ERASE UNIT FOR ION DEPOSITION WEB-FED PRINT ENGINE

摘要

An erase unit for an ion deposition web-fed print engine includes a plenum extending the width of the electrostatic image on the image cylinder and defining an information chamber with the image cylinder surface. The plenum has first and second electrodes separated by a dielectric. Upon application of a time-varying potential having a frequency of 0.2 to 50 mHz across the electrodes, ionization occurs, causing an ion current flowing in relation to the image surface until the image surface and the biasing electrode are at the same potential, thus erasing any residual electrostatic image on the cylindrical surface. By providing a DC biasing voltage, the residual electrostatic image may be erased when equalization occurs, with the image cylinder maintaining a pre-charged potential.