EP0161633B1 - Image reproduction by in plane electro-coagulation of a colloid - Google Patents

Image reproduction by in plane electro-coagulation of a colloid Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0161633B1
EP0161633B1 EP85105683A EP85105683A EP0161633B1 EP 0161633 B1 EP0161633 B1 EP 0161633B1 EP 85105683 A EP85105683 A EP 85105683A EP 85105683 A EP85105683 A EP 85105683A EP 0161633 B1 EP0161633 B1 EP 0161633B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
negative
colloid
matrix
positive electrode
positive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP85105683A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0161633A3 (en
EP0161633A2 (en
Inventor
Adrien Castegnier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Elcorsy Inc
Original Assignee
Elcorsy Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Elcorsy Inc filed Critical Elcorsy Inc
Priority to AT85105683T priority Critical patent/ATE46659T1/de
Publication of EP0161633A2 publication Critical patent/EP0161633A2/en
Publication of EP0161633A3 publication Critical patent/EP0161633A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0161633B1 publication Critical patent/EP0161633B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
    • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
    • B41C1/105—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by electrocoagulation, by electro-adhesion or by electro-releasing of material, e.g. a liquid from a gel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in high speed image reproduction. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an improved method and system for reproducing an image by the electro-coagulation of an electrolytically coagulable colloid.
  • Applicant has already described in his U.S. Patent No. 3,892,645 of July 1, 1975 an electric printing method and system in which a thin layer of a liquid composition containing a colloid such as gelatin or albumin, water and an electrolyte is interposed between at least one pair of opposite negative and positive electrodes spaced from one another to define a gap which is filled by the liquid composition.
  • a liquid composition containing a colloid such as gelatin or albumin, water and an electrolyte
  • the gap between the negative and positive electrodes be uniform throughout the active surfaces of the electrodes since otherwise there will be a variation in the thickness of the layer and thus a corresponding variation of the electrical resistance thereof at different locations between the electrodes, which will result in a non-uniform image reproduction as the thickness of the coagulated colloid is proportional to the amount of current passed through the layer. Since this gap is of the order to 50 11, its uniformity is of course very difficult to control. Moreover, where the negative electrodes are energized more than once in the reproduction of an image, these become polarized resulting in a gas generation and accumulation at the negative electrodes, which adversely affect the image reproduction.
  • the invention also provides, in a further aspect thereof, a system for reproducing an image by electro-coagulation of an electrolytically coagulable colloid, which comprises:
  • the negative and positive electrodes of the matrix comprise respectively first and second sets of mutually electrically-insulated band-like electrode members disposed in parallel side-by-side relation, the negative electrode members of the first set extending transversely of the positive electrode members of the second set and being formed with a plurality of protruding conductive elements which are spaced along the length thereof and each have a planar active end surface.
  • the protruding elements of each negative electrode member extend through corresponding bores formed in the positive electrode members to terminate flush therewith such that the planar active end surface of each protruding element and a planar active surface portion of each positive electrode member adjacent each bore extend in a substantially common plane whereby to define the aforesaid matrix elements.
  • the electrical energizing of the negative and positive electrodes of selected matrix elements may be effected by sequentially energizing the electrode members of one set and concurrently energizing selected ones of the electrode members of the other set.
  • the positive electrode members are sequentially energized while selected ones of the negative electrode members are concurrently energized.
  • the concurrent selective energizing of the electrode members of the other set is advantageously effected by sweeping such electrode members and transmitting electrical pulses to selected ones thereof during sweeping.
  • These electrical pulses can be varied either in voltage or time from one electrode member to another so as to correspondingly vary the amount of coagulated colloid adhered onto the positive electrode active surfaces of the selected matrix elements. This enables one to form dots of varying intensities and thus to reproduce the half-tones of an image.
  • the colloid generally used is a linear colloid of high molecular weight, that is, one having a molecular weight comprised between about 10,000 and about 1,000,000, preferably between 100,000 and 500,000.
  • suitable colloids include animal proteins such as albumin, gelatin and casein, vegetable proteins such as agar and synthetic copolymers such as polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives thereof. Water is preferably used as the medium for dispersing the colloid to provide the desired colloidal dispersion.
  • the colloidal dispersion also contains a soluble electrolyte which enables the water to have a greater conductivity; the water is believed to migrate under direct current towards the negative electrode and thereby cause the colloidal dispersion to dry out, resulting in coagulation of the colloid and adherence thereof onto the positive electrode.
  • suitable electrolytes include chlorides and sulfates, such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, nickel chloride, lithium chloride, ammonium chloride, and manganese sulfate. Since the speed of electro-coagulation is affected by temperature, the layer of colloidal dispersion must be maintained at a substantially constant temperature, for instance by using a thermostatic water jacket, in order to ensure a uniform image reproduction.
  • any remaining non-coagulated colloid is removed by any suitable means, such as by washing off, airjet or wiping to fully uncover the coagulated colloid.
  • the coagulated colloid can be colored with a hydrotypic pigment which is absorbed thereby and the colored coagulated colloid may then be transferred onto an end-use support, such as paper.
  • the coagulated colloid can also be set or hardened chemically or by irradiation so as to be used for offset lithographic printing.
  • the image reproduction system illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a dot matrix printer which is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and comprises two superimposed sets of electrically-insulated negative and positive band-like electrode members 12 and 14 disposed in parallel side-by-side relation, the negative electrode members 12 extending transversely of the positive electrode members 14 to define at their intersections a plurality of dot-forming matrix elements 16.
  • Each negative electrode member 12 is electrically con- nectedto a sweeping device 18which is connected to the negative terminal of a direct current power supply 20 via a modulator 22 coupled to an electronic counter 24 operative to transmit electrical pulses to selected ones of the electrode members 12 during the sweeping thereof by the device 18.
  • the modulator serves to vary the electrical pulses either in voltage or time.
  • the electrodes of selected ones of the matrix elements 16 are electrically energized by sequentially energizing the positive electrode members 14 with the sweeping device 18' and concurrently sweeping the negative electrode members 12 with the device 18 while transmitting with the counter 24 electrical pulses to selected electrode members 12, which are modulated either in voltage or time by the modulator 22.
  • the negative and positive electrode members are electrically insulated from one another by means of a layer of insulating material 26 having a thickness of about 10 11 .
  • the negative electrode members 12 are also electrically insulated from one another by a layer of insulating material 28 having a thickness of about 25 11.
  • the positive electrode members 14 are similarly insulated by means of a layer of insulating material 30 having a thickness of about 10 to 25 ⁇ , preferably 10 ⁇ .
  • Each negative electrode member 12 is formed with a plurality of protruding conductive elements 32 of circular cross-section which are spaced along the length thereof and each have a planar active end surface 34.
  • each protruding element 32 of each negative electrode 12 extend through corresponding bores 36 formed in the positive electrode members 14 to terminate flush therewith such that the planar active end surface 34 of each element 32 and a planar active surface portion 38 of a positive electrode member 14 adjacent a bore 36 extend in a common plane.
  • Each protruding element 32 is of course electrically insulated from its adjacent positive electrode member 14 by means of a layer of insulating material 40 such as silicon monoxide, having a thickness of about 5 to 10 ⁇ , preferably 10 u.
  • each protruding element 32 and the planar surface portion 38 of each positive electrode member 14 adjacent each element 32 constitute- the electrode active surfaces of each dot-forming matrix element 16.
  • Each matrix element preferably has a square surface area of about 125 p x 125 ⁇ , the protruding element 32 of each matrix element 16 being disposed centrally thereof and having a diameter of about 25 to 50 ⁇ ; the elements 32 are therefore invisible to the naked eye.
  • the dot matrix printer 10 comprises about 40,000 of such matrix elements 16 per square inch.
  • the negative electrode members 12 can be made of any metal, copper or stainless steel being preferred.
  • the positive electrode members 14 must be made of a metal that will resist electrolytic attack and enhance electro-coagulation, such as stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, chromium or tin, these metals being electronegative with respect to hydrogen.
  • the surfaces 38 of the positive electrode members 14 are advantageously unpolished to enhance the adherence of the coagulated colloid thereon.
  • the electrode members 14 can be produced by ion sputtering and can thus be as thin as 10 p.
  • a layer of a liquid colloidal dispersion containing a colloid such as gelatin or albumin, water and an electrolyte such as potassium chloride, and having a substantially uniform temperature throughout the layer is applied over the surface of the dot matrix printer 10.
  • the sweeping devices 18 and 18' and the counter 24 are then activated so as to electrically energize the electrodes of selected ones of the matrix elements 16 and thereby cause selective coagulation and adherence of the colloid onto the positive electrode active surfaces 38 of the selected matrix elements, the coagulated colloid 42 forming a series of corresponding dots representative of the desired image.
  • the layer of insulating material 30 between the positive electrode members 14 should be as thin as possible so as to provide a continuous " image and not one which is streaked.
  • the layer of insulating material 40 surrounding each protruding element 32 should also be as thin as possible since the thinner the layer 40 the faster is the speed of electro-coagulation.
  • matrix elements 16 each formed with a single centrally disposed protruding element 32 as shown in Fig. 5, it is of course also possible to provide matrix elements 16' each formed with a plurality of spaced-apart elements 32 as represented in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6. Such an arrangement enables one to produce an image having a more uniform tone repartition.
  • the power required to produce coagulation over a square surface area of about 125 p x 125 11 is the charge of an electrolytic capacitor of 2 micro farads at 50 volts.
  • a power generator of 25 watts (50 V, 500 mA) one can produce about 100,000 dots per second.
  • the dot matrix printer 10 has been illustrated as having a planar display surface, it is apparent that the whole surfaces of the positive electrode members 14 which constitute the display surface of the printer 10 need not be planar, provided however that the electrode active surfaces of each matrix element be planar and extend in a substantially common plane.
  • a cylindrical dot matrix printer could be designed in which each matrix element would have the required characteristic just mentioned.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Duplication Or Marking (AREA)
EP85105683A 1984-05-16 1985-05-09 Image reproduction by in plane electro-coagulation of a colloid Expired EP0161633B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT85105683T ATE46659T1 (de) 1984-05-16 1985-05-09 Bildreproduktion durch flaechenelektrokoagulation von kolloiden.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA454450 1984-05-16
CA000454450A CA1205778A (en) 1984-05-16 1984-05-16 Image reproduction by in plane electro-coagulation of a colloid

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0161633A2 EP0161633A2 (en) 1985-11-21
EP0161633A3 EP0161633A3 (en) 1987-08-05
EP0161633B1 true EP0161633B1 (en) 1989-09-27

Family

ID=4127877

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85105683A Expired EP0161633B1 (en) 1984-05-16 1985-05-09 Image reproduction by in plane electro-coagulation of a colloid

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0161633B1 (enExample)
JP (1) JPS60259489A (enExample)
KR (1) KR850008649A (enExample)
AT (1) ATE46659T1 (enExample)
AU (1) AU572293B2 (enExample)
CA (1) CA1205778A (enExample)
DE (1) DE3573234D1 (enExample)
ZA (1) ZA853470B (enExample)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1279603C (en) * 1986-02-20 1991-01-29 Adrien Castegnier Monochromic and polychromic printing of an image reproduced by electro-coagulation of a colloid
CA1249238A (en) * 1986-07-18 1989-01-24 Adrien Castegnier Method of preventing undesirable gas generation between electrodes of an electrocoagulation printing system
JPH0641221B2 (ja) * 1988-01-25 1994-06-01 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成方法、並びに記録材及び画像形成装置
US5055380A (en) * 1989-12-18 1991-10-08 Eastman Kodak Company Method of forming a color-differentiated image utilizing a metastable aggregated group ib metal colloid material
CA2178679C (en) * 1996-06-10 1999-08-31 Adrien Castegnier Electrocoagulation printing apparatus
EP0931666B1 (en) * 1996-12-30 2001-07-25 Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Electric coagulation printing method and apparatus

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3892645A (en) * 1973-06-06 1975-07-01 Adrien Castegnier Printing method and system by gelatin coagulation

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2869965A (en) * 1954-12-30 1959-01-20 Ibm Electro-sensitive digital data plotter
US3752746A (en) * 1972-02-25 1973-08-14 A Castegnier Electrolytic printing method and system
CA1250249A (en) * 1984-05-11 1989-02-21 Adrien Castegnier Printing method by electrolytic colloid coagulation and colloid composition therefor

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3892645A (en) * 1973-06-06 1975-07-01 Adrien Castegnier Printing method and system by gelatin coagulation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS60259489A (ja) 1985-12-21
CA1205778A (en) 1986-06-10
DE3573234D1 (en) 1989-11-02
EP0161633A3 (en) 1987-08-05
KR850008649A (ko) 1985-12-21
AU4246685A (en) 1985-11-21
AU572293B2 (en) 1988-05-05
JPH0473386B2 (enExample) 1992-11-20
ATE46659T1 (de) 1989-10-15
ZA853470B (en) 1985-12-24
EP0161633A2 (en) 1985-11-21

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