filter plate to form a final toner slurry; (k) applying pressure to the final toner slurry with the diaphragm to drive a final liquid through the filter cloth and forming a final toner cake; (l) releasing pressure from the final toner cake; (m) pumping air into the filter plate to dry the final toner cake; and (n) driving the filter cloth through the horizontal filter press in a serpentine manner to remove the final toner cake.