EP0437546B1

EP0437546B1 - Method and apparatus for imaging using an intermediate transfer member

Info

Publication number: EP0437546B1
Application number: EP90900375A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Benzion Landa; Ishaiau Lior; Hanna Pinhas
Original assignee: Indigo BV
Current assignee: HP Indigo BV
Priority date: 1988-10-04
Filing date: 1989-10-03
Publication date: 1996-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-03
Also published as: WO1990004216A1; EP0672967A2; JP2883733B2; JPH04502218A; DE68926572T2; EP0437546A1; EP0672967A3; DE68926572D1; GB8823256D0

Abstract

Method an apparatus for transfer of a liquid toner image, containing carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at a solvation temperature above room temperature, from an image bearing surface to a substrate, the apparatus including an intermediate transfer member positioned in operative association with the image bearing surface, transferring the image from the image bearing surface onto the intermediate transfer member, and heating the image on the intermediate transfer member to a temperature above the solvation temperature, below the melting point of the toner particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid prior to transfer of the image to the substrate so as to cause the image to adhere to the substrate. There is also provided imaging apparatus including a flexible substrate, apparatus for tensioning the flexible substrate in at least two directions and apparatus for bringing the tensioned flexible substrate into image transfer engagement with an image bearing surface. A method of imaging using the apparatus is also described.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to imaging apparatus and techniques and more particularly to apparatus and techniques for transfer of images from an image-bearing surface to a substrate via an intermediate transfer medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various techniques for electrostatic image transfer are known in the patent literature. U.S. Patent 4,684,238 describes intermediate transfer apparatus in which a plurality of liquid images, which include a liquid carrier having toner particles dispersed therein, are attracted from a photoconductive member to an intermediate belt. Liquid carrier is removed from the intermediate belt by vacuum apparatus and the toner particles are compacted on the intermediate belt in image configuration. Thereafter, the toner particles are transferred from the intermediate belt to the copy sheet in image configuration by electrostatic attraction.
U.S. Patent 4,690,539 shows a system similar to that shown in U.S. Patent 4,684,238 which is suitable for multicolor multiple-pass electrophoretic image transfer.
In U.S. Patents 3,318,212 and 3,893,761 there are described methods and devices in which a powder image being transported on a resiliently deformable intermediate support surface is softened and thus rendered sticky while present on that surface and then is transferred and fixed onto a paper receiving support under the influence of pressure.
U.S. Patent 4,430,412 describes a belt type powder toner image transfer unit in which the powder toner is heated at image transfer to the toner fusion temperature or higher and then cooled below the fusion temperature. The total thickness of the belt is indicated to be between 20-1000 micrometers. In operation the thin belt is backed by a support roller where it touches other surfaces.
U.S. Patent 4,015,027 describes an electrophotographic toner transfer and fusing method wherein a heated roller or belt is employed for pressure transfer of dry toner images from an intermediate transfer medium onto paper. At column 11, line 29 - column 12 line 38 there appears a detailed discussion of heating of images upon transfer thereof as proposed therein and as taught in the prior art including specifically U.S. Patent 3,591,276 to Byrne.
Reference is made to Figs. 5A - 5C, 6A - 6C, 7A and 7C of U.S. Patent 4,015,027. It is seen that in nearly all cases described, the toner is heated to at least its melting point during the transfer stage. In a technique proposed in U.S. Patent 4,015,027 and exemplified by Fig. 6(a), the toner is heated to at least its melting point prior to the transfer zone. In the transfer zone, the toner cools below its melting point during transfer and fusion.
A belt construction characterized in that it has a very low heat capacitance and a thickness of between 15 and about 200 micrometers is proposed in U.S. Patent 4,015,027. In one embodiment the belt comprises a 50 micrometers layer of aluminized Kapton having a 25 micrometers coating of silicon rubber. Another embodiment employs a 12.5 micrometers layer of stainless steel instead of the Kapton together with a silicon rubber coating. A reflecting layer is incorporated in the belt to reduce heating thereof.
U.S. Patent 4,796,048 describes a system for transferring a liquid toner image from a photoconductive member to an intermediate transfer member for subsequent transfer to a copy sheet. In several of the examples the liquid toner image is heated to remove solvent associated with the toner image. The toner particles are melted to thermally offset the image to the copy sheet.
U. S. Patent 4,708,460 describes a system for transferring a liquid toner image from a photoconductive member to an intermediate transfer member for subsequent transfer to a copy sheet. The liquid toner image is heated by radiant heat on the intermediate transfer member to vaporize some of the liquid carrier and to partially melt the toner particles, decreasing their viscosity. During transfer to the final substrate heat substantially vaporizes the remainder of the liquid carrier from the image and fuses the image to the copy sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide improved imaging apparatus.
There is therefore provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention apparatus for transfer of an image from an image bearing surface to a substrate comprising an intermediate transfer member arranged in operative association with the image bearing surface, means for providing an image on the image bearing surface, first transfer means for transferring the image from the image bearing surface onto the intermediate transfer member, second transfer means for transferring the image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate and heating apparatus for heating the image on the intermediate transfer member, characterized in that the image is a liquid image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles and the second transfer means and the heating means includes means for heating the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image so as to cause the liquid image to adhere to the substrate and for subsequently cooling the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner particles to the intermediate transfer member is less than the mutual cohesion of the toner particles.
In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus for transfer of an image is characterized in that the image is a liquid image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at an elevated temperature above room temperature and the heating means heats the liquid toner image to a temperature at least as high as the elevated temperature (preferably the solvation temperature), below the melting point of the toner particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid prior to transfer of the image to the substrate. Preferably the second transfer means is operative to cool the heated liquid toner image to a temperature below said elevated temperature.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the heating apparatus is operative to heat the image such that the image remains at a temperature above the solvation temperature until contact of the image with the substrate.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the intermediate transfer member has a low effective heat capacity such that the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member is substantially reduced during transfer of the liquid image therefrom onto the substrate.
Preferably the image providing means includes means for forming a latent image on the image bearing surface and means for developing the latent image with a liquid developer, wherein development of the image takes place at a first temperature T₁ and transfer of the image to the intermediate transfer member takes place at a liquid image temperature T₂, higher than temperature T₁. Preferably transfer of the liquid image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate takes place at a temperature T₃ higher than temperature T₂.
There is further provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention, imaging apparatus for printing an image from a latent image formed on an image bearing surface to a final substrate, comprising developing means for developing the latent image with a developer to form a developed image, an intermediate transfer member, first transfer means for transferring the developed image from the latent image bearing surface to the intermediate transfer member, second transfer means for transfer of the image from the intermediate transfer member to a final substrate, characterized in that the developer is a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged pigmented particles, the developed image is a liquid toner image and the apparatus also includes heating means for heating the developed liquid toner image during its transfer from the image bearing surface to the intermediate transfer member which has an outer release layer for the toner. Preferably the imaging apparatus includes apparatus for further heating the image prior to subsequent transfer to the final substrate.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first transfer means includes means for successively transferring images of different colors from the image bearing surface to the intermediate transfer member. Preferably the second transfer means includes means for transferring a multicolor image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate.
Preferably the imaging apparatus includes cooling means for cooling a portion of the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer of a portion of a subsequent image thereto.
Preferably the intermediate transfer member has a relatively heat conductive inner layer and a relatively heat insulative outer layer. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention the intermediate transfer member comprises a cylinder having supportive end portions and a cylindrical image transfer surface therebetween which is unbacked by a solid structural support between the end portions. Preferably the thin walled cylinder has a thickness less than 125 micrometers. More preferably 50 or 30 micrometers.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the intermediate transfer member also includes means for axially tensioning the cylindrical image transfer surface. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cylindrical image transfer surface is supported by gas pressure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the image bearing surface is a photoreceptor.
There is further provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention a method for transfer of an image from an image bearing surface to a substrate including the steps of providing an image on the image bearing surface, transferring the image from the image bearing surface onto an intermediate transfer member, subsequently transferring the image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate, characterized in that the image is a liquid toner image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at an elevated temperature above room temperature and the method includes the further step of heating the image on the intermediate transfer member to a temperature above said elevated temperature, (preferably the solvation temperature) below the melting point of the toner particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid prior to transfer of the image to the substrate to improve adhesion of the toner particles to the substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the step of heating includes subsequently cooling the image to a temperature below said elevated temperature.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the method is characterized in that the image is a liquid toner image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles and the method further includes the step of heating the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image to cause the liquid image to adhere to the substrate and subsequently cooling the intermediate transfer and the liquid image sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner particles thereto is less than the mutual cohesion of the toner particles.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the step of heating is operative to heat the image such that the image remains at a temperature above the elevated temperature until contact of the image with the substrate.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member is substantially reduced during transfer of the liquid image therefrom onto the substrate due to the low effective heat capacity of the intermediate transfer member.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the step of transferring is repeated a plurality of times, each transfer corresponding to an image of a different color. Preferably the step of subsequently transferring includes transferring a multicolor image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the method includes the step of cooling a portion of the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer of a portion of a subsequent image thereto.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the step of providing comprises the steps of forming a latent image on the image bearing surface and developing the latent image using a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged particles to form a developed image, at a first temperature, wherein the step of transferring takes place at an image temperature higher than the first temperature. Preferably the step of subsequently transferring takes place at a third temperature higher than the second temperature.
There is further provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention a method for forming an image on a final substrate from a latent image on an image forming surface including the steps of developing the latent image using a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged particles to form a liquid toner image at a first temperature, transferring the liquid toner image to a substrate and further transferring the image to a final substrate therefrom, characterized in that the liquid toner image is at a temperature higher than the first temperature during the step of first transferring. Preferably the method includes the step of further transferring the liquid toner image from the substrate to a final substrate, the liquid toner image being at a higher temperature during the step of further transferring than during the step of first transferring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a generalized schematic sectional illustration of imaging apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C are illustrations of transfer of an image from an intermediate transfer element onto a substrate;
Fig. 3 is a generalized illustration of viscosity as a function of temperature;
Fig. 4A is a side sectional illustration of a heated thin-walled intermediate transfer element constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4B is a sectional illustration taken along the lines IV - IV of Fig. 4A;
Fig. 5A is a side sectional illustration of a heated thin-walled intermediate transfer element constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5B is a sectional illustration taken along the lines V - V of Fig. 5A;
Fig. 6A is a side sectional illustration of a heated thin-walled intermediate transfer element constructed and operative in accordance with a further alternative embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6B is a sectional illustration taken along the lines VI - VI of Fig. 6A;
Fig. 7A is a side sectional illustration of a heated thin-walled intermediate transfer element constructed and operative in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7B is a sectional illustration taken along the lines VII - VII of Fig. 7A;
Fig. 8 is a sectional illustration of a partially heated intermediate transfer element; and
Fig. 9 is a graphical illustration of the temperature variation on a low thermal mass intermediate transfer element in an arrangement such as that illustrated in Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown electrostatographic imaging apparatus in which the present invention may be employed and employing a liquid image forming composition. In a general sense, the imaging apparatus may comprise an electrostatographic printing machine or alternatively any other suitable type of imaging apparatus. Examples of systems in which the present invention may be employed include electrophotography, electrography, ionography, xero-printing, gravure-like printing and electrostatic printing.
For convenience, the description which follows is presented in the context of an electrophotographic system employing liquid toner, but without limiting the applicability of the present invention.
A metal drum 10, having formed thereon a photoconductive surface 12, is mounted on a shaft 14. Drum 10 is driven in the direction of arrow 16 such that the photoconductive surface 12 moves past a corona discharge device 18 adapted to charge the photoconductive surface 12. An image to be reproduced is focused by a lens 20 upon the photoconductive surface 12. The areas of the photoconductive surface 12 struck by light conduct the charge, or a portion thereof, to ground, thus forming an electrostatic latent image.
Developer liquid containing pigmented particles is circulated from any suitable source into a gap 22 defined between a development electrode 24 and the photoconductive surface 12. The development electrode 24 may be appropriately biased as known to the art, to assist in toning the electrostatic latent image as it passes into contact with the developer liquid.
Charged toner particles suspended in a carrier liquid, both of which form part of the developer liquid, travel by electrophoresis to the electrostatic latent image.
Excess liquid is removed from the developed image by metering apparatus which may incorporate a reverse roller indicated generally at reference numeral 30.
Transfer of the image to a carrier sheet 40, such as paper, supported by a platen roller 42, is effected by an intermediate transfer assembly 50 which is a subject of the present invention.
The transfer assembly 50 comprises an intermediate transfer element 52, typically in the form of a cylindrical roller. The intermediate transfer element 52 is preferably an intermediate transfer element of the type illustrated in any of Figs. 4A - 7B.
Transfer of the image from the photoconductive surface 12 to the intermediate transfer element 52 may take place in accordance with any suitable technique known in the prior art. Examples of suitable techniques are electrostatic transfer, heat transfer, pressure transfer, electrophoretic transfer and combinations thereof. A preferred transfer method is electrophoretic transfer.
After the image is transferred from the photoconductive surface 12 to the intermediate transfer element 52, continued rotation of the photoconductive surface 12 in the direction of arrow 16 brings the surface past a conventional cleaning station 32 and a flood exposure light 34, for removing vestiges of prior images.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the liquid toner image is heated on the intermediate transfer member 52. Heating of the image enhances its cohesiveness and renders it tacky, so as to enhance its adhesion to the substrate 40.
Although the invention is not limited in its application to specific materials or to liquid toner, the following specific example is provided for the purposes of illustration. There is employed a toner which is prepared in the following manner:
1000g. Elvax II 5550 resin (DuPont) and 500g. Isopar L were mixed in a Ross double planetary mixer for one hour at 90 degrees C, then for a further hour after addition of 250g. Mogul L carbon black (Cabot) which had been wetted by 500g. Isopar L, and finally for another hour after addition of 2000g. Isopar L preheated to 110 degrees C. Stirring was continued in the absence of heating until the temperature reached 40 degrees C. 3050 grams of the resultant mixture was milled in a Sweco M-18 vibratory mill (containing 0.5" alumina cylinders) with 4000g. Isopar L for 20 hours at 34 degrees C; the average particle size of the product was 2.3 microns. The product was diluted to a 1.5% solids content with Isopar L and between 5 - 20 ml of 10% Lecithin charge director was added to the diluted dispersion.
The image 60 located on the intermediate transfer element 52 is heated, by means which will be described hereinbelow, to a temperature which produces desired tackiness of the image. Then the heated image establishes contact with the substrate 40 as shown in Fig. 2A.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a toner of the type described in detail on the preceding page, a toner of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,794,651, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, or any other liquid toner which solvates at a temperature below its melting point is used, the image 60 is heated to a temperature below the melting point of the dry resin but above the temperature at which the resin swells or begins to solvate with the carrier liquid and becomes tacky, and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid. Alternatively a liquid toner which does not solvate at a temperature below the melting point of the pigmented solid particles therein may be employed. In such a case, heating of the image to a temperature as high as the melting point of the pigmented solid particles therein is required.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that while the image 60 is in contact with both the element 52 and the substrate 40, as shown in Fig. 2B, for a duration which will be termed the "transfer duration", the heat transfer to the image from the element 52 and from the image to the substrate 40 is preferably such that the image is cooled, so as to increase its viscosity, while at least maintaining and preferably increasing its cohesiveness. In this way, complete or nearly complete transfer of the image from the intermediate transfer element 52 to the substrate is realized. Fig. 2C illustrates the complete or nearly complete transfer of the image to the substrate 40.
If the specific material discussed above is employed as an example, the following exemplary temperatures may be used. The image 60 and member 52 are initially heated to a temperature T 1 of 105 degrees C, which is below the melting point of the resin but above the solvation temperature. During the "transfer duration" the temperature of the image/paper interface is reduced to a temperature T 2 of 85 degrees C, at which the viscosity is increased over that at the higher temperature.
Reference is made in this context to Fig. 3 which is an illustration, not necessarily to scale, of the dependence of viscosity of an image on temperature. It is seen that the reduction of temperature from T 1 to T 2 provides a corresponding significant rise in viscosity.
It will be appreciated that the image is initially heated to a temperature at which it solvates, so that it will adhere well to the substrate. The image is then cooled, increasing its viscosity and thus increasing its cohesiveness. The adhesion of the image to the substrate is greater than its adhesion to the release coated intermediate transfer member, and the increased cohesion of the image preserves the integrity of the transferred image, providing substantially complete transfer of the image to the substrate.
Reference is now made to Figs. 4A - 7B which illustrate four alternative embodiments of intermediate transfer elements constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the intermediate transfer element comprises a thin-walled roller 70. Roller 70 preferably is formed of two rigid end portions 72 and 74 and a thin cylindrical layer 76 typically coated with a release layer 78. Typical materials and thicknesses are as follows:

Layer 76: metalized polyester
Thickness: 25 micrometers
Release layer 78: Teflon (DuPont)
Thickness: 5 micrometers

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the layer 76 may be a 5 micron thick film of nickel alloy, such as a nickel cobalt or nickel chromium alloy and the release layer may be a 2 micron thick layer of Teflon.
According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, Kapton polyimide film (DuPont) may be employed instead of polyester.
According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention the release layer may be a thin layer of silicone rubber.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the thin cylindrical layer 76 is axially tensioned, as by a spring arrangement 80, sufficient to eliminate most surface irregularities. For the above-described example employing metalized polyester, for a cylinder of diameter 50 mm, a suitable tension is 10 Kg.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, enhanced rigidity and surface uniformity of the thin-walled cylinder 70 is provided by pneumatically pressurizing the interior of the cylinder, by any suitable pressurized gas. A valve 82 may be provided for this purpose.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thin-walled cylinder 70 is heated by the passage of electrical current along layer 76 via conductors 84 and 86, which establish an electrical circuit via end portions 72 and 74. In this case layer 76 must either be or include a layer which is an electrical conductor of suitable characteristics.
In the above stated example, the electrical power required to provide desired heating of the intermediate transfer element 70 is relatively low.
Reference is now made to Figs. 5A and 5B which illustrate an alternative embodiment of a heated intermediate transfer element wherein heating is provided by radiation. Here a heating lamp 90 is disposed interior of a radiation transmissive tube 92, such as a quartz tube. Disposed in generally coaxial surrounding relationship with quartz tube 92 and supported on annular end supports 94 is an intermediate transfer layer 96 having formed thereon a release layer 98.
According to one embodiment of the invention, layers 96 and 98 may be identical to layers 76 and 78 in the embodiment of Figs. 4A and 4B. In such a case tensioning apparatus of the type illustrated in Fig. 4A may be employed. Alternatively layers 96 and 98 which are more massive and thus more rigid than layers 76 and 78 may be employed. In such a case the release layer 98 is provided with sufficient thermal insulation capacity to limit the amount of thermal conduction therethrough so that during transfer of the image to the substrate 40, the image may be cooled as described above in connection with the thin-walled intermediate transfer element. Suitable materials and thicknesses for the non-thin-walled intermediate transfer element are as follows:

Layer 96: Aluminum
Thickness: 5 mm
Layer 98: Silicone rubber
Thickness: 2 mm

Reference is now made to Figs. 6A and 6B, which illustrate an alternative arrangement of heated intermediate transfer roller. The roller 100 may be either of the thin-walled type or of the non-thin-walled type described above. Heating of the roller 100 is provided externally of the roller by a heating station 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating station 102 employs radiant heaters, which heat the roller by radiation. Alternatively the heating station 102 may heat the roller 100 by conduction through direct contact with the roller.
Reference is now made to Figs. 7A and 7B, which illustrate a further alternative of heated intermediate roller arrangement. Here, once again, a roller 110 may be either thin-walled or non-thin-walled. Heating of the roller 110 is provided by an internal radiant heater assembly 112 which is mounted internally of roller 110. Radiant heater 112 comprises an elongate radiative heat source 114 which is associated with a reflector 116, which prevents direct radiation from source 114 from reaching the area at which the image is transferred from the roller 110 to substrate 40 (Fig. 1), thus providing differential heating of roller 110 and permitting cooling of the image during transfer as described hereinabove.
A suitable weight 118 may be mounted onto the reflector 116 so that when the reflector 116 and weight 118 are pivotably mounted with respect to the roller, they will retain the orientation illustrated, notwithstanding rotation of the roller 110.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that there is provided an intermediate transfer member including a thin surface which supports the image during transfer, the thin surface having an effective heat capacity per unit area which is less than that of the substrate.
The thin surface may be a cylindrical surface or alternatively an endless belt or any other configuration. Normally, due to its thinness, the thermal conductivity along the surface is sufficiently small such that the thermal mass of the supports, such as end rollers for a cylindrical surface like that shown in the drawings, may be disregarded.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the effective thermal mass of the intermediate transfer element, as sensed by an object coming into contact with its outer surface is relatively small. This may be achieved either by the use of a thin-walled roller as described hereinabove, whose inherent thermal mass is limited, or alternatively by the use of a roller, other than a thin-walled roller, but having an outer layer which is a sufficiently good thermal insulator such that the heat transfer characteristics thereof are as required. Such a structure has been described above.
The advantages of the use of an intermediate transfer element having a low effective thermal mass are summarized below:

a. enabling the image at the transfer region of the intermediate transfer element to be cooled during transfer, as has already been described;
b. enabling rapid cooling of the intermediate transfer element and thus eliminating the need for separating it from the photoconductor when operation is interrupted;
c. limiting the amount of thermal energy passed to the paper and thus reducing energy consumption and limiting paper deformation;
d. enabling differential heating of the intermediate transfer element such that it cools down from the onset of transfer to the onset of photoconductor contact to a temperature at which contact with the photoconductor will not cause photoconductor damage.

Reference is made in this context to Fig. 8 which illustrates a variation of the apparatus of Figs. 7A and 7B, using identical reference numerals where appropriate, wherein a reflector is oriented so as to prevent direct radiation heating of the roller from the transfer stage through the photoconductor contact stage. In such a situation the approximate roller temperature at various locations therealong is as shown in Fig. 9.
It can be seen from a consideration of Figs. 8 and 9 that the intermediate transfer member gives up a measured quantity of heat to the substrate during image transfer thereto (between locations B and C) and remains at a relatively low temperature, i.e. below about 85 degrees centigrade, until it contacts the photoconductive surface 12, at which point it gives up further heat very quickly to the photoconductive surface 12 (between locations D and E). The photoconductive surface does not heat up appreciably in view of its relatively large thermal mass. The intermediate transfer member remains at generally the same temperature until it is exposed to radiation heating (at location 0) and is heated gradually until it reaches a steady state temperature (at location A) just before transfer contact with the substrate (at location B).
This development takes place at a first temperature T₁; transfer of the image to the intermediate transfer member takes place at an image temperature T₂, higher than T₁ and final transfer from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate takes place at a temperature T₃ higher than temperature T₂.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the temperature of the intermediate transfer member when it is in propinquity to the photoconductive surface 12 is sufficiently low as to preclude damage to the photoconductive surface 12, even during prolonged contact or propinquity, as when neither of the surfaces is rotating. Accordingly prior art mechanisms for separating the intermediate transfer member from the photoconductive surface 12 when the apparatus is not in operation are not required.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims

Apparatus for transfer of an image (60) from an image bearing surface (12) to a substrate (40) comprising:
an intermediate transfer member (52) arranged in operative association with the image bearing surface (12);

means (20,24) for providing an image on the image bearing surface;

first transfer means for transferring the image from the image bearing surface (12) onto the intermediate transfer member (52);

second transfer means for transferring the image (60) from the intermediate transfer member (52) to the substrate (40); and

heating means (90, 102, 114) for heating the image on the intermediate transfer member, characterized in that:

the image is a liquid image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles; and

the second transfer means and the heating means include means for heating the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image so as to cause the liquid image to adhere to the substrate and for subsequently cooling the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner particles to the intermediate transfer member is less than the mutual cohesion of the toner particles.
Apparatus for transfer of an image (60) from an image bearing surface (12) to a substrate (40) comprising:
an intermediate transfer member (52) arranged in operative association with the image bearing surface (12);

means (20,24) for providing an image on the image bearing surface;

first transfer means for transferring the image from the image bearing surface (12) onto the intermediate transfer member (52);

second transfer means for transferring the image (60) from the intermediate transfer member (52) to the substrate (40); and

heating means (90, 102, 114) for heating the image on the intermediate transfer member, characterized in that:

the image is a liquid image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at an elevated temperature above room temperature; and

the heating means heats the liquid toner image to a temperature at least as high as said elevated temperature, below the melting point of the toner particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid prior to transfer of the image to the substrate.
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the second transfer means is also operative for cooling the intermediate transfer member and the heated liquid image sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner particles to the intermediate transfer member (52) is less than the mutual cohesion of the toner particles.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the toner particles solvate the carrier liquid at an elevated temperature above room temperature and the heating means (90, 102, 114) is operative to heat the image to a temperature at least as high as said elevated temperature, below the melting point of the particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid.
Apparatus according to any of claims 2-4 wherein said elevated temperature is the solvation temperature.
Apparatus according to any of claims 2-5 wherein the second transfer means is operative to cool the heated liquid toner image to a temperature below said elevated temperature.
Apparatus according to any of claims 2-7 wherein the second transfer means and the heating means are operative to heat the image such that the image remains at a temperature above the solvation temperature until contact of the image with the substrate.
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second transfer means and the heating means are operative to heat the liquid image to a temperature above the melting point of the toner particles and to subsequently cool the image to below the melting point of the particles.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate transfer member has a low effective heat capacity such that the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member is substantially reduced during transfer of the liquid image therefrom onto the substrate.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the image providing means includes:
means (20) for forming a latent image on the image bearing surface; and

means (24) for developing the latent image with a liquid developer,

and wherein development of the image takes place at a first temperature T₁ and transfer of the image to the intermediate transfer member takes place at a liquid image temperature T₂, higher than temperature T₁.
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein transfer of the liquid image from the intermediate transfer member (12) to the substrate (40) takes place at a temperature T₃ higher than temperature T₂.
Imaging apparatus for printing an image from a latent image formed on an image bearing surface to a final substrate, comprising:
developing means (24) for developing the latent image with a developer to form a developed image;

an intermediate transfer member (52);

first transfer means for transferring the developed image from the image bearing surface (12) to the intermediate transfer member (70), and

second transfer means for transfer of the image from the intermediate transfer member (52) to the final substrate (40), characterized in that:

the developer is a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged pigmented particles;

the developed image is a liquid toner image;

the apparatus also includes heating means (90, 114, 116) for heating the developened liquid toner image during its transfer from the image bearing surface (12) to the intermediate transfer member (52) and

the intermediate transfer member has an outer release layer (78) for the toner.
Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising:
means (90, 114, 116) for further heating the image prior to subsequent transfer to the final substrate.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first transfer means comprises means for successively transferring images of different colors from the image bearing surface to the intermediate transfer member.
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the second transfer means includes means for transferring a multicolor image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims and also comprising cooling means for cooling a portion of the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer of a portion of a subsequent image thereto.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate transfer member comprises a relatively heat conductive inner layer (96) and a relatively heat insulative outer layer (98).
Apparatus according to any of claims 1-16 wherein the intermediate transfer member comprises supportive end portions (94, 72) and therebetween a cylinder (76, 96) having a cylindrical image transfer surface which cylinder is unbacked by a solid structural support between the end portions (94, 72).
Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the cylinder has a thickness less than 125 micrometers.
Apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the intermediate transfer member also includes means (80) for axially tensioning the cylinder.
Apparatus according to any of claims 18-20 wherein the cylinder is supported by gas pressure.
Apparatus according to any of claims 18-21 wherein the cylinder has a thickness less than about 50 micrometers.
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the cylinder has a thickness less than about 30 micrometers.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the image bearing surface is a photoreceptor.
A method for transfer of an image from an image bearing surface onto a substrate comprising the steps of:
providing an image on the image bearing surface;

transferring the image from the image bearing surface onto the intermediate transfer member; and

subsequently transferring the image from the intermediate transfer member onto a substrate, characterized in that:
the image is a liquid toner image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles; and further including the step of:

heating the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image to cause the liquid image to adhere to the substrate and subsequently cooling the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner particles thereto is less than the mutual cohesion of the toner particles.
A method for transfer of an image from an image bearing surface to a substrate comprising the steps of:
providing an image on the image bearing surface;

transferring the image from the image bearing surface onto an intermediate transfer member;

subsequently transferring the image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate, characterized in that:
the image is a liquid toner image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at an elevated temperature above room temperature; and including the further step of:

heating the image on the intermediate transfer member to a temperature above said elevated temperature, below the melting point of the toner particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid prior to transfer of the image to the substrate to improve adhesion of the toner particles to the substrate.
A method according to claim 26 wherein the step of subsequently transferring the heated image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate includes the step of cooling the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner particles to the intermediate transfer member is less than the mutual cohesion of the toner particles.
A method according to claim 25 wherein the toner particles solvate the carrier liquid at an elevated temperature above room temperature and the step of heating is operative to heat the image to a temperature at least as high as said elevated temperature, below the melting point of the particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid.
A method according to any of claims 26-28 wherein said elevated temperature is the solvation temperature.
A method according to any of claims 26-29 wherein the step of heating includes subsequently cooling the image to a temperature below said elevated temperature.
A method according to any of claims 26-30 wherein the step of heating is operative to heat the image such that the image remains at a temperature above the elevated temperature until contact of the image with the substrate.
A method according to claim 25 wherein the step of heating is operative to heat the liquid image to a temperature above the melting point of the toner particles and to subsequently cool the image to below the melting point of the particles.
A method according to any of claims 25-32 wherein the surface temperature of the intermediate transfer member is substantially reduced during transfer of the liquid image therefrom onto the substrate due to a low effective heat capacity of the intermediate member.
A method according to any of claims 25-33 wherein the step of transferring is repeated a plurality of times, each transfer corresponding to an image of a different color.
A method according to claim 34 wherein the step of subsequently transferring includes transferring a multicolor image from the intermediate transfer member to the substrate.
A method according to any of claims 25-35 and including the step of cooling a portion of the intermediate transfer member prior to transfer of a portion of a subsequent image thereto.
A method according to any of claims 25-36 wherein the intermediate transfer member comprises a thin walled cylinder having a thickness of less than 125 micrometers and having a cylindrical image transfer surface, which transfer surface is unbacked by an interior solid structural support, and also comprising the step of axially tensioning the thin walled cylinder.
A method according to any of claims 25-36 wherein the intermediate transfer member comprises a thin walled cylinder having a thickness of less than 125 micrometers and having a cylindrical image transfer surface, which transfer surface is unbacked by an interior solid structural support and comprising the step of pneumatically pressurizing the thin walled cylinder.
A method according to claim 37 and comprising the step of pneumatically pressurizing the thin walled cylinder.
A method according to any of claims 25-39 wherein the step of image providing comprises the steps of:
forming a latent image on the image bearing surface; and

developing the latent image using a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged particles to form a developed image, at a first temperature,

wherein the step of transferring takes place at an image temperature higher than the first temperature.
A method according to claim 40 wherein the step of subsequently transferring takes place at a third temperature higher than the second temperature.
A method for forming an image on a final substrate from a latent image on an image forming surface comprising the steps of:
developing the latent image using a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged particles to form a liquid toner image at a first temperature;

first transferring the liquid toner image to a first substrate; and

further transferring the liquid toner image to a final substrate therefrom,

characterized in that:
the liquid toner image is at a temperature higher than the first temperature during the step of first transferring and

wherein the first substrate comprises an outer release layer for the toner.
A method according to claim 42 wherein the liquid toner image is at a higher temperature during the step of further transferring than during the step of first transferring.