Transferring print agent to cleanable medium
In an example, a method includes forming a print agent pattern on an image forming surface and transferring the print agent pattern from the image forming surface to an intermediate transfer member. In a first mode of operation in which a printable substrate is not between the intermediate transfer member and a cleanable medium, the print agent pattern may be transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the cleanable medium and then cleaned from the cleanable medium. In a second mode of operation, the printable substrate may be provided between the intermediate transfer member and the cleanable medium, and the same print agent pattern or a different print agent pattern may be transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the printable substrate.
1. A method comprising:
forming a print agent pattern on an image forming surface;
transferring the print agent pattern from the image forming surface to an intermediate transfer member;
in a first mode of operation in which a printable substrate is not between the intermediate transfer member and a cleanable medium:
transferring the print agent pattern from the intermediate transfer member to the cleanable medium, and
cleaning the print agent pattern from the cleanable medium;
in a second mode of operation:
providing the printable substrate between the intermediate transfer member and the cleanable medium, and
transferring the same print agent pattern or a different print agent pattern from the intermediate transfer member to the printable substrate;
incrementing a counter each time the print agent pattern is cleaned from the cleanable medium; and
transitioning between the first and second modes of operation in response to the counter satisfying a threshold.
2. The method of claim 1 in which print agent is transferred to and cleaned from the cleanable medium repeatedly.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising collecting print agent cleaned from the cleanable medium.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleanable medium is an endless surface.
5. The method of claim 4 , comprising driving the endless surface with a roller.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleanable medium comprises a plastic surface, a primer-coated paper surface, or a primer-coated fabric surface.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein cleaning the print agent pattern from the cleanable medium comprises scraping the print agent from the cleanable medium.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein cleaning the print agent pattern from the cleanable medium comprises sponging the print agent from the cleanable medium using a solvent.
9. A print apparatus comprising:
an electrostatic imaging plate;
an intermediate transfer member;
an impression cylinder;
an endless cleanable medium; and
a cleaning station to clean the endless cleanable medium;
wherein, in a first mode of operation, the intermediate transfer member is to transfer an image from the electrostatic imaging plate to a printable substrate via the intermediate transfer member wherein the printable substrate is provided between the impression cylinder and the intermediate transfer member;
wherein, in a second mode of operation, the intermediate transfer member is to transfer an image from the electrostatic imaging plate to the endless cleanable medium via the intermediate transfer member;
wherein a counter is incremented each time the cleaning station cleans the image from the endless cleanable medium; and
wherein the print apparatus is transitioned between the first and second modes of operation in response to the counter satisfying a threshold.
10. The print apparatus of claim 9 in which the endless cleanable medium is arranged about at least a portion of the impression cylinder.
11. The print apparatus of claim 9 in which the endless cleanable medium comprises a surface of an impression cylinder.
12. The print apparatus of claim 9 in which the endless cleanable medium comprises an endless belt provided between the impression cylinder and the intermediate transfer member.
13. The print apparatus of claim 9 in which the electrostatic imaging plate is photo imaging plate and is mounted on an imaging cylinder.
14. The print apparatus of claim 9 in which the cleaning station comprises a reservoir to contain cleaning fluid and a print agent collection system.