JPS6010315B2 - Photoelectrophoretic image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to photoelectrophoretic imaging devices and, more particularly, to an improved web device color copying imaging device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In photoelectrophoretic imaging methods, black and white monochromatic images or fully colored images are formed by photoelectrophoresis.

Details of photoelectrophoretic imaging methods can be found in Tulagn and C.
U.S. Patent No. 3,384,488 granted to arrelra
No. 3,383,565.

Also, US Pat. No. 3,383,993 to Yeh and CI
US Pat. No. 3,384,566 to Ark discloses an apparatus in which photoelectrophoretic bed particles move during imaging and form an image on one or both of two electrodes. Note that particles suspended in an insulating carrier are arranged between the electrodes.
The particles are electrically photosensitive and carry a suspended but pure electrical charge that causes them to be attracted to one electrode and change polarity when exposed to active electromagnetic buccal energy. The particles move through the liquid carrier from one electrode to the other under the influence of the electric field.
Photoelectrophoretic imaging methods can be monochromatic or polychromatic.

Whether it is monochromatic or polychromatic depends on whether the photosensitive particles within the liquid carrier are sensitive to the same or different parts of the light spectrum. A full-color multicolor system is obtained, for example, by using cyan, magenta and yellow particles. Note that these colored particles are red,
Sensitive to green and blue light respectively. Regarding photoelectrophoretic imaging, please note the following five paragraphs.

As taught in the four patents mentioned above, the electric field created between the bride-forming suspensions is preferably applied between electrodes.

These electrodes have certain favorable properties. namely, an injection electrode and a blocking electrode. Further, exposure to active cervical radiation energy is performed simultaneously with application of an electric field. In addition to the four patents mentioned above, Luebbeetal
No. 3,595,770, Kelleretal
No. 364,765, and Canelra
As taught in U.S. Pat. Also, counter electrodes can generally be used.
Further, the electric field application step may be continuous. In a preferred embodiment, one electrode is referred to as an injection electrode;
The other electrodes are called blocking electrodes. This is a description of a preferred embodiment. The terms flocking electrode and injection electrode should be understood and construed throughout this specification and claims in the context of the above description. Any suitable electrophotosensitive particles can be used. Ka
Prelian U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,847 and Y
US Pat. No. 3,681,064 to eh, like the four patents mentioned above, discloses various electrophotosensitive materials. In a preferred mode, at least one electrode is transparent.

This electrode may also be partially transparent. However, in this case, the transparency must be sufficient to allow the passage of sufficient electromagnetic key radiation energy to cause photoelectrophoretic image formation. Weigl U.S. Patent No. 36163
As described in Section 9 and 2, both electrodes may be opaque. Preferably, the injection electrode is grounded and a suitable power supply for the potential difference between the injection electrode and the floating electrode is used to provide the imaging electric field. However, a variety of methods can be used as to how to apply the electric field. For example, you can ground the blocking electrode and bias the injection electrode, bias both electrodes with the same polarity but different potentials, or bias one electrode with one polarity and the other electrode with the opposite sacrificial potential. Alternatively, there is a method of biasing at a different potential. It is also possible to simply provide a sufficient electric field for image formation. The photoelectrophoretic imaging devices disclosed in the above-mentioned patents utilize electrodes of various shapes.

For example, one of the electrodes used to create an electric field in the imaging suspension may be transparent and flat, and the other electrode may be a flat plate or roller. The photoelectrophoretic imaging device of the present invention utilizes a web of material that is best disposed of.

In the present apparatus, preferably, for example, a positive image is formed on one of the webs, and the other web is unnecessary, ie, the negative image is removed. The positive can be affixed to the web on which it is formed. It can also be transferred to a suitable backing such as paper. In this continuous color copying photoelectrophoretic imaging system using a consumable web, cleaning equipment is not required. Webp device patents are found in the fields of photoelectrophoresis, electrophotography, exposure electrophoresis, and plating technology.

In the field of photoelectrophoresis, Mjhailov's U.S. Pat.
No. 427242 is listed. This patent discloses a continuous photoelectrophoretic device that simply uses a single injection electrode and a rotating drum for the blocking electrode instead of a web. The Mihajlov patent also suggests eliminating the cleaning device by passing the web substrate through two solid rotating implants and blocking electrodes. Carrelra U.S. Patent No. 3586
No. 615 suggests that the blocking electrode may be in the form of a continuous belt. E rule aczak
U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,484 discloses a continuous photoelectrophoretic imaging process using a closed loop conductive web such as a blocking electrode in conjunction with a rotating drum injection electrode. This device uses a continuous wet cleaning device. However, suggestions have also been made to use consumable webs in place of the disclosed continuous web, eliminating the need for cleaning equipment. Weilg, US Pat. No. 3,697,409, discloses a photoelectrophoretic imaging device using a closed loop or continuous injection web in direct contact with a roller electrode.

The patent also suggests that the injection web may be wound between two spools. US Patent No. 36
No. 97408 discloses a photovoltaic imager using only one solid state element in a single web. Can
US Pat. No. 3,477,934 to elra discloses that an insulating sheet is placed on the injection electrode during photoelectrophoretic imaging. This insulating material has
Baryta paper, cellulose acetate, polyethylene double-covered paper, etc. Exposure is through an injection electrode or a blocking electrode. Jelfo U.S. Patent No. 3664
No. 941 teaches that bond paper is attached to a blocking electrode during image formation, and that exposure is performed through the blocking electrode, which is optically transparent. Additionally, this patent states that around the blocking electrode, otherwise between the electrodes from the imaging location,
It is taught that images are formed on stacked or rolled removable paper substrates or sleeves. Well
U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,013 to S. discloses a photoelectrophoretic imaging method in which a paper sheet is formed with an insulating film to one of the electrodes, and further includes:
It is disclosed that exposure is performed through this electrode.

Davidson, US Pat. No. 3,761,174 and US Pat. No. 3,642,363, disclose apparatus for carrying out the method of forming a copy image.

In this device, images are formed by selective transfer of a layer of imaging material sandwiched between a donor and receiver web. K
ing U.S. Patent No. 2,376,922, CIark U.S. Patent No. 3,166,420, Carlson Patent No. 3
No. 1,825,91, and US Pat. No. 3,598,597 to Robinson generally relate to web devices found in the area of electrophotography.

These patents describe the broad concept of bringing two webs together and applying an electric field that forms a light image at the point of contact and selectively transfers a toner image from one web to the other. is disclosed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved photovoltaic imaging device using a freely disposable web.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectrophoretic imaging device that does not require a complex cleaning mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photoelectrophoretic imaging device that can use both transparent and opaque input bodies.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectrophoretic imaging device that allows for flexible processing configurations and thus avoids unnecessarily overturning the rest of the device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectrophoretic imaging device in which two webs are driven synchronously in the imaging and transfer sections.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectrophoretic imaging device in which a new web surface is provided for each traverse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in preferred embodiments by photoelectrophoretic imaging for obtaining full color copies from opaque originals or from transparent originals. Achieved by rigging.

In a preferred embodiment, photoelectrophoretic twilling takes place between the injection web and the blocking web. At least one of the webs is partially transparent. The formed image is transferred to a paper web. The injection and blocking webs are disposable and therefore no cleaning equipment is required. The injected web has an electrically conductive surface. This web is also driven in a path to the inking station. At this inking station, a layer of photoelectrophoretic ink is formed on the surface of the conductive web. This inked injection web moves very close to the deposited scoroton in the charging section and contacts the blocking web, and the imaging band's forming rollers sandwich the ink and the web to form a sandwich with the ink web. Form. The conductive surface of the injection web is grounded. A high voltage is applied to the imaging roller, placing the ink and web sandwich under a high electric field as a scanning light image is imaged at the interface between the injection and blocking webs. Then, development takes place. The photoelectrophoretic image is carried by the injection web to the transfer zone and comes into contact with the paper web of the transfer roller. Here, the image is transferred to the paper web and the final copy is made. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical components and subsystems are configured and operated so that the inking, imaging, and transfer processes occur simultaneously.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is described in terms of specific embodiments having specific elements listed for carrying out the functions of the invention.

However, the invention is not limited to such specific description, but is to be construed broadly within the scope of the claims. Any structure considered equivalent to one skilled in the art may be substituted for a particular device of the disclosure, so long as the substituted device accomplishes a similar function.
If devices other than photoelectrophoretic imaging devices are invented and the devices described and claimed herein are utilized to advantage, such uses should be considered within the scope of the present invention. Photoelectrophoretic Web Apparatus FIG. 1 is a partial schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the web apparatus of the present invention, a photoelectrophoretic image forming apparatus 1 for color copying.

Note that this figure is a simple layout and shows a side view. Three thin steerable webs, an injected web 10, a blocking web 30, and a paper web 60, are used and are performed in a basic photovoltaic imaging process.

Web 10 and blocking web 30 are consumable items.
Photoelectrophoretic imaging processing takes place between a flexible injection and blocking web. The conductive web, ie, injection web 10', is similar to the injection electrodes described in early basic photoelectrophoretic imaging. Injection web 1
The web is wound onto a pre-wound conductive web supply roll 11. This roll 11 is attached so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow around the pith 12. injection web 10
is formed of any suitable flexible transparent or translucent material. In a preferred embodiment, the injection web is coated with a thin transparent conductive material, approximately 0.025
It is made of four-legged Myra, polyethylene terephthalate polyethylene available from DuPont. This transparent conductive material is, for example, a layer made of aluminum that transmits about 50% of white light. Injection web 1
When zero is in this configuration, this conductive surface is preferably connected to a suitable ground point of the imaging roller or some other convenient roller located in the web path.

The bias potential applied to the surface of the injection web is kept to a relatively low value. The method of biasing the injection web will be described in detail below. By appropriate selection of the conductive material, a deliberate voltage application can be carried out, thus eliminating the drawbacks due to leaded bag breakdown. The term "foregreen destruction" refers to a flaw in the melting image in which a series of dark, wide bands appear at the leading edge of the copy. This leading edge breakdown is thought to be caused by electrical air dielectric breakdown caused by ionization of air at the entrance to the image forming zone. The injected web 10 is driven by a capstan drive roller 13 and drawn off the injected web supply roller 11 via tension rollers 14,15.

The web 10 includes idler rollers 13, 14, 15
The ink applicator 19 and backup roller 20 of the ink applicator section, indicated generally at 21, are driven by the ink applicator 19 and the backup roller 20 of the ink applicator section.
Ink applicator 19 is used to apply a controlled amount of photoelectrophoretic ink, or imaging suspension 4, to the conductive surface of injected web 10 of desired thickness and length.

Any suitable ink application device capable of uniformly applying ink to the required thickness throughout the web can be used. For example, ``Coating Apparat Ships and Uses'', filed on February 22, 197
Co-filed U.S. Application No. 444,942 entitled ereof'
The coating device described can be used. Another example of an ink applicator that can be used here is Re
mondK. The ink applicator mechanism is described in US Pat. No. 3,800,743, issued April 2, 1979, to E. In some cases, it may be desirable to replace the rotating backup loaf 20 with a rigid shoetype device, preferably with a small map angle to the web and a large radius.

When rotating rollers are used to support the injection web during ink application, the structural rigidity of the web support is limited to some extent by the strength of the roller shaft bearings when subjected to web tension loads. be done. In addition, eccentricity or non-coaxiality of the shaft and out-of-circularity of the roller surface are factors in determining the tolerance of the ink film thickness. By using a rigid arched shoe arrangement to back up the inker, the use of rollers and bearings is eliminated. Therefore, mechanical design and maintenance are simplified and costs are reduced.
From the ink application station 21, the injection web 10 is moved close to a pre-charging station indicated collectively with the number 25.

The preliminary charging section 25 will be explained in detail later. Injection web 10 (having a film 4 coated with ink).

) is in the precharging station 25, the injection web 01 moves along a path around the separating roller 22 towards the imaging roller 32 of the image forming band 40. Blocking Web 3 is similar to the blocking electrodes described in early photoelectrophoretic imaging devices. Three blocking webs are pre-wound on a blocking web roll 37. This roll 37 is mounted so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow around the shaft 35. blocking·
The web 30 is moved by a capstan drive roll 88.
From the supply roll 37, through a passage around the idler roller 38, a blocking film, indicated generally at 44, is supplied.
The web is driven toward the charging roller 42 and corotron 43 of the web charging section. The charging portion of the blocking web will be explained in detail later. blocking web 30
The blocking electrode may be formed of a suitable blocking electrode dielectric material.

In the preferred embodiment, blocking web 30 is formed of polypropylene blocking electrode material. This web, when purchased wound onto supply roll 37, has a random electrostatic charge pattern. It is known that the random electrostatic charge has an intensity of 300V to 300V. This electrostatic charge pattern therefore results in defects in the final image reproduction. As described later,
The flocking web charging section 44 is utilized to eliminate, or at least suppress the randomness of, the random electrostatic charge pattern from the polypropylene blocking web material. Further, the explanation will be continued mainly with reference to FIG. The injection web 10 and the three blocking webs are joined by an image forming roller 32. When the ink film 4 on the injection web 10 reaches the imaging roller 32, an ink and web sandwich is formed and is ready for the next imaging development step. In addition, in the image forming stage, a deagglomeration process using secondary deposition and dew pneumatic migration, that is, an ink separation process is performed. "Deposition,""deagglomeration by tortophoresis," and "imaging" are actually separate processing steps. However, while these three phenomena occur within the nip region, it is undeniable that they overlap at certain points spatially and temporally. Note that the term "gap" used herein refers to an area close to the image forming roller 32. In this area, the injection web 10 and the blocking web 30 are in contact and an ink and web sandwich is formed with the imaging zone 40. As used herein, the term imaging zone refers to the area where the injection web and the blocking web come into contact and form a problem, where:
This refers to the area where an optical image is exposed and imaged to form a bride. At some stage of imaging, when the injection web 10 and the blocking web 30 are in contact and the imaging suspension is sandwiched between them by the imaging roller 32, the scanned optical image of the original is transferred between the webs. imaged.

Exposure of the image occurs simultaneously when high pressure is applied to the imaging roller. The photoelectrophoretic imaging device of the present invention can handle either a transparent input from transparent optical assembly 77 or a transparent original from opaque optical assembly 78. The transparent optical assembly will be described in detail below. Injection web and bu.

The ink film 4 is put together with the
As the layers reach the imaging zone 40 and form an ink and web sandwich, the imaging roller 32 is utilized to provide a uniform electric field to the ink and web sandwich. The combination of the pressure exerted by the tension of the injection web and the electric field of the ink-web sandwich of the imaging roller 32 inhibits the passage of the suspension liquid;
A liquid bead is formed at the entrance to the imaging gap. This bead remains at the entrance to the gap after the coating of the web has passed and then gradually dissipates through the gap. If some of the bead remains in the gap until the next ink film arrives, it plays with the film and impairs the quality of the subsequent image. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a liquid suppression device is used to remove excess liquid, if any, at the entrance to the gap. The liquid suppression device will be described in detail later.
An imaging field is formed by using a grounded injector web in conjunction with an imaging roller, and a pair of nonconducting conductors in conjunction with the roller and a corona device to form such an imaging field. When using a non-conductive web and a corona device, which may also include a web, the imaging roller 32 must be grounded to obtain the necessary thermal field.

Continuing the explanation of FIG. After the processing step of discharging the pigment in a discharge section 57 and recharging it in a recharging section 65 (optionally,
The injected web 106 carries the image to the transfer zone 106 and contacts the paper web 60 to form an image-web sandwich. If conventional electrostatic transfer methods are used, the copy or paper web 60 may be any suitable paper. The paper web 60 initially lies on the paper web supply roll 11. This roll is mounted so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow around an axis 111. The photoelectrophoretic image on the injection web 10 approaching the transfer zone 106 contains oil and pigment outside the actual copy area, and there is an excess of liquid beads in the back green.

When the transfer stage is finished, the conductive transfer web separation roller 85 moves to the standby position shown in dotted lines. this is,
The injected web 10 and the paper web 60 are simply separated, allowing excess liquid beads to pass through the transfer band 106 before separation rollers 85 move the webs back into place to rejoin them. The details of the transfer band will be described. Injection web 1
0 is transferred from transfer strip 106 around capstan roller 86 to conductive web take-up roll 87 .

When the injected web is completely wound onto the take-up roll 87,
It will be disposed of. In other embodiments, take-up roll 87 may be replaced by an electrostatic tensioning device. This also allows images on the web to be stored for viewing or testing. The electrostatic tension device will be described later. After the forming step, the blocking web 30 containing the negative is transferred by a drive around a capstan roller 88 towards a take-up roll 89.

When the blocking web is completely wound onto take-up roll 89, it is removed from the device and disposed of. Paper web 60 is initially contained in paper roll 110 and is transferred by a drive to transfer band 106 and from there through fusing station 92 to capstan roller 112 . Mechanical web drives for conductive webs, blocking webs and paper webs are described in detail below. FIG. 2 will be explained.

In the figure, a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the preliminary charging section 25 of the device is shown partially in side view. In this preliminary charging section 25, an electric charge is uniformly applied to the ink film by a scorotron device. Although any suitable conventional corona charging device may be used, a scorotron 27 is preferred. This is because when this type of charging device is used, it is possible to provide the ink film with a charge having a uniform potential rather than a uniform charge density. The injection web 10 coated with ink is moved from the ink application section to the scorotron assembly 27 of the preliminary charging section 25. In the preliminary charging section 25, a uniform charge is applied. The ink application or backup roller and idler roller cooperate to guide the injector web 10. in this case,
The injection wave 10 is guided along a path passing in close proximity to the scorotron assembly 27 of the precharging section 25. The preliminary charging section 25 is arranged in front of the image forming section, that is, the image forming band 40 in the moving direction of the web 10 . In addition, this preliminary charging section is
position).

Here, the term "storey deposition" means that all pigments are injected into the web ID.
This refers to the process of applying and accurately coating the conductive surface 2. This stepwise product is performed by passing the ink film 3 through the vicinity of the scorotron assembly 27 in the dark area, ie, in the absence of visible light. For more information on dark charging processes, see CanelRaetal US Pat. No. 3,477,934. Further, the explanation will be continued with reference to FIG.

A balanced alternating current potential source 28 provides an alternating voltage to coronode 29 . A DC voltage source 31 provides a negative voltage to the scorotron shield or screen 33. The electrostatic charge (albeit selective) imparted to the ink film, ie the imaging suspension 3, is very important to the overall properties of the final image. For example, processing speed, color balance and image defects are affected. FIG. 3 will be explained.

In the figure, a schematic side view of a portion of the blocking web charging section is shown. Blocking web charging 44
is used to eliminate the drawbacks of random charge patterns. To eliminate the drawbacks introduced by the random static charge pattern of the polypropylene blocking web material, a bias of approximately -200 V is applied before the blocking web 30 enters the imaging zone by the charging corotron 43 of the grounded charging roller 42. A charge is applied to the blocking web. By charging the blocking web 30 with the costron 43, its random static charge pattern is removed and the blocking web 30 is charged to a uniform electrostatic charge potential. For example, a positive (10) charge is applied to the imaging side of blocking web 30 and a negative (1) charge is applied to the non-imaging side of blocking web 30. By being electrically charged in this manner, the bride-forming surface of blocking web 30 does not act as an electron donor to the ink coverage during the pocket-forming stage. This randomness eliminates static charge patterns, so charges of either polarity can be used with the device. The explanation will be continued with reference to FIG.

A corotron 43 is located in charging station 44 and applies a negative electrostatic potential to the non-imaged side of blocking web 30. An alternating current potential source 47 is used to provide an alternating voltage to the coronode 48. A DC voltage source 45 is used to bias the AC power supply. Next, FIG. 4 will be explained.

This figure schematically shows details of a part of the side surface of the moat forming part 40. The deposited ink film layer or pigment 4 on the electrically grounded injection web 10 approaches the entrance of the gap of the image forming zone even at an optimum charge potential, for example 60V. The pigment of the ink layer is applied to the conductive surface 2 of the web 10.
properly adhered to. Also, mineral oil 5 is deposited on the surface of pigment layer 4. The total thickness of the ink layer at the gap under typical operating conditions is about 8 microns. The thickness of the key oil 5 is 2 microns, and the thickness of the pigment layer 4 is 6 microns.
Another method available to eliminate air breakdown at the entrance to the imaging zone is to sweep the image voltage set time.

In this case, when the ink layer enters the inlet of the marriage band, the imaging voltage 46 is applied by a ramp device 53 to
The initial low voltage value (ov) is linearly programmed to the desired imaging voltage value. During this process, oil 5
2 beads accumulate at the entrance 51 of the twilling zone. In web devices, the pressure in the gap is nearly electrostatic in nature.
Linear voltage ramping of the web device provides a device for building up electrostatic pressure to eject liquid beads while maintaining voltages below levels that result in air breakdown. The explanation of FIG. 4 will be continued.

The photoelectrophoretic image deposited on the injection web 10 from the exit gap 55 of the imaging zone enters the negative corona (corona).
ona) 56, thereby causing an air breakdown in the outlet gap 55. Air breakdown in the imaging zone exit gap 55 occurs when the electric field in the gap between the pigment particles (and between the electrodes) exceeds the Paschen breakdown voltage. As a result, a thin line or thin bar pattern of high and low charges appears in the image in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. This bar pattern generally does not appear until the image is electrostatically transferred to the copy sheet and the charge pattern is developed. Next, FIG. 5 will be explained.

1 is a partial side schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method for eliminating image defects due to air breakdown in the exit gap of an imaging zone; FIG. A pigment discharge 57 (which is optional) is used to counteract the air breakdown charge pattern generated in the imaging zone exit gap. AC corotron assembly 5
8 is used just before the exit of the imaging zone 40 and is used to discharge the pillow image and thereby eliminate the peg line, charge pattern. A corotron coronode 61 is arranged evenly on the surface of the injection web 10, and further,
Corotron shield 62 is grounded in any suitable manner.
A balanced AC power supply 63 is connected to the coronode 6 via an RC series circuit.
Connected to 1. In a preferred embodiment, the Corotron 5
Generated by 8. The discharge current is about 8 microamps per 2.5 skins with the injection wave traveling at a rate of about 12.5 arcs per second. The charge pattern average potential on the pigment layer 6 in the imaging zone 40 is approximately 1100V to -200V (DC).
within the range of This voltage value depends on the thickness of the ink film,
Depends on injection web speed and applied image voltage. After the pigment discharge stage of the pigment discharge section 57, the average discharge potential 64 drops below about -35V (DC). As a result, the bar pattern disappears from the transferred image. Maintaining a uniform and constant charge level of the photovoltaic image prior to transfer provides better control of the transfer process step. Further, FIG. 5 will be explained. In other embodiments, this thin line charge pattern is removed by a UV radiation source 8. In this embodiment, an ultraviolet radiation source 8 (having a wavelength shorter than that of visible light) can be used in place of the AC corotron assembly 58 to discharge the unwanted charge pattern. At a low charge potential of about 35 V or less, the transferred image lacks sharpness due to pigment outflow (mashing). To obtain more optimal transcription,
The deposited photoelectrophoretic image 6 is recharged before entering the transfer zone.
FIG. 6 will be explained.

A side schematic view of a portion of a pigment recharging station, indicated numerally at 65, positioned in the direction of movement of the conductive web 10 in front of the transfer zone 106 is shown. A negatively biased AC corotron 66 is used in front of the transfer zone to recharge the image 6 carried from the discharge on the implant web 10.
The corotron coronode 98 is spaced from the surface of the injection web 10 and connected to the AC power source 67. Corotron Shield 68 is bushed. AC potential source 67 is negatively biased by variable DC voltage source 69. In a preferred embodiment, the recharging current is about -1. At a speed of movement of the injection web of nominally about 12.5 mm at the bias setting of pan V, the nominal value is about 10 microamps for the AC component and about 2.5 microamps for the average DC value component.
Every 5 skins is -5 microamps. - In general, these parameters are approximately 165 V (D.C.) for the precipitate pigment layer 6 when using photoelectrophoretic inks with specific properties.
The optimum recharging potential 70 is generated. Next, FIG. 7 will be explained. This figure is a partial side schematic diagram of another preferred embodiment of a pigment recharging section. In the embodiment of FIG.
2 to discharge the deposited photoelectrophoretic sardine image 6. A corotron electrode 73 is close to the surface of the injection web 10 and is connected to the positive terminal of a direct current potential source 74. Corotron・
Shield 75 is grounded. In one example, the direct current potential source 74 is Juro V (D.C). Typically, the recharging current is about 30 microamperes per 2.5 volts. These parameters produce an optimal recharging potential 76 on the deposited photoelectrophoretic substrate image of approximately ±160 V (D.C.). FIG. 8 will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a partial schematic side view for explaining details of a transfer step in an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the deposited photoelectrophoretic image 6 is conveyed by an injection web 10 to a transfer zone 106 . Paper web 6 rivers transfer roller 80
wrapped around. In this example, the paper web 60 may be ordinary paper. The positive terminal of the DC power source 81 is connected to the transfer roller 801. Typically, voltage source 81 is about 11. It is a circular V (D.C.). When paper web 60 and injection web 10 come into contact with image 6 sandwiched therebetween, paper web 60 is placed under an electrical charge. This is because this contacts the positive transfer roller 80. An electric field is set up through the pigment to the injected web. The electric field attracts the negatively charged pigment from the injected web 10 to the paper web 601 and causes it to adhere to the paper web 601. As the paper web is driven by the transfer roller 80 and moves away from it, the paper web is peeled off from the injection web 10 and the paper web 6
A final transfer image 82 is formed on 0. Although substantially all of the pigment (ie, the photoelectrophoretic image) is transferred onto the paper web 601, a small amount of pigment remains in the form of a residue 83 that is carried along the injected web. The amount of pigment residue 83 generally depends on factors such as the charge of the pigment particles entering transfer zone 106, the characteristics of paper web 60, and the transfer voltage applied by DC potential source 81. It should be noted that although the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 show residual images, complete facial transfer is possible without having significant images or residues that are not transferred.

The residual or untransferred image 83 (if any) leaves the transfer band 106 and the apparatus and is disposed of. Since the injection web 10 is a consumable item, there is no need for complex cleaning equipment to clean it. This is a very important advantage over earlier photovoltaic imaging devices.
Under some circumstances, the transfer processing step is subjected to an air breakdown at the entrance to the gap in the transfer band 106, similar to that discussed at the beginning of the imaging band. Air breakdown at the entrance to the transfer strip causes defects in copy quality. This drawback is called "dry transfer."

The term ``dry transfer'' refers to a development in which spots, i.e., discontinuities and insufficient density, appear in the final copy. Disvenser 84 is used to remove defects in the dry transfer, and dechlorodefluoromethane gas (CC12F2) manufactured by DuPont "Freon-1" is used.
2 to the inlet gap.

By providing dechlorodefluoromethane gas or other high dielectric insulating gas medium at the entrance to the transfer zone, the level of initiation voltage required for corona breakdown can be increased. Thus, by replacing air in the inlet gap with dichlorodefluoromethane gas, the breakdown properties of the air are improved. Preferably, a vacuum device is used near dispenser 84 to prevent gas escape. Fluid injector 24 (see FIG. 1) is used in the entrance gap of imaging zone 40 to provide breakdown media to the inlet in the same manner as described for the transfer input gap.

Next, FIG. 9 will be explained.

There is shown a partial side schematic view of another embodiment illustrating the transfer step for eliminating air breakdown in the transfer zone entrance gap. The embodiment of FIG. 9 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 8 in that the transfer roll 80 is connected to the negative terminal of a DC voltage source 81 instead of the positive terminal. The embodiment of FIG. 9 is therefore utilized when the subsequent image 6 entering the transfer zone is positively charged (by means of a positive DC corotron) rather than negatively. In this case, a negative one-cycle V (D.C) potential source 81 is connected to the transfer roll 801. Paper web 60 is electrically charged by contacting negative transfer roll 80 . An electrostatic field is set up on the infusion web 10 through the pigment particles. This electric field attracts the positively charged pigment from the injected web 10 to the paper web 6 and deposits it thereon. In practice, most of the pigment is transferred, but in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. .The device structure is shown in Figure 10.
A perspective view of the entire web-based photoelectrophoretic imaging device 1 according to the invention is shown.

The perspective view of FIG. 10 is not to scale, but merely represents the elements and subassemblies that make up the web device photoelectrophoretic imaging device, and the dimensions are generally relative. The web device imaging device subassemblies and elements are located at the front center and at the substrate 13 between the rear members 132, 133, 134.
installed on top.

The frame members consist of horizontal and vertical bars,
These are adapted to support various assemblies and elements. The horizontal bar is generally divided into four levels: tiers 135, 136, 137, 138. The vertical bar includes a front end bar 139 and a rear end bar 140. Opaque optical assembly 78 is connected to frame sections 132, 13.
It is attached to the left end of the machine between 3 and 3.

This assembly is also used for opaque optical inputs. Opaque optical assembly 78 (reflective copying) includes a movable platen assembly, indexed at 141, a lamp 142,
It is composed of a reflector 143, a mirror assembly 144, and a lens assembly 145. The mirror assembly is within a housing 146 which includes a gate or slit aperture 147 for slit scanning exposure. The reproduction document is placed on a movable platen 141 and is exposed by a lamp 142 and a reflector 143. There are two lamps 142, which are often GE metal halide arc lamps. The lamp may also be of the tungsten filament type. The light beam passes through the hole 147 and the fixed mirror assembly 1.
44 and directed to the imaging zone via lens system 145.
The platen assembly 141 is transferred by a main DC servo motor which will be described in detail below.

Assembly 141 includes a carriage 148 that is inserted into a recess under cover 151.
ed) The document 149 reproduced on the surface of the glass 150 is layered. Platen carriage 148 seal 152,1
53 so as to be movable. The rail 152 is a square bar attached to the top of a steel plate 157.
The rail 153 is a cylindrical rod with a bracket 15 at the end.
4 is supported. The front member 158 has rollers 160 that are attached to the front and rear ends along the rollers 152. To further aid in dissipating the heat generated by the lamps, a blower bank may be placed under the bottom of the platen assembly housing. Transparent optical assembly 77
is at the front end of the device, between frame members 132, 133;
Furthermore, it is arranged between horizontal levels 136 and 137.

The transparent optical assembly includes a transparent projector device 162, a lens assembly 163, and a mirror assembly 164. The mirror assembly includes removable upper and lower mirrors 165.
, 166. To convert from a transparent optical input to an opaque optical input, the upper mirror 165 can simply be removed from the optical path. A lamp (not shown) within projector device 162 exposes a colored transparency. The original beam is directed through mirrors 165, 166 to the imaging zone. The ink application assembly 19 is comprised of an upper roller assembly 170 and a subbase assembly 171. Subbase assembly 171 is mounted on frame member 138 and is removably attached to upper roller assembly 170. The upper roller assembly 170 is rotatably mounted to the ink application backup roller.
This roller 20 serves as a grounding roller for the conductive web in a manner described below. The main supports of the image assembly 172, which will be explained in detail in the next section, are the front and center frame members 1.
32, 133 on a horizontal bar 136.

Wife formation assembly See Figure 11.

There is shown a partially cut away side view of the twilling assembly, indicated at 172. The main support top plate 173 is connected to the equipment frame of the horizontal ridges 136. A main support assembly side plate 174 is attached to the bottom of the top plate 173 and is also connected to a roller support assembly 175. Roller support assembly 175 is comprised of connecting side plates, with side plate 176 supporting upper idler roller assembly 178 on arm support 180. Side plate 1
76 also supports the imaging roller assembly 32 on arm support 179. The roller support subassembly 175 is
An upper idler roll knob adjustment 182 and an image roll knob adjustment 182 are provided. The upper idler roll knob adjustment 182 adjusts the upper idler roll in the forward or reverse direction.
It is used to adjust the relative position of the rollers 178.
Similarly, image roll knob adjustment 182 is used to position image roller 32 forward and backward. Adjustment knobs 181, 182 are thus utilized to position traverse roller 32, upper idler roller 78 and set the edging gap and tip angle between injection web 10 and blocking web 10. o-ra support side plate 176
further includes a stop block 184. This stop block 184 serves to limit the movement of the daughter roller in one direction, and thus the amount of wrap angle that can be achieved by the injection and blocking webs in the elephant formation zone. Further, refer to FIG. The bride formation assembly (optional) includes a ground roll subassembly 185, which includes a ground roll 186 rotatably mounted to a holder 187, and which is electrically conductive during imaging. An electrical ground is provided to the web 10. There are 3 ground rollers
two spaced apart rollers, each centered on the edge of the web. The conductive-blocking web separation device (described below) is connected to a solenoid 188.
The solenoid is attached to the clutch housing 1901 by a bracket 189. Solenoid 188 drives motor 192, which drives shaft 116 of cam 191. The drive of this shaft is via a drive belt, pulley, and clutch device (not shown for clarity). Cam guide 193 is used to provide a path for cam follower 194. Please refer to FIG.

1, a perspective view of a portion of a conductive-blocking web separation device 114 according to the present invention is shown. Conductive-blocking web separation device 1 1 shown at 114
4 is used to control excess liquid accumulation (if any) at the nip or imaging zone entrance.

As previously mentioned, when a conductive web and a blocking web are brought together in an imaging zone to form an ink-web sandwich, the forces exerted by the uniform electric field and the tension in the conductive web will cause the excess ink and The oil is evenly forced out of the sandwich forming an electric bead in the imaging gap. This liquid bead remains at the inlet after the coating of the conductive web has passed and then gradually dissipates through the gap. If a portion of the bead remains at the gap entrance until the next ink film arrives, it will mix with this ink film and impair the quality of the subsequently formed image. To dissipate or remove the liquid bead, the injector web is offset by an injector and blocking web separation mechanism 114.

That is, the injection web is shifted such that the wrap of the injection web is reduced to at least oo or the injection web is taken out of contact with the blocking web. When the separating roller 22 is driven upwardly into a parting and waiting position, the web is separated and excess liquid beads pass through the gap and are carried away by the non-imaged portion of the web. After the bead has completely passed the imaging zone, the separation loaf 22 is driven again to return the roller to the imaging position, thus bringing the conductive web and blocking web into contact with the next image. Please refer to FIG. 12.

Web separation roll 22 is mounted between pivot arms 195. Weave separator roll 22 is mounted between rotating arms 195. Pivot arm 195 is connected to pivot roll 198.
Pivot arm 195 is connected to pivot roll 198. This roll is supported between a front support plate 197 and a rear support plate 196 via a bearing block 201. A cam 191 timing belt and clutch system includes a cam follower 194, which is driven from the outside of the separate motor through appropriate pulleys. Cam follower 194 is connected to and interacts with cam guide 193 to cause pivot arm 195 to reciprocate as indicated by the arrow. The arm 195 has a stop bottom 71 that engages a stop block 184 carried on the imaging roller side plate, discussed below. Chemical slit guide 1 installed between pivot arms 195
99 is used to direct the optical input to the imaging zone through slit 200. Slit guide 199 is formed with a black oxide finish.
Referring again to Figure 0.

The transfer assembly is shown schematically at 202 and includes a transfer roller 80, a drive roller 205, an idler roller 113, and a separation roller 85 between the conductive web and the transfer web supported by a front mounting plate 203. ing. The roller 85 is part of the separation mechanism between the conductive web and the transfer web and is used to control the accumulation of excess liquid at the entrance to the transfer zone or gap. The image on the conductive web approaching the transfer zone contains oil and pigment outside of the actual copy format area, and this format area has excess oil beads on the back green. A conductive web and transfer web separation device is used to separate the paper web from contact with the conductive web. This separation is
This is done to clean the transfer zone after the transfer step to allow excess oil and pigment between the webs. Transfer separation solenoid 216 receives a drive signal from a cam switch (not shown) and rotates separation pivot rod 208 carried by arm 21. As a result, the separation roller 85
to the transfer position, and the web contacts the transfer roller 80.
I will finish it with. As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the separation roller 85 reaches the transfer position, the saddle roller 212 contacts the conductive web surface and during the transfer period the conductive web
0 to make electrical contact. The grounding roller 212 is separated from the rollers arranged to contact the conductive web at the outer edges. The grounding roller consists of two bale loaves and is located at a distance of 3.13 skins from the edge of the blocking web. Upon receiving the second drive signal by the cam switch, the separation roller 85 returns to the standby position.
The paper web is removed from contact with the conductive web and the excess liquid bead remains on the conductive web by operation of the conductive web and transfer web separation device. Separation roller 85 is now waiting for the next transfer step. Continue to refer to FIG.

The conductive web supply roll 11 is removably attached by a movable plate 226. The conductive web take-up roll 87 is attached to the apparatus frame by a removable plate 222. The blocking web supply roll is attached by a removable plate 228 and the blocking web take-up roll is attached by a removable plate 229. After the transferred image is fused, the paper web is guided by the trimming section 22 and the electrostatic capstan 112 attached by the rod of the end member 140. Upon completion of the transfer process, the final copy is either cut to the desired length with a paper cutter in the trimming station or removed from the mechanism entirely. With the imaging and transfer separation device working in the manner described above, the ink and excess oil adhere to the web itself and therefore cleaning of the device elements is not required.

Depending on the configuration of the apparatus after the transfer, the oil beads that have passed through the transfer band are processed. When the apparatus is stopped after a copying operation, this bead from the last copy must flow back along the conductive web and not interfere with the next copy. See Figure 10a. This figure shows some aspects of a preferred embodiment that performs both transfer and fixing at once. In this example, the paper transfer web is a polyamide coated paper. Polyamide coated paper is paper web 6
When used as 0, photoelectrophoretic imaging devices incorporating web disposal methods are further simplified. In such a case, the transfer and fusing steps are accomplished all at once by contacting the conductive web with the polyamide coated paper web 60 at the transfer zone 106 between two rollers and a hot press. The pressure roller 85a is operated by a force in the direction of the arrow, and brings the web into contact with the image 6 held between the two webs on the transfer band. Pressure roller 85a is connected to heat source 92a. As a result, all the pigment particles are almost completely transferred from the conductive web 10 to the polyamide coated paper web 6, and the image is fixed at the same time. In other embodiments, the electric field is applied during heat compression. In this case, switch 81a follows the voltage source to transfer roller 80. FIG. 13 shows the conductive, blocking and transfer paths of the device according to the invention as described above, as well as their contact relationships.

Conductive web supply roll 11 and take-up roll 87 include flange members that guide the web material onto the rolls. Blocking web supply roll 3
7 and take-up roll 89 are likewise provided with flange members to guide the flocking web 30 onto the rolls. The conductive web 10' is driven into contact with the blocking web 30 at the rock forming rollers 32. Blocking web 30 is driven from imaging roller 32 to take-up roll 8
9 and is wound into a roll. Conductive web 10'
The transfer roller 8 is moved by the image forming roller 32.
0, surface-to-face contact is made with the transfer web or paper web 60. The transfer web is transferred from the transfer paper supply roll 110 to the transfer roll 80
and exits the device through drive roller 205 and take-up capstan roller 112. In one embodiment, conductive web 10' is wound from transfer roller 80, through drive capstan roller 86, through take-up roller 206, and onto take-up roll 87. DEVICE WEB TRANSFER DEVICE Please refer to FIG.

In the figure, a part of the web transfer device (and the web transfer path) according to the present invention is simplified and schematically illustrated. The web transfer device maintains the conductive web and blocking web at a balanced constant tension level over a wide tension range. The capstan drive rollers of each of the three webs (conductive web, blocking web and transfer web) are driven by the same DC drive motor 99 via a main drive gearbox 98.

The gearbox 98 has two output shafts 118 and 119. These shafts connect conductive drive roller 88, transfer drive roll 205 to timing belts 117, 118.
, 119 in the appropriate direction. The timing cam switch and scanning drive for the transparent movable platen 141 and transparent projector 162 are driven by the axis 118, timing. It is driven by a motor drive shaft 99 via belts 120 and 121. The conductive web 10 stirred by the drive roll 86 is wound up by the take-up roll 87 and disposed of.

Also, the image of the conductive web is ``hysteresis clutch 1''.
The web is saved or inspected by transferring the web from the machine through an electrostatic capstan roller 97 driven by an AC motor and gear'box 101 through 12 . A constant tension level for the conductive web supply roll il is provided by an electromagnetic brake 95.

The torque of the hysteresis brake 95 is determined by the radius sensing device 96
Controlled by feedback from. This device engages the diameter of the supply roll surface. Radius sensing device 96 drives a variable potentiometer. This potentiometer 12
3 varies the current to the brake as the roll diameter changes to maintain a constant conductive web tension level while winding from the supply roll 11. The conductive web 10 is driven from a supply roll 11 to a friction capstan roller 13.

Friction roller 13 is connected to hysteresis break 124 . This break 124 is similar to break 95, but is set at a constant torque level. The conductive web is transferred from friction roller 3 to inking backup roller 20'. The loaf 20 is connected to a viscous damper 125 on the roller shaft. Image forming roller 3
The total tension of the conductive web of rollers 1, 13, 20
This is the total braking force applied to the web, which is approximately 2
．． It is preferred to maintain a value of 1.13k9 per 5gaya. The conductive web 10 is transferred from the imaging roller 32 to a transfer roller 80, a drive roller 86, and a take-up capstan.
The conductive web is transferred via roller 206 to a conductive web take-up roll 87 . The take-up capstan roller 206 and take-up roll 87 provide conductive web tension by hysteretic clutches 126, 127 driven by an AC motor and gearbox. capstan 2
The torque of the clutch 126 of 06 is set to a constant level. The variable torque of take-up roll 87 is controlled by a radius sensor and variable potentiometer in the same manner as previously described for the conductive web supply roll. If a tensioning device is used to hold the conductive web image, an electrostatic capstan roller 97 is utilized.

A constant torque is maintained at the L roller 97 by the AC motor that increases the hysteresis type clutch 122 and the gearbox 101. Provides electrostatic binding force between the roller and the web. This provides a constant tension to the conductive web 10'. The conductive side of web 10 is grounded at 129. Further, "the pulse voltage 59 is applied to the roller 97,
Attach the web to the roller. Frotzking.

The web tension control device is similar to that used for conductive webs. Blocking web supply roll 37 and friction capstan roller 38 are each provided with hysteresis type brakes 230, 231, so that floating also provides a braking force on web 30'. The tension in the supply roll 37 and take-up roll 89 is maintained at a constant level by feedback from the radius sensor. This radius sensor engages the roll surface diameter. The radius sensor also controls brake and clutch current and torque output. Take-up capstan roller 92 and take-up roll 89 apply tension to blocking web 30 through hysteretic clutches 232 and 233. These clutches are driven at increased speed by an AC motor and gearbox 234. The take-up tension on take-up rollers 92, 89 is approximately balanced with the braking tension level on blocking web supply roll 37 and friction roller 38. Even at equilibrium tension levels for winding and braking tension, small forces are required to drive the blocking web 30. The tension in the paper web 60 is maintained at equilibrium conditions.

The paper web and transfer web supply roll 110 is braked with a hysteresis type brake 235. brake 23
5 is current controlled with a radius sensor variable potentiometer in the manner described for the conductive web supply roll 11. Paper web 60 winding hysteresis clutch 23
6 through the static dew take-off capstan roller 112. The torque of the take-out capstan roller 112 is controlled at a constant level. The paper web 60 is moved to the ground roller 1 by the charge from the DC corotron 104.
12. The speed of movement of the three webs is provided by a common servo-controlled DC motor 99 via a dual shaft output gearbox 98.

Gearbox 98 drives the timing cam switch and scanning drive for transparent projector unit 162 and platen assembly 141. Transparent unit 162, platen assembly 141, and drive rollers 86, 88, 205 are connected to the main drive via individual control electromagnetic clutches. When the machine is turned on, external power is applied to the brake clutch and take-up drive motor to tension the three webs. Main drive motor 99 is also turned on. When an imaging cycle is initiated, the electromagnetic clutch of the conductive web drive roller 86 (not shown) is actuated to accelerate the conductive web 10 to a desired speed and begin ink application. . The conductive web 1 contacts the blocking web 30 at a cross-forming roller 32 and drives the blocking web through image roller contact during start-up and inking. After the imaging step is completed, the conductive and blocking webs are separated and the electromagnetic clutch to the blocking web drive roller 88 causes the blocking web 30 and the conductive web 10 to be separated from the imaging roller 3.
Activates when the device is in multiple cycle mode until contact with 2. When the image of the conductive web 10 approaches the transfer roller 8, the electromagnetic clutch of the paper roller 205 is activated and the paper web 60 is accelerated to approximately the same speed as the conductive web. After the conductive web 10 contacts the paper web 60 with the transfer roller 80, the paper web drive roller 2
The electromagnetic clutch for 05 is released and the paper web 60 is driven with the conductive web through the contact of the transfer roll. When the transfer is complete, the transfer web drive roller 20
The electromagnetic clutch No. 5 is activated again and the web is separated. After cleaning the transfer strip of ink residue (if any), the electromagnetic clutch for the conductive web drive roller 86 is removed and the conductive web 10 is stopped. paper web 6
01 is driven through a delay mechanism (not shown) until the transferred image is removed from the apparatus. Figure 14a shows 10
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a half-covered sensor displayed in a patterned manner in FIG. 2;

A radius sensor rides on roll diameter 209 and controls potentiometer 123. This potentiometer 12
3, when the roll radius changes, the brake 95 (fourth
(see figure). A radius sensor mounting plate 220, attached to the frame by mounting posts 221, carries a bearing housing 242 and a hub 243. A radius arm 244 formed of mild steel connects to the hub 243.
is connected to potentiometer 123 via. The roller 245 is made of an insulating material such as Delrin or acetal resin (polyacetal), and is rotatably mounted on the arm 244. Further, the roller 245 is pressed against the web diameter by a coil 246. A magnetic button 247 carried by a bracket 248 is positioned so as to be attracted to a conductive arm 244 shown in dotted lines. The bias of arm 244 is transmitted to potentiometer 123 via its segment gear 249 and protrusion 250. See Figure 14b.

1, a partially cutaway perspective view of another tensioning device 100 for conductive webs is shown. With this device, the conductive web is saved rather than being re-wound. 17
In the embodiment of figure b, the take-up roll 87 is
will be replaced.

The tensioner electrostatic capstan drive roller 97 is driven by a separate torque motor 101 (see FIG. 14) set at constant speed torque. Tension is applied from the roller 97 via the electrostatic force between the roller and the web. This is achieved by grounding the conductive surface of the web 10 and applying a pulsed DC voltage to the roller. Web 10 does not come into contact with roller 97. A high voltage is applied to the electrostatic capstan roller 97 intermittently.

This causes the web 10 to be attached to the capstan loaf by suitable conventional electrostatic forces. This provides appropriate tension to the conductive web 101. A pulsed voltage with a suitable frequency is applied to the roller 97 to avoid breakdown at the gap entrance in about 50% of the area where the conductive web 10 contacts the capstan loaf 97.

That is, in the area passing through the entrance of the gap, no suction occurs and the high voltage is "on". roller 97
is metallic, and the ends of the insulating sleeve 252 and roller are provided with end caps 253.

The inner end of roller 97 is provided with a conductive metal sleeve 254 . The sleeve 254 is the brush assembly 2
It is grounded at 55. Roller shaft 256 is secured to a suitable shaft. This pulley is driven by a constant torque motor. Contact roller 129 is electrically conductive ring 25
6. This ring 256 is made of neoprene.
It may be polychloroprene (C4day7CI)n. Roller 129 is rotatably mounted by arm 257. Arm 257 carries electrically conductive coated roller 129 by shaft 258 . Roller 129 is held in contact with capstan roller 97 and conductive web. The conductive web is placed on roller 97 by tension spring 259 and collar 260. The lever 240 is equipped with a spring plunger 241.
Used to adjust river contact pressure. roller 12
9 is used to connect the web 10 to an electrical bias. Biasing of the conductive web FIG. 15 will be explained.

1, a side view of one embodiment of a method for biasing a conductive web is shown. As previously mentioned, a conductive web is used as an electrical interface between the imaging and transfer processing steps. The ground roller 301 is a backup
It is located adjacent to roll 302. A ground roller or contact brush 301 is used immediately in front of the imaging and transfer bands. In this case, the ground roller or contact brush 301 engages the conductive surface 2 outside the inked or image format area. roller 30
1 is mounted in engagement with the web surface by a support rod 303. Rod 303 is ground block 3
04 is maintained. A grounding block 304 is attached to a bracket 305 that connects to the equipment frame.
A grounding roller 301 and a backup roll 302 are positioned in front of the ink application station to ground the conductive web 10 during the marriage formation sequence.

A grounding roller and backup roll are also located outside the transfer strip to ground the conductive web during transfer. FIG. 16 will be explained.

This figure shows a partial sectional view of a side surface of a marriage forming roller and a grounding mechanism according to the present invention. In one example,
For grounding purposes, it is desirable to minimize the total resistance of the conductive web. In this regard, a combination bias and imaging roller 320 is utilized to shorten the ground path to approximately 0.62 skin, thereby providing good ground contact to the imaging zone. The roller 320 includes an insulating ring 321 coaxial with a roller shaft 322.

Shaft 322 is connected to a potential source 323 which provides high imaging voltage to the core of the imaging roller. The image forming roller 320 is made of a conductive material, preferably non-magnetic stainless steel. The roller has grooves 324. Blocking Web 3 Rivers Blocking
A metal end sleeve 325 extends beyond the end of the web. The surface 2 of the conductive web is in contact with a metal sleeve, which is grounded by a brush 326;
It is attached to a rod 327 carried within flock 328. Although twilling roller 320 is shown as a roller, it may also be an arch-shaped device formed of a conductive material including conductive rubber.

power control Figure 7 will be explained.

This figure is a circuit diagram of a power distribution circuit for a web device type photoelectrophoretic image forming apparatus. There are essentially four types of power required for this device. That is, high voltage power and control 33
0, low voltage power and control 332, lamp power supply 338, and fusing and heating control power supply 336. High voltage power and control 33
0 supplies power to four corotrons 43, 58, 66, 104 and scorotron 27. In this apparatus, the image forming roller 32 and the transfer roller 80 require high DC voltage. These high voltages are generated by a common power supply 330. In order to adjust the output of each of the 33 power sources, a divided converter device is used. A low voltage power control 332 provides power to the servo system, logic system, and constant speed AC motor. All of these systems require this type of power supply. The low voltage power control 332 also supplies power to the ink application motor/clutch 350 and the bride separator 3.
52, transfer separator motor 356, DC drive motor 99, and gear box 98. The gear box 98 has dual output shafts that connect to the conductive drive roll 86 via a timing belt.
and blocking drive roll 88 and transfer drive roll 20
Drive 5. The gear box 98 also drives the platen scanning drive 364 and the transparent projector drive 355. Low voltage power control 332 supplies power to motor 237.
The motor 237 drives the capstan roller 112 via the clutch 236. Similarly, power control 332 powers motor 01 and
1 drives the electrostatic capstan 97 via the clutch 122. The low voltage power control 332 is also used to power the take-up motors 128 and 234. The conductive web winding motor 128 connects the conductive web winding capstan 2 via clutches 126 and 127.
06 and conductive web take-up roller shaft 87, respectively. Motor 234 connects clutches 232 and 2
33 to a blocking web take-up capstan 39 and a blocking web take-up roller shaft 89, respectively. Lamp power supply 338 provides power to lamp source 142. Regarding power supply circuit 338 - a complete and detailed description of an embodiment is provided by Doug
las E. Webb and Russm G. Schroe
No. 416,921 filed on September 19, 1973 by der. The mechanism for increasing the frictional force between webs in FIG. 18 will be explained.

This figure is a perspective view of a device used to increase the frictional force between a thin web at the image and transfer roller of a web-based photoelectrophoretic imaging device. Photoelectrophoretic processing is particularly sensitive to relative movement between webs during the imaging and transfer steps.

The photoelectrophoretic ink sandwiched between the webs of the bride forming roller and the image formed by the transfer roller act as a lubricant and tend to reduce the frictional force between the webs to nearly zero. For this purpose, the wafer is made large and a small dry area is formed on each side of the shark or transfer zone so that the slip webs provide sufficient frictional force against each other. However, this frictional force is limited by the size of the gap and the web tension required to control the orthogonal forces between the webs. To increase the frictional forces in the dry areas on either side of the mound or transfer zone, spring-loaded pressure widths or rolls are used to reduce the ink-web and image-web sandwich and the transfer zone or image. Move against rollers in the drying area on either side or on either side of the forming band.
Spring 410 provides a normal pressure of approximately 2.25 k9 against the pressure roll x on the web sandwich.

Pressure roll x is attached to an arm 411 fixed to a shaft 412. The shaft 412 rotates in the direction of the arrow and the pressure roll x is then lifted in the direction of the arrow during web separation. Operation The operation of the web device type photoelectronic image forming apparatus is as follows.

First, a conductive web supply roll suitable for the desired number of copies is prepared.

The conductive web supply roll is braked by a hysteresis brake. This brake is controlled by a radius sensor that provides a constant tension on the weave leaving the supply roll. A blocking wimp supply roll is provided which has been passed through the desired copy. Constant tension for the blocking web coupled roll is provided by a hysteretic brake. This brake is controlled by a radius sensor in the same way as for conductive webs. Enough transfer web supply rolls are prepared for the desired number of copies. The paper web supply roll is braked by a hysteresis brake. This brake is controlled by a return current from the radius sensor to maintain constant tension on the paper web supply roll. The conductive web take-up roll is driven by an AC motor and a gear box that speeds up a hysteresis clutch.

The paper web take-up capstan is driven by the same AC motor and a gear box that accelerates the hysteresis clutch. When the power supply is first turned on, power is applied to the main drive motor, brake, clutch and three web take-up drive motors, and tension is applied to the web. At the beginning of the photoelectrophoretic imaging process, an electromagnetic clutch on the conductive web drive roll is actuated to accelerate the web to the desired imaging speed. The ink applicator begins to apply an ink film to the conductive web surface of the desired ink film thickness and length. When the conductive web reaches the pre-charging station, a secondary scorotron applies a pre-charging voltage to the ink film. The magnitude of the potential applied by the scorotron depends on the properties of the photoelectrophoretic ink used in the device. When a photoelectrophoretic imaging suspension with specific properties is used, the scorotron imparts a high charge, resulting in a global pigment deposition. When photoelectrophoretic inks with other properties are used, a slight charge is imparted by the scorotron and no overall pigment deposition takes place. Blocking just before entering the image forming zone.

The web is placed under a corotron high voltage to combat stray electric fields. During the start-up and ink application steps, the conductive web contacts the blocking web and blocks through contact with the imaging roller. Drive the web. Imaging voltages are applied to the imaging roller as the ink film passes through the imaging roller while a scanning optical image from either a transparent or opaque optical input device is projected onto the imaging zone. The imaging voltage is increased by the programming device to raise the voltage to the desired operating level, while the image entrance gap is filled with liquid.
After the imaging step is completed, the webs are separated by a conductive web and blocking web separation mechanism and, during multiple cycle mode, are moved against a blocking web drive roller until the webs are brought into contact with an imaging roller. The electromagnetic clutch is activated. Conductive web and web.
A bead of liquid deposited in the inlet gap is forced through the imaging zone by the conductive web when the web contact is touched by the separating mechanism with the recording web. After imaging and development, the formed image on the conductive web is discharged and then recharged by a pigment corotron.

Also, due to the characteristics of the ink used, the discharge step is omitted and the ink film is simply recharged. As the leading edge of the electrophoretic image of the conductive web approaches the transfer zone, an electromagnetic clutch on the paper web drive roll is actuated to accelerate the paper web to approximately the same speed as that of the conductive web. The separation mechanism between the conductive web and the transfer web is driven,
A transfer roll brings the conductive web into contact with the paper web.
After the conductive web contacts the paper web with the transfer roll,
The clutch to the paper web drive roller is released and the paper web is driven by the conductive web through contact at the transfer roller.

Prior to the transfer step, a fluid injection device located at the entrance of the transfer zone is used to provide an air breakdown reducing agent to the transfer gap prior to transfer to eliminate the drawbacks due to air breakdown.

Also, a fluid injection device applies an air breakdown reducing agent to the imaging gap prior to the inlet gap imaging step of the rice forming zone.
The conductive web take-up spool is replaced by an electrostatic capstan to save the image of the conductive web.
The electrostatic capstan is driven by an AC motor set at constant torque and a hysteresis clutch driven by a gear box. The conductive surface of the web is grounded and a pulsed voltage is applied to the capstan roller to attach the roller to the web. When the transfer step is completed, the conductive web and transfer web separation mechanism is activated to easily separate the conductive web and the paper web.

As a result, the liquid pea accumulated at the entrance of the gap is sent out from the transfer zone. Also, the transfer web drive loaf clutch is activated again. After the ink residue has been cleaned from the transfer band, the conductive web drive roller is deactivated and the conductive web is stopped. The paper web is driven through a delay relay until the transferred image is removed from the device. The transferred image on the paper web is transferred to a fixing section, the image is fused, and the image is transferred to a paper chute. A trimming section is provided to cut the copy to desired dimensions. The above steps are repeated for multiple copies.

Other modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the web device type photoelectrophoretic imaging device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial schematic side view of the blocking web charging section; FIG. 4 is a partial schematic side view of the bride forming section; FIG. 5 is a partial schematic side view of the blocking web charging section; , FIG. 6 is a partial schematic side view of the pigment recharging section of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a partial schematic side view of the pigment recharging section of FIG. Another example is shown below. 8 is a partial schematic side view showing the transfer stage for eliminating air breakdown; FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 8; and FIG. 10a is a partial schematic side view of a preferred embodiment for transferring and fixing at once, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the entire web device photoelectrophoretic imaging apparatus; FIG. FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the conductive web and blocking web separation device; FIG. 13 is a partial schematic side view of the assembly; FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the separation device for the conductive web and blocking web; FIG. 14 is a partial schematic side view of the mechanical web transfer device and the web movement path, FIG. 14a is a perspective view of the roller radius sensor, and FIG. 14b is a perspective view of the roller radius sensor. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conductive take-up roller/capstaso assembly;
FIG. 15 is a partial side view of one embodiment for grounding a conductive web, FIG. 16 is a partial side view of an imaging roller grounding mechanism, and FIG. 17 is a partial side view of an embodiment for grounding a conductive web. 18 is a partial schematic block diagram of an electric control device, and
The figure is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment for increasing the frictional force between two webs. Explanation of symbols, 4: Ink film,
10: conductive web, 11; conductive web supply roll,
19: Ink application device, 20: Back up roller, 21: Ink application section, 25: Preliminary charging section, 32: Image forming roller, 30: Blocking web, 37: Blocking web supply roll, 38: Idler・Roller, 60: paper web, 66: scolotroso, 40: image forming band, 42: charging roller, 80: transfer roller, 85: conductive transfer web separation roller, 86: capstan loaf, 87: take-up roll , 88: capstan drive roller, 92: fixing section, 106: transfer band, 162: projector device. Hitting Su G / Batting Power G2 (Su G3 Bus G4 (XG Evening)ノG ′3 'nG'ko stroke 76' etc.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A photoelectrophoretic image forming apparatus comprising: (a) a first support device that supports a disposable first transparent web electrode, which is an injection electrode; and (b)
a first drive device supporting the first transparent web electrode and cooperating with the first support device to advance the first transparent web electrode through a predetermined path through an ink applicator and an imaging station; (c) an ink applicator that applies a thin film of photoelectrophoretic ink to the first transparent web electrode; (d) a preliminary charging device that applies an electric charge to the thin film of photoelectrophoretic ink; and (e) a blocking electrode. (f) a blocking web charging device for charging the second web electrode; (f) a blocking web charging device for charging the second web electrode;
g) a second drive device cooperating with the second support device supporting the second web electrode to advance the second web electrode through a predetermined path through the imaging station;
h) An image forming support surface attached to the image forming section,
The second web electrode advances into contact with the imaging support surface, and the advancing ink surface of the first transparent web electrode is advanced by the first support device and the first drive device. , and contacting the advancing second web electrode while the second web electrode is in contact with the imaging support surface, thereby causing a sandwich of ink and web and an image on the imaging support surface. forming a gap between the imaging bands, the two webs sandwiching ink therebetween, and the two webs are supported in the gap between the imaging bands by the imaging support surface on the second web electrode side of the sander beach. , an imaging support surface such that the support of the web is effected without a support member contacting an area of the imaging strip on the side of the first transparent web electrode of the sandwich arch in the imaging strip gap; and (i) a voltage source. a device connected to the imaging support surface and applying an electric field to the sand beam between the ink and the web in the gap between the imaging zones; and a device for projecting an image pattern of active electromagnetic radiant energy onto a sandwich of a web;
an apparatus for forming an image pattern corresponding to at least one active electromagnetic radiation energy of the web; (w) a third support apparatus for supporting a third paper transfer web in progress; (f) a third drive device attached to the transfer station and cooperating with the third support device for supporting the third paper transfer web to advance the third paper transfer web through the passageway; a transfer roller with which the third paper transfer web advances and comes into contact; the surface bearing the formed image of at least one of the advancing first and second web electrodes is connected to the first transparent transfer roller; The third paper transfer web is advanced by the first support device supporting the web electrode and the first drive device, and is advanced while the third paper transfer web is in contact with the transfer roller.
contacting a paper transfer web, thereby forming a sandwich and transfer belt gap between the image and the web at the position of the transfer roller, and the first and third two webs sandwiching the image therebetween; The two webs, the first and the third, are connected to the third paper web of the sander beach without a support member that contacts the region of the transfer strip on the side of the first transparent web electrode of the sander beach in the gap between the transfer strips. a transfer roller supported at a gap between the transfer belt by the transfer roller on the transfer web side; (Y) a dispenser for preventing dielectric breakdown of air in the transfer belt;
a device that connects a voltage source to the transfer roller and applies an electric field to the sand beam between the image in the gap between the transfer belts and the web; After passing through the support, the first and third
a device for disengaging the web from each other and applying a copy of the image to the third paper transfer web. 2. The photoelectrophoretic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming support surface is an image forming roller. 3. The photovoltaic device according to claim 1, wherein the first support device for supporting the first transparent web electrode includes a supply roll and a take-up roll. Electrophoretic image forming device. 4. The photoelectrophoretic device according to claim 3, wherein the second support device for supporting the second web electrode includes a supply roll and a take-up roll. Image forming device.