Liquid Electrophotographic (LEP) printing systems utilize color pigments, binders and other additives suspended in a nonpolar liquid as the printing ink. The print process requires periodic addition of “Imaging Oil” that is a blend of the non-polar liquid combined with specific additives that enhance printing performance. The non-polar liquid is a long-chain hydrocarbon and must be contained appropriately. Accordingly, the HP Indigo print system design includes a vapor recovery system that captures the vaporized liquid inherent in the image formation process minimizing fugitive emissions. Past HP Indigo printing press designs collect this by-product of printing in waste containers that are ultimately discarded appropriately. The collected oily waste and replacement liquid materials impacts cost of printing, waste disposal expenses, and user convenience. This paper discusses the implementation of an integrated oil recycling system that separates water from the captured liquid, introduces specific additives, and reintroduces the internally reconstituted “Imaging Oil” into the print process for reuse.
John A. Thompson, "Integrated Oil Recycling System for the HP Indigo Liquid Electrophotographic Printing Press" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP24), 2008, pp 570 - 572, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2008.24.1.art00030_2