Vapor capture subsystem and method thereof

A vapor capture subsystem, which improves capturing efficiency of a carrier solvent, is provided. The vapor capture subsystem provides a ring shaped drying belt which absorbs the carrier solvent in a developing material that is developed on the surface of an organic photoconductor belt by a developer, a regeneration roller which makes the carrier solvent absorbed at the ring shaped drying belt vapor, a condenser which captures the carrier solvent vaporized at the regeneration roller and makes the vaporized carrier solvent liquid by cooling, tubes which lead the carrier solvent vaporized at the regeneration roller to the condenser, an air pump which leads the carrier solvent vaporized at the regeneration roller to the condenser, and a manifold which covers one end side of the ring shaped drying belt and the regeneration roller in order that the vapor generated at the regeneration roller does not leak to the outside. The capturing efficiency at the manifold can be increased by making the drying temperature at the regeneration roller 85.degree. C. or more, and making the sucking air quantity of the air pump 22 to 45 liters/minute.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a vapor capture subsystem and method
 thereof, in which liquid is captured from a place by making the liquid
 vapor, and further the vapor is made to be liquid again and returned to
 the original place.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
 An image forming apparatus using electrophotography provides a vapor
 capture subsystem, in which liquid is captured from a place and is made to
 be vapor, and further the vapor is made to be liquid again and returned to
 the original place.
 A developing material (ink) consists of toners being solid particles, a
 solvent including carrier electrons (hereinafter referred to as a carrier
 solvent), and other substances. The ink made to be visible on an organic
 photoconductor surface can not be transferred to a paper, when the solvent
 remains. In this, the organic photoconductor is also called an organic
 photo-rayer. In order to transfer the ink, it is necessary that only the
 solid particles are made to remain on the organic photoconductor surface
 selectively, and the unnecessary solvent is removed, and an image must be
 formed in filming. This function is performed by a vapor capture
 subsystem.
 When an image is transferred to a paper at an image forming apparatus using
 a carrier solvent, capturing, all the carrier solvent thoroughly is an
 important subject to achieve a high quality image and also to reuse the
 carrier solvent.
 As a first example of the conventional technology Japanese Patent
 Application Laid-Open No. HEI 8-166721 discloses a carrier solvent vapor
 capture subsystem for a liquid image forming apparatus. This conventional
 carrier solvent vapor capture subsystem for a liquid image forming
 apparatus provides a liquefying means for liquefying captured carrier
 solvent vapor, a separating means for separating the liquid made through
 the liquefying means into the carrier solvent and water, and a cooling
 equipment having fins for cooling provided at a route which the captured
 carrier solvent vapor passes through. And at least a part of the surface
 of the fin is made of a material which is difficult to be gotten wet by
 the carrier solvent.
 As a second example of the conventional technology, Japanese Patent
 Application Laid-Opcn No. HEI 8-166722 discloses a carrier solvent vapor
 capture subsystem for a liquid image forming apparatus and a liquid image
 forming apparatus using this subsystem. This conventional carrier solvent
 vapor capture subsystem for a liquid image forming apparatus provides a
 vapor capturing chamber where a part such as a fuser, in which the carrier
 solvent vapor is liable to rise, is covered by a covering component and is
 made to be an airtight structure, a vapor drain from the vapor capturing
 chamber to a vapor liquefying means, a vapor liquefying means for
 liquefying the carrier solvent vapor captured through the vapor drain, a
 separating means for separating the liquid made through the liquefying
 means into the carrier solvent and water, and an air current generator
 which is at a route through which the carrier solvent vapor passes and at
 a downstream position from the vapor liquefying means.
 However, the first example mentioned above only describes that the vapor
 capturing is performed smoothly. And the second example mentioned above
 only describes that high liquefying efficiency is performed. And they do
 not disclose a concrete means to improve the capturing efficiency of the
 carrier solvent.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vapor
 capture subsystem and a method thereof, in which capturing efficiency of a
 carrier solvent is improved.
 According to a first embodiment of the present invention, for achieving the
 object mentioned above, there is provided a vapor capture subsystem. The
 vapor capture subsystem provides an absorbing means for absorbing a
 carrier solvent in a developing material that is developed on the surface
 of an organic photoconductor belt by a developer, a vaporizing means for
 vaporizing the carrier solvent absorbed at the absorbing means, a cooling
 means which captures the carrier solvent vaporized by the vaporizing means
 and makes the vaporized carrier solvent liquid by cooling, tube components
 which lead the carrier solvent vaporized by the vaporizing means to the
 cooling means, a sucking means which leads the carrier solvent vaporized
 by the vaporizing means to the cooling means, and a covering component
 which covers one end side of the absorbing means and the vaporizing means
 in order that the vapor generated by the vaporizing means does not leak to
 the outside.
 Preferably, the drying temperature of the vaporizing means is made to be
 85.degree. C. or more, and the air sucking quantity of the sucking means
 is made to be 22 to 45 liters/minute, most preferably 22 to 38
 liters/minute.
 Additionally, the number of the tube components is preferably four to
 twelve pieces, and the inside diameter of the tube components is
 preferably seven to twelve mm.
 Preferably, the covering component is made of a heat-resistant resin
 material and the heat-resistant resin material is preferably polycarbonate
 or polyethylene terephthalate.
 In a preferred embodiment, the absorbing means is a ring shaped drying belt
 whose one end contacts the organic photoconductor belt, the vaporizing
 means is a regeneration roller which is provided at the opposite side of
 the position where the ring shaped drying belt contacts the organic
 photoconductor belt, and contacts the inside surface of the ring shaped
 drying belt. In this preferred embodiment, the covering component has an
 opening pair at the side where the ring shaped drying belt contacts the
 organic photoconductor belt, and is provided in a state that a designated
 interval exists between the outside surface of the ring shaped drying belt
 and the inside surface of the covering component in order to provide
 routes through which outside air from said opening par passes. The
 capacity of a first route provided on the outside surface of the upper
 side of the ring shaped drying belt is, in this embodiment, preferably
 larger than the capacity of a second route provided on the outside surface
 of the lower side of the ring shaped drying belt. The covering component
 has preferably has an air outlet at the vertical under position of the
 regeneration roller, and the vapor sucked by the sucking means is
 outputted from the air outlet.
 Further, the covering component is preferably provided in a state that the
 ratio of inputting air quantity of the first route to the addition of the
 inputting air quantities of the first and second routes is 40 to 60%.
 According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a vapor capture
 subsystem provides an absorbing means for absorbing a carrier solvent in a
 developing material that is developed on the surface of an organic
 photoconductor belt by a developer, a vaporizing means for vaporizing the
 carrier solvent absorbed at the absorbing means, a cooling means which
 captures the carrier solvent vaporized by the vaporizing means and makes
 the vaporized carrier solvent liquid by cooling, tube components which
 lead the carrier solvent vaporized by the vaporizing means to the cooling
 means, a sucking means which leads the carrier solvent vaporized by the
 vaporizing means to the cooling means, and a covering component which
 covers one end side of the absorbing means and the vaporizing means such
 that the vapor generated by the vaporizing means does not leak to the
 outside. Preferably, the number of the tube components is four to twelve
 pieces, and the inside diameter of the tube components is seven to twelve
 mm.
 Preferably, in the second embodiment, the covering component is made of a
 heat-resistant resin material and the heat-resistant resin material is
 polycarbonate or polyethylene terephthalate.
 In this second embodiment, preferably, the absorbing means is a ring shaped
 drying belt whose one end contacts with the organic photoconductor belt,
 the vaporizing means is a regeneration roller which is provided at the
 opposite side of the position where the ring shaped drying belt contacts
 the organic photoconductor belt and the inside surface of the ring shaped
 drying belt. Preferably, the covering component has an opening part at the
 side where the ring shaped drying belt contacts the organic photoconductor
 belt, and is provided such that a designated interval exists between the
 outside surface of the ring shaped drying belt and the inside surface of
 the covering component in order to provide routes through which outside
 air from the opening part passes, the capacity of a first route provided
 on the outside surface of the upper side of the ring shaped drying belt is
 larger than the capacity of a second route provided on the outside surface
 of the lower side of the ring shaped drying belt. Preferably, the covering
 component has an air outlet at the vertical under position of the
 regeneration roller and the vapor sucked by the sucking means is outputted
 from the air outlet.
 Alternatively, the covering component can be provided such that the ratio
 of inputting air quantity of the first route to the addition of the
 inputting air quantities of the first and second routes is 40 to 50%.
 In a further embodiment, a vapor capture subsystem provides an absorbing
 means for absorbing a carrier solvent in a developing material that is
 developed on the surface of an organic photoconductor belt by a developer,
 a vaporizing means for vaporing the carrier solvent absorbed at the
 absorbing means, a cooling means which captures the carrier solvent
 vaporized by the vaporizing means and makes the vaporized carrier solvent
 liquid by cooling, tube components which lead the carrier solvent
 vaporized by the vaporizing means to the cooling means, a sucking means
 which leads the carrier solvent vaporized by the vaporizing means to the
 cooling means, and a covering component which covers one end side of the
 absorbing means and the vaporizing means such that the vapor generated by
 the vaporizing means does not leak to the outside. Preferably, the
 covering component is made of a heat-resistant resin material and the
 heat-resistant resin material is polycarbonate or polyethylene
 terephthalate.
 In this further embodiment, preferably, the absorbing means is a ring
 shaped drying belt whose one end contacts the organic photoconductor belt,
 the vaporizing means is a regeneration roller which is provided at the
 opposite side of the position where the ring shaped drying belt contacts
 the organic photoconductor belt and contacts the inside surface of the
 ring shaped drying belt the covering component has an opening part at the
 side where the ring shaped drying belt contacts the organic photoconductor
 belt is provided such that a designated interval exists between the
 outside surface of the ring shaped drying belt and the inside surface of
 the covering component in order to provide routes through which outside
 air from the opening part passes, and the capacity of a first route
 provided on the outside surface of the upper side of the ring shaped
 drying belt is larger than the capacity of a second route provided on the
 outside surface of the lower side of said ring shaped drying belt.
 Preferably, the covering component has an air outlet at the vertical under
 position of the regeneration roller the vapor sucked by the sucking means
 is outputted from the air outlet, and the covering component is provided
 such that the ratio of inputting air quantity of the first route to the
 addition of the inputting air quantities of the first and second routes is
 40 to 50%.
 According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a vapor
 capture subsystem provides a ring shaped drying belt whose one end
 contacts with an organic photoconductor belt and absorbs a carrier solvent
 in a developing material that is developed on the surface of the organic
 photoconductor belt by a developer, a regeneration roller which is
 provided at the opposite side of the position where the ring shaped drying
 belt contacts the organic photoconductor belt, contacts the inside surface
 of the ring shaped drying belt, and makes the carrier solvent absorbed at
 the ring shaped drying belt vapor. The system further includes a condenser
 which captures the carrier solvent vaporized at the regeneration roller
 and makes the vaporized carrier solvent liquid by cooling, tubes which
 lead the carrier solvent vaporized at the regeneration roller to the
 condenser, an air pump which leads the carrier solvent vaporized at the
 regeneration roller to the condenser, and a manifold which has an opening
 part at the side where the ring shaped drying belt contacts the organic
 photoconductor belt, and is provided such that a designated interval
 exists between the outside surface of the ring shaped drying belt and the
 inside surface of the manifold in order to provide routes through which
 outside air from the opening part passes, and the capacity of a first
 route provided on the outside surface of the upper side of said ring
 shaped drying belt is larger than the capacity of a second route provided
 on the outside surface of the lower side of the ring shaped drying belt.
 Preferably, the manifold has an air outlet at the vertical under position
 of the regeneration roller, the vapor sucked by the air pump is, outputted
 from the air outlet and the manifold is provided such that the ratio of
 inputting air quantity of the first route to the addition of the inputting
 air quantities of the first and second routes is 40 to 50%.
 In still a further embodiment of the present invention, a vapor capture
 method in an image forming apparatus provides the steps of absorbing a
 carrier solvent in a developing material that is developed on the surface
 of an organic photoconductor belt by a developer, vaporizing the carrier
 solvent absorbed at the absorbing step, sucking the carrier solvent
 vaporized at the vaporizing step and leading to a cooling step, and
 cooling the vaporized carrier solvent sucked at the sucking step and
 making the vaporized carrier solvent liquid by cooling. Preferably, the
 drying temperature of the vaporizing step is made to be 85.degree. C. or
 more, the air sucking quantity of the sucking step is made to be 22 to 45
 liters/minute, most preferably, 22 to 38 liters/minute.
 Preferably, the number and the inside diameter of the tube components,
 which lead the carrier solvent vaporized at the vaporizing step to the
 cooling step, is four to twelve pieces and seven to twelve mm
 respectively.
 In still another embodiment of the present invention, a vapor capture
 method in an image forming apparatus provides the steps of; absorbing a
 carrier solvent in a developing material that is developed on the surface
 of an organic photoconductor belt by a developer, vaporizing the carrier
 solvent absorbed at the absorbing step, sucking the carrier solvent
 vaporized at the vaporizing step and leading to a cooling step, and
 cooling the vaporized carrier solvent sucked at the sucking step and
 making the vaporized carrier solvent liquid by cooling. In this
 embodiment, preferably, the number and the inside diameter of tube
 components, which lead the carrier solvent vaporized at the vaporizing
 step to the cooling step, is four to twelve pieces and seven to twelve mm
 respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention are
 explained in detail. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of an
 embodiment of an image forming apparatus using a vapor capture subsystem
 of the present invention.
 As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus using the vapor capture
 subsystem of the present invention consists of a developer 1 which
 develops a developing material on a surface of an organic photoconductor
 belt 2, the organic photoconductor belt 2 in which the developing material
 is developed on the surface by the developer 1, a drying roller 3 which
 absorbs a carrier solvent in the developing material, regeneration rollers
 4 which change liquid to gas by applying heat to the carrier solvent
 absorbed by the drying roller 3, a manifold 5 which covers the drying
 roller 3 and the regeneration rollers 4 and captures the carrier solvent
 changed to vapor at the regeneration rollers 4, a condenser 7 which
 captures vapor generated in the manifold 5 and condenses the vapor to
 liquid by cooling the vapor, an air pump 9 which leads the vapor in the
 manifold 5 to the condenser 7, a filter 11 which removes the carrier
 solvent included in the vapor not captured by the condenser 7, first tubes
 6 which connect the manifold 5 to the condenser 7, a second tube 8 which
 connects the condenser 7 to the air pump 9, and a third tube 10 which
 connects the output side of the air pump 9 to the filter 11.
 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of another embodiment of an
 image forming apparatus using the vapor capture subsystem of the present
 invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a ring shaped drying belt 15 is using
 instead of the drying roller 3 used in FIG. 1. The ring shaped drying belt
 15 absorbs a carrier solvent in the developing material on the organic
 photoconductor belt 2.
 FIG. 3 is a diagram enlarging the pair of the regeneration roller 4 and the
 manifold 5 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the manifold 5 is provided in a
 state that the manifold 5 covers the regeneration roller 4 so that the
 vapor generated at the regeneration roller 4 does not leak. And the
 manifold 5 provides air inlets 12 and 13 from which air is inputted, and
 an air outlet 14 as shown in FIG. 3. The carrier solvent vaporized at the
 regeneration rollers 4 is sucked by the air pump 9 and is drained to the
 outside of the manifold 5 from this air outlet 14.
 Next, an operation of the image forming apparatus used the vapor capture
 subsystem of the present invention is explained. First, a developing
 material is developed on the surface of the organic photoconductor belt 2
 by the developer 1. The developing material is transferred by the organic
 photoconductor belt 2, and the ring shaped drying belt 15 absorbs a
 carrier solvent in the developing material. Further, the carrier solvent
 is absorbed by the regeneration roller 4 and is heated and dried, and is
 changed from liquid to vapor. The ring shaped drying belt 15 and the
 regeneration roller 4 are covered with the manifold 5, vapor generated in
 the manifold 5 is captured at the condenser 7 and cooled. In this, the
 carrier solvent is changed to liquid from vapor. The liquid outputted from
 the condenser 7 is sucked by the air pump 9 via the second tube 8, and
 further goes to the filter 11 via the third tube 10, and is outputted to
 the outside of the apparatus. The air pump 9 generates the total air flow
 in this apparatus.
 FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relation between the air flow quantity through
 the air pump and the capturing efficiency at the manifold, the capturing
 efficiency at the condenser, and the total capturing efficiency where no
 improvement is applied to the vapor capture subsystem. As shown in FIG. 4,
 the total efficiency does not reach 80% at the drying temperature
 85.degree. C.
 In order to increase the capturing efficiency at the manifold 5, the
 capturing efficiency at the condenser 7, and the total capturing
 efficiency integrating these two efficiencies compared with the
 conventional vapor capture subsystem, the vapor capture subsystem of the
 present invention achieved the following improvements.
 First, the temperature of the regeneration rollers 4 and the air flow
 quantity of the air pump 9 are explained. When the amount of the supplying
 carrier solvents is decided to be a designated value, the amount of heat
 needed to generate vapor is decided, and the air flow quantity needed to
 transport the vapor is also decided. The capturing volume of the carrier
 solvents Nv is a function of the air flow quantity Qc, the vapor
 concentration Cs, and the drying temperature T. And the capturing
 efficiency is improved by optimizing these factors. That is, the Nv is
 expressed in an equation (1).
EQU Nv=f(Qc,Cs,T) (1)
 FIG. 5 is a graph showing the total capturing efficiency and the air flow
 quantity at the vapor capture subsystem of the present invention, in the
 conditions that the drying temperature at the regeneration roller 4 is 80
 and 85.degree. C. and the inside diameter and number of the first tubes 6
 are changed. According to the relation mentioned above equation (1), for
 example, in case that the supplying amount of the carrier solvents is 900
 mg/minute and the drying temperature is 85.degree. C., as shown in FIG. 5,
 at the air flow quantity 22 to 38 liters/minute, the total capturing
 efficiency were able to achieve the value more than 90%. And even at that
 the air flow quantity is 38 to 45 liters/minute, the total capturing
 efficiency achieved the value more than 86%. In this, the more the air
 flow quantity, the more the capturing efficiency at the manifold. However,
 in case that the air flow quantity is more than 27 liters/minute, the
 leaked vapor amount from the condenser increases and the condenser
 efficiency becomes low.
 FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relation between the temperature of the
 regeneration roller 4 and the capturing efficiency at the manifold 5, the
 capturing efficiency at the condenser 7, and the total capturing
 efficiency, at the air flow quantity is 27 liters/minute. As shown in FIG.
 6, in case that the air flow quantity is 27 liters/minute, the drying
 temperature becomes optimum at more than 85.degree. C.
 Next, the diameter and number of the first tubes 6 arc explained. The
 capturing efficiency is decided by the diameter and number of first tubes
 6 and the air flow quantity. In case that the diameter of the first tubes
 6 is too small, the capturing capacity becomes small and the squash of the
 first tubes 6 occurs. And in case that the diameter of the first tubes 6
 is too large, the flow velocity becomes low. In case that the number of
 tubes is too many, the flow velocity in each tube becomes low, and in case
 that the number of tubes is only a few, the capturing capacity becomes
 low. The air flow quantity Qc is a function of the diameter of tubes Dt,
 the number of tubes Nt, and the power of the air pump Ip and is shown in
 an equation (2). The capturing efficiency 10 is increased by optimizing
 these factors.
EQU Qc=f(Dt,Nt,Ip) (2)
 FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relation between the inside diameter of the
 first tubes 6 and the capturing efficiency at the manifold 5. In FIG. 7,
 the number of the first tubes 6 is 12 pieces, and the air flow quantity of
 the air pump 9 is 27 liters/minute. As shown in FIG. 7, the capturing
 efficiency at the manifold 5 can secure over 99% at the case that the
 inside diameter of the first tubes 6 is 7 to 12 mm.
 FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relation between the number of the first tubes
 6 and the capturing efficiency at the manifold 5. In FIG. 8, the inside
 diameter of the first tubes 6 is 10 mm, and the air flow quantity of the
 air pump 9 is 27 liters/minute. As shown in FIG. 8, the capturing
 efficiency at the manifold 5 can secure over 99% at the case that the
 number of the first tubes 6 is 4 to 12 pieces.
 As mentioned above, the capturing efficiency at the manifold 5 can secure
 over 99% by that the inside diameter of first tubes 6, which leads the
 vapor generated in the manifold 5 to the condenser 7, is made to be 7 to
 12 mm, and the number of first tubes 6 is made to be 4 to 12 pieces. As
 shown in FIG. 5 before, the total capturing efficiency can be achieved at
 the optimum conditions that the inside diameter of the first tubes 6 is 10
 mm, the number of the first tubes 6 is 12 pieces, and the drying
 temperature is 85.degree. C.
 Next, the material of the manifold 5 is explained. The amount of dew
 condensation to the inside wall is changed by the thermal conductivity of
 the material. And the capturing efficiency is changed by the material
 used. At the embodiment of the present invention, a heat resistant resin
 material such as polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
 whose thermal conductivity is lower than aluminum or alumina used in the
 conventional subsystem, is used. FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relation
 between materials used for the manifold 5 and the capturing efficiency at
 the manifold 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the capturing efficiency can be
 improved to over 99% by decreasing the amount of dew condensation to the
 inside wall of the manifold 5, because of the usage of PC or PET.
 Next, the outlet structure of the manifold 5 is explained. Even when dew
 condensed on the wall of the manifold 5 caused by the change of
 surroundings, the condensed dew drops by its own weight in the structure
 shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the capturing efficiency over 99% can be
 secured. In this, as shown in FIG. 3, the air outlet 14 of the manifold 5
 must be constructed in a state that the air outlet 14 faces downward. With
 this structure, the condensed dew drops by its own weight.
 In this case, the capacity of the air inlet 13 is made to be larger than
 that of the air inlet 12. With this structure, the pressure drop of the
 air passing through the air inlet 13 and the pressure drop of the air
 passing through the air inlet 12 become equal, and varying at the vapor
 capturing can be prevented. In this, the air flow quantity Qc is a
 function of the pressure drop Pd and the power of the air pump Ip, and is
 shown in an equation (3).
EQU Qc=f(Pd,Ip) (3)
 FIG. 10 is graph showing a relation between the capturing efficiency at the
 manifold 5 and the ratio that the inputted air quantity of the air inlet
 13 is divided by the addition of the inputted air quantities of the air
 inlets 12 and 13. In FIG. 10, the air flow quantity at the air outlet 14
 shown in FIG. 3 is fixed to 27 liters/minute. As shown in FIG. 10, by
 making the ratio of the air flow quantity of the air inlet 13 to the total
 air flow quantity 40 to 50%, the capturing efficiency over 99% at the
 manifold 5 can be secured. Making the ratio of the air flow quantity 40 to
 50% means that the ratio of the pressure drop is made to be 40 to 50% of
 the total pressure drop.
 As mentioned above, with the adjustment of the drying temperature at the
 regeneration roller 4, by improving the diameter and number of the first
 tubes 6, changing the material and structure of the manifold 5, and
 adjusting the ratio of the pressure drop at the air inlets 12 and 13, the
 dew condensation amount at the inside wall of the manifold 5 is made to be
 almost zero, and the manifold capturing efficiency is improved to be more
 than 99%, against that of the conventional manifold capturing efficiency
 of about 70%. And the condenser efficiency and the integrated total
 efficiency can be improved to be about 90%.
 The embodiment mentioned above is a suitable embodiment applied to the
 present invention. And the present invention is not limited to the
 embodiment mentioned above and can be applied to other applications
 without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example,
 the present invention can be applied to apparatuses, in which liquid is
 changed to vapor and the vapor is made to the liquid again, Such as a
 dry-cleaning apparatus. And the present invention can be applied to the
 apparatuses as an optimum means to improve the capturing efficiency.
 As clearly mentioned above at the embodiment, the present invention adjusts
 the drying temperature at a regeneration roller, improves the diameter and
 number of tubes, changes the material and structure of a manifold, and
 adjusts the ratio of the pressure drop at air inlets. With these, the dew
 condensation amount on the inside wall of the manifold is made to be
 almost zero, and the manifold capturing efficiency is improved to be more
 than 99%, against that of the conventional manifold capturing efficiency
 of about 70%. And the capturing efficiency at the condenser and the
 integrated total efficiency can be improved to be about 90%.
 And the manifold provides an opening part at the side where a ring shaped
 drying belt contacts with an organic photoconductor belt, and is provided
 in a state that a designated interval exists between the outside surface
 of the ring shaped drying belt and the inside surface of the manifold in
 order that routes in which outside air from the opening part passes
 through are provided, and the capacity of a first route provided on the
 outside surface of the upper side of the ring shaped drying belt is larger
 than the capacity of a second route provided on the outside surface of the
 lower side of the ring shaped drying belt. With this structure, the amount
 of vapor capturing can be prevented from varying. And the manifold has a
 structure that an air outlet, with which the vapor sucked by a sucking
 means is outputted, is provided vertically under the regeneration roller,
 therefore, even when the dew condensation occurs on the inside wall of the
 manifold, the condensed dew drops with its own weight.
 While the present invention has been described with reference to the
 particular illustrative embodiments it is not to be restricted by those
 embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that
 those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without
 departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.