Patent ID: 6459865
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A liquid-developing electro-photographic printer photosensitive body cleaning method for use in a liquid-developing electro-photographic printer comprising:charging means for uniformly charging a photosensitive body surface; exposure means for optically forming a latent image on the photosensitive body surface charged; developing means for developing the latent image with a liquid developer to obtain a visible developed image; drying means for drying the developed image to obtain a film-shaped developed image; transfer/fixation means for transferring the film-shaped developed image from the photosensitive body onto a transfer roller and transferring/fixing the transferred image onto a paper inserted into a contact portion between the transfer roller and a fixation roller opposed to the transfer roller; these means being arranged around the photosensitive body, wherein a transfer roller cleaning mechanism is provided arranged in contact with the transfer roller so as to remove a harmful substance contained in a developer remaining on the transfer roller after a transfer step and deteriorating a function of the transfer roller, the method comprising a photosensitive body cleaning mode for removing a harmful substance contained in the developer remaining on a printing area of the photosensitive body and deteriorating the function of the photosensitive body, the mode including: a step of moving the fixation roller apart from the transfer roller upon completion of printing of a predetermined number of pages; a step of forming a developed image for cleaning over an entire printing area of the photosensitive body; a step of making the developed image for cleaning into a film shape; a step of transferring the film-shaped developed image for cleaning onto the transfer roller; and a step of cleaning the film-shaped developed image for cleaning using the transfer roller cleaning mechanism.