Patent ID: 7971979

Claim:
A high-speed phase change ink image producing machine comprising: (a) a movable imaging member having an imaging surface; (b) a printhead system connected to said control subsystem for pixel-wise ejecting drops of melted liquid phase change ink onto said imaging surface to form an image; (c) a substrate supply and handling system for feeding image receiving substrates to an image transfer station to receive the formed image; and (d) a static eliminating apparatus including: (i) a first cylindrical member having a closed end and an open end opposite said closed end; (ii) a second cylindrical member having a first open end and a second open end, the first open end of the second cylindrical member being connected to said first cylindrical member; (iii) a conductive insert in said second cylindrical member, said conductive insert having a washer-like portion that extends to an external rim surface of said conductive insert and an inner periphery from which conductive radial protrusions extend inwardly within the second cylindrical member; and (iv) a conductive grounding brush mounted into contact with said external rim surface of said conductive insert and connected to electrical ground to enable particulate matter within pockets formed by the radial protrusions within the second cylindrical member to be electrically connected to electrical ground.