US3345925A

US3345925A - Electrostatic printing and developing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3345925A
Application number: US390151A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph G Ostensen
Original assignee: SCM Corp
Current assignee: SCM Corp
Priority date: 1963-01-03
Filing date: 1964-08-17
Publication date: 1967-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-10
Also published as: AU2074570A

Description

R. G. OSTENSEN Oct. 10, 1967 ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 5, 1965 INVENTOR. RALPH C OSTENSEN Oct. 10, 1967 R. G. QSTENSEN 3,345,925

ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RALPH (i. O$TENSEN m M959 E0350 wnn U J4CLNUIF uokoz o m a W mfi m F wouaom I 1 I I 1 Nazca 10, 1967 OSTENSEN 3,345,925

ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 5, 1963 5 Sheets$heet 5 FROM EMS CONTROL EXPOSED 396 UNEXPOSED BASE PAPER INVENTOR. RALPH Cx. OSTENSEN a United States 3,345,925 ELECTRGSTATIC PRINTING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS Ralph G. Ostensen, Morton Grove, llL, assignor to SCM Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Jan. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 249,248.

Divided and this application Aug. 17, 1964, Ser. No-

10 Claims. (Cl. 951.7)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE This invention delates to photocopying apparatus and, more particularly, to photocopying apparatus of the electrostatic type. This application is a division of application Ser. No. 249,248 filed Jan. 3, 1963, now abandoned.

In the electrostatic copying cycle to which the present invention relates, a uniform electrostatic charge is applied to a sheet of copy paper having a photoconductive surface layer. The image on the document desired to be copied is then projected onto the copy paper, selectively discharging the electrostatic charge and reproducing the image on latent form on the copy paper. Areas corresponding to areas of the original having intermediate shade will retain varying proportions of the original charge. The charge Will be substantially unaffected on areas corresponding to dark areas on the document being copied, but will be almost entirely dissipated on areas corresponding to vary light or image free areas of the document. The latent electrostatic image is then developed by applying to the copy paper particles having a charge opposite in polarity to the charge on the copy paper. The charged particles are attracted to different areas of the copy paper in densities proportional to the charges remaining on those areas, producing a graphic image which is a substantial duplicate of the image on the original document.

One of the most persistent problems in this process is ensuring that the developer particles are applied to the exposed copy in exact proportion to the charge remaining on the exposed copy paper. The particles have been applied by forming them into a dry powder and causing the powder to be brought in contact with the copy paper as by blowing or rolling it onto the paper or by incorporating the particles into a liquid and applying the liquid to the exposed copy paper. Prior art efforts at using the liquid type developer or toner are exemplified by United States Patent No. 2,991,754, issued July 11, 1961, and Australian Patent No. 227,951, published Oct. 2, 1958.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved printer of the type utilizing a liquid toner for developing the latent electrostatic image into a visible image by use of an improved biasing arrangement at the developing station. The copy paper itself contains a layer of photoconductive material and thus eliminates the need for a plate or drum of chargeable material from which the visible image is transferred as in the wellknown Xerox process.

Patent 0 Another major object is to provide an improved electrostatic printer wherein a D.C. biasing voltage of 0pposite potential from the electrostatic charge induced in the photoconductive layer of the copy paper is evenly applied to the entire surface of the copy paper to neutralize the electrostatic charge of the nonimage or background areas of said surface and thereby reducing deposition of developer particles on these areas.

Another object is to apply a biasing voltage to the charged copy paper along its entire length as it travels through the liquid toner in a developing tank for causing the relatively uncharged background areas on said chargeable member to repel the liquid toner particles.

Another major object is to provide a compact electrostatic printer small enough to be used on a desk or table top and embodying novel paper drive systems for both the original and the copy sheet, together with a unique developing tank arrangement which provides a commercially practicable printer.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent from the claims, and from the description as it proceeds in connection with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view as seen from the front, right corner of the electrostatic printer of the present invention shown with its cover in place;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the printer of FIG- URE 1 and is taken substantially along line 2-2 of that figure;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the printer;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic of a biasing arrangement for the printer of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of an alternate biasing arrangement which may be employed to control the electrostatic charge on the copy paper;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional view of a sheet of copy paper progressing through the biasing rollers in the embodiment of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sheet of exposed copy paper showing exposed and unexposed adjoining portions.

General description Re-ferring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 the electrostatic printing machine 20 of the present invention includes a housing 22 within which are arranged a paper supply compartment 24 into which photoconductive copy paper stack 103 may be loaded and a paper feed 26 for propelling sheets of the copy paper from compartment 24 through a corona charging unit 27 where a uniform charge of approximately 400 v. is imparted to the surface of the copy paper to imaging area adjacent the lower end of an image projector 28. The original to be copied is inserted through a horizontal slot 3t) in the front wall 32 of cover 22 and is transported in timed relation to the movement of the copy paper to an imaging area below the forward end of image projector 28 Where light is focused by projection lamp 36. The image is reflected from the surface of the original and a mirror 38 into the objective lens 40 of image projector 28 which projects the image onto the surface of the sheet of copy paper below corona unit 27. As the image strikes the copy paper, the charge on the latter is reduced by an amount determined by the intensity of the reflected light, with black portions of the original reflecting such a small light intensity as to affect the charge very little and white portions of the original reflecting suflicient light intensity as to almost completely release the latent electrostatic charge in the paper.

The exposed copy sheet now contains a latent image charge pattern which is preferably passed through a developing tank 44, described in detail in my copending application 143,086, filed Oct. 5, 1961, now Patent No. 4,202,526, where a liquid developer carrying positively charged particles is applied to the latent image bearing surface of the copy paper. The positively charged particles are attracted to the negatively charged areas to a degree determined by the charge at each position on the surface of the copy paper thereby producing a graphic image. The paper feed then moves the developed copy paper between

squeegee rollers

46 and 48, which remove the excess developer from the copy paper and may provide a direct voltage of relatively low magnitude to control the density of the image and/or the cleanliness of the background of the developed copy paper.

The radiant heat of the projection lamps, together with air warmed by the projection lamps and blown across the copy paper by fans 50, removes substantially all of the remaining moisture from the surface of the copy paper. Thereafter, feed system 26 deposits the copy onto surface 52 at the bottom front of the printer from which it may be removed by the operator.

Detailed description As is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, housing 22 includes a base 54 supported in longitudinally extending feed 58 (only one of which is shown), a pair of spaced apart vertical side walls 60 extending upwardly from the base, vertical front wall 32, which extends between the side walls, and rear wall 57. The details of housing 22 are of no significance to the present invention and may be varied as desired. Side walls 60, for example, are illustrated in FIGURE 2 as substantially continuous, sheet-like members. If desired, they may be formed of appropriate straps or brackets since they function primarily to support various components of the printer such as the rollers for the copy paper and original document feed systems.

Supported on horizontal ledges 64 (FIGURE 1) formed adjacent the bottom of and extending around three sides of base 54 is a box-like open-ended cover 22 which may be secured in place by appropriate detachable fasteners (not shown). Louvers 68 formed in the exterior verticle side wall 78 of cover 22 permit cooling air to be circulated through printer 28 to remove the heat generated by its operation.

Image transfer Pick-

up rollers

152 and 154 at the exit side of corona unit 27, deliver the charged copy paper onto the belt of endless conveyor 160 where image projector 28 projects the image of the document to becopied onto the copy paper. Image projector 28, which may be of substantially conventional construction, includes a light tight housing 269 with the objective lens 40 supported in its upper forward end. A projection lens 270 is supported in the lower rearward end of housing 269 closely adjacent the upper run of endless conveyor 168. Image projector 28 is supported by a sheet metal support member 271 (see FIG- URE 2) fixed at its opposite ends to base side walls 60.

The original document which it is desired to copy. it will be remembered, is inserted into printer through a horizontal slot in the front wall of its housing 22 where it is picked up by the original document feed 34. Referring now to FIGURE 2, feed 34 includes a horizontal sheet metal guide 272 fixed to base side walls 60 which guides the original into a pair of pick-up rollers 273 and 274 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) fixed to base side walls 60. Roller 273 is continuously rotated by roller chain 132 which engages a spur gear 276 fixed to a shaft 278 rotably supported on base side wall 60. Fixed to shaft 278 with spur gear 276 is a second spur gear 280 which meshes with a spur gear 282 fixed to the shaft 284 on which roller 273 is mounted. Roller 274 is driven by roller 273.

The next components of document feed 34 are pick-up rollers 286 and 288 which are separated from pick-up rollers 273 and 274 by a horizontally extending sheet metal guide 289 supported by base side walls 60. Pick-up rollers 286 and 288 are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) fixed to base side walls 60. Roller 288 is contiouously rotated by roller chain 132 which engages a spur gear 290 fixed to the end of the shaft 292 on which roller 288 is mounted. As in the other pick-up rollers described above, roller 288 frictionally drives roller 286.

Pick-up rollers 286 and 288 deliver the document to be copied onto an endless conveyor 294 which includes a pair of rollers 296 and 298 rotatably journalled in parallel, spaced relationship by appropriate bearings (not shown) fixed to base side walls 60. Surrounding conveyor rollers 296 and 298 is an endless belt 361] which supports the document to be copied while it is in the imaging area below the forward upper end of image projector 28. Endless conveyor belt 300 is driven by a spur gear 302 fixed to the end of the shaft 304 on which pick-up roller 286 is mounted. Spur gear 302 meshes with a spur gear 306 fixed to the shaft 308 on which endless conveyor roller 296 (see FIGURE 2) is mounted. The movement of the document to be copied while on conveyor belt 300 is synchronized with movement of the copy sheet on conveyor belt 168 by roller chain 132 and the movement of the copy sheet is coordinated by use of feeler switches and electromagnetic clutches through a circuit shown in FIGURE 3.

As the leading edge of the document to be copied travels off the rear end of endless conveyor 294, it passes between a pair of pick-up

rollers

310 and 312 rotatably mounted in appropriate bearings (not shown) fixed to base side walls 60. Pick-up roller 310 is continuously rotated by roller chain 132 which engages a spur gear 314 rotatably supported by housing side walls 60. Spur gear 314 meshes with spur gear 316 fixed to the end of the shaft 318 on which roller 310 is mounted. Roller 310, in turn, friction drives roller 312.

Next in feed system 34 is a chute 320 formed from an arcuate wall portion 322 at the forward end of the support 271 on which image projector 28 is mounted and an arcuate sheet metal guide 324 supported from base side walls 60 in spaced, parallel relationship to support wall portion 322. Chute 320 diverts the document from its rearwardly moving travel back toward the front of printer 28. As the document emerges from chute 320, it passes beneath axially aligned and transversely spaced feed rollers 326, 328, and 330 which deposit the document on a tray 332 formed as an integral portion of the image projector supporting member 271. Feed rollers 326, 328, and 330 are fixed on a continuously rotating shaft 334 which is rotatably supported in appropriate bearings (not shown) fixed to housing side walls 60. Shaft 334 is rotated by roller chain 132 which engages a spur gear 336 fixed to a stub shaft 338 rotatably supported on housing side wall 68. Fixed on shaft 338 with spur gear 336 is a second spur gear 340 which meshes with a spur gear 342 fixed on the end of roller supporting shaft 334.

As was pointed out above, it is the function of feed system 34 to transport the document to be copied to an imaging area below the upper forward end of image projector 28. In this area, the document to be copied is illuminated by projection lamp 36 which, as is shown in FIGURE 2, is mounted in a conventional parabolic reflector 344 supported from housing side walls 60. The light from projection lamp 36 reaches the document supported on endless belt 300' through a slit 346 in a sheet metal member 348 supported from base side walls 60 closely adjacent and parallel to the upper run of endless conveyor 294.

It will be remembered that the image on the document is reflected from its surface to a mirror 38. Mirror 38 is supported at an upwardly and rearwardly inclined angle adjacent the forward upper end of printer housing 22 in a supporting bracket 350 fixed, at its ends, to base side walls 60. The details of mirror 38 and its supporting brackets 350 are not critical in the practice of the present invention and may be of any commercially available con struction.

Mode of operation Referring now specifically to FIGURE 3, the operation of printer 20 is as follows: main on-off switch #9, which is mounted on the front of printer base 54 (see also FIGURES 1 and 2), is closed. Connected in series with switch #9 are a pair of interlock switches #7 and #8 mounted on printer base 54 (see FIGURE 2). Switches #7 and #8 open when cover 22 is removed, preventing operation of the printer unless the cover is in place. With cover 22 in place safety switches #7 and #8 are always closed and the closing of main switch #9 completes circuits through drive motor 138, a pump motor 358 in developing tank 44, exhaust fans 50, and on-oif lamps 360 mounted on the front of printer base 54 (see FIGURE 1), and electromagnetic clutch 128 through normally closed switch #3. Switch #3 is open when a sheet of copy paper is in position to start through corona charging unit 27.

The function of pump 358 is not germane to an understanding to the present invention, other than that it circulates a liquid developer or toner solution which carries pigment particles that adhere to the charged portion on the copy paper as it passes through the solution. This pump, the developer tank shown in FIGURE 4, and their operation are described in detail in my copending application Ser. No. 143,086 to which reference may be had if desired.

Energization of fans 50, as was indicated above, effects a flow of air in printer 2G to remove the heat of operation from the printer and to assist in drying the developed copy paper after it leaves developer tank 44 and passes through

squeegee rollers

46 and 48.

Energization of drive motor 138 effects operation of the paper feeds 26 and 34 described above. With drive motor 138 running and electromagnetic clutch 128 energized, feed rollers 82 are rotated in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2, through the drive train described above, feeding a sheet of copy paper from stack 103 through the slot formed at the rear end of paper supply compartment 24 between guides 104 and 106 to the pick-up

rollers

118 and 120.

The sheet of copy paper passes through

feed rollers

118 and 120, over idler roller 140, and between

guides

141 and 142 until its leading edge engages the actuator of a normally closed switch #3 and a normally open switch #6, opening switch #3 and closing switch #6. Both of these switches are mounted on guide 142.

The opening of normally closed switch #3 interrupts the circuit to electrogmagnetic clutch 128 which is then deenergized, stopping feed rollers 82 on top of the stack of copy paper and feed

rollers

118 and 120. The stopping of

feed rollers

118 and 120 stops the sheet of copy paper passing through the printer with its leading edge just short of pick-up rollers 143 and 144 insuring that, when a document to be copied is inserted into the machine, the document and copy paper will move in timed relation through their respective imaging areas so that the entire image will be transmitted to the copy paper. The stopping of feed rollers 82 insures that a second copy of copy paper is not fed indiscriminately from supply compartment 24.

The closing of normally open switch #6 completes a circuit through a reload-warning lamp 368 mounted on the front side of printer base 54 (see FIGURE 1), lighting lamp 368 and indicating to the operator that the printer is conditioned to receive a document to be copied.

If the copy paper is exhausted when printer 20 is on, switch #6 will not close and feed-reload lamp 368 will not light. Thus if lamp 368 does not light within a few seconds after main switch #9 is closed, or after a document is inserted through slot 30, the operator will know that the supply of copy paper is exhausted. If this occurs main switch #9 may be opened, turning off the printer, and the supply of copy paper replenished. Main switch #9 is then closed, reinitiating the printing cycle.

As the document to be copied is inserted through the slot 30 in printer base front wall 32, it is picked up and fed into the printer by continuously rotating rollers 273 and 274. Shortly after it passes through rollers 273 and 274, the leading edge of the original contacts the actuators of two normally open switches #1 and #5 mounted on guide 289 with their actuators in the path of the in wardly moving original.

The closing of normally open switch #1 completes a circuit through a thermal fuse 376 to the coil of a relay 378 energizing the relay which closes normally open contacts 377. The closing of contacts 377 completes a circuit through and lights projection lamps 36 (which may be fixed in end-to-end relationship in reflector 344).

The closing of normally open relay contact 377 simultaneously completes a circuit through the primary of transformer 379. The secondary of transformer 379 is connected in the high voltage circuit of corona 27 which is nowhere grounded and therefore floats with respect to the reference voltage in the printer housing. For reasons which are not fully understood, it has been found that this arrangement background prevents discoloration on the copy sheet which sometimes occurs when a ground connection is used.

The DC potential between the negative and positive output terminals of voltage doubler 380 is on the order of 11,500 volts.

The closing of normally open switch #5 completes a circuit through a normally closed switch #4 and again momentarily energizes electromagnetic clutch 128 and causes rotation of

feed rollers

118 and 120 which move the sheet of copy paper downwardly between

guides

141 and 142 until its leading edge is engaged by continuously rotating pick-up rollers 143 and 144.

An instant after the leading edge of the sheet of copy paper is picked up by rollers 143 and 144, its trailing edge clears

feed rollers

118 and 120. Simultaneously, the leading edge of the original opens normally closed switch #4 (which is mounted on guide 289 with its actuator positioned to be engaged by the rearwardly moving original), deenergizing electromagnetic clutch 128 and stopping feed rollers and 82 and

feed rollers

118 and 120.

As pick-up rollers 143 and 144 move the sheet of copy paper downwardly, its trailing edge passes switches #3 and #6 permitting switch #6 to open and switch #3 to close. The opening of switch #6 extinguishes the feed reload warning lamp 368, warning the operator not to attempt to insert another original into the printer. If an original were fed into the printer at this point in the printing cycle, the original would precede the copy paper through the imaging areas, producing an incomplete copy.

The closing of switch #3 again energizes electromagnetic clutch 128, revolving feed rollers 82 in a clockwise direction and causing the top sheet of copy paper in stack 103 to be fed out of paper supply compartment 24 between

feed rollers

118 and 120. Shortly after the leading edge of this sheet of copy paper passes through the feed rollers it engages the actuators of switches #3 and #6, opening switch #3 and closing switch #6. Opening of switch #3 stops

feed rollers

118 and 120 positioning the incoming sheet of copy paper with its leading edge slightly above feed rollers 143 and 144 so that, when another document to be copied is inserted into printer 20, the incoming copy paper will be picked up and moved through the printer in timed relation to the document in the manner described above. The simultaneous closing of switch #6 relights feedreload lamp 388 indicating to the operator that the print er is conditioned to receive another document to be copied.

It will be apparent, from the above discussions, that several sheets of copy paper may be moving simultaneously through printer 20, each of the sheets being at a different stage in the printing cycle. Consequently, successive prints can be produced at a relatively rapid rate, on the order of one copy every six seconds.

After moving through rollers 143 and 144, the sheet of copy paper which triggered the reloading cycle just described passes through corona unit 27. As the paper moves through corona unit 27, uniform negative charge is provided on the upper surface of the paper, and a similar positive charge on the lower surface, the total charge being about 400 volts in the illustrated embodiment.

As is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the copy paper is a two layer system composed of a base 394 which preferably has a resistance between approximately and 500 megohms to the square and a photoconductive layer or coating 396 which may comprise a photoconductive material such as zinc oxide in a resin binder. Therefore, when the copy paper leaves corona unit 27, the surface of the photoconductive layer 396 will be uniformly charged.

As the copy sheet emerges from corona unit 27, its leading edge is picked up by

rollers

152 and 154. Simultaneously, the leading edge of the original is picked up by rollers 286 and 288. Thereafter, the original and the copy paper move at the same speed to their respective imaging areas, the original passing from feed rollers 286 and 288 onto endless conveyor 294 which carries it to the imaging area below the upper forward end of image projector 28. The copy paper moves from

rollers

152 and 154 onto endless conveyor 160 which carries it to the imaging area adjacent the lower rear end of image projector 28.

As the original document passes through its imaging area, it is struck by the light emitted from projection lamps 36 and focused on the imaging area by parabolic reflector 344. The image on the document reflected from the upper surface of the original to mirror 38 which reflects it into the image projector 28 through objective 40. The image passes through image projector 28, emerges through projection lens 270 and strikes the negatively charged surface of the copy paper. The uniform negative charge on the copy paper is reduced in proportion to the intensity of the light striking the copy paper. Since little light will be reflected from the black areas of the original, the charge on areas of the copy paper against which the light reflected from such areas strikes will be reduced very slightly. On the other hand, the charge on areas of the copy struck by the light reflected from white areas of the original, such as the white background of a letter, e.g., will be almost entirely dissipated since the most intense light will be reflected from those areas.

As the original and the copy paper continue through their respective imaging areas, the image on the original is reproduced in latent form on the copy paper through dissipation of the charge on its surface as described above.

As the leading edge of the original emerges from its imaging area, it passes off the end of endless conveyor 294 and is picked up by

rollers

310 and 312. Pick-up

rollers

310 and 312 propel the original between

guides

322 and 324 to feed rollers 326, 328 and 330 which deposit it in tray 332 from which it may be removed and reinserted into the printer if multiple copies are desired. The originals are deposited face down in tray 332. Therefore, if consecutively numbered originals are fed through printer 20, they will be deposited in tray 332 in the same order. Simultaneously, the leading edge of the exposed sheet of copy paper leaves the imaging area and is picked up by

rollers

172 and 174 which move it toward developing tank 44.

As the leading edge of the copy paper emerges from

rollers

172 and 174, it engages the actuator of and closes a normally open switch #2 mounted on guide 184 immediately below roller 174 as best seen in FIGURE 2. Closing of switch #2 completes a holding circuit through relay coil 378 as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, when the trailing edge of the original clears wsitch #1, permitting that switch to open, the porjection lamps 36 will not be prematurely extinguished. When the trailing edge of the copy paper clears switch #2 (by which time the trailing edge of the original will have cleared its imaging area) switch #2 will open, deenergizing relay 378. Upon relay coil 378 being deenergized, its contacts 377 open turning off projection lamps 36 and opening the circuit applying operating voltage to corona unit 27.

Development of latent image The developing tank 44 is located as closely as practicable to the image forming area for the copy sheet at conveyor belt 160. The copy paper is directed onto curved wire guide members 382 shown in dotted lines in FIG- URE 2 at the top central portion of tank 44. The liquid toner with electrostatically attractable particles is forced through an apertured header 384 by the pump .driven by pump motor 358 and applied to the upper surface only of the copy paper. Suitable electrostatic toners are well known in the art and include the examples described in the United States Patent 3,001,888 to Metcalfe, et al. and in the Journal of Scientific Instruments, volume 32, February 1955, pages 74 and 75. In such toner solution the polarity of the charge on the pigment particles can be controlled to be either negative or positive.

In the embodiment described, it will be assumed the pigment particles have a positive charge and therefore will be attracted to image area locations on the surface of the copy sheet that contain a negative charge. The upper surface of the copy paper that passes beneath header 384 in developer tank 44 has a negative charge distribution in accordance with the electrostatic latent image to be developed. The liquid applied to the upper surface runs off the sides of the paper without wetting the underneath side of the copy sheet as more fully described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 143,086.

Any liquid adhering to the surface of the copy sheet is removed by

squeegee rollers

46 and 48, and runs back into the reservoir of toner in tank 44. The copy paper then passes between rollers 189, and into the stream of heated air circulated by fans 50 across lamps 36 to remove such moisture as remains on the copy sheet to thereby provide a nearly dry copy at surface 52.

Clearance of background via bias Where a good quality of copy paper is available that has good light decay characteristics and high contrast, it is possible to adjust the speed of drive motor 138 and the intensity of lamps 36 to expose the non-image areas sufficiently to neutralize the electrostatic charge and not reduce the charge in the image below acecptable limits for good printing. However, if either the paper or any other part of the system are less than optimum, it has been found that cleanliness of the non-image area can be significantly improved by use of a small DC. voltage conductively applied to the paper either before or during the development step.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, suitable biasing circuit is illustrated which includes feed roller pairs 172, 174; 46, 48; and 189, 190.

Rollers

174 and 189 are of a conducting material such as metal and connected to the positive terminal of a source of D.C. voltage 387.

Rollers

172 and 190 have an exterior surface of an insulating material such as rubber and hence have no effect on the charge on the copy paper. Roller 48 also has an exterior surface of an insulating material. Roller 46 is conductive and connected to the negative side of voltage source 387.

The distance along the path taken by the copy sheet between

rollers

172, 174 and rollers 189, '190 is substantially equal to the length of the copy sheet. As the base paper (see FIGURE 7) has a definite conductivity of from about 10 to 10 ohms, a positive field will be applied to the surface of the photoconductive layer containing the latent image next to the paper base and a relatively negative potential (ground) applied to the exposed surface of the photoconductive layer which it will be recalled was given a negative charge at the corona unit. This has the effect of uniformly reducing the charge throughout the copy sheet. By making the bias voltage sufliciently high, a complete repulsion of the positive pigment particles in the toner solution on the white background areas can be obtained without noticeably reducing the density of the accumulation of the charge particles on the colored marking areas.

After exposure to the image field on belt 160, it has been found that the paper retains a negative charge on its surface of 200 volts in an image or marking area and about 50 volts in a non-image area. The 50 volt charge develops out as a light gray with the DC. Voltage source disconnected, but shows no development when a bias voltage of between 15 and 140 volts is applied.

The reasons for two combinations of three sets of rollers is to maintain the bias circuit through the paper for its entire length as it travels through the tank. Thus, when the paper first reaches

squeegee rollers

46 and 48, the bias circuit is completed from ground through roller 46, the paper, and roller 174 to the positive potential on arm 386 of potentiometer 388. By the time the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes roller 174, the leading edge is on roller 189 thereby substituting roller 189 for roller 174 as the means applying the positive potential on the rear surface of the copy sheet.

This system inherently requires a controlled amount of conductivity of the base paper. As stated above, the resistivity the paper base apart from the photoconductivity layer should be between 10 and 500 megohms per square. The photoconductive layer should be selected to provide the greatest possible ratio between image areas and background or non-image areas.

It has been unexpectedly observed that most of the image is developed at

squeegee rollers

46 and 48. Therefore, it has been found possible to apply the bias voltage in a more simple arrangement that obviates the need for three sets of rollers.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, which is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5, only

rollers

46 and 48 are shown. These are the squeegee rollers through which the copy paper passes as it leaves the developer tank 44.

Rollers

189 and 190 of the embodiment of FIGURE 2 may be omitted. As shown in FIG- URE 5,

rollers

172 and 174 at the input side of developing tank 44 are retained but only to serve their usual function in the paper feed system.

In this embodiment, one of the rollers preferably roller 46, is metal as before. The mating roller must be conductive but cannot be made to have a Zero resistance since this would short out the bias voltage when no copy sheet is present or when a sheet of copy paper is narrower than the length of the rollers. Accordingly roller 48 is shown to have a metal core 390 covered with a conductive rubber coating. Conductive rubber as such is well known and has been used for example as a glossy material in high frequency transmission lines. The conductive rubber cylinder 392 may have an electrical resistance on the order of 50,000 to 500,000 ohms when measured from metal core 390 to the outer peripheral surface that is in contact with the copy paper and other conductive roller.

7 With reference to FIGURE 7, the copy paper is shown with the paper base 394 having the conductivity discussed above, and the layer 396 of photoconductive material which has charged image forming areas that have been unexposed to light and background areas that have been exposed to light.

This biasing system makes use of the fact that the apparent conductivity of the photoconductive zinc oxide coating layer 396 varies by the amount of light it has absorbed. It has been found that this conductivity varies within a ratio of :1 going from unexposed areas to exposed areas. Now, therefore, if we consider that part of a circuit which includes the conductive rubber roller 48, the paper base 394 of the copy sheet, the zinc oxide photoconductive layer 396 of the copy sheet, and the metal roller 46, then the total resistance through these elements will be constant except for the photoconductive layer 396. Conductivity varies in proportion to the amount of light it received during exposure.

As a copy sheet goes through developer tank 44 it brings with it a fairly large amount of toner liquid to the

squeegee rollers

46 and 48. While the copy is being squeezed between these rollers, a potential of between 10 and volts DC. is applied to

rollers

46 and 48. Because the resistance of photoconductive layer 396 is less in the exposed or background areas, more of the positive bias charge will appear here than in the unexposed or high resistance image area. This positive charge has the desired repelling effect on the positive toner particles, and thus coloration or development of low electrostatically charged areas may be effectively prevented.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a surface of an electrically chargeable member by a partially dissipated, electrostatic charge, a developer station and means (a) for advancing said chargeable member through said station along a predetermined path, (b) for applying developer particles to said surface as said chargeable member is advanced through said station to develop the latent image on said surface, and (c) for applying a biasing potential to said surface with the developer particles thereon to repel said developer particles from the non-image areas of said surface, said last-mentioned means comprising a source of DC. voltage providing said biasing potential, first and second means spaced apart along said path to successively engage said chargeable member leaving said developer station and being electrically connected to separate terminals of different polarities of said voltage source, and third means spaced apart from said first and second means for engaging said chargeable member entering said developer station and being electrically connected to one of said terminals, said first, second, and third means being arranged sufficiently close together that they all engage said chargeable member before said chargeable member disengages from said third means during its advancement through said developer station, whereby the potential provided by said voltage source is imparted to said chargeable member.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second means respectively engage opposite surfaces of said chargeable member.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said third means engages the same surface of said chargeable member which is engaged by said second means, and wherein said second and third means are connected to the same terminal of said voltage source.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said image is formed on the surface engaged by said first means.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein each of said first, second, and third means comprises an electrically conductive roller for advancing said chargeable member along said path.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said means for advancing said chargeable member along said be secured by Letters path comprises an electrically non-conductive roller co-' operatively mating with each electrically conductive roller of said first, second, and third means to respectively form first, second, and third roller pairs.

'7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said developer station is formed by a tank adapted to confine a liquid toner containing a suspension of said developer particles, wherein said third roller pair having the electrically conductive roller of said third means advances said chargeable member into said tank, and wherein said first and second roller pairs respectively having the electrically conductive rollers of said first and second means withdraw the chargeable member from said tank.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said first roller pair squeezes said chargeable member to remove excess liquid toner therefrom.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the electrically conductive rollers of said first and second means are connected to the same voltage source terminal through an adjustable arm and resistor of a potentiometer.

10. In an electrostatic printer having (a) a corona unit for producing an electrostatic charge on a surface of a chargeable member;

(b) an imaging station for selectively dissipating said electrostatic charge to form a latent image on said chargeable member;

(c) a developing tank having an inlet and an outlet for coating said chargeable member with a developer substance; and

(d) a guide member disposed between said inlet and outlet for guiding said chargeable member through said developer tank; the combination of (e) means for applying a biasing potential to said chargeable member for repelling said developer particles from the non-image areas of said surface; said last-mentioned means comprising:

(i) a first pair of rollers on the side of the developing tank nearer said corona unit, one of said rollers being of electrically conducting metal and connected to a first terminal of a D.C. voltage source and contacting the uncharged surface of said chargeable member, the other of said first pair of rollers being of comparatively nonconducting material and contacting the charged surface of said chargeable member;

(ii) a second pair of rollers disposed adjacent the outlet of said developer tank to receive said chargeable member when it has been coated with developer particles with one of the rollers of said second pair being of electrically conducting metal and connected to a second terminal of said DC. voltage source and contacting the charged surface of said chargeable member, the other of said second pair of rollers being of comparatively non-conducting material and contacting the other side of said chargeable member; and

(iii) a third pair of rollers being disposed adjacent to said second pair of rollers to receive said chargeable member after it leaves said second pair of rollers, one of the rollers of said third pair being of metal and connected to said first terminal of said DC. voltage source for contacting the uncharged surface of said chargeable member, the other of said third pair of rollers being coated with comparatively non-conducting material for contacting the charged surface of said chargeable member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,884,704 5/1959 Bolton 341 3,155,546 11/1964 Dirks 118637 CHARLES A. WILLMUT H, Primary Examiner.

PETER FELDMAN, Assistant Examiner;

Claims

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A LATENT IMAGE FORMED ON A SURFACE OF AN ELECTRICALLY CHARGEABLE MEMBER BY A PARTIALLY DISSIPATED, ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE, A DEVELOPER STATION AND MEANS (A) FOR ADVANCING SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER THROUGH SAID STATION ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, (B) FOR APPLYING DEVELOPER PARTICLES TO SAID SURFACE AS SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER IS ADVANCED THROUGH SAID STATION TO DEVELOP THE LATENT IMAGE ON SAID SURFACE, AND (C) FOR APPLYING A BIASING POTENTIAL TO SAID SURFACE WITH THE DEVELOPER PARTICLES THEREON TO REPEL SAID DEVELOPER PARTICLES FROM THE NON-IMAGE AREAS OF SAID SURFACE, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS COMPRISING A SOURCE OF D.C. VOLTAGE PROVIDING SAID BIASING POTENTIAL, FIRST AND SECOND MEANS SPACED APART ALONG SAID PATH TO SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGE SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER LEAVING SAID DEVELOPER STATION AND BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SEPARATE TERMINALS OF DIFFERENT POLARITIES OF SAID VOLTAGE SOURCE, AND THIRD MEANS SPACED APART FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER ENTERING SAID DEVELOPER STATION AND BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID TERMINALS, SAID FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD MEANS BEING ARRANGED SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE TOGETHER THAT THEY ALL ENGAGE SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER BEFORE SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER DISENGAGES FROM SAID THIRD MEANS DURING ITS ADVANCEMENT THROUGH SAID DEVELOPER STATION, WHEREBY THE POTENTIAL PROVIDED BY SAID VOLTAGE SOURCE IS IMPARTED TO SAID CHARGEABLE MEMBER.