DE2111561A1 - Process for producing an image - Google Patents

Description

DR. R. POSCHENRIEDIR

DR. E. BOELTNER
DIPL.-ING. H.-J. MÜLLER

Patent Attorney · rr ™ / q

8 MUNICH 19 ^HJM / ^S

Lueäe-Gralin-Strasse 3 "

Teief 4437J6. Gases

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., 1675 West Maple Road, Troy , Mich. 48084 (V.St.A.)

Process for producing an image

The invention relates to a method for producing an image, in particular to a copier and Printing process. It can be used to make many copies of an original or in a data processing system print out saved data. As a suitable technique for making duplicate copies Photo offset lithography has proven to be an original illustration. The procedure used a photosensitive plate that emits strong light is exposed that shines through a transparent film. The illustration is made by photochemisohe Transfer the effect to the plate. The end result is a plate that is able to be consistent or bold To absorb paint or ink as soon as it is intended for printing and only to absorb water when it is is not intended for printing. This procedure requires the use of chemicals and is not reversible. Accordingly, the disk cannot be re-used and it does not lend itself to a fully automated process. Besides, this is not a Method that is based on the so-called ON-LINE use in data processing systems or adaptable to the concurrent data processing as output printer i3t .. In addition

109883/1069

no corrections can be made once the plate has been exposed.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide new and improved modes of operation to create an image on a surface. The area or surface has a changeable sensitivity to liquid on some parts of the surface, however not attached to others. The solution may contain paint or ink that acts directly on the Surface are detectable or visible, or the color or ink can be on an imaging surface, such as a document or the like., By direct Print or be transferable by offset printing processes.

For example, a printing plate is coated with an amorphous semiconductor material that is used in the Is capable of being between a generally amorphous or disordered state and a crystalline one or a more orderly state depending on the light. In the crystalline or more ordered Condition, the surface of the material is rough or grainy or granulated, while it is in the general amorphous or disordered state is formed smoother. Solutions adhere to the rough surface of the material, but do not adhere to the smooth surface. Color or ink can be directly connected or attached to the material or on a document or a

109883/1069

Offset roller are transferred. The material can be cleaned and returned to one of its states when it is prepared for recording another figure.

An example of a material group, the structural changes are so-called amorphous semiconductor materials described in US Pat. No. 3,271,591 and are shown. These materials are named after the earlier patent

(Patent application for the formation of

Printing plates are used and used for information storage systems according to U.S. Patent No. 3,530,441. Amorphous Semiconductor materials can, depending on the application of electromagnetic energy, such as one Light beam, electron beam or electric current, and also depending on energy, like heat, can be switched between two stable states. As in greater detail in the above Patent specifications and the earlier patent described, amorphous semiconductor materials are preferably structural polymer. They are subject to structural changes, the arrangement, constellation and design Include changes in atomic structure. In one state the material is essentially disordered and in general amorphous and has only a certain degree of local order and / or more localized Bond between atoms. In the other state the atomic structure of the material is in another or different local order and / or localized binding changed, for example in direction

- 4 109883/1069

to a more ordered crystalline-like state in which a number of atoms are in longer Chains are connected to each other. This material can be anisotropic, i.e. in one state if its properties are measured along a given axis and are in are in a different state when their properties are measured along a different axis. For the purpose of explaining the present invention, one of the states is hereinafter referred to as the generally amorphous or disordered state and the state other than crystalline or referred to as a more ordered state. According to the present invention, the difference in the Structure of materials, such as amorphous semiconductor materials, used new and improved To create copying and printing techniques that do not require photochemicals and that are reversible, correctable and are reusable.

According to an embodiment of the method according to the invention, a LASER beam is used to focus on the Surface of an amorphous semiconductor material that is initially in the crystalline or more orderly state. The LASER beam creates a generally amorphous or disordered one State wherever the beam touches the material. A wetting agent or a wetting or moisturizing agent Solution is applied to the entire surface and adheres only to the crystalline or stronger arranged areas. Color or ink or

109883/1069

Indian ink that is released, repelled or rejected by the wetting solution are then removed abandoned on the entire surface, but can only on the "exposed", in general amorphous or disordered areas. An offset roller transfers the color to a document, Document or a similar illustration surface. Because the material is back in the initial crystalline or more ordered state can be reset, the printing plate can again and again can be used again. Also, the writing speeds are the same as the printing speeds of data processing systems compatible, and the invention can accordingly be used for such Applications are used.

Yet another advantage of the invention is the ability to use different tones or gray levels or shadows to copy or print. This can be done, for example, by changing the energy content in the LASER or other electromagnetic beam caused to increase the density of the rough or granular Change the surface structure of the material.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art below Reference to the claims and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a copier making an image on a printing plate produced by a trans-

109883/1069

light passing through the parent film is used;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial section of the printing plate of Fig. 1 shows;

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of an "output printer" employing a printing plate forms which is controlled by the movement of a LASER beam;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged partial view of the pressure plate of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of a printing plate in which imaging by electric currents are formed; and

Fig. 6 is a waveform diagram showing the current pulses which are used in the printing plate of FIG.

The copier system of Fig. 1 uses a printing plate 10 in the form of a rotating drum. The image to be copied appears on a transparent or translucent film 12 which is moved through the focal line or the focal point of a cylindrical lens 14. The lens 14 focuses light 16 from a light source 18. The light 16 passing through the film 12 is collected by a spherical lens 20 and imaged again on the surface of the plate 10. The produced on the plate 10

109883/1069

The illustrated figure is colored with the aid of a roller 22, and the colored figure is transferred to a rubber-covered cylinder 24, which also rotates synchronously with the plate 10. the Ink is then transferred from the cylinder 24 to a document 26 which is supported by an impression roller 28 is pressed against the cylinder 24.

The plate 10 is constructed from an amorphous semiconductor layer which is applied to a structured support cylinder 32. The plate 10 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 in a partially enlarged view, in which the same reference numerals are used for the same elements as in FIG. 1. The amorphous semiconductor material 30 can be made of SeQ ₅ Te. ~ Pt _{Q 1} ; Se _Q , - Te . _Q Ga _{1 0} ; or other materials, such as those described in US Pat. No. 3,271,591 and US Pat. No. 3,530,441, which switch from a generally amorphous or disordered state to a crystalline or more ordered state in response to energy from the light source 18 can be. For amorphous semiconductor materials, the light source 18 can be a LASER or other strong light source. The material 30 may initially be in the generally amorphous or disordered state and selectively switched to the crystalline or more ordered state to produce an image such as the letters ECD as shown in FIG. The figure results from the heating of the surface of the material 30 up to the transition temperature of the amorphous half

-B-

109883/1069

head. Me crystalline areas are through EGD represents and have a rough or grainy surface while the rest of the surface of material 30 is relatively smooth. Accordingly, the ink located on the roller 22 wets not the smooth areas of the surface of the material 30; but it adheres to the rough or grainy areas represented by the letters ECD.

By rotating the plate 10 several times and by re-inking the rough areas of the material 30 with the aid of the inking roller 22, further copies can be made. As soon as printing is desired, a new imaging roller 22 is retrieved by a drive 34 and the surface of the material 30 is rotated past a cleaning station 36 which may have a jet of suitable cleaning liquid or a jet of drying air. The material 30 is then guided past a focus line or the focal point of high-intensity electromagnetic energy, which can be generated by increasing the intensity of the light source 18. This causes the temperature at the surface of the material 30 to rise above its melting point. When the plate 10 rotates, the surface of the material 30 is quickly guided under an erase-moving cooling roller 38 which is brought into contact with the material 30 with the aid of a drive 40. The sudden drop in temperature of the surface of the material 30 leads the crystalline or more ordered areas in the generally

109883/1069

return to my amorphous or disordered state. A new transparent film 12 can through the The focal point of the lens 14 is moved and imaged on the surface of the material 30 in order to to produce a new image that can be colored by the roller 22 after the drive 34 has brought the roller 22 into contact with the material 30.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the invention for performing the non-impact function Printer or light setter. To denote the same elements as in Figs. 1-3 are the same reference numbers are used. The image is made on the plate 10 with the help of a LASER beam 42 produced by a source 44. The beam 42 is generated with the aid of a modulator 46 intensity modulated. After passing through the modulator 46, the beam 42 is assisted a scanning or decomposition device 48 deflected, the beam 42 to a particular location directed to the plate 10. A data processing system 50 controls the operation of the source 44, des Modulator 46 and the deflector 48 via a group of lines 52, 53 and 54, respectively. The figure can be formed on the plate 10 by a series of LASER pulses transmitted over the Width of the plate 10 deflected according to the raster or line scan of a television receiver or blanked. The beam 42 can also be deflected to be continuous curved To form a track or path. Alternatively, alpha-

- 10 -

109883/1069

- ίο -

numerical characteristic ^ by the arrangement of a cover, shield or mask in the deflector or in the deflector 48 and by shaping the IASER beam 14 into the desired characteristic may be formed prior to directing the beam 42 onto the plate 10.

Pig. FIG. 4 shows a typical image comprising the letters ECD recorded on disk 10 of the system of FIG. For same items in the pig. The same reference numerals are used in 3 and 4. In this system, the amorphous semiconductor material 30 is initially in the crystalline or more ordered state and the beam 42 switches the surface of the material 30 to the generally amorphous or disordered state represented by the regions of the letters ECD. The material 30 is heated above its melting point with the aid of the jet 42 and cooled by rapidly radiating the heat into the surrounding material. When operating the system from Pig. 3, the image produced by the beam 42 rotates under a roller 56 which supplies a solution to the surface of the material 30. This solution can consist of a mixture of water and alcohol in a ratio of about 60 % alcohol and 40 % distilled water. Such a solution wets the areas of material 30 that are in the crystalline or more ordered state, but does not adhere to the letters ECD, which are generally amorphous or un-

- 11 -

109883/1069

are in an orderly state. After wetting by the roller 56, the image is under the "Inking roller 22 rotated. There, paint or ink or Indian ink is drawn from those areas of the surface 30 repelled, which were wetted or moistened by the solution on the roller 56. the Ink from roller 22 adheres to the letters ECD that is not wetted by roller 56 solution are. The colored image is then on the cylinder 24 and then on the document 26 Transfer.

Additional copies can be made by rotating the image on the surface of the material 30 under the rollers 56 and 22 are generated. After a desired number of copies have been made, is the roller 56 with the help of a drive 58 and the. Roller 22 out of engagement with the aid of a drive 34 brought. The cleaning station 36 acts so that the knocked down by the rollers 22 and 56 Paint and solution are removed. The material 30 is then thereby in the crystalline or more ordered state that the entire surface or parts of it with the LASER beam. The beam is set under the control of the data processing system 50 with the aid of the modulator 46 so that that the temperature at the surface of the material 30 rises to the transition point and is caused by the fact that the generally amorphous or disordered part of the material into the crystal! transformed into a more or less ordered state

- 12 -

109883/1069

will. Me transition temperature in amorphous semiconductors is usually below the melting temperature. After the surface of the material 30 is returned to the crystalline or more ordered state another image can be made by using a LASER beam 4 2.

Fig. 5 shows another procedure for producing an image on a printing plate 60. In this case the image is produced by the application of heat generated by electromagnetic Energy is generated in the form of electric current. The pressure plate 60 is made of glass or another non-conductive support 62, the 7 deposited thereon Resistance segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, has. Head 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, öü, are connected to a group of electrodes 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, which electrically contact the linden of the segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70. Amorphous semiconductor material 30 is over the top of segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 and ladder 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 dejected.

A character generator 98 supplies lines 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 with electricity attached to the pressure plate via a group of connecting pins which enable the sheet to be separated from the character generator 98. At the segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 becomes t? e-

- 13 1 09883/1 069

selectively or alternatively current is applied to ensure that one or more of the segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 ,. 70 Radiate heat. For example, power from character generator 98 is over line 78 through electrode 85, the resistor segment 65, the electrode 84 and passed back to ground via the line 74. The through current carried by resistor segment 65 causes that segment to radiate heat. The one from that Heat radiated from segment 65 is transferred into part of the amorphous semiconductor material 30, with which the segment 65 is covered.

Reference is now made to the waveform diagram shown in FIG Reference where the current I along the. Ordinate and time T along the abscissa are applied. The setting pulse 102 shown has a duration of approximately 10 ms and that shown Reset pulse 104 has a greater intensity or greater current strength, but a shorter period of time of about 10 us. The adjustment pulse 102 causes the selected segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 covering material 30 in the crystalline or more ordered state is switched, while the Hücksfcellimpuls 104 the material 30 in the im general amorphous or disordered state following the sudden fall of the reset pulse 104 switches.

In operation, the pressure plate 60 of FIG. 5 can be configured to include all of the numbers from 0 to 9 and some letters by selectively applying power to segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70

- H -109883/1069

forms. After the amorphous semiconductor material 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 in the appropriate pattern switched to any of those described in connection with the systems of Figs Working methods are printed. The segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 can be in any appropriate shape, including a matrix of points, represented by orthogonal Conductors can be selected according to standard matrix selection procedures. In some applications it may be advantageous to pass current directly through the amorphous material in order to heat it instead of it through an underlying resistor, such as segments 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70.

In the systems of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, so-called gray-tone printing and copying can also be carried out. For example, in the system of FIG. 1, the intensity or strength of the beam 16 after it has passed through the transparent film 12, creating a very rough or grainy surface, when a dark image is to be printed and a less rough or grainy surface can be produced if a light gray image is desired. The paint or ink from the roller 22 will adhere in an amount which depends on the condition of surface 30. In a corresponding way The system of FIG. 3 can be operated by changing the intensity of the LASER beam 42 to generate a gray scale or shades of gray. This can be done in that material 30 from the initially crystalline or more ordered state into a

- 15 -

109883/1069

generally amorphous or disordered state is switched in different amounts. Some residues of crystalline or more ordered structure can be found in the surface of the material 30 remain, so that a slight wetting is caused by the solution located on the roller 56 will. Accordingly, the ink from the V / alze 22 does not adhere to such a surface as much as it does to a surface which is completely switched to the generally amorphous or disordered state. on in this way the gray tint or shade of gray can be changed in order to achieve different contrasts of the image that will ultimately be printed on document 26.

The invention can also be used to ensure that only part of the image produced on the plate 10 is optionally deleted or erased. According to Fig. 1, a transparent film 12 with transparent Openings are made in those areas in which a deletion or eradication takes place target. According to Fig. 3, the LASER beam 42 can selected areas of the material 30 can be directed to particular characters or portions thereof to be deleted or redeemed. In this way, corrections can be made without deleting or deleting the entire Plate and remapping of the entire pattern can be made.

The invention can also be used to create a permanent image on the plate 10 by applying of color or ink with the help of the roller 22

-Ib-

109883/1069

is formed and the paint or ink are able to dry in order to create a fixed or firmly adhering, - establish permanent recording of the image. In this case it may be desirable to produce material 30, which can be removed again from the support bracket 32.

In some applications of the invention, it may be desirable to deposit material 30 on substrates that have various shapes, such as a disk, a flat, rectangular plate or flexible sheet, such as a tape or strip, which on a wheel / can be stored or rolled up.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a crystalline or more ordered state, it is not necessary to actually form crystals in the surface of the amorphous material. Also other changes in the atomic structure are applicable, for example, atoms, W is the initially in the form of long chains connected to each other or concatenated are traceable in rings. Chains in the form of helices, spirals or other compressed configuration can also be stretched or pulled apart to a new shape. Other changes in the local order or phase changes can also lead to new bonds between the atoms, from which new structural or chemical figurations are formed, which result in different wettability. These changes in the atomic structure and the mixture of different phases of the material can produce a change in the surface roughness of the material,

- 17 -

109883/1069

so that solutions adhere to varying degrees. Alternatively, the roughness of the surface but the extent remains essentially the same in every state of the amorphous material the attraction or force of attraction between the surface and the solution can be a function of from the material phase's change, thereby increasing the wettability the solution on the surface is changed.

- Claims - 18 -

109883/1069

Claims (32)

- 18 - Claims Method for producing an image, in particular for producing a copy of one Original, in which the state of areas of a support surface compared to the state of neighboring areas Changed according to the figure and the areas with the desired status, if necessary after transmission by means of impression according to the image on an image surface, are made visible, characterized in that a layer of essentially amorphous or disordered material is used for the support surface Material is used that the layer is energized as shown in the figure to change the state of the areas of at least the surface structure of the layer, and that the layer is brought into contact with an agent, in particular a solution, which is in the areas with changed Condition or adhered to the layer in the neighboring areas. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a layer is used, one of which is more stable State of the surface structure a generally amorphous or disordered state with certain local Orders and / or localizable atomic bonds is. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that a layer is used which can be changed in another stable state of the surface structure, the lower one with respect to the first stable state - 19 - 109883/1069 has different local orders and / or different localized atomic bonds. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that one layer is used, the other stabilder State of the surface structure a crystalline or stronger than the first ordered state is. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a layer is used in which intermediate states between the two stable states can be set. 6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a solution is used which adheres to the areas in the other stable state. 7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a solution is used, the paint or ink contains. 8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that that the paint is attached to the layer. 9 · Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, after wetting with the solution, the layer is in contact with paint or ink is brought so that the color adheres only to the neighboring areas, which are in the general amorphous or disordered state. - 20 - 10 9 8 8 3/1069 10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized characterized in that the solution or paint is used as an impression agent and .of the selected areas the layer on a separate imaging surface, such as a base, a piece of writing, or a document or the like., is transmitted. 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as in general amorphous material a semiconductor material is used that can be switched between the states by energy is. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that that a semiconductor material is used which is initially in the generally amorphous state located and by the energy pattern in the areas in the crystalline or more ordered State is switchable. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least part of the energy is in the crystalline or more ordered state located areas is supplied to this part for To switch back to the initial state to produce another figure. H. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized characterized in that light rays are used as energy. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the light beams through a for the light beams - 21 - 109883/1069 transparent medium can be projected onto the layer. 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized characterized that LASDR rays are used as energy be used. 17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized characterized in that heat is used as energy. 18. A method for producing an image, characterized in that a layer of amorphous material is used, the surface structure of which varies depending on the energy applied to it changes that an energy pattern or scheme is selectively applied to this layer to reduce its surface structure change in accordance with the figure, and that the layer is wetted with a solution or is moistened on selected areas of the layer depending on the energy pattern adheres. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in, that the layer is composed of an amorphous material, which has a changeable surface structure which is able to switch between a generally amorphous or disordered stable state, which has a definite local order or localizable bond between atoms ^ and another or different stable state, the other or different local order or has a localizable bond between atoms, - 22 - 109683/1069 2111551 is changeable, and that the change is made as a function of the energy applied to it. 20. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that that the layer is composed of an amorphous material, which has a changeable surface structure has, which is capable of reductions between a generally amorphous or disordered stable state representing a certain local order or localized bond between atoms possesses, and a crystalline or more ordered stable state, which is a different or has different local order or localizable bond between atoms, and that the change is made as a function of the energy applied thereto. 21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the solution adheres to those areas of the layer, which are in the crystalline or more ordered state. 22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that a solution is used the color or Has ink, and that also the color or Ink attached to the material will. 25. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that a solution is used that has the color or ink, and that the solution from the selected areas of the layer onto an image surface, such as a document, - 23 - 109883/1069 will wear. 24. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized by adding the following Steps: applying paint or ink to the layer after the layer has been wetted with the solution so that ink adheres to those areas of the material that are generally amorphous or disordered, and that ink does not adhere to such areas of the material adheres, which are in the crystalline or more ordered state to which the solution adheres. 25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that paint or ink from said areas. the material to which the paint or ink has adhered on an imaging surface such as a document, is transmitted. 26. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, characterized characterized in that a solution is used which has paint or ink, and that the Dissolving those areas of the material to which the solution adheres to an imaging surface, like a document, is transmitted. 27. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 26, characterized in that the energy pattern is characterized is produced that light passing through a transparent medium onto the material is projected. - 24 - 109883/1069 2111551 28. The method according to any one of claims 18 "to 26, characterized in that a LASER beam as Energy is directed to selected areas of the material. 29. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 28, characterized in that; iner _f <ie is used in the form of heat which is brought to selected areas of the material. 30. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 29, characterized in that an amorphous semiconductor material is used, which is able to switch between the states depending on it applied energy to be reversibly switched. 31. The method according to claim ^ u, characterized in that that an amorphous semiconductor material is used that is initially generally amorphous or disordered state and through an energy pattern in the crystalline or more strongly organized State is switchable, and that energy is directed to at least part of the material, which is in the crystalline or more ordered state, around the area in the general amorphous or disordered state, causing the material to produce a other illustration on it is reusable. 32. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that that an amorphous semiconductor material is used, - 2b - 1 09883/1069 which is initially in the crystalline or more ordered state and through an energy pattern can be switched to the generally amorphous or disordered state, and that energy is directed at at least a portion of the material which is generally amorphous or disordered State to return the part to the crystalline or more ordered state, whereby the material is reusable to produce another image thereon. 109883/1069 Blank page