US5525446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermediate transfer member of thermoplastic film forming polymer layer laminated onto a base layer
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-05
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Granted: 1996-06-11
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Expires: 2014-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An intermediate transfer member includes a base layer and a top thermoplastic film forming polymer layer. The base layer can include carbon and the thermoplastic film forming polymer layer can include electrical property regulating materials. This intermediate transfer member shows improved mechanical as well as electrical properties. It can be employed in an electrophotographic imaging device having at least one photoreceptor and can print an image on a suitable substrate such as paper with improved toner image formation.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S. Sypula
- 👤 Joseph Mammino
- 👤 Shyshung Hwang
- 👤 Gerald M. Fletcher
- 👤 Edwin A. Urbanek
- 👤 Frank J. Bonsignore
- 👤 Donald J. Robertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G7/00; G03G7/0006; G03G7/0013; G03G7/0053; G03G7/006; G03G7/0066; G03G7/0073; G03G7/008; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An electrostatographic imaging process comprising: a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an image forming device; b) forming a toner image on said image forming device in conformance with said electrostatic latent image; c) transferring said toner image from said image forming device to an intermediate transfer member, said intermediate transfer member consisting essentially of a top layer of a thermoplastic film forming polymer having charge relaxation particles disposed therein and a charge enabling film base layer, said top layer being laminated, optionally with an adhesive layer, onto the base layer; and d) transferring said toner image from said intermediate transfer member to a receiving substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electrostatographic imaging process comprising: a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an image forming device; b) forming a toner image on said image forming device in conformance with said electrostatic latent image; c) transferring said toner image from said image forming device to an intermediate transfer member, said intermediate transfer member consisting essentially of a top layer of a thermoplastic film forming polymer having charge relaxation particles disposed therein and a charge enabling film base layer, said top layer being laminated, optionally with an adhesive layer, onto the base layer; and d) transferring said toner image from said intermediate transfer member to a receiving substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate transfer member dissipates charge from an outer surface of the top layer of said intermediate transfer member to ground or an applied potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate transfer member dissipates internal space charge from said intermediate transfer member to ground or an applied potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein said receiving substrate is selected from the group consisting of a copy sheet and a second intermediate transfer member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein the film base layer of said intermediate transfer member consists essentially of a polycarbonate resin having charge enabling particles disposed therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 5, wherein the charge enabling particles comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of tin, tin oxides, aluminum, aluminum oxides, iron, iron oxides, chromium, chromium oxides, carbon black and graphite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 5, wherein the polycarbonate resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(4,4'-dipropylidene-diphenylene carbonate), poly(4,4'-isopropylidene-diphenylene carbonate), polyether carbonate and 4,4'-cyclohexylidene diphenyl polycarbonate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein the film base layer of said intermediate transfer member consists essentially of a metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 8, wherein the metal comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper, aluminum, cobalt, tin, titanium, zinc, chromium and alloys thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer of said intermediate transfer member comprises acrylic adhesive, polyester, polyvinylbutyral, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyurethane or a mixture thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 10, wherein the acrylic adhesive is selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, methacrylate copolymer, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate and blends thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein the charge relaxation particles comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of barium titanate, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, calcium silicate, magnetite, ultra marine blue, cobalt aluminum blue, chrome-cobalt-aluminate, chromium oxide, quinacridone, diarylide yellow pigment, iron oxide, titanium-chrome oxide, phthalocyanine, zinc oxide, and cadmium sulfoselenide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic film forming polymer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polybutylenes, polyamides, polyesters, polysulfones, polysulfides, cellulosic resins, polyarylate acrylics, polyaryl sulfones, polyphenylene sulfides, polyurethanes, polyimides, epoxys, poly(amide-imides), copolyesters, polyether sulfones, polyether imides, and polyaryl ethers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the top layer of said intermediate transfer member ranges from about 0.5 mils to about 2 mils.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the film base layer of said intermediate transfer member ranges from about 1 mil to about 5 mils.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein volume resistivity of the film base layer of said intermediate transfer member is less than about 10 12 ohm-cm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein surface resistivity of the film base layer of said intermediate transfer member is greater than about 10 7 ohms/square.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein volume resistivity of the top layer of said intermediate transfer member is above about 10 10 ohm-cm to below about 10 12 ohm-cm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein the top layer of said intermediate transfer member has a dielectric thickness of about 200 μm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrostatographic imaging process according to claim 1, wherein volume resistivity of the top layer of said intermediate transfer member is greater than about 10 12 ohm-cm and the top layer has a dielectric thickness of less than about 15 microns.
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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) | 1999-06-11 | 1999-12-11 | 2000-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-11 | 2003-12-11 | 2004-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-11 | 2007-12-11 | 2008-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |