ELECTROSTATOGRAPHIC PRINTER FOR FORMING AN IMAGE ONTO A WEB

摘要

An electrostatographic printer for forming an image onto a web is described. The printer comprises at least one toner image-producing electrostatographic station having a drum (26) onto which a toner image can be formed, means for conveying the web past the image-producing station, means for controlling the speed and tension of the web while it is running past the image-producing station; and transfer means (34) for transferring the toner image on the drum (26) onto the web. The printer is characterised by switching means for switching the printer between a printing mode and a cleaning mode. In the printing mode the web is a printing web which moves in synchronism with the peripheral speed of the drum (26). In the cleaning mode the web is a cleaning web (210) which moves at such a speed relative to the peripheral speed of the rotatable endless surface means (26) and in contact therewith, to cause refurbishment of the rotatable endless surface means (26).