EP0472629B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color imaging system
Assignee: Spectrum Sciences BV
•
Filing: 1990-05-14
•
Granted: 1993-09-01
•
Expires: 2010-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A multicolor electrostatic imaging system has multicolor spray apparatus (14) for supplying a liquid toner of a selectable color to an electrostatic image. The spray means (14) has a multiplicity of spray outlets including a plurality of spray outlets distributed among the multiplicity of outlets, for supplying liquid toner of each of a plurality of colors. The apparatus utilizes a reverse development roller (17) and the spray apparatus (14) supplies the liquid developer to the region at which the reverse roller (17) leaves the development region.
Inventors
- 👤 Benzion Landa
- 👤 Ishaiau Lior
- 👤 Amiran Lavon
- 👤 Dan Barnea
- 👤 Paul Fenster
- 👤 Uri Levy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/104; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0121; G03G15/101; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0167; G03G2215/0174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A multicolor electrostatic imaging system comprising: an electrostatic imaging surface (10); means for applying an electrostatic image to said electrostatic image surface; means for selectively supplying (14, 69, 81, 15 or 120) a liquid developer including toner particles of a selected color to said electrostatic imaging surface; developing means (16) for developing said electrostatic image using said liquid developer to form a developed image; and means (20) for transferring said developed image to a substrate, characterized in that said means for supplying includes multicolor spray means comprising a multiplicity of stationary spray outlets (70, 108, 121) wherein each of the outlets supplies liquid developer of one of at least two selected colors, which color being different from the color supplied by at least one neighboring outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said spray means comprises a linear array of spray outlets.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
25 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said multiplicity of spray outlets include interdigitated spray outlets for liquid developer of differing colors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
53 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said multicolor spray means comprise a manifold formed of a stack of individual outlet defining members (72, 74, 76, 78, 110, 112, 114, 116), which stack defines separate developer supply conduits (56, 58, 60, 62) corresponding to each of said plurality of colors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said stack also comprises a multiplicity of separator members (84), each pair of adjacent outlet defining members being separated by a separator member, which seals the outlets defined by adjacent outlet defining members from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said stack comprises a repeating series of outlet defining members corresponding to different colors.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
52 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said spray means includes means (90, 108, 121) operative to provide a plurality of jets of developer whose cross sectional extent upon impingement with the electrostatic imaging surface does not significantly exceed the cross sectional extent thereof upon leaving the spray means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
29 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said spray means comprises means for directing a spray of liquid developer in a direction having an upward component.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
32 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said spray means comprises means for directing a spray of liquid developer onto a downward facing surface of said electrostatic imaging surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
18 words
A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein said electrostatic imaging surface comprises a cylindrical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said spray means comprises means for directing a spray of liquid developer onto at least part of the lower hemisphere of said cylindrical surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
17 words
A system according to any of claims 1-11 wherein said developing means comprises a developement electrode (17).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
A system according to any of claims 1-8 wherein: said electrostatic imaging surface is movable; and said development means comprises a development electrode (17) having a developer surface comprising contiguous portions and being in spaced relationship with said electrostatic imaging surface to form a development region (93), the system also comprising: means for moving said developer surface such that said contiguous portions of said developer surface sequentially enter said region at an entrance and leaves said development region at an exit, and wherein said multicolor spray means includes means for providing said liquid developer of a selectable color to said development region at said exit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
An imaging system comprising: a movable electrostatic imaging surface (10); means (11,12) for providing an electrostatic image on said electrostatic imaging surface; development means including a development electrode (17) having a developer surface comprising contiguous portions and being in spaced relationship with said electrostatic imaging surface to form a development region (93); means for moving said developer surface such that said contiguous portions of said developer surface sequentially enter said development region at an entrance and leaves said development region at an exit; and means (20) for transferring said developed image to a substrate, characterized in that it includes means (14, 69, 81, 15 or 120) for providing a liquid developer of a selectable color to said development region at said exit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein said means for providing a liquid developer further comprises: multicolor spray means (14, 69, 81, 15 or 120) for supplying liquid developer of a selectable color to said electrostatic imaging surface, said spray means comprising a multiplicity of spray outlets (70, 108, 121) wherein each of the outlets supplies liquid developer of one of at least two selected colors, which color being different from the color supplied by at least one neighboring outlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An imaging system according to any of claims 13-15 and including means for moving said electrostatic imaging surface so that it enters said development region at said exit and leaves said region at said entrance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An imaging system according to any of claims 13-16 wherein said means for providing a liquid developer supplies said liquid developer directly to said electrostatic imaging surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An imaging system according to any of claims 13-17 wherein said means for providing a liquid developer supplies said liquid developer to said imaging surface before it enters said development region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
An imaging system according to any of claims 13-17 wherein said means for providing a liquid developer supplies said liquid developer directly to said developer surface after it exits from said development region.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
64 words
A system according to any of claims 12-19 wherein said liquid developer of a selectable color comprises carrier liquid, toner particles and charge director, the system further comprising: means (200, 202, 206, 208, 210), responsive to the charging level of said liquid developer of a selectable color for supplying charge director at said development electrode for separately maintaining the charge of said liquid developer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
18 words
A system according to any of claims 12-20 wherein said developement electrode comprises a rotating cylindrical developement electrode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 21 and wherein said electrostatic imaging surface moves in a first direction and the surface of said rotating cylindrical developing electrode moves in adjacent spaced relationship thereto in a second direction opposite to said first direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.