US3861940A - Method for electrostatic printing, products produced thereby, and use of these products - Google Patents

Method for electrostatic printing, products produced thereby, and use of these products Download PDF

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Publication number
US3861940A
US3861940A US272047A US27204772A US3861940A US 3861940 A US3861940 A US 3861940A US 272047 A US272047 A US 272047A US 27204772 A US27204772 A US 27204772A US 3861940 A US3861940 A US 3861940A
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United States
Prior art keywords
carrier
electrode arrangement
charge image
electrostatic charge
spacing
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Expired - Lifetime
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US272047A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gabor Forgo
Erwin Meyer
Karl Moser
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Zellweger Uster AG
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Zellweger Uster AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K1/00—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion
    • G06K1/12—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
    • G06K1/128—Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching by electric registration, e.g. electrolytic, spark erosion
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/22—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20
    • G03G15/32—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 in which the charge pattern is formed dotwise, e.g. by a thermal head
    • G03G15/321—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern involving the combination of more than one step according to groups G03G13/02 - G03G13/20 in which the charge pattern is formed dotwise, e.g. by a thermal head by charge transfer onto the recording material in accordance with the image
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S101/00—Printing
    • Y10S101/37—Printing employing electrostatic force
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S430/00—Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product thereof
    • Y10S430/001—Electric or magnetic imagery, e.g., xerography, electrography, magnetography, etc. Process, composition, or product
    • Y10S430/102—Electrically charging radiation-conductive surface
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S430/00—Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product thereof
    • Y10S430/138—Corona discharge process

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A method of producing printed images according to electrostatic printing techniques wherein during at least a portion of the time when there is produced a latent electrostatic charge image there is undertaken a change in the spacing between an electrode arrangement decisive for the the structure of the charge image and a carrier for the reception of the latent electrostatic charge image and/or a counterelectrode.
  • the invention is also concerned with labels produced according to the method aspects of this development and the use of such labels for marking articles, especially sales articles.
  • the present invention relates to a new and improved method of electrostatic printing, and products of the method as well as use of the products of such method.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with a method for electrostatic printing in which a latent electrostatic charge image is produced at a carrier having a very high-ohmic layer by a discharge process from an electrode arrangement neighboring the carrier, wherein the electrostatic charge image is subsequently developed according to known techniques.
  • known techniques are known and there have also been described in prior art publications equipment for the performance thereof.
  • known techniques are extremely outstanding as concerns both the speed of their capability of producing printed. images and their speed as concerns the possibilities of varying the printed images produced thereby, as same are applied in a number of different fields, such as for instance the conversion of digital computer output signals into clear text, still they are not suitable for the production of printed images of highquality.
  • the line traces or surface elements at the code image to be read-out must be free of such defects or faults.
  • Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to a new and improved method of electrostatic printing enabling the production of clearly discernible electrostatic printed images in a highly reliable, accurate and efficient manner, so that read-out of such images is possible in error free manner.
  • a futher significant object of the present invention relates to improved electrostatic printed products, typically labels, produced in accordance with the inventive method.
  • Another significant object of the present invention relates to the use of the thus produced product, typically labels, for the marking of articles especially articles of sale.
  • the inventive method for the production of printed images according to electrostatic printing techniques is manifested by the features that during at least a portion of the time when there is produced a latent electrostatic charge image there is carried out a change in the spacing between an electrode arrangement responsible for the structure of the charge image and the carrier for the reception of the latent charge image and/or a counterelectrodev
  • the invention concerned with the aforementioned method aspects but also deals with apparatus for the performance of such method which incorporates guide means rendering it possible to carry out a change in the spacing between the electrode arrangement provided for generating the latent electrostatic charge image and the carrier provided for the reception of the latent charge image or the counterelectrode.
  • the invention is related to a marker, typically label resulting as a product from the practise of the method, and further the use of the thus produced label product for marking articles, especially articles of sale, as such are found in sundry business establishments.
  • carrier or label
  • article of sale is used broadly to cover not only articles which are actually sold, but any type of article, whether sold or not, and intended to be identified by such label.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates details of the mechanical structure of essential components of an embodiment of the invention in elevational view
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a code image in the form of a beam code
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a code image in the form of a checkerboard-like pattern
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a code image in the form of a ring structure
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a further advantageous constructional form of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an electrostatic printing apparatus in its entirety.
  • the different individual electrodes of the electrode arrangement have applied thereto different potentials in order that there can be produced at the neighboring carrier a latent electrostatic charge image possessing a predetermined structure corresponding to the electrode arrangement and its voltage impingement.
  • Such type charge images produced in this known manner apparently do not possess any sufficiently homogeneous potential distribution within the line traces or surface elements associated with the thus produced printed image.
  • Such inhomogeneous potential distribution within the relatively fine line traces or small surface elements of the image can be hardly experimentally determined owing to the thereat located infinitesimally small quantities of charge. Since, however, even with extensive variations in the developing techniques and the parameters of the developing operations there was always again noticed the aforementioned printing errors at printed images produced according to the heretofore known tech niques, it appears that the aforementioned assumption is relevant.
  • the aforementioned change in spacing can be undertaken either by moving the electrode arrangement itself or also by carrying out movement of the carrier for itself, or by simultaneously performing both techniques.
  • the carrier is preferably located at the counterelectrode. With suitable movement of the counterelectrode it is then possible to alter the spacing between the electrode arrangement and the carrier disposed upon the counterelectrode.
  • the electrode arrangement and its individual electrodes which have voltage supplied thereto for producing a charge image of prescribed configuration, are connected with one pole of the voltage source via an external current circuit containing the selector control for the charge image to be produced.
  • the counterelectrode is connected with the other pole of the voltage source.
  • the electrode arrangement is connected with the positive or negative pole of the voltage source.
  • the positive or negative pole of the voltage source There can be employed a purely direct-current voltage or a pulsating directcurrent voltage.
  • the amplitude of the voltage preferably amounts to about 450 to 1,000 volts.
  • the control of the selector control for the selective connection of each of the individual electrodes of the electrode arrangement with the voltage source can be undertaken both manually, for instance by actuating key or push button switches as well as with the aid of electronic switching circuit arrangements.
  • an electrode arrangement 1 possesses N-number of individual electrodes E, E attached in an individually insulated fashion to a base plate 2.
  • a conductor L, L leading from each individual electrode E, E is a conductor L, L to each pole of a switch S, S The relevant other pole of each such switch S, S is connected to a conductor 3 which leads via a resistor 4 to a pole 5, for instance the minus pole, of a suitable voltage source 6.
  • This voltage source 6 has a terminal voltage U of, for instance, 750 volts directcurrent.
  • the other pole 7, in this example the positive pole, of this voltage source 6 is connected through the agency of a conductor 8 with a counterelectrode 9 spaced at a distance d from the electrode arrangement 1.
  • a carrier 10 for the reception of the latent electrostatic charge image.
  • the carrier 10 is advantageously snugly disposed upon the counterelectrode 9.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 is mounted in a suitable guide arrangement which has not been particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, but will be considered more fully hereinafter, in such a manner that it can be displaced in the direction of the double-headed arrow 11.
  • the spacing d between the electrode arrangement 1 and the counterelectrode 9 and the surface of the carrier 10 can be readily changed. Mechanism suitable for carrying out this spacing change and its mechanical structure will be explained more fully hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the switches S, S can be activated manually by push buttons or keys or, as already mentioned, there can be provided for instance for this purpose Reedrelays or the like which can be controlled by means of an electronic control circuit.
  • These switches S, S together with the possibly provided control circuit form a selector for the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode arrangement to which voltage is to be applied for producing a certain configuration of the electrostatic charge image.
  • FIG. 2 there is disclosed therein a possible constructional form of the essential components of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive apparatus as depicted in elevational view.
  • FIG. 3 shows the same arrangement in plan view. In all Figures the corresponding components have been designated with the same reference characters.
  • a shaft 13 is axially displaceably mounted at a support or carrier 12 secured to the housing or frame of the equipment. Shaft 13 can be displaced in the direction of the double-headed arrow 11. To this end, the shaft 13 possesses a flange 14 with a contact surface 14A. At both sides of the support 12 there are secured two brackets or supports 15, as best seen by referring to FIG. 3. Between both brackets 15 there is mounted a shaft or axle 16. At this shaft 16 there is pivotably mounted a pivotal frame 17 possessing both of the pivot arms 17A and 17B, a first connection element 17C and a second connection element 17D. Each of the pivot arms 17A and 17B carries at its right-hand end, in the illustration of FIGS. 2 and 3, a journal or axle portion 17E and 17F respectively, pressed or force fitted into the just-mentioned respective end of the associated pivot arm and at which there is rotatably arranged a respective contact roller 17G and 17H.
  • an electromagnetic system 18 in such a manner that a traction or pull rod 19 comes to rest beneath the connection piece 17D.
  • a coupling piece or element 19A of the traction or pull rod 19 is adjustably attached thereto.
  • the coupling piece 19A at least partially engages about the second connection piece 17D of the pivotal frame unit or frame 17.
  • the electromagnectic system 18 its traction or pull rod 19 is retracted downwardly, so that the pivotal frame 17 lowers at the left side of the axle l6 and at the right side thereof is raised. Owing to this movement the rollers 17G and 17H press against the contact surface 14A of the flange 14. As a result, the shaft 13 is displaced upwards.
  • the carrier 10 for the latent charge image which is to be imprinted is advantageously fixedly retained in its momentary position, for instance under vacuum action by means of channels or bores 23 at the counterelectrode 9 connected via a conduit 24 with a suitable controllable vacuum device 240 or other source of negative pressure. Also an electromagnetically actuated holddown or clamping mechanism 250 for the carrier 10 can be employed.
  • the counterelectrode 9 is preferably rigidly secured in the entire frame of the apparatus.
  • FIGS. 4, and 6 there are illustrated thereat different types of arrangements of code images, such as can be used for instance for characterizing or marking goods or articles for sale.
  • FIG. 4 there is show a beam-type code
  • FIG. 5 a checkerboard-type code image
  • FIG. 6 a code image having a ring structure, for instance formed of a series of concentric rings.
  • code images can be obviously employed without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the invention.
  • code images it is possible to portray significant information, such as for instance the article number of the relevant goods, the price and other sales data in binary fashion.
  • a black surface element that is a beam, square or ring can for instance signify the binary value 1 and a white surface element of similar geometric configuration can then signify the binary value 0. Both black and white surface elements can directly follow one another.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 is formed of individual electrodes E E which possess a considerably smaller dimension in the read-out direction or read-out directions of the code image produced thereby than the surface elements of the electrostatic charge image or code image which is to be produced by such electrode arrangement.
  • the width of the individual electrodes can thus, for instance, amount to approximately one-half or one-third of the surface element at the charge image or code image which is produced by the individual electrodes.
  • a desired displacement for instance between the electrode arrangement 1 and the carrier 10 for the latent electrostatic charge image, at least during a portion of the time when such charge image is produced, and this displacement is undertaken essentially in the direction of the desired increase in size of the relevant surface element.
  • this displacement is advantageously undertaken in alternate directions.
  • This displacement movement can, for instance, be carried out in the form of a to-and-fro movement if it is desired to form a code image of the type depicted in FIG. 4. 1n the event it is desired to form a code image of the type depicted in FIG.
  • the apparatus for carrying out this technique can be designed, for instance, such that the carrier is stationary and only the electrode arrangement 1 is displaced or vice versa, or in fact both the electrode arrangement and the carrier for the charge image can be displaced.
  • FIG. 7 there will be discussed a further advantageous constructional embodiment of the invention for realizing these objectives.
  • the basic construction extensively corresponds to the construction according to the arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3, but on the other hand the holder mechanism 22 for the electrode arrangement l is here modified. Additionally, there are also present in this embodiment certain further components.
  • the individual electrodes E E of the electrode arrangement I possess a substantially semi-circular ring-shaped configuration. They can, for instance, be arranged according to the technology of printed circuits, for instance upon an epoxy glass fiber plate. In order to increase wear resistance they can be galvanically finished, for instance covered with a hard gold or rhodium coating.
  • the width of the individual ring-shaped electrodes is chosen in consideration of the insulation required therebetween and can amount to, for instance, only 0.2 millimeters, whereas the spacing to the neighboring individual electrode can amount to for instance 0.8 millimeters.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 can have imparted thereto through the agency of an eccentric mechanism a circular-shaped displacement movement in a plane which is perpendicular to the shaft 13, defining the aforementioned relative movement between the electrode arrangement and the carrier.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 is secured to a guide element 25.
  • This guide element 25 possesses a central bore 25A in which there is inserted a ball bearing 25B.
  • this ball bearing 25B there engages an eccentric pin 26A.
  • the guide element 25 is secured against rotation in that two guide bolts 25C force fitted therewith engage with a respective bifurcated or fork shaped stationary guide piece 27.
  • the eccentric pin 26A is part of an eccentric plate 26 which is adjustably secured in a counterpiece 28 in the transverse direction with regard to the shaft 13.
  • This counterpiece 28 possesses a hub 28A which is secured to the lower end of the shaft 13.
  • a schematically represented belt 30 connects the belt pulley 29 with a further belt pulley 31 which is seated upon the shaft 32A of a drive motor 32.
  • the shaft 13 can be placed into rotation through the agency of the belt 30.
  • the eccentric pin 26A carries out smaller or larger eccentric circular movements which are transmitted via the guide piece 25 to the electrode arrangement 1. In this way there is realized the desired transverse or lateral relative movement between the electrode arrangement 1 and the carrier for the labels as previously discussed.
  • FIG. 8 there has been schematically depicted the general overall arrangement of an electrostatic printing apparatus suitable for the practise of the invention and which has been conveniently designated in its entirety by reference character 100.
  • This electrostatic printing apparatus is mounted upon a base plate 101.
  • Base plate 101 carries the individual cooperating components of the equipment as will be more fully discussed hereinafter.
  • Various ones of the individual components thereof are driven, for instance, through the agency of a belt drive or a chain drive from a common drive motor M, as will also be explained hereinafter, and as indicated by the schematic drive connection lines 200 shown in the drawing.
  • the equipment under consideration will be understood to embody a supply device 102 for the markers or carriers, for instance in the form of the labels 107A to be imprinted and carried by a carrier strip foil 107, also merely referred to as a carrier foil.
  • the supply device 102 incorporates a supply roll 104 rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft or axle 103.
  • Supply roll 104 is braked by a suitable braking mechanism 105, for instance through the action of a spring-loaded braking roll 105a acting upon the periphery of supply roll 104, in such a manner that the carrier foil strip 107 which moves over and away from a deflecting roll 106 can be tautly withdrawn from the supply roll 104.
  • the carriers to be imprinted are applied to the carrier foil strip 107 at a certain spacing from one another.
  • Carrier foil strip 107 may constitute an impregnated paper strip, a paper strip with a metallic coating applied thereto by vapor deposition or otherwise, or such carrier foil strip can comprise a metallic foil strip.
  • These labels 107A may advantageously be equipped with a self-adhering layer or coating, as schematically indicated at 107, such that they adhere to the carrier foil strip 107 with just such intensity that they can be conveyed thereon through the printing apparatus without prematurely falling-off such carrier foil strip 107 during transport.
  • a carrier foil strip which itself has an adhesive layer and at which there is adhesively applied the labels which themselves are not adhesive.
  • control mechanism 108 of a strip feed mechanism 122 for continuous or intermittent feed.
  • control mechanism 108 can for example contain means, such as photoelectric means 109, a light barrier for instance, acted upon by the labels 107A adhering to the carrier foil strip 107.
  • the labels 107A are either blank, that is non-printed, or they can already contain imprinted thereon a pre-printed text, common to all of the labels, for instance data pertaining to a company, or pre-printed subject matter or any other suitable information for the data pattern or the like which later is to be electrostatically imprinted. Moreover, special markings of such preprinted matter or the edge of the labels themselves could be conceivably employed as criteria for triggering operation of the photoelectric means 109.
  • the feed mechanism 122 may be controlled in any suitable manner such that, for instance, owing to the output signal of a conventional article weighing or balance device having an automatic data output, or a keyboard arrangement, it can be placed into operation, whereby it is subsequently again brought to standstill by the control mechanism 108 as soon as the next successive label at the carrier foil strip 107 has assumed thesame position as the preceding label prior to placing into operation such feed mechanism. Details of a balance and keyboard arrangement for obtaining desired output signals have been disclosed in the aforementioned commonly assigned, United States application, Ser. No.
  • the balance and/or keyboard arrangement has been simply designated by reference character 210 and its connection line with the feed mechanism by reference character 220.
  • the balance and/or keyboard arrangement 210 is connected with a suitable selector control circuit 230 for selectively controlling given electrodes of the electrostatic printer 112 in accordance with output signals from the unit 210 and characterizing significant information about the article to be marked, so as to produce a desired electrostatically charged image at the label.
  • the carrier foil strip 107 After departing from the control mechanism 108, the carrier foil strip 107 together with the thereon adhering labels 107A, travels over a further deflecting roll 110 through a slot 110a beneath a guide plate 111 of the electrostatic printer or printing mechanism 112.
  • the construction and mode of operation of the electrostatic printer 112 has already been described in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3 and 7.
  • a label 107B which is in transit is brought into a predetermined position at a gap or slot 50 between the electrode arrangement 1 and the counterelectrode 9.
  • a suitable voltage for instance 750 volts
  • the feed mechanism 122 further advances the carrier foil strip 107, whereupon such travels over a sharp deflecting edge or turning location 113 and over further deflecting rolls 115, 116, 117, then about a feed roll 118 and a further deflecting roll 119.
  • the indexing of the feed steps and the spacing of the individual labels 107A upon the carrier foil strip 107 are selected so as to be of a magnitude sufficient that, on the one hand, the label which has now been provided with the latent electrostatic charge image, owing to its greater stiffness in contrast to the carrier foil strip 107, releases from such carrier foil strip at the edge 113 and, on the other hand, the next successive label at the carrier foil strip 107 then just assumes the prescribed position between the electrode arrangement 1 and the counterelectrode 9 as previously considered.
  • a movable element or member 114 for instance an intermittently rotating arm, a roller or equivalent device, and which receives at its end face or surface 1l4A the released label 107C, is located in the neighborhood of the sharp deflecting edge 113, i.e. at the location where the label 107C is released from the carrier foil strip 107.
  • a roller formed of insulating material and which presses with a slight pressure against the aforementioned end surface 114A.
  • This end surface 114A or the entire movable element 114 is preferably fabricated from a material, for instance TEFLON to which the self-adhering labels 107C do not adhere too strongly.
  • the latent electrostatic charge image applied to the labels 107C by means of the electrostatic printer or printing mechanism 112, are later developed in a suitable developer or developing device 130.
  • This developer produces a so-called magnetic brush 131.
  • the magnetic brush 131 contains numerous static electrically charged toner particles, the polarity of which is chosen to be opposite to the polarity of the latent electrostatic charge image.
  • toner particles from the magnetic brush 131 are attracted by the charged locations of the electrostatic charge image so that there appears a visible image.
  • the developer may be for example of the type disclosed in the commonly assigned, copending United States application, Ser. No. 268,783, filed July 3, 1972, and entitled Apparatus For Developing Latent Electrostatic Charge Images, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,828, granted Jan. 8, 1974 and to which reference may be readily had.
  • the side or face of the label 107C impinged with the latent electrostatic charge image as it moves from the electrostatic printer 112 to the developer 130 is temporarily subjected to the action of a corona discharge from a corona discharge device 150 having an electrode 151, this corona discharge having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the electrode arrangement 1.
  • this corona discharge having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the electrode arrangement 1.
  • the parts of the label which should remain white are charged opposite to the polarity of the electrostatic charge image.
  • this charge is weaker than the charge at the latent electrostatic charge image this still ensures that there will occur a repulsion of the charge toner particles from the locations 'of the label which should remain white. Owing to these measures the contrast of the electrostatically produced printing image is considerably improved.
  • fixer 132 It is advantageous to deliver the developed image to a suitable fixing mechanism or fixer 132 in order that the image composed of relatively weakly adhering toner particles becomes wear or abrasion resistant.
  • fixer 132 can be realized, for instance, by means of an infrared radiation device.
  • the label 107C adhering thereto is delivered to an opening 125 of the electrostatic printing apparatus 100.
  • the finished labels 107C can be removed at that location from such electrostatic printing apparatus 100. It is also advantageous at this location to allow a suitable stripper or gripper mechanism, for instance in the form of a fork-like stripper 125a or the like, to act beneath the finished label 107C in order to facilitate removal of such label.
  • the carrier foil strip 107 which has been freedfrom the labels leaves the feed mechanism 122 through a channel or groove arrangement 123.
  • This carrier foil strip 107 can be collected for instance at a receptacle or container 124 mounted at the outer wall of the housing of the electrostatic printing apparatus 100. It is however also possible to deliver the carrier foil strip 107 via the channel arrangement 123 to a wind-up mechanism so'that such carrier foil strip can be again re-used.
  • This can be advantageous if there is employed as the material for the carrier foil strip, for instance, a metallic foil or a metallized paper strip, the costs of which are significant, so that reuse is warranted.
  • the motor M arranged at the base plate 101 drives through the agency of chains or belt means and the like the strip feeder or feed mechanism 122 and the movable element 114.
  • This drive motor M can be also used for driving the developer 130.
  • the temporary connection of such system components with the drive motor M can occur in conventional manner by means of suitable electromagnetic coupling means, the excitation of which, for instance, can be controlled in any suitable way, as for instance through the use of a cam disk in well known manner.
  • a method of producing printed images by electrostatic printing techniques comprising the steps of producing a latent electrostatic charge image on a carrier, and during at least a portion of the time when the latent electrostatic charge image is produced carrying out a change in the spacing between an electrode arrangement which is responsible for the structure of the electrostatic charge image and the carrier for the reception of the latent electrostatic charge image, said change in spacing causing partial discharges for the formation of the electrostatic charge image to travel through different paths across the space between the electrode arrangement and the carrier to provide a substantially uniform potential distribution within the confines of the electrostatic charge image to be produced, so as to bring about a substantially uniform covering of toner particles over the surface of the electrostatic charge image to thereby improve the quality of the electrostatically printed image, contacting the electrostatic charge image with toner particles, and fixing the toner particles to the carrier.
  • said change in spacing comprises creating relative movement between the electrode arrangement and the carrier in alternate directions and having movement components substantially parallel to the plane of the carrier.
  • the method as defined in claim 13 further including the steps of providing an electrostatic printing mechanism, and delivering thhe carrier in a stepwise fashion to the electrostatic printing mechanism for producing the latent electrostatic charge image.
  • a method of producing printed images by electrostatic printing comprising the steps of producing a latent electrostatic charge image on a carrier, and during at least a portion of the time when the latent electrostatic charge image is produced carrying out a change in spacing between an electrode arrangement responsible for the structure of the electrostatic charge image and a counterelectrode, said change in spacing causing partial discharges for the formation of the electrostatic charge image to travel through different paths across the space between the electrode arrangement and the carrier to provide a substantially uniform deposit of charges and therefore a substantially uniform potential distribution within the confines of the electrostatic charge image to be produced, so as to induce a substantially uniform covering of toner particles over the surface of the electrostatic charge image to thereby improve the quality of the electrostatically printed image, contacting the electrostatic charge image with toner particles, and fixing the toner particles to the carl'lel'.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Combination Of More Than One Step In Electrophotography (AREA)
US272047A 1971-08-16 1972-07-14 Method for electrostatic printing, products produced thereby, and use of these products Expired - Lifetime US3861940A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1210371 1971-08-16
US27204272A 1972-07-14 1972-07-14
US393636A US3886563A (en) 1971-08-16 1973-08-31 Electrostatic printer with movable style

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US3861940A true US3861940A (en) 1975-01-21

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US272047A Expired - Lifetime US3861940A (en) 1971-08-16 1972-07-14 Method for electrostatic printing, products produced thereby, and use of these products
US393636A Expired - Lifetime US3886563A (en) 1971-08-16 1973-08-31 Electrostatic printer with movable style

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US393636A Expired - Lifetime US3886563A (en) 1971-08-16 1973-08-31 Electrostatic printer with movable style

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CH (1) CH542059A (show.php)
DE (1) DE2220811A1 (show.php)
FR (1) FR2149757A5 (show.php)
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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4175265A (en) * 1976-10-28 1979-11-20 Am International, Inc. Toner transfer system
US4276829A (en) * 1978-01-31 1981-07-07 Wu Chen Mechano-electrostatic charge-imaging method and apparatus
US4281334A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-07-28 Markem Corp Electrostatic label printing system
US4281335A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-07-28 Markem Corporation Electrostatic label printing system
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US20100054776A1 (en) * 2008-08-29 2010-03-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus

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US4175265A (en) * 1976-10-28 1979-11-20 Am International, Inc. Toner transfer system
US4276829A (en) * 1978-01-31 1981-07-07 Wu Chen Mechano-electrostatic charge-imaging method and apparatus
US4281334A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-07-28 Markem Corp Electrostatic label printing system
US4281335A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-07-28 Markem Corporation Electrostatic label printing system
US4347525A (en) * 1979-10-22 1982-08-31 Markem Corporation Electrostatic label printing system
US6578474B1 (en) * 1998-11-25 2003-06-17 Surfcoat Co., Ltd. Printing or coating method and printing or coating device
US20100054776A1 (en) * 2008-08-29 2010-03-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus

Also Published As

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NL7205400A (show.php) 1973-02-20
US3886563A (en) 1975-05-27
FR2149757A5 (show.php) 1973-03-30
DE2220811A1 (de) 1973-03-01
GB1380005A (en) 1975-01-08
CH542059A (de) 1973-11-15
CA994411A (en) 1976-08-03

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