EP1179757A2 - Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermédiaire - Google Patents

Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermédiaire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1179757A2
EP1179757A2 EP01204163A EP01204163A EP1179757A2 EP 1179757 A2 EP1179757 A2 EP 1179757A2 EP 01204163 A EP01204163 A EP 01204163A EP 01204163 A EP01204163 A EP 01204163A EP 1179757 A2 EP1179757 A2 EP 1179757A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
blanket
layer
intermediate transfer
transfer
drum
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
EP01204163A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1179757B1 (fr
EP1179757A3 (fr
Inventor
Alon c/o Indigo Ltd. Gazit
David c/o Indigo Ltd. Idan
Hanni C/o Indigo Ltd. Inbar
Ilan c/o Indigo Ltd. Kandar
Eli c/o Indigo Ltd. Kritchman
Benzion c/o Indigo Ltd. Landa
Amiran c/o Indigo Ltd. Lavon
Moshe c/o Indigo Ltd. Levanon
Ishaiau c/o Indigo Ltd. Lior
Jan c/o Indigo Ltd. Van Mil
Yehuda c/o Indigo Ltd. Niv
Avner c/o Indigo Ltd. Schneider
Aron c/o Indigo Ltd. Shmaiser
Hanis c/o Indigo Ltd. Younes
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.)
HP Indigo BV
Original Assignee
Hewlett Packard Indigo BV
Indigo 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 IL11184694A external-priority patent/IL111846A0/xx
Priority claimed from IL11184794A external-priority patent/IL111847A0/xx
Application filed by Hewlett Packard Indigo BV, Indigo BV filed Critical Hewlett Packard Indigo BV
Priority claimed from EP95920290A external-priority patent/EP0784809B1/fr
Publication of EP1179757A2 publication Critical patent/EP1179757A2/fr
Publication of EP1179757A3 publication Critical patent/EP1179757A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1179757B1 publication Critical patent/EP1179757B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • G03G15/162—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 details of the the intermediate support, e.g. chemical composition

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to image forming and image transfer apparatus especially for use in electrostatic imaging using an intermediate transfer blanket.
  • intermediate transfer members and members including transfer blankets for offset ink printing are also well known.
  • Such blankets have characteristics which are suitable for ink transfer but are generally not usable, per se, for liquid toner imaging.
  • the present invention seeks to provide, in one aspect thereof, improved image transfer apparatus using an improved intermediate transfer member.
  • the present invention further seeks to provide, in a second aspect thereof, an improved image transfer member for use in imaging apparatus, especially in image forming apparatus using electrostatically charged toner.
  • the present invention further seeks to provide, in a third aspect thereof, an improved image transfer blanket for use as part of the image transfer member in imaging apparatus, especially in image forming apparatus using electrostatically charged toner.
  • imaging apparatus comprising:
  • At least a portion of a surface of the layered transfer portion opposite to the transfer surface is bonded to the drum.
  • the layered transfer portion comprises an electrically conductive layer underlying the transfer surface; and the mounting fixture comprises an electrically conductive element, attached to one edge of the transfer portion, which is electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer.
  • the electrically conductive element which preferably comprises at least one "L" shaped finger-like extension extending therefrom, that contacts the drum, wherein the drum is electrified to a voltage which is operative to transfer the toner image from the imaging surface to the transfer surface.
  • said at least one "L" shaped extension has a first portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the layered transfer portion and a second portion attached and substantially perpendicular to the first portion and extending substantially parallel to and away from the layered transfer portion.
  • the mounting recesses further comprise recesses therein which receive said second portion.
  • a substantially rectangular intermediate transfer blanket comprising:
  • the layered transfer portion comprises an electrically conductive layer underlying the transfer surface; and the mounting fixture comprises an electrically conductive element, attached to one edge of the transfer portion, which is electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer.
  • the electrically conductive element comprises at least one "L" shaped finger-like extension extending therefrom, which extension preferably has a first portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the layered transfer portion and a second portion attached and substantially perpendicular to the first portion and extending substantially parallel to and away from the layered transfer portion.
  • the layered transfer portion comprises a conformal layer formed of a material having a Shore A hardness of less than 65, preferably less than about 50 and more than about 30.
  • the transfer surface is a release layer for toner.
  • a substantially rectangular intermediate transfer blanket comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer member and blanket comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer blanket comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer blanket comprising:
  • the soft layer comprises an acrylic polymer.
  • the layered transfer portion comprises an adhesive layer on a side thereof opposite to the transfer surface.
  • imaging apparatus for performing an imaging process, comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer member comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer member for receiving liquid toner images comprising toner particles and carrier liquid comprising:
  • imaging apparatus for performing an imaging process, comprising:
  • the material is a gas and the barrier layer is a barrier layer for gasses.
  • a layered intermediate transfer member comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer member comprising:
  • a layered intermediate transfer member for receiving liquid toner images comprising toner particles and carrier liquid comprising:
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 illustrate a multicolor electrostatic imaging system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • an imaging sheet preferably an organic photoreceptor 12, typically mounted on a rotating drum 10.
  • Drum 10 is rotated about its axis by a motor or the like (not shown), in the direction of arrow 18, past charging apparatus 14, preferably a corotron, scorotron or roller charger or other suitable charging apparatus known in the art and which is adapted to charge the surface of sheet photoreceptor 12.
  • the image to be reproduced is focused by an imager 16 upon the charged surface 12 at least partially discharging the photoconductor in the areas struck by light, thereby forming the electrostatic latent image.
  • the latent image normally includes image areas at a first electrical potential and background areas at another electrical potential.
  • Photoreceptor sheet 12 may use any suitable arrangement of layers of materials as is known in the art, however, in the preferred embodiment of the photoreceptor sheet, certain of the layers are removed from the ends of the sheet to facilitate its mounting on drum 10.
  • photoreceptor 12 may be deposited on the drum 10 and may form a continuous surface.
  • photoreceptor 12 may be a non-organic type photoconductor based, for example, on a compound of Selenium.
  • Imaging apparatus 16 may be a modulated laser beam scanning apparatus, an optical focusing device for imaging a copy on a drum or other imaging apparatus such as is known in the art.
  • drum 10 and photoreceptor sheet 12 are also associated with drum 10 and photoreceptor sheet 12, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, are a multicolor liquid developer spray assembly 20, a developing assembly 22, color specific cleaning blade assemblies 34, a background cleaning station 24, an electrified squeegee 26, a background discharge device 28, an intermediate transfer member 30, cleaning apparatus 32, and, optionally, a neutralizing lamp assembly 36.
  • Developing assembly 22 preferably includes a development roller 38.
  • Development roller 38 is preferably spaced from photoreceptor 12 thereby forming a gap therebetween of typically 40 to 150 micrometers and is charged to an electrical potential intermediate that of the image and background areas of the image.
  • Development roller 38 is thus operative, when maintained at a suitable voltage, to apply an electric field to aid development of the latent electrostatic image.
  • Development roller 38 typically rotates in the same sense as drum 10 as indicated by arrow 40. This rotation provides for the surface of sheet 12 and development roller 38 to have opposite velocities at the gap between them.
  • Multicolor liquid developer spray assembly 20 may be mounted on axis 42 to allow assembly 20 to be pivoted in such a manner that a spray of liquid toner containing electrically charged pigmented toner particles can be directed either onto a portion of the development roller 38, a portion of the photoreceptor 12 or directly into a development region 44 between photoreceptor 12 and development roller 38.
  • assembly 20 may be fixed.
  • the spray is directed onto a portion of the development roller 38.
  • Color specific cleaning blade assemblies 34 are operatively associated with developer roller 38 for separate removal of residual amounts of each colored toner remaining thereon after development. Each of blade assemblies 34 is selectably brought into operative association with developer roller 38 only when toner of a color corresponding thereto is supplied to development region 44 by spray assembly 20.
  • the construction and operation of cleaning blade assemblies is described in PCT Publication WO 90/14619 and in US patent 5,289,238, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Each cleaning blade assembly 34 includes a toner directing member 52 which serves to direct the toner removed by the cleaning blade assemblies 34 from the developer roller 38 to separate collection containers 54, 56, 58, and 60, for each color to prevent contamination of the various developers by mixing of the colors.
  • the toner collected by the collection containers is recycled to a corresponding toner reservoir (55, 57, 59 and 61).
  • a final toner directing member 62 always engages the developer roller 38 and the toner collected thereat is supplied into collection container 64 and thereafter to reservoir 65 via separator 66 which is operative to separate relatively clean carrier liquid from the various colored toner particles.
  • the separator 66 may be typically of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,985,732, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a background cleaning station 24 typically including a reverse roller 46 and a fluid spray apparatus 48 is provided.
  • Reverse roller 46 which rotates in a direction indicated by arrow 50 is electrically biased to a potential intermediate that of the image and background areas of photoconductive drum 10, but different from that of the development roller.
  • Reverse roller 46 is preferably spaced apart from photoreceptor sheet 12 thereby forming a gap therebetween which is typically 40 to 150 micrometers.
  • Fluid spray apparatus 48 receives liquid toner from reservoir 65 via conduit 88 and operates to provide a supply of preferably non-pigmented carrier liquid to the gap between sheet 12 and reverse roller 46.
  • the liquid supplied by fluid spray apparatus 48 replaces the liquid removed from drum 10 by development assembly 22 thus allowing the reverse roller 46 to remove charged pigmented toner particles by electrophoresis from the background areas of the latent image.
  • Excess fluid is removed from reverse roller 46 by a liquid directing member 70 which continuously engages reverse roller 46 to collect excess liquid containing toner particles of various colors which is in turn supplied to reservoir 65 via a collection container 64 and separator 66.
  • the apparatus embodied in reference numerals 46, 48, 50 and 70 is not required for low speed systems, but is preferably included in high speed systems.
  • an electrically biased squeegee roller 26 is urged against the surface of sheet 12 and is operative to remove liquid carrier from the background regions and to compact the image and remove liquid carrier therefrom in the image regions.
  • Squeegee roller 26 is preferably formed of resilient slightly conductive polymeric material as is well known in the art, and is preferably charged to a potential of several hundred to a few thousand volts with the same polarity as the polarity of the charge on the toner particles.
  • the squeegee roller is made by molding a soft polyurethane rubber coating onto a metal core, coating the molded core with a conductive lacquer and coating the lacquer with a low conductivity elastomer.
  • the molded coating can be made of an elastomer with a controlled conductivity and the lacquer can be omitted.
  • a single coating of controlled conductivity elastomer is used and the outer layer is omitted.
  • the metal core is cleaned, and coated with a rubber to metal adhesive, such as, for example CILBOND 49 SF (Compounding Ingredients Limited, UK) dissolved in an equal amount of methyl ethyl ketone, which is dried at 110°C for one hour.
  • a rubber to metal adhesive such as, for example CILBOND 49 SF (Compounding Ingredients Limited, UK) dissolved in an equal amount of methyl ethyl ketone, which is dried at 110°C for one hour.
  • An outer mold having a diameter about 9.5 mm greater than that of the core is dip coated with a release agent, such as, for example, a mixture of 10 parts Syl-Off 7600 (Dow Corning), 1 part Syl-Off 7601 and 150 parts n-hexane which is then cured for one hour at 110°C.
  • the space between the core and the mold (preheated to 70-80°C) is filled with polyurethane rubber for casting (CIL A 20, Compounding Ingredients Limited, UK) which is preheated under vacuum at 80°C for 16 hours and then at 120°C for an additional hour.
  • the polyurethane is cured at 135°C for 8 hours.
  • the cast material is ground to size to approximately ⁇ 5 micrometers.
  • the preferred hardness of the coating is about 20 Shore A, although this hardness may vary from 15-40 Shore A depending on the amount of liquid removal desired.
  • the ground surface is cleaned with acetone and preferably dip coated with a conductive lacquer (preferably, 3 parts H322 (Lord Corporation, USA) and 1 part ethyl acetate) which has been prefiltered through a lint free cloth to give a thickness (after drying) of about 30 micrometers.
  • a conductive lacquer preferably, 3 parts H322 (Lord Corporation, USA) and 1 part ethyl acetate
  • the coated squeegee is dried at room temperature and cured at 140°C for 2 hours.
  • the preferred hardness of the material forming the outer layer is about 30-35 Shore A and this hardness can be controlled by changing the proportion of MDI in the coating.
  • the coating has a resistivity in the range of 10 8 to 10 10 ohm-cm, with a preferred value of 1-3x10 8 to 2-3x10 9 ohm-cm.
  • the cast covering for the core is preferably an elastomer having the proper combination of hardness (15-30 Shore A, preferably 20 Shore A) and resistivity (1-10x10 6 ohm-cm).
  • This material can be polyurethane, nitrile or other oil resistant rubber. Polyurethane with selectable resistivity and hardness is available from Merthane Products (USA).
  • the coating is ground to size and finish and coated with a top layer which is made in the same manner as the top layer of the first embodiment.
  • the top layer is omitted and the conductive elastomer is preferably cast to exact size.
  • Discharge device 28 is operative to flood the sheet 12 with light which discharges the voltage remaining on sheet 12, mainly to reduce electrical breakdown and improve transfer of the image to intermediate transfer member 30. Operation of such a device in a write black system is described in U.S. Patent 5,280,326, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 further show that multicolor toner spray assembly 20 receives separate supplies of colored toner typically from four different reservoirs 55, 57, 59 and 61.
  • Figure 1 shows four different colored toner reservoirs 55, 57, 59 and 61 typically containing the colors Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and, optionally, Black respectively.
  • Pumps 90, 92, 94 and 96 may be provided along respective supply conduits 98, 101, 103 and 105 for providing a desired amount of pressure to feed the colored toner to multicolor spray assembly 20.
  • multicolor toner spray assembly 20, which is preferably a three level spray assembly receives supplies of colored toner from up to six different reservoirs (not shown) which allows for custom colored toner in addition to the standard process colors.
  • a preferred type of toner for use with the present invention is that described in Example 1 of U.S. Patent 4,794,651, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference or variants thereof as are well known in the art.
  • carbon black is replaced by color pigments as is well known in the art.
  • Other toners may alternatively be employed, including liquid toners and, as indicated above, including powder toners.
  • Another preferred embodiment of the toner for use in the invention is prepared using the following method:
  • the resulting material is diluted with additional Isopar L and Marcol 82 to give a working developer in which the dry solids portion is about 1.7% and in which the overall ratio of Isopar L to Marcol is between about 50:1 and 500:1, more preferably between about 100:1 and 200:1.
  • Charge director as described in US patent application 07/915,291 (utilizing lecithin, BBP and ICIG3300B) and in WO 94/02887, in an amount equal to 40 mg/gm of solids, is added to charge the toner particles.
  • Other charge directors and additional additives as are known in the art may also be used.
  • Cyan, magenta and yellow toners can be produced by using a different mix of materials for step 2).
  • Cyan toner 822g of the solubilized material, 21.33 grams each of BT 583D and BT 788D pigments (Cookson), 1.73 grams of D1355DD pigment (BASF), 7.59 grams of aluminum tri stearate and 1426 grams of Isopar L are used in step 2.
  • Magenta toner 810 grams of solubilized material, 48.3 grams of Finess Red F2B, 6.81 grams of aluminum tri-stearate and 1434.2 grams of Isopar L are used in step 2.
  • For yellow toner 810 grams of solubilized material 49.1 grams of D1355DD pigment, 6.9 grams of aluminum tri-stearate and 1423 grams of Isopar L are used in step 2.
  • Intermediate transfer member 30 may, for some embodiments of the invention, be any suitable intermediate transfer member having a multilayered transfer portion such as those described below or in US Patents 5,089,856 or 5,047,808 or in the applications of which this application is a continuation in part, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and by other structures known in the art.
  • Member 30 is maintained at a suitable voltage and temperature for electrostatic transfer of the image thereto from the image bearing surface.
  • Intermediate transfer member 30 is preferably associated with a pressure roller 71 for transfer of the image onto a final substrate 72, such as paper, preferably by heat and pressure.
  • a final substrate 72 such as paper
  • Certain aspects of the present invention especially the method of mounting a transfer blanket on a drum are of general applicability and are applicable to a wide range of blanket types for ink, liquid toner or powder toner as are known in the art.
  • Cleaning apparatus 32 is operative to scrub clean the surface of photoreceptor 12 and preferably includes a cleaning roller 74, a sprayer 76 to spray a non-polar cleaning liquid to assist in the scrubbing process and a wiper blade 78 to complete the cleaning of the photoconductive surface.
  • Cleaning roller 74 which may be formed of any synthetic resin known in the art for this purpose is driven in the same sense as drum 10 as indicated by arrow 80, such that the surface of the roller scrubs the surface of the photoreceptor. Any residual charge left on the surface of photoreceptor sheet 12 may be removed by flooding the photoconductive surface with light from optional neutralizing lamp assembly 36, which may not be required in practice.
  • the single color image is transferred to intermediate transfer member 30.
  • Subsequent images in different colors are sequentially transferred in alignment with the previous image onto intermediate transfer member 30.
  • the complete multi-color image is transferred from transfer member 30 to substrate 72.
  • Impression roller 71 only produces operative engagement between intermediate transfer member 30 and substrate 72 when transfer of the composite image to substrate 72 takes place.
  • each single color image is separately transferred to the substrate via the intermediate transfer member. In this case, the substrate is fed through the machine once for each color or is held on a platen and contacted with intermediate transfer member 30 for composite image transfer.
  • the intermediate transfer member is omitted and the developed single color images are transferred sequentially directly from drum 10 to substrate 72.
  • FIGs. 3A, 3B and 4A-4D illustrate a preferred embodiment of intermediate transfer member 30 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig 3A shows an intermediate transfer blanket 100 mounted on a drum 102.
  • Transfer blanket 100 (whose details are shown in Figs. 4C and 4D) comprises a preferably layered transfer portion 104 and a mounting fitting 106.
  • transfer portion 104 comprises a release layer 109 which is outermost on the blanket when it is mounted on drum 102.
  • Underlying layer 109 is a conforming layer 111 preferably of a soft elastomer, preferably of polyurethane and preferably having a Shore A hardness of less than about 65, more preferably, less than about 55, but preferably more than about 35. A suitable hardness value is between 45-55, preferably about 50.
  • Underlying layer 111 is a conductive layer 114 which overlays a thin barrier layer 115.
  • Barrier layer 115 overlays a blanket body 116 comprising a top layer 118, a compressible layer 120 and a fabric layer 122.
  • Underlying the fabric layer is preferably an adhesive layer 126 which is in contact with drum 102.
  • Drum 102 is preferably heated by an internal halogen lamp heater or other heater to aid transfer of the image to and from the release layer 109 to a final substrate as is well known in the art.
  • Other heating methods, or no heating at all, may also be used in the practice of some aspects of the invention. The degree of heating will depend on the characteristics of the toner and or ink used in conjunction with the invention.
  • mounting fitting 106 comprises an elongate electrically conducting bar 108, for example of a metal such as aluminum formed with a series of L-shaped mounting legs 110 (in the form of finger-like extensions) which are also conducting, preferably of the same material as bar 108, and preferably formed integrally therewith.
  • bar 108 is formed with a slot into which the end of layered transfer portion 104 is inserted.
  • the end of the layered portion which is inserted into the mounting bar does not have a release layer 109 or conforming layer 111, whereby conducting layer 114 is exposed and is therefore in electrical contact with bar 108.
  • the bar 108 can be formed with sharp internal projections which pierce the outer layers of the blanket and contact the conducting layer.
  • each of the layers beneath the conducting layer 114 may be partially conducting (for example, by the addition of conductive carbon black or metal fibers) and the adhesive layer may be conductive, such that current also flows directly from the drum surface to the conducting layer.
  • fitting 106 is formed of a single sheet of metal, wherein the legs are partially cut from the metal which is bent into a U shape to form the slot into which the layered portion is inserted. After insertion, the outer walls of the slot are forced against the layered portion to secure the layered portion in the slot. The partially cut out portion is bent to form the mounting legs.
  • drum 102 is maintained at a potential suitable for transferring images to the intermediate transfer member, for example at 500 volts, which voltage is applied, via mounting fitting 106 to conductive layer 114.
  • the source of transfer voltage is very near the outer surface of portion 104 which allows for a lower transfer potential on the drum.
  • Transfer portion 104 is fabricated by the following procedure:
  • mounting legs 110 are inserted into a plurality of mounting holes 130 formed in drum 102, preferably without removing the mylar sheet from the adhesive layer (the back of the blanket).
  • mounting legs 110 each have a tip portion 132 and a back portion 134. Tips 132 are inserted into slots formed in the far sidewalls of mounting holes 130 and the back portion 134 rests against the opposite sidewall of the hole. In this way the end of the blanket is accurately positioned. The edge of the mylar sheet closest to the legs is removed and the remainder of the mylar sheet is progressively removed while making sure that the successive portions of the blanket which are thus attached to the drum by the adhesive lie flat against the drum.
  • a very soft conforming layer may be used at the back of the blanket.
  • a soft layer of this type will allow for good thermal contact between the blanket and the heated drum 102 so that the temperature of the drum need not be excessive in order for the outer surface of the blanket to reach its operating temperature. Furthermore, such a very soft layer will cause the blanket to "cling" to the drum obviating the use of adhesive under certain circumstances. Furthermore, when the blanket is replaced there is no adhesive residue on the drum to be removed.
  • a very soft layer may be produced by the following method:
  • the layer has a Shore A hardness of about 20-24 without carbon black and about 40-45 with carbon black. Softer materials are also suitable; however, substantially harder materials do not adhere well to the drum surface.
  • the adhesive layer at the trailing end of the blanket is not coated with the very soft layer to improve coherence of the blanket and the drum. This is especially desirable for harder layers.
  • the acrylic material may be replaced by other soft elastomer materials such as soft polyurethane or nitrile rubber.
  • Other heat improving fillers which have a smaller effect on the hardness of the final product may be used instead of carbon black, such as Fe 2 O 3 or alpha aluminum oxide.
  • Fig. 5 shows an alternative, preferred embodiment of the invention in which somewhat different shaped holes 130' are used.
  • the back portion 134 rests against a protrusion 150 formed on one side of the hole while a surface 154 of leg 110 rests against the bottom 156 of a protrusion formed on the other side of the hole.
  • the preferred electrical connection between the conductive layer and the mounting bar is preferably achieved by removing (or not forming) the layers which overlay an end portion of the conductive layer, piercing the overlying layers, for example, by crimping and/or piercing the mounting bar, for example, at points marked 160 in Fig. 4D. Crimping can also be used to hold the blanket in the mounting bar.
  • the adhesive layer preferably covers the back of the blanket, alternatively the adhesive layer may cover only a portion of the back such as the edge farthest away from the bracket (the trailing edge of the blanket); or may, for some embodiments of the invention and under certain circumstances, be omitted.
  • aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific type of image forming system used and some aspects of the present invention are also useful with any suitable imaging system which forms a liquid toner image on an image forming surface and, for some aspects of the invention, with powder toner systems. Some aspects of the invention are also useful in systems such as those using other types of intermediate transfer members such as belt or continuous coated drum type transfer members. Some aspects of the invention are suitable for use with offset printing systems.
  • the specific details given above for the image forming system are included as part of a best mode of carrying out the invention; however, many aspects of the invention are applicable to a wide range of systems as known in the art for electrophotographic and offset printing and copying.
EP01204163A 1994-10-11 1995-06-06 Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermédiaire Expired - Lifetime EP1179757B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US32153894A 1994-10-11 1994-10-11
US321538 1994-10-11
IL11184694A IL111846A0 (en) 1994-12-01 1994-12-01 Imaging apparatus and intermediate transfer blanket therefor
IL11184694 1994-12-01
IL11184794A IL111847A0 (en) 1994-12-01 1994-12-01 Imaging apparatus and intermediate transfer blanket therefor
IL11184794 1994-12-01
US371117 1995-01-11
US08/371,117 US5745829A (en) 1989-01-04 1995-01-11 Imaging apparatus and intermediate transfer blanket therefor
EP95920290A EP0784809B1 (fr) 1994-10-11 1995-06-06 Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermediaire associe

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95920290A Division EP0784809B1 (fr) 1994-10-11 1995-06-06 Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermediaire associe
EP95920290.4 Division 1996-04-18

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EP1179757A2 true EP1179757A2 (fr) 2002-02-13
EP1179757A3 EP1179757A3 (fr) 2004-12-08
EP1179757B1 EP1179757B1 (fr) 2010-10-27

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EP01204162A Expired - Lifetime EP1178366B1 (fr) 1994-10-11 1995-06-06 Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermédiaire
EP01204163A Expired - Lifetime EP1179757B1 (fr) 1994-10-11 1995-06-06 Appareil de formation d'images et blanchet de transfert intermédiaire

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JP2010281895A (ja) * 2009-06-02 2010-12-16 Seiko Epson Corp 転写装置および該装置を装備する画像形成装置
DE102013113882A1 (de) * 2013-12-11 2015-06-11 Manroland Web Systems Gmbh Spannschiene für ein Gummituch und Gummituch

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US5352507A (en) * 1991-04-08 1994-10-04 W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. Seamless multilayer printing blanket

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5089856A (en) * 1989-02-06 1992-02-18 Spectrum Sciences B.V. Image transfer apparatus incorporating an internal heater
US5352507A (en) * 1991-04-08 1994-10-04 W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. Seamless multilayer printing blanket

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EP1178366A3 (fr) 2004-12-08
EP1179757B1 (fr) 2010-10-27
EP1178366B1 (fr) 2008-10-29
EP1179757A3 (fr) 2004-12-08
EP1178366A2 (fr) 2002-02-06

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