EP0456733A1 - Systeme d'imagerie. - Google Patents

Systeme d'imagerie.

Info

Publication number
EP0456733A1
EP0456733A1 EP19900903053 EP90903053A EP0456733A1 EP 0456733 A1 EP0456733 A1 EP 0456733A1 EP 19900903053 EP19900903053 EP 19900903053 EP 90903053 A EP90903053 A EP 90903053A EP 0456733 A1 EP0456733 A1 EP 0456733A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
potential
bearing surface
image bearing
sai
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP19900903053
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0456733B1 (fr
Inventor
Benzion Landa
Amiran Lavon
Hanna Pinhas
Yakov Krumberg
Yossi Adam
Paul Fenster
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.)
Spectrum Sciences BV
Original Assignee
Spectrum Sciences BV
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
Priority claimed from US07/306,062 external-priority patent/US4999677A/en
Priority claimed from US07/306,065 external-priority patent/US4984025A/en
Priority claimed from US07/306,079 external-priority patent/US4974027A/en
Priority claimed from US07/306,076 external-priority patent/US5028964A/en
Application filed by Spectrum Sciences BV filed Critical Spectrum Sciences BV
Publication of EP0456733A1 publication Critical patent/EP0456733A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0456733B1 publication Critical patent/EP0456733B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/1665—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer by introducing the second base in the nip formed by the recording member and at least one transfer member, e.g. in combination with bias or heat
    • G03G15/167—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer by introducing the second base in the nip formed by the recording member and at least one transfer member, e.g. in combination with bias or heat at least one of the recording member or the transfer member being rotatable during the transfer
    • G03G15/1675—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer by introducing the second base in the nip formed by the recording member and at least one transfer member, e.g. in combination with bias or heat at least one of the recording member or the transfer member being rotatable during the transfer with means for controlling the bias applied in the transfer nip
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
    • G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
    • G03G15/169—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer with means for preconditioning the toner image before the transfer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G5/00—Recording members for original recording by exposure, e.g. to light, to heat, to electrons; Manufacture thereof; Selection of materials therefor
    • G03G5/02—Charge-receiving layers
    • G03G5/04—Photoconductive layers; Charge-generation layers or charge-transporting layers; Additives therefor; Binders therefor

Definitions

  • Liquid toner images are developed by varying t density of pigmented solids in a developer material on latent indigo image bearing surface in accordance with imaged pattern. The variations in density are produced the corresponding pattern of an electric field extendi outward from the latent image bearing surface, which configured by the different latent image and backgrou voltages on the latent image bearing surface and a volta on a developer plate or roller.
  • developed liquid toner images are neith solid nor homogeneous.
  • a liquid toner develop contains about 1.5% to 2% solids and a developed ima contains about 15% - 25% solids.
  • the developed image has higher density closer to the latent image bearing surfa and a "fluffy", i.e. loosely bound, region furthest aw from the latent image bearing surface.
  • a "fluffy" i.e. loosely bound, region furthest aw from the latent image bearing surface.
  • the compacti or rigidizing of the developed image increases the ima viscosity and enhances the ability of the image to mainta its integrity under the stresses encountered during ima transfer.
  • Patent 3,957,016 the use of a positive biased metering roller is proposed wherein the metering roller is maintained at a voltage intermediate the image and background voltages to clean the background while somewhat compacting the image.
  • image transfer wherein the image is brought into contact with a substrate backed by a charged roller. Unless the image is rigidize before it reaches the nip of the latent image bearing surface and the roller, image squash and flow may occur. This is particularly true if the substrate is a non-porous material, such as plastic.
  • liquid toner images are generall transferred to substrates by electrophoresis, whereby th charged image moves from the latent image bearing surface t the substrate through the carrier liquid under the influenc of an electric field produced by a high voltage, associate with the substrate, which is of opposite polarity to th charge on the image particles.
  • the voltage and thus the field strength available fo electrophoretic transfer are limited by the danger o electrical breakdown which can occur at both the input an output edges of the nip, due to the minimum of the Pasche curve being at about 8 microns.
  • the voltage difference at the nip canno exceed about 360 volts, if possible damage to the image an possible damage to the latent image bearing surface due t electrical breakdown are to be avoided.
  • Electrophoretic compaction of images prior to transfe thereof is described in U leverageS. Patent 4,286,039 which shows metering roller followed by a negatively biased squeege roller.
  • the squeegee roller is operative both for compactin the image and for removing excess liquid.
  • the voltage tha can be applied to the squeegee roller is also limited by th danger of electrical breakdown. The breakdown problem i least serious at the input to the squeegee roller since th meniscus present there acts to increase the minimu effective air gap.
  • the potential impression mean includes a plurality of electrical conductors associated wi at least one of the image bearing surface and the secon surface.
  • apparatus fo image transfer including an image bearing surface, an imag compacting surface arranged for operative engagement wit the image bearing surface and having formed therein at leas one electrical conductor, and means for energizing the a least one electrical conductor at a location interior wit respect to the engagement of the image compacting surfac and the image bearing surface whereby a relatively hig voltage difference may be developed between the imag compacting surface and the image bearing surface.
  • the liquid toner image includes imag regions and background regions
  • the apparatus includin means for removing pigmented toner particles from th background regions defined on the image bearing surface, an squeegee means for removing excess liquid from the liqui image after rigidization thereof, prior to transfer of th image to a substrate.
  • the toner imag includes charged toner particles
  • the second surface is th surface of a roller and moves opposite to the image bearin surface
  • the potential impression means includes mean for impressing upon a first region on the second surface first potential to provide background cleaning and fo impressing upon a second region of the second surface second potential of the same polarity as the polarity of th toner particles providing rigidization of the liquid tone image on the image bearing surface.
  • the apparatus als includes means for energizing the electrical conductors thereby to provide a desired electrical field at a desire location for producing image rigidization thereat.
  • the second surfa includes a rotatable surface.
  • the second surface includes a stati surface relative to which the image bearing surface moves.
  • the apparatus includes a intermediate transfer member for receiving the liquid tone image from the image bearing surface after rigidizatio thereof, for transfer of the image to a substrate.
  • the liquid toner image includes imag regions and background regions
  • the apparatus include means for removing pigmented toner particles from th background regions defined on the image bearing surface, an squeegee means for removing excess liquid from the liqui image after rigidization thereof, prior to transfer of th image to a substrate.
  • energization of the a least one electrical conductor provides a desired electrica field at a desired location for producing imag rigidization.
  • the apparatus includes a intermediate transfer member for receiving the toner imag from the image bearing surface after rigidization thereof for transfer of the image to a substrate.
  • the liquid toner image on the imag bearing surface includes image regions and backgroun regions, and the apparatus includes means for removin pigmented toner particles from the background region defined on the image bearing surface, and squeegee means fo removing excess liquid from the liquid toner image afte rigidization thereof, prior to transfer of the image to substrate.
  • the toner image includes charge toner particles
  • the second surface is the surface of roller and moves opposite to the movement of the imag bearing surface
  • the potential impression means include means for impressing on at least one of the plurality o conductors, a first potential of a polarity opposite to th polarity of the toner particles to provide backgroun cleaning and impressing upon a second conductor associate with at least one of the plurality of conductors, a secon potential of the same polarity as the polarity of the tone particles providing rigidization of the liquid toner imag on the image bearing surface.
  • the second surface is the surface o a roller and the surface moves opposite to the movement o the image bearing surface thereby providing metering o excess liquid on the image bearing surface.
  • the operati engagement includes an entrance region, an exit region and third region therebetween, and the energizing means associated only with the third region.
  • the first potential is of polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner particles.
  • apparatus for ima transfer including an image bearing surface arranged support a liquid toner image, including image regions a background regions thereon, means for rigidizing the ton image at the image regions, and an intermediate transf member for receiving the toner image from the image beari surface after rigidization thereof, for transfer of t image to a substrate.
  • the apparatus includes squeeg means for removing excess liquid from the toner image aft rigidization thereof, prior to transfer of the image to th intermediate transfer member.
  • the apparatus also includes means fo removing excess liquid from the image bearing surface.
  • the means fo rigidizing includes a rigidizing roller maintained at potential opposite to the potential of image areas of th image bearing surface and which does not contact the image and the apparatus also includes means for removing pigmente toner particles from the background regions, and means fo removing excess liquid from the image bearing surface.
  • the means for rigidizing include a second surface arranged for movement relative to th image bearing surface along a pathway whereby portions o the image bearing surface and the second surfac sequentially come into propinquity and subsequently move ou of propinquity, potential impression means associated wit at least one portion of at least one of the image bearin surface and the second surface for impressing a potential o the at least one portion, and means for energizing th potential impression means only when the at least on portion is located at a predetermined location along th pathway, thereby to provide image rigidization.
  • the potential impression mean includes a plurality of electrical conductors associate with at least one of the image bearing surface and th second surface.
  • the second surface is arranged fo operative engagement with the image bearing surface and ha formed therein at least one electrical conductor
  • th apparatus also includes means for energizing the at leas one electrical conductor at an interior location wit respect to the engagement of the second surface and th image bearing surface whereby a relatively high voltag difference may be developed between the interior location o the second surface and the image bearing surface.
  • the potential impression mean includes means for impressing a first portion of the secon surface with a first potential of a first polarity an simultaneously impressing a second portion of the secon surface with a second potential of a second polarity.
  • a toner image formed of pigmente particles having a charge of the second polarity is provide on the image bearing surface, and the first potential on th first portion provides background cleaning and the secon potential on the second portion provides rigidization of th toner image on the image bearing surface.
  • the second surface is the surface o a roller and the surface moves in a direction opposite t the movement of the image bearing surface thereby providin metering of excess liquid on the image bearing surface.
  • the second surface is the surfac of a roller and the surface moves oppositely to the movemen of the image bearing surface.
  • energization of the electrica conductors provides a desired electrical field at a desire location for producing image rigidization.
  • the means for rigidizing include a rotatable surface which operatively engages the image.
  • apparatus for imag transfer including an image bearing surface arranged t support a liquid toner image including image regions an background regions thereon, means for rigidizing the liqui toner image at the image regions including a member havin an elastic outer layer having at least one ply of elasti material whose outer surface is arranged for movemen relative to the image bearing surface along a pathwa whereby regions of the image bearing surface and the oute surface sequentially come into propinquity and subsequentl move out of propinquity, and potential impression mean contained within at least one portion of the elastic oute layer for impressing a potential on the at least one portio when the at least one portion is in propinquity with th image bearing surface to apply a potential therebetween, an an intermediate transfer member for receiving the tone image from the image bearing surface after rigidizatio thereof, for transfer of the image to a substrate.
  • a method fo imaging including the steps of forming a liquid toner imag on an image bearing surface, rigidizing the liquid tone image, transferring the rigidized image to an intermediat transfer member and subsequently transferring the image to final substrate.
  • the at least one ply of elasti material includes at least two plies and the potentia impression means is placed between the two plies.
  • the static surface engages the image bearing surface in an entrance region, an exit region and a third region therebetween, and the energizing means is associated only with the third region.
  • the propinquity may or may not include touching engagement.
  • the second surface is a static surface relative to which the image bearing surface moves.
  • apparatus for image transfer including an image bearing surface arranged to support a liquid toner image thereon, including image regions and background regions, rigidizing means for rigidizing the toner image at the image regions, and squeegee means separate from the rigidizing means for removing excess liquid from the toner image afte rigidization thereof, prior to transfer of the image to a substrate.
  • the liquid toner image includes charged toner particles and the apparatus also includes means for removing pigmented toner particles from the background regions a background cleaning roller, and th rigidizing means includes a rigidizing roller maintained a a potential having a sign opposite to the sign of the charg on the charge toner particles.
  • the rigidizing means includes second surface arranged for movement relative to the imag bearing surface along a pathway whereby portions of th image bearing surface and of the second surface sequentiall come into propinquity and subsequently move out o propinquity, potential impression means associated with a least one portion of at least one of the image bearin surface and the second surface for impressing a potential the at least one portion, and means for energizing th potential impression means only when the at least on portion is located at a predetermined location along th pathway, thereby to provide image rigidization.
  • the potential impression mean includes a plurality of electrical conductors associate with at least one of the image bearing surface and th second surface.
  • the rigidizing means includes a image compacting surface arranged for operative engagemen with the image bearing surface, the image compacting surfac having formed thereon at least one electrical conductor, an means for energizing the at least one electrical conducto at an interior location with respect to the engagement o the image compacting surface and the image bearing surfac whereby a relatively high voltage difference may b developed between the image compacting surface and the imag bearing surface.
  • the potential impression mean includes means for impressing a first potential of a firs polarity onto a first portion of the second surface an for simultaneously impressing a second potential of a secon polarity onto a second portion of the second surface.
  • a liquid toner image formed o pigmented particles having a charge of the second polarit is provided onto the image bearing surface, and the firs potential on the first portion provides background cleanin and the second potential on the second portion provide rigidization of the toner image on the image bearin surface.
  • the second surface is the surface o a roller and the second surface moves in a directio opposite to the movement of the image bearing surface there providing metering of excess liquid on the image bearin surface.
  • energization of the electrica conductors provides a desired electrical field at a desire location for producing image rigidization.
  • the rigidizing means includes rotatable surface.
  • the image compacting surfac includes a static surface relative to which the imag bearing surface moves.
  • apparatus fo image transfer including an image bearing surface and a image receiving member including an elastic outer laye having at least one ply of elastic material defining a outer image receiving surface arranged for relative movemen along a pathway whereby regions ' of the image bearing surfac and the image receiving surface sequentially come int propinquity for image transfer therebetween and subsequent move out of propinquity following image transfe therebetween, potential impression means contained within a least one portion of the elastic outer layer for impressin a potential between the at least one portion and the imag bearing surface, and means for energizing the potentia impression means only when the at least one portion i located at a predetermined location along the pathway thereby to provide desired image transfer enhancement.
  • the potential impression mean includes a plurality of electrical conductors. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodimen of the present invention, the potential impression mean includes means for impressing a potential of a firs polarity opposite to the polarity of the charge on the imag particles. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodimen of the present invention, the potential impression mean includes means for impressing a first potential on the a least one portion when the at least one portion is locate at a first predetermined location and for impressing second potential on the at least one portion when the a least one portion is located at a second predetermine location adjacent the first predetermined location.
  • the potential impression mean includes means for simultaneously impressing a firs potential on a first portion of the at least one surface an a second potential on a second portion of the at least on surface adjacent the first portion. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodimen of the present invention, the potential impression mean includes means for impressing a first potential on a firs portion of the at least one surface when the first portio is located at a first predetermined location and fo impressing a second potential on the first portion when th first portion is located at a second predetermined location adjacent the first predetermined location, and simultaneously impressing the second potential on the second portion when it is located at the second predetermined location and the first potential on the second portion when it is located at the first location.
  • the potential impression means includes means for simultaneously impressing a first potential on a first portion of the at least one surface when the first portion is located at a first predetermined location and a second potential on a second portion of the at least one surface when the second portion is located at a second predetermined location, and means for simultaneously impressing the second potential on the first portion when the first portion is located at the second predetermined location and the first potential on a third portion when it is located at the first location.
  • the first and second potentials are of opposite polarity.
  • the plurality of electrical conductors include first and second arrays of electrical conductors arranged on the image receiving surface and th means for electrically energizing include first means fo selectably energizing at least one electrical conductor o the first array for providing a desired potential at a firs predetermined location, and second means for selectabl energizing at least one electrical conductor of the secon array for providing desired heating of the image receivin surface at a second predetermined location.
  • the apparatus includes means fo removing excess liquid from the image bearing surface.
  • the potential impression mean provides a desired electrical field at a desired locationo for producing electrophoretic image transfer thereat.
  • the apparatus also includes mean for subsequently transferring the image from the imag receiving member and energization of the at least on conductor of the second array provides desired resistanc heating of the image prior to the subsequent transfer.
  • the image bearing surface is arrange to support a liquid toner image thereon, including imag regions and background regions, and the apparatus include means for removing pigmented toner particles from th background regions defined on the image bearing surface.
  • the means for removing includes roller with a potential intermediate that of the imag regions and the background regions.
  • the potential impression mean includes means for impressing a potential of a firs polarity, the same as that of the polarity of the charge o the image particles, on at least one conductor in a firs region and for impressing a potential of a second polarity, opposite to to that of the polarity of the charge on th image particles, on at least one conductor in a second region adjacent the first region to provide image transfer to the image receiving member at the first region and image rigidization at the second region.
  • the plurality of electrical conductors include first and second arrays of electrical conductors arranged on the image receiving surface and th means for electrically energizing include first means fo selectably energizing at least one electrical conductor of the first array for providing a desired potential at a first given location on the image receiving surface, and secon means for selectably energizing at least one electrical conductor of the second array for providing desired heating of the image receiving surface at a second given location.
  • the apparatus also includes second transfer means for image transfer from the image receiving surface to a substrate.
  • apparatus for image transfer including an image bearing surface and an image receiving surface arranged for relative movement along a pathway whereby regions of the image bearing surface and the image receiving surface sequentially come into propinquity for image transfer therebetween and subsequently move out of propinquity following image transfer therebetween, potential impression means associated with at least one portion of at least one of the image bearing surface and the image receiving surface for simultaneously impressing a first potential on a first portion of the at least one surface and a second potential on an adjacent second portion of the at least one surface, and means for energizing the potential impression means to impress the first potential only when the first portion is located at a predetermined location along the pathway, thereby to provide desired image transfer enhancement along the first portion and simultaneous image rigidization along the adjacent second portion.
  • apparatus for image transfer of a liquid toner image including an image bearing surface, adapted to carry the liquid toner image and electrically insulating carrie liquid thereon, an image receiving surface arranged fo relative movement along a pathway whereby regions of th image bearing surface and the image receiving surfac sequentially ' come into propinquity at an image transfe region for image transfer therebetween and subsequently mov out of propinquity following image transfer therebetween, wherein the liquid toner image and carrier liquid fill first section of the region between the image bearing an image receiving surfaces, potential impression mean associated with at .least one portion of at least one of t image bearing surface and the image receiving surface f impressing a potential on the at least one portion, an means for energizing the potential impression means when th at least one portion is located completely within the firs section.
  • the at least one ply of elasti material includes at least two plies of elastic material an the potential impression means is located between the tw plies.
  • apparatus for imag transfer including an image bearing surface, an imag receiving member including an outer layer defining an oute image receiving surface, arranged for relative movemen along a pathway whereby regions of the image receivin surface and the image bearing surface come into propinquit for image transfer therebetween and subsequently move out o propinquity following image transfer therebetween electrical potential impression means contained within th outer layer including a plurality of electrical* conductors means for energizing the electrical potential impressio means to provide improved image transfer from the imag bearing surface to the image receiving surface, and mean for subsequently transferring the image to a fina substrate.
  • the plurality of electrica conductors include first and second arrays of electrica conductors and the means for energizing includes firs means for energizing at least one electrical conductor o the first array for providing a desired potential at a firs predetermined location, and second means for energizing a least one conductor of the second array for providin desired heating of the image receiving surface.
  • apparatus fo transferring an image including an image bearing surface, an image receiving member including an outer layer defining an outer image receiving surface, arranged for relative movement along a pathway whereby regions of the image receiving surface and the image bearing surface come into propinquity for image transfer therebetween and subsequently move out of propinquity following image transfer therebetween, potential impression means associated with one of the image bearing and image receiving surfaces for simultaneously impressing a first potential on a first portion of the at least one surface and a second potential on an adjacent second portion of the at least one surface, and means for energizing the potential impression means to impress the first potential only when the first portion is located at a predetermined location along the pathway, to provide desired image transfer enhancement along the first portion and simultaneous image rigidization along the adjacent second portion.
  • the outer layer includes an elastic outer layer having at least one ply of elastic material. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodimen of the present invention, the potential impression means is contained within the outer layer. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodimen of the present invention, the potential impression means includes a plurality of electrical conductors. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment o the present invention, the first and second potentials ar of opposite polarity.
  • the image bearing surface i arranged to support a liquid toner image thereon, includin image regions and background regions, the apparatu including means for removing pigmented toner particles fro the background regions defined on the image bearing surface
  • the image is a liquid toner imag including carrier liquid and charged toner particles and t first potential is of the same sign as the sign of the ton particles and the second potential is of opposite sign that of the toner particles.
  • the apparatus also includes seco transfer means for image transfer from the image receivi surface to a substrate.
  • the at least one ply of elasti material includes at least two plies of elastic material an the potential impression means is placed between the tw plies.
  • the propinquity includes touchin engagement.
  • FIG. 2 is a simplified sectional illustration o electrophotographic apparatus constructed and operative i accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presen invention
  • Fig. 3A is a simplified conceptual sectiona illustration of image transfer apparatus constructed an operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of th present invention
  • Fig. 3B is a simplified conceptual sectiona illustration of image transfer apparatus constructed an operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment o the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a simplified sectional illustration of par of an intermediate transfer member constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a simplified sectional illustration of part of an intermediate transfer member constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 6 is an illustration of part of the apparatus of Fig.
  • FIG. 7 is a pictorial illustration of the arrangement of conductors on the intermediate transfer member employed in the apparatus of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a simplified side view illustration of the arrangement of electrical supply apparatus in association with an intermediate transfer member;
  • Fig. 9 is a side view illustration taken along lines IX - IX in Fig. 8 for one embodiment of the invention;
  • Fig. 10 is a simplified illustration of electrical supply apparatus useful in the arrangement of Fig. 8;
  • Fig. 11 is a simplified sectional illustration of electrophotographic apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • Fig. 7 is a pictorial illustration of the arrangement of conductors on the intermediate transfer member employed in the apparatus of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a simplified side view illustration of the arrangement of electrical supply apparatus in association with an intermediate transfer member;
  • Fig. 9 is a side view illustration taken along lines IX - IX in Fig. 8 for one embodiment of the invention;
  • Fig. 10
  • FIG. 12 is a simplified conceptual sectional illustration of image rigidization apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 13 is a simplified conceptual sectional illustration of image rigidization apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 14 is a simplified sectional illustration o electrophotographic apparatus constructed and operative i accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of th present invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrate electrophotographic imaging apparatus constructed an operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of th present invention. This and other embodiments of th invention are described for the case of liquid toner system with negatively charged particles, and positively charge photoconductors.
  • th apparatus of Fig. 1 comprises a drum 10 arranged fo rotation about an axle 12 in a direction generally indicate by arrow 14.
  • the drum 10 is formed with a cylindrica photoconductive surface 16.
  • a corona discharge device 18 is operative to generall uniformly charge the photoconductor surface 16 with positive charge.
  • th photoconductor surface 16 passes a typically positivel charged rotating roller 26, preferably rotating in direction indicated by an arrow 28.
  • the spatia separation of the roller 26 from the photoconductor surfac 16 is about 50 microns.
  • the charge on roller 26 is intermediate th voltages of the latent image areas and of the backgroun areas on the photoconductor surface. Typical voltages are: roller 26: 200V, background area: 50V and latent imag areas: up to 1000V. It is appreciated that roller 26 may rotate in th direction opposite to that indicated by arrow 28 an function as a metering roller thereby to reduce th thickness of liquid on the photoconductor surface 16. Alternatively, the metering function may be eliminate at this stage or carried out downstream by an appropriat technique.
  • the liquid which passes the roller 2 should be relatively free of pigmented particles except i the region of the latent image.
  • the rigidizing roller 30 is preferabl formed of a resilient polymeric material, such as conductiv resilient polymeric materials as described in either or bot of U.S. Patents 3,959,574 and 3,863,603 and is preferabl maintained in non-contacting spatial relationship with th photoconductive surface 16.
  • roller 3 is lightly urged against the photoconductive surface 16 a by a spring mounting (not shown) .
  • roller 30 Rotation of th photoconductive surface 16 produces hydrodynamic forces o roller 30 which push it slightly away from th photoconductive surface 16, so that it typically lies at separation of 15 microns from the photoconductive surface.
  • the roller 30 may be mounted at a fixe separation from photoconductive surface 16. In such a case to take account of surface irregularities, the roller 3 lies at a separation of about 50 microns from th photoconductive surface.
  • the surface of roller 30 typicall moves in the same direction as the photoconductive surfac so as not to substantially remove liquid from the image
  • the nip between the roller 30 and th photoconductive surface 16 is kept wet so as to minimiz problems of electrical discharge.
  • the biased squeege described in U. S. Patent 4,286,039, the disclosure of whic is incorporated herein by reference, is used as the rolle 30.
  • a negative voltage of between several hundred to 200 volts can be used and some breakdown is experienced.
  • Rolle 30 is negatively charged to a potential of at least severa hundred and up to 2000 volts with the same sign as th charge on the pigmented toner particles, so that it repel similarly charged pigmented particles and causes them t more closely approach the image areas of the photoconducto surface 16, thus compressing and rigidizing the image.
  • intermediate transfer member 40 Downstream of rigidizing roller 30 there is provided a intermediate transfer member 40, which rotates in direction opposite to that of photoconductor surface 16, a shown by arrow 41, and is operative for receiving the tone image therefrom and for transferring the toner image to receiving substrate 42, such as paper.
  • intermediate transfer members ar known and are described, for example, in U.S. Paten 4,684,238 and in assignee's copending U.S. Paten application entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING USIN AN INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER MEMBER filed January 4, 1989, th disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Particularly beneficial constructions of intermediat transfer members in accordance with the present inventio are described in detail hereinbelow.
  • Transfer of the image to intermediate transfer membe 40 is preferably aided by providing electrification of th intermediate transfer member 40 to a voltage of polarit opposite to that of the charged particles, although othe methods known in the art may be employed. Subsequent transfer of the image to substrate 42 is preferably aided by heat and pressure, with pressure applied by backer rolle 43, although other methods known in the art may be employed. It has been noted that when the negatively biase squeegee roller of U.S. Patent 4,286,039, with high negativ voltage, is utilized as the roller 30, the positive voltag on the intermediate transfer member required to transfer th image thereto is sharply reduced, typically from about 1000 volts or more to about 500 volts.
  • FIG. 2 illustrate electrophotographic imaging apparatus constructed an operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment o the present invention.
  • the apparatus of Fig. 2 shares man common elements with that of Fig. 1. These elements ar indicated by identical reference numerals, and for the sak of conciseness are not described herein a second time.
  • the embodiment of Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. 1 i that the rigidizing roller 30 is eliminated and further i that a belt-type, instead of roller type, intermediat transfer member 70 is employed.
  • Belt-type intermediat transfer members are well known in the art and ar described, inter alia, in U.S.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate conceptually an intermediate transfer member 40 having a limited charged region or regions.
  • Fig. 3A conceptually illustrates an intermediate transfer member 40 which is provided with an arrangement of electrical conductors whereby, at any given time, for any 1 given rotational st.ate of the intermediate transfer member,
  • This arrangement has particular utility in providing a
  • portion 64 will be energized to a negative potential, typically -200V to -2000V, thereby to provide image compression or rigidization by urging the pigmented particles towards the image areas on the photoconductor surface, while portion 66 will be energized to a positive potential, typically +300V to +2500V, thus drawing the image electrophoretically from the photoconductor surface 16 through the solvent in the meniscus 68 onto the surface of intermediate transfer member 40 in region 66.
  • the lower positive voltage on portion 66 can be used for a relatively high negative voltage on portion 64.
  • One possible, but not definitive explanation of why good transfer is achieved with low positive voltage on portion 66 and high negative voltage on portion 64 is that charge transfer from the intermediate transfer member 40 to the photoconductive surface takes place, with consequent at least partial neutralization of the charge on the drum.
  • portions 66 and 64 may be separated by a region on the photoconductor surface of intermediate potential, so as to prevent unwanted electrical discharge between portions 64 and 66.
  • the outer boundaries of regions 64 and 66 are normally defined so as to avoid electrical breakdown between regions 64 and 66 and the photoconductor surface 16, as described above in connection with Fig. 3A. Reference is now made to Fig.
  • the intermediate transfer member typically comprises a high tensile strength substrate 72, such as Kapton, typically of thickness 10 microns, on which is preferably provided a resilient layer 74.
  • a resistive heating layer 76 typically formed of nickel-chrome alloy, is preferably formed onto resilient layer 74 and is coupled to a source of electrical curren for providing desired heating of the intermediate transfe member 70 to assist in image transfer therefrom onto a image receiving substrate.
  • an insulative layer 78 typically formed of polyurethane o thickness 5 microns.
  • insulative layer 78 Supported on insulative layer 78 is a generall parallel array 80 of generally uniformly spaced selectabl energizable electrical conductors 82.
  • the elongate axes o the conductors 82 are generally perpendicular to th direction of movement, indicated by double headed arrow 84, of the intermediate transfer member 70 when in operation, a shown, for example, in Fig. 2.
  • Conductors 82 are typically of thickness 35 microns an of width 500 microns and are separated by 250 microns.
  • a layer 86 of thermally conductiv material such as a silicone-polyurethane copolymer loade with 2% Degussa Printex XE-2, manufactured by Degussa AG o Frankfurt, West Germany, having a thickness about 10 microns over the conductors 82 and a resistivity of abou 10 +5 ohm-cm.
  • a release layer 88 Disposed over layer 86 is a release layer 88, such as Syl-Off manufactured by Dow Corning, having typical thickness of 10 microns.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a intermediate transfer member which is identical to tha shown in Fig.
  • the resistive heating layer 7 is not continuous but is rather formed of a generall parallel array 90 of generally uniformly spaced selectabl energizable electrical conductors 92.
  • the elongate axes o the conductors 92 are generally perpendicular to th direction of movement, indicated by double headed arrow 84 of the intermediate transfer member 70 when in operation a shown, for example, in Fig. 2.
  • array 90 instead of- a continuou resistive heating layer permits the heating of th intermediate transfer member 70 to be spatially selective for example, permitting heating of the intermediate transfe member only along that portion of its route which extend from the photoconductor surface 16 to the substrate 42 (Fi 2) .
  • Heating of the image carried on the intermediat transfer member 70 along this portion of its route enable enhancement of the cohesiveness of the image to be realize without possible heat damage to the photoconductor surfac 16 as described in Assignee's copending U.S. Paten Application 272,323 filed November 21, 1988, the disclosur of which is incorporated herein by reference, and als permits heating of the image to be terminated with a desire level of precision to enhance transfer of the image from th intermediate transfer member to the substrate. Enhancemen of image transfer in this manner is described and claimed i Assignee's copending U.S. Patent Application filed succeed 4, 1989 and entitled: Method & Apparatus for Imaging Usin an Intermediate Transfer Member, the teaching of which i hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • FIGs. 6 and 7 illustrate an intermediat transfer member roller 40 having at least one array 80 o selectably energizable conductors in operative engagemen with a substrate 42 and a drum 10.
  • An electrical energizin shoe 100 applies electrical power to the array 80.
  • the sho 100 may comprise one or more brushes or contacts contactin one or more groups of conductors.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a preferred arrangement of the arra 80 on a roller 40.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates an arrangement by which a sho assembly of the type illustrated in Fig. 10 may be mounte in tension in operative engagement with a roller 92.
  • Th roller 92 is similar to roller 40, illustrated in Fig. 7 except that the conductors 82 are no longer required to b offset as shown in Fig. 7.
  • the shoe assembly is held i tensioned contact with roller 92 and contacts 112, 114 an 116 of a shoe 110 (Fig. 10) are in contact with th extremities of conductors 82.
  • the diameter of drum 10 i reduced at a region facing the extremities of conductors 82 as shown in Fig. 9, to provide clearance of shoe 110.
  • contact 112 may b maintained at -2000 Volts
  • contact 114 may be maintained a 0 Volts
  • contact 116 may be maintained at +500 Volts
  • An electrical connector 120 shown in Fig. 8, may provid the desired voltages to respective connectors 122, 124 an 126 which are electrically coupled to shoe portions 112, 11 and 116 respectively.
  • an intermediate transf member of the type illustrated in Fig. 5, having two arra 80 and 90 of conductors may receive electrical power v shoe assemblies 110 arranged at opposite ends of the roll 92, as illustrated in Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 11 which illustrat electrophotographic imaging apparatus generally similar that shown in Fig. 1 with the following principal exceptio the use of an intermediate transfer member is abandoned favor of direct transfer from the photoconductor surface to a substrate 130, such as paper.
  • the direct transfer i effected by the provision of guide rollers 132, 134 and 136, which guide a continuous web of substrate 130, and a driv roller 138, which cooperates with a support web 140.
  • the apparatus of Figs. 1 or 11 may be constructed and operative with a rigidizing roller 30 (Fig. 1, 11-13) .
  • roller 30 includes a generally parallel array 150 of generally uniformly spaced selectably energizable electrical conductors 152.
  • the elongate axes of the conductors 152 are generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rigidizing roller 30 in operation as shown, for example, in Fig.
  • Conductors 152 are typically of thickness 35 microns and of width 500 microns and are separated by 250 microns. There is defined a general region 155 between the rigidizing roller 30 and the photoconductor surface 16, delimited by imaginary radii 156, in which the chance of electrical breakdown is low due to the presence thereat of a meniscus of the dielectric toner carrier. In this region, conductors 152 are charged to a voltage opposite to the polarity of that of the pigmented toner particles, typically -500 to -2000 Volts. This arrangement compresses the toner particles of the image, thus rigidizing the image on the photoconductor surface, for resulting enhancement of transfer therefrom.
  • roller 30 of Fig. 12 can also act as a squeegee roller, substantially removing most of the liquid from the image and further physically compressing the image.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates a further development of the apparatus of Fig. 12 in which roller 30 serves as a metering, background removal and rigidizing roller. In this arrangement, two regions 160 and 162 are defined and opposite voltages are applied to the conductors 152 in those regions, much in the same way as described above and illustrated in Fig. 3B. This arrangement has particular utility in providing a background removal and rigidifying roller 30 which serves both to remove background from the image and to rigidify the image prior to transfer.
  • region 160 will be energized to a positive potential, typically +200 Volts, thereby to draw pigmented particles away from the background areas of the photoconductor surface 16.
  • Region 162 will be energized to a negative potential, typically -200V to -2000V, thereby t provide image rigidization by urging the pigmented particle towards the image areas on the photoconductor surface.
  • regions 160 and 162 there may be region on the roller 30 of intermediate potential, so as t prevent unwanted electrical discharge between regions 16 and 162.
  • region 162 will normally b defined so as to avoid electrical breakdown between regio 162 and the photoconductor surface 16.
  • Metering of excess liquid from the photoconductiv surface 16 is achieved by counter rotation of roller 30 in direction indicated by an arrow 164, as is well known in th art.
  • Fig. 14 illustrate electrophotographic imaging apparatus which is substantiall similar to that illustrated in Fig. 11 with the followin exception; roller 30 is replaced by a non-rotatin rigidizing element 170 having an electrically charged regio 172 which is located interiorly of the edges of element 170 such that electrical breakdown is prevented.
  • Region 172 is selected such that the gap separatio between the element 170 and the photoconductor surface 16 i such that when the gap is filled with dielectric tone carrier liquid during operation, no electrical discharg takes place at the operating voltages, which are preferabl in the range of -200 to -2000 Volts for the element 17 within region 172, when the photoconductor surface 16 i charged to 1000 Volts at the image region and 50 Volts a the background region.
  • the rigidizing element is preferabl hydrodynamically shaped so that rotation of the roller wil cause it to be spaced about 15 microns from the surface o the photoconductor, when it is lightly urged towards th photoconductor.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Charge, Transfer And Separation In Electrography (AREA)
  • Wet Developing In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

Un appareil améliorant le transfert d'image à toner liquide comprend une surface de support d'image, un appareil formant une image à toner liquide sur la surface de support d'image, ainsi qu'une seconde surface agencée pour effectuer un mouvement par rapport à ladite surface de support d'image, de sorte que les régions de la surface de support d'image et de la seconde surface viennent à proximité séquentiellement les unes des autres et s'éloignent ensuite les unes des autres. Ledit appareil d'amélioration comprend en outre un appareil d'impression potentiel associé à au moins une partie d'au moins une des surfaces de support d'image ainsi que de la seconde surface afin d'imprimer un potentiel sur ladite partie au moins, ainsi qu'un appareil excitant ledit appareil d'impression de potentiel, uniquement lorsque ladite partie au moins est située à des emplacements prédéterminés le long du chemin, donnant ainsi une forme rigide à l'image.
EP90903053A 1989-02-06 1990-02-05 Systeme d'imagerie Expired - Lifetime EP0456733B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US306065 1981-09-28
US07/306,062 US4999677A (en) 1989-02-06 1989-02-06 Imaging system with rigidizer
US306079 1989-02-06
US07/306,065 US4984025A (en) 1989-02-06 1989-02-06 Imaging system with intermediate transfer member
US07/306,079 US4974027A (en) 1989-02-06 1989-02-06 Imaging system with compactor and squeegee
US306062 1989-02-06
US07/306,076 US5028964A (en) 1989-02-06 1989-02-06 Imaging system with rigidizer and intermediate transfer member
PCT/NL1990/000013 WO1990008984A1 (fr) 1989-02-06 1990-02-05 Systeme d'imagerie
US306076 1994-09-14

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0456733A1 true EP0456733A1 (fr) 1991-11-21
EP0456733B1 EP0456733B1 (fr) 1995-04-26

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90903053A Expired - Lifetime EP0456733B1 (fr) 1989-02-06 1990-02-05 Systeme d'imagerie

Country Status (5)

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EP (1) EP0456733B1 (fr)
JP (2) JPH04503265A (fr)
DE (1) DE69018972T2 (fr)
HK (1) HK137895A (fr)
WO (1) WO1990008984A1 (fr)

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US5592269A (en) * 1993-03-26 1997-01-07 Indigo N.V. Imaging system having an intermediate transfer member
US5335054A (en) * 1989-02-06 1994-08-02 Spectrum Sciences B.V. Image transfer apparatus including intermediate transfer blanket
DE69014407T2 (de) * 1989-04-04 1995-05-11 Seiko Epson Corp Bilderzeugungsgerät vom Nasstyp.
US5387760A (en) * 1990-10-19 1995-02-07 Seiko Epson Corporation Wet recording apparatus for developing electrostatic latent image
US5255058A (en) * 1991-01-22 1993-10-19 Spectrum Sciences B.V. Liquid developer imaging system using a spaced developing roller and a toner background removal surface
US5166734A (en) * 1991-02-12 1992-11-24 Spectrum Sciences B.V. Imaging system including pre-transfer discharge
US5303013A (en) * 1991-03-18 1994-04-12 Fujitsu Limited Color picture image formation device for developing latent image formed on a photosensitive body
EP0513820A3 (en) * 1991-05-17 1993-05-19 Hewlett-Packard Company Conditioning roller and method of operation for use with a photoconductive drum in an electrophotographic color printer
DE69535086T2 (de) * 1994-02-04 2007-01-11 Sharp K.K. Bilderzeugungsgerät
US5701567A (en) * 1995-10-27 1997-12-23 Eastman Kodak Company Compliant transfer member having multiple parallel electrodes and method of using
US6029035A (en) * 1995-10-30 2000-02-22 Nippon Steel Corporation Electrostatic recorder
JP3362844B2 (ja) 2000-02-18 2003-01-07 日本電気株式会社 湿式現像装置およびこれを用いた画像形成装置
EP4185925A4 (fr) * 2020-08-25 2024-06-19 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Appareil d'impression

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US4039257A (en) * 1974-07-25 1977-08-02 Xerox Corporation Pretransfer corotron switching
US4286039A (en) * 1979-05-15 1981-08-25 Savin Corporation Method and apparatus for removing excess developing liquid from photoconductive surfaces
US4341455A (en) * 1979-11-13 1982-07-27 Burroughs Corporation Conducting toner transfer apparatus
NL8105676A (nl) * 1981-12-16 1983-07-18 Coulter Stork Patents Inrichting voor het overdragen van een tonerbeeld.
DE3213797A1 (de) * 1982-04-15 1983-10-20 Hoechst Ag, 6230 Frankfurt Elektrofotografisches kopierverfahren und vorrichtung zum entfernen der entwicklerfluessigkeit von einer fotoleiteroberflaeche
US4571059A (en) * 1983-10-17 1986-02-18 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Apparatus for transferring images of conductive toner powder

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH04503265A (ja) 1992-06-11
WO1990008984A1 (fr) 1990-08-09
DE69018972D1 (de) 1995-06-01
EP0456733B1 (fr) 1995-04-26
HK137895A (en) 1995-09-08
DE69018972T2 (de) 1995-11-30
JP2001066902A (ja) 2001-03-16

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