Patent ID: 6091918
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A squeegee apparatus for removing excess developer liquid from an imaging substrate in a liquid electrographic imaging system, the squeegee apparatus comprising:a squeegee roller having a shaft with a first end, a second end, and a core extending between the first end and the second end along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and an elastomeric material formed about the core, wherein the core has a cross-sectional area oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that varies along the longitudinal axis; anda loading mechanism for applying a loading force to each of the first end and the second end to load the core of the squeegee roller against the imaging substrate, thereby forming a pressure nip between the elastomeric material and the imaging substrate,wherein the cross-sectional area of the core and the loading force applied to each of the first end and the second end are selected to produce a substantially uniform loading force along the nip, the squeegee roller thereby removing excess developer liquid from the imaging substrate in a substantially uniform manner.