US4918487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner applicator for electrophotographic microimagery
Assignee: Coulter Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1989-01-23
•
Granted: 1990-04-17
•
Expires: 2009-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying liquid toner to fractional areas of a photoconductive recording member in processes involving microimagery. The method includes the steps of providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned, providing a carrier member having a conductive layer, electrostatically depositing liquid toner on the carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area corresponding to the fractional area to be toned on the photoconductor, contacting the toner pre-deposit on the carrier member with the fractional area on the photoconductor, and toning the fractional area on the photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from the toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to the photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner pre-deposit on the photoconductor. The apparatus includes backing members for supporting the photoconductor and contacting the fractional areas on the photoconductor with the fractional toner predeposits on the carrier member.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R. Coulter, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:46
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising the steps of: providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned; providing a carrier member having a conductive layer; electrostatically depositing liquid toner on said carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area substantially corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor; contacting said toner pre-deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor; toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising the steps of: providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned; providing a carrier member having a conductive layer; electrostatically depositing liquid toner on said carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area substantially corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor; contacting said toner pre-deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor; toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including providing a backing member for support of said photoconductor during contact with said carrier member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 2 including providing a backing member for support of said carrier member during contact with said photoconductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including reducing the liquid contained within said fractional area on said carrier member before toning.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including applying a bias voltage between said conductive substrate of said photoconductor and a said conductive layer of said carrier member during transfer toning
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including forming said toner pre-deposits on said conductive surface with a depositing electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier member includes a dielectric layer on said conductive layer and including forming said toner pre-deposits on said dielectric layer with a depositing electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier member includes a dielectric layer on said conductive layer and including forming said toner pre-deposits on said dielectric layer by electrostatically charging the dielectric in fractional areas, followed by liquid toning.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier member is a flexible belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier member is a disc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including separating said photoconductor from said carrier member after toning.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 1 including removing any remaining parts of said pre-deposit from said carrier member after toning.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein after separating said photoconductor from said carrier member said method further includes transferring the toner deposit on said photoconductor to another surface, cleaning the photoconductor, charging the photoconductor, and imaging the photoconductor with a desired image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 13 wherein said photoconductor is a flexible belt movable between designated positions to accomplish said transferring, cleaning, charging and imaging.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
A toner applicator for toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising: a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned; a carrier member having a conductive layer and electrostatically deposited liquid toner thereon to form a toner pre-deposit thereon of desired density in an area corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor, said carrier member being in close proximity to said photoconductor; means for contacting said toner deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor; and means for toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
166 words
A toner applicator for toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising: a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned; a carrier member having a conductive layer and electrostatically deposited liquid toner thereon to form a toner pre-deposit thereon of desired density in an area corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor, said carrier member being in close proximity to said photoconductor; means for contacting said toner deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor; and means for toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 including means for reducing the liquid contained within said fractional area on said carrier member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for toning includes means for applying a bias voltage between said conductive substrate of said photoconductor and said conductive layer of said carrier member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 including a depositing electrode for forming said toner pre-deposits on said conductive layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 18 wherein said carrier member is a flexible belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 18 wherein said carrier member is a disc having a planar face.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 20 wherein said disc includes protruding conductive toning areas on its face.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 wherein said carrier member includes a dielectric layer on said conductive layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 22 including a depositing electrode for forming said toner pre-deposits on said dielectric layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 23 wherein said carrier member is a flexible belt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 23 wherein said carrier member is a disc having a planar face.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 25 wherein said disc includes protruding dielectric toning areas on its face.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 22 including means for electrostatically charging said dielectric in fractional areas to form said toner pre-deposits on said dielectric layer and further including means for liquid toning said pre-deposits.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 27 wherein said carrier member is a flexible belt.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 27 wherein said carrier member is a disc having a planar face.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 29 wherein said disc includes protruding conductive toning areas on its face.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 wherein said carrier member includes a plurality of toning areas thereon and includes means for positioning a desired toning area in close proximity to a desired fractional area of said photoconductor for contact and transfer thereto.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 including first backing means for providing support to said photoconductor during contact with said carrier member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 32 including second backing means for providing support to said carrier member during contact with said photoconductor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 33 wherein said means for contacting includes means for moving said first backing means against said photoconductor to position said photoconductor against said carrier member.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 33 wherein said means for contacting includes means for moving said second backing means against said carrier member to position said carrier member against said photoconductor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 33 wherein said means for contacting includes means for simultaneously moving both of said first and second backing means to position said photoconductor against said carrier member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 36 wherein each of said first and second backing means include a plunger having an engagement head on its distal end, said engagement head being resilient in order to obtain uniform contact over the entire fractional area of said photoconductor.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
68 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 37 wherein said engagement head includes a flexible bag member and said means for moving includes a compressed air means that is activated to inflate said bag and provide said contact between said photoconductor and said carrier member, and said compressed air means is activated to deflate said bag and return said photoconductor to a position proximate to said carrier member.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 38 wherein the distal end of each plunger includes a cavity therein and said flexible bag is positioned partially within said cavity during inflation and deflation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 including means for removing any remaining parts of said predeposit from said carrier member after toning.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 wherein said photoconductor is a rectangular microfiche.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 15 wherein said photoconductor is a belt.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
The toner applicator as defined in claim 42 including a photoconductor transfer station, cleaning station, charging station and imaging station and means for moving said belt between said stations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |