US3875320A - Process for electrostatic printing, products produced by such process, and use of these products - Google Patents

Process for electrostatic printing, products produced by such process, and use of these products Download PDF

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Publication number
US3875320A
US3875320A US272067A US27206772A US3875320A US 3875320 A US3875320 A US 3875320A US 272067 A US272067 A US 272067A US 27206772 A US27206772 A US 27206772A US 3875320 A US3875320 A US 3875320A
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United States
Prior art keywords
carrier
charge image
electrode means
electrostatic charge
further including
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Expired - Lifetime
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US272067A
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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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Priority to US406705A priority Critical patent/US3908191A/en
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    • 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 process for producing printed images according to electrostatic printing techniques wherein at least during a portion of the time when a latent electrostatic charge image is produced at a carrier by means of a discharge operation occurring at an electrode arrangement there is carried out between the electrode arrangement and the carrier relative movements in alternate direction with movement components substantially parallel to the plane of the carrier.
  • the present invention relates to a new and improved process for electrostatic printing, products of the process as well as the use of the products produced by such process.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with a process for electrostatic printing in which a latent electrostatic charge image is produced at a carrier having a very high-hmic layer by a discharge process from an electrode arrangement neighboring the carrier, wherein the electrostatic charge image subsequently is developed according to known techniques.
  • These procedures are known and equipment for the performance thereof have been also described in publications.
  • such known techniques are extremely outstanding as concerns the speed of their capability of producing the printed image and also as concerns their speed as concerns the variation possibilities of the printed images produced thereby, as such techniques are employed in different fields of application, such as for instance the conversion of digital computer output signals into clear text and the like, still they are nonetheless not suitable for the production of certain type of printed images.
  • code images are employed for example for marking articles, especially articles of sale.
  • Such code images which, for instance, can be in the form of a beam code. a checkerboard-like code pattern, a ring structure or the like, are read-out for evaluation purposes by means of a photoelectric reader.
  • the thus obtained electrical pulse sequence or pulse train then corresponds to the sequence of light and dark locations of the scanned code image. Since the light spot employed for photoelectric scanning must possess very small dimensions, for instance fractions ofa millimeter, in order to realize high definition or resolution, the aforementioned gaps or spaces between successive black code elements at the code image can produce erroneous pulse sequences. In order to prevent such type defective pulses or erroneous pulse gaps at the pulse train of the photoelectric reader it is necessary that the line traces or surface elements of the code image to be read-out closely follow one another. This is not so in the case of known electrostatic printing equipment destined for alpha-numerical characters.
  • Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved process for electrostatic printing allowing for 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 without error.
  • a further significant object of this invention concerns improved electrostatic printed products, typically labels. fabricated in accordance with the process aspects of the invention and by means of the inventive equipment.
  • a further object of the invention relates to the use of these fabricated products as markers, typically labels. for marking articles. especially articles of sale.
  • the inventive process for the production of printed images according to electrostatic printing techniques is manifested by the features that at least during a portion of the time-span when there is formed at a carrier a latent electrostatic charge image by virtue of an electrical discharge operation emanating from an electrode arrangement, there is carried out between the electrode arrangement and the carrier relative movement in alternate directions with movement components essentially parallel to the plane of the carrier.
  • the invention is also concerned with an improved apparatus for the performance of the aforementioned process and which is generally manifested by the features that there is provided a guide arrangement for the aforementioned electrode arrangement and/or the aforesaid carrier or the counterelectrode serving as its support, this guide arrangement allowing for a relative movement in alternate directions with movement components substantially par allel to the plane of the carrier between the electrode arrangement responsible for the production of the latent electrostatic charge image and the carrier provided for the reception of such latent electrostatic charge image.
  • the invention is also concerned with products, and particularly labels produced in accordance with the aforementioned process, and the use of the thus produced label products for marking articles, especially articles of sale.
  • carrier or label as used in the context of this disclosure, are not to be considered in a limiting sense, and in fact are intended to conveniently denote almost any type of printable matter suitable for the purpose of the invention at which an image can be formed by electrostatic printing.
  • 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. I is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a code image in the form ofa beam code
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a code image having a checker board-like pattern
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a code image in the form of a ring structure
  • FIG. 5 illustrates details of the mechanical construction of an embodiment of the invention in side elevation:
  • FIG. 6 illustrates in plan view portions ofthe arrangement of FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an embodiment of electrostatic printing apparatus in its entirety.
  • latent electrostatic charge image which corresponds to the printed image to be produced, this electrostatic charge image being subsequently developed, for instance dry developed by means of a so-called magnetic brush for the application of a toner.
  • Such latent electrostatic charge image is produced as a consequence of a discharge phenomena which occurs between an electrode arrangement and a counterelectrode at a carrier, e.g. label having a relatively high-ohm layer and which is arranged in the space or region between the aforementioned electrode arrangement and counterelectrode.
  • the different individual electrodes of the electrode arrangement have applied thereto different potentials so that there can be produced at a neighboring carrier a latent electrostatic charge image possessing a predetermined structure corresponding to the electrode arrangement and the voltage applied thereto.
  • the electrode arrangement and the individual electrodes thereof responsible for the production of a charge image of a predetermined configuration and which are to have the voltage applied thereto are connected with one pole of a voltage source through the agency of an external current circuit which contains the selector (discussed in the aforementioned publication) for the electrostatic charge image to be produced.
  • the counterelectrode is correspondingly 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 external current circuit leading to the electrodes so as to be relatively high-ohmic.
  • a resistance value in the order of about 1,000 kilo-ohms has produced good results.
  • Those individual electrodes of the electrode arrangement from which no discharge occurs to the carrier and through such to the counterelectrode. for the purposes of producing a certain charge image of a prescribed configuration are advantageously galvanically connected with a point of considerably lower potential than the remaining individual electrodes furnished with voltage. They are preferably galvanically connected with the counterelectrode.
  • This galvanic coupling can be thus advantageously selected to be very-high ohmic, for instance resistance values in the order of magnitude of approximately 10 megaohms to l00 megohms have produced good results.
  • Control of the selector for the selective coupling of each of the individual electrodes of the electrode ar rangement with the voltage source or power supply can be undertaken both manually, for instance by actuating push button switches, as well as also with the aid of known' electronic switching circuit arrangements.
  • An electrode arrangement 1 possesses N-number of individual electrodes E E individually connected in insulated fashion to a base plate 2. 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 is connected to a conductor 3 which leads via a resistor 4 to a pole 5, for instance the negative pole of a suitable voltage source 6.
  • This voltage source 6 has a terminal voltage U of, for instance, 750 volts direct-current.
  • the other pole 7, in this instance the positive pole, of such 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 for reception of the latent elecrostatic charge image located in the intermediate space between the pair of electrodes 1 and 9 i.e. the elecr de arrangement 1 and the counterelectrode 9 there 5; located a carrier for reception of the latent elecrostatic charge image.
  • Carrier 10 is advantageously snugly or tightly disposed upon the counterelectrode 9.
  • Tllectrode arrangement 1 is mounted in a guide arrangement which has not been particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, but will be discussed more fully hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, and in such a manner that it can be displaced parallel to the plane of the carrier 10.
  • the switches S, S can be manually actuated by push buttons or keys or, as already mentioned, there can be provided for this purpose for instance Reed relays or the like which can be controlled by means of an electronic control circuit.
  • These switches S, 5,, together with a possibly provided control circuit form a selector circuit 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 shows a beam-type code
  • FIG. 3 a checkerboard type code image
  • FIG. 4 a code image having a ring structure, for instance formed of a series of concentric rings or otherwise.
  • FIG. 4 a code image having a ring structure, for instance formed of a series of concentric rings or otherwise.
  • FIG. 4 By means of these 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 to say, a beam, square or ring, can for instance portray the binary value 1 and a white surface element of similar configuration can signify the binary value 0. It is possible for both black and white surface elements to directly follow one another.
  • a light beam is delivered in known manner parallel to or in the indicated direction of the arrow or arrows across the code image and the periodically reflected light is converted by a photoelectric transducer into a sequence of electrical pulses.
  • the technique of reading-out the code characters or coded markings constitutes subject matter of other applications assigned to this assignee and is not necessary for the understanding of the underlying concepts of this development and therefore will not be considered in any greater detail herein.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 is formed ofindividual electrodes E, E which possess a considerably smaller dimension in the readout 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 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. 2. in 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 10 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. 5 there is disclosed in side elevational view the mechanical construction of an exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 6 there is disclosed in plan view portions of the arrangement of FIG. 5.
  • a shaft or axle 13 is rotatably mounted at a carrier 12 which is rigidly secured to the entire frame or housing of the apparatus.
  • the shaft 13 carries a belt pulley or pulley disk 29.
  • Pulley disk 29 can be driven by means of a schematically indicated belt 30, and thus,
  • shaft 13 can be rotatably driven by means of a drive motor 32 with the aid of the pulley disk 31 seated upon drive shaft 32A.
  • the belt 30 drivingly connects pulley disk 29 with the pulley disk 31.
  • a holder mechanism, generally indicated by reference character 22, for the electrode arrangement 1 (FIG. 1) is secured to shaft 13. Opposite the electrode arrangement 1 there is located at a certain spacing d the counterelectrode 9. Through this space or gap which possesses the height d there may be continuously or intermittently drawn, by means of suit able feed mechanism not particularly shown in FIG. 5 but like the feed mechanism 122 of FIG. 7 to be discussed later, the carrier 10 for the latent charge image which is to be imprinted thereat.
  • the counterelectrode 9 is advantageously provided with bores 23 which are connected via a pipe or conduit 24 with a suitable controllable vacuum device 240 or other source of negative pressure for instance.
  • both the carrier 12 as well as the counterelectrode 9 are rigidly connected in position at the entire frame or chassis of the apparatus.
  • a suitable carrier holddown mechanism such as the schematically illustrated electromagnetically actuated clamping mechanism 250 can be provided, as indicated in FIG. 5.
  • the individual electrodes E E possess substantially semicircular-shaped configuration. They can be arranged for instance according to the technology of printed circuits, for example, upon an epoxy glass fiber plate. In order to increase the wear resistance they can be galvanically finished, for instance provided with a hard gold or rhodium coating.
  • the width of the individual ring-shaped electrodes E, E is selected in consideration of the required insulation therebetween, thus for instance amounts to only 0.2 millimeters, whereas the spacing to the neighboring individual electrodes for instance can amount to 0.8 millimeters.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 has imparted thereto and through the agency of an eccentric mechanism to be considered shortly a substantially circular-shaped displacement movement in a plane which is disposed perpendicular to the shaft 13.
  • the electrode arrangement 1 is secured to a guide element or piece 25.
  • This guide element 25 possesses a central bore 25A in which there is inserted a ball bearing 258.
  • An eccentric pin 26A engages with such ball bearing 258.
  • the guide element 25 is secured against rotation about the shaft 13 in that two guide bolts 25C force fitted therewith engage with a respective bifurcated or fork-shaped stationary guide piece 27.
  • the opening of the fork portion and the diameter of the guide bolts 25C are selected such that the guide element or piece 25 only carries out eccentric movements not however any rotation about the shaft 13.
  • the eccentric pin 26A is part of an eccentric plate 26 which is adjustably mounted at a counterpiece 28 in transverse direction with respect to the shaft 13. This counterpiece 28 has a hub 28A which is secured to the lower end of the shaft 13.
  • the eccentric pin 26A With the shaft 13 rotating and depending upon the selected transverse displacement of the eccentric plate 26 at the counterpiece 28, the eccentric pin 26A carries out eccentric curcular movements which are imparted via the guide piece 25 to the electrode arrangement 1 connected therewith.
  • FIG. also shows for an additional exemplary embodiment an advantageous further design of the invention.
  • the shaft 13 is not only mounted to be rotatable at the support or carrier 12 but can be also displaced in the direction of the double-headed arrow 11.
  • the shaft 13 carries a flange 14 with a contact or running surface 14A.
  • a respective bracket or support 15 At both sides of the carrier or support 12 there is secured a respective bracket or support 15.
  • a pivotal frame 17 is mounted for movement about this shaft 16, the pivotal frame 17 embodying both of the pivot arms 17A and 178, a first connection piece 17C and a second connection piece 17D.
  • Each of the pivotal arms 17A and 17B carries at its right-hand end a force fitted journal or axle piece 17E and 17F upon which there is rotatably arranged a respective roller or roll 170 and 17H respectively.
  • an electromagnetic system 18 in such a manner that a traction or draw rod 19 comes to rest beneath the connection piece 17D.
  • a coupling element 19A of the draw rod 19 is adjustably attached to this draw or traction rod 19.
  • the coupling piece 19A engages at least partially about the second connection piece 17D of the pivotal frame 17.
  • its traction rod 19 is retracted downwardly, so that the pivotal frame 17 lowers at the left side of the shaft 16, and at the right side thereof is raised. Owing to this movement, the rollers 17G and 17H press against the contact or running surface 14A of the flange 14. As a result, the shaft or axle 13 is displaced upwards.
  • the arrangement is constructed such that at least during a portion of the time span during which the discharge operation occurs for the production of the latent electrostatic charge image at the carrier the spacing d is changed. This can be realized in that there is undertaken a periodic excitation of the previously non-energized electromagnetic system 18 and a periodic non-energization of the previously energized electromagnetic system 18 during the time span in which the discharge operation between the electrode arrangement 1 and the carrier 10 and the counterelectrode 9 is to be maintained.
  • FIG. 7 there has been schematically depicted the general overall arrangement of an electrostatic printing apparatus suitable for the practice 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 cooper ating 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 schematic ally 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.
  • carrier foil strip which itself has an adhesive layer and at which there is adhesively applied the labels which themselves are not adhesive.
  • the invention is not generally restricted to any specific type of carrier foil strip and electrostatically printable label, since the practice of the particular development of the invention disclosed herein affords the use of many different possibilities for such carrier foil strip and labels.
  • suitable constructional forms of carrier foil strips and markers (labels) to be imprinted adhering thereto have been disclosed, for instance, in the commonly assigned, United States application Ser. No. 225,1 1 1, filed Feb. 10, 1972, and entitled "Laminated Papers, listing as the inventor Arnold Hofer, and also in the commonly assigned United States application, Ser. No. 263,67l filed July l6, 1972, entitled Laminated Article,” and listing as the inventor Walter Strohschneider to which reference can be readily had.
  • control mechanism 108 of a strip feed mechanism 122.
  • 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 for the data pattern or the like which later is to be electrostatically imprinted.
  • 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 bal' ance 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 the same position as the preceding label prior to placing into operation such feed mechanism.
  • a balance and keyboard arrangement for obtaining desired output signals have been disclosed in the aforementioned commonly assigned, United States application, Ser. No. 272,111, filed July 17, I972, entitled Method For Marking Articles Of Sale And Apparatus For The Performance Of The Aforesaid Method.
  • 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 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. 1, and 6.
  • 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 or periodically rotating arm, a roller or equivalent device, and which receives at its end face of surface 114A 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" or the like 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 US. 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 ofa corona discharge from a corona discharge device 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 polar ity of the electrostatic charge image.
  • this charge is weaker than the charge at the latent electrostatic charge image this still insures that there will occur a repulsion of the charged 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 or 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 1250 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 freed from 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 process for producing printed images by electrostatic printing techniques comprising the steps of producing a latent electrostatic charge image on a carrier by means of a discharge from an electrode means composed of individual electrodes, during at least a portion of the time span during which the discharge occurs for producing the latent electrostatic charge image on the carrier carrying out between the electrode means and the carrier relative movement in alternate directions with movement components essentially parallel to the plane of the carrier, producing by means of said relative movement in alternate directions occurring between the electrode means and the carrier a latent electrostatic charge image which is larger in size than the size of the width of the individual electrodes of the electrode means participating in the formation of such electrostatic charge image, and then applying toner to the thus produced electrostatic charge image to form a developed image, and fixing said developed image to said carrier.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Printers Or Recording Devices Using Electromagnetic And Radiation Means (AREA)
  • Combination Of More Than One Step In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Using Other Than Carlson'S Method (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)
US272067A 1971-08-16 1972-07-14 Process for electrostatic printing, products produced by such process, and use of these products Expired - Lifetime US3875320A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US406705A US3908191A (en) 1971-08-16 1973-10-15 Apparatus for electrostatic printing with movable electrodes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1210471A CH542060A (de) 1971-08-16 1971-08-16 Verfahren zum elektrostatischen Drucken, Vorrichtung und Ausführung des Verfahrens, Erzeugnis des Verfahrens und Verwendung des Erzeugnisses des Verfahrens

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US272067A Expired - Lifetime US3875320A (en) 1971-08-16 1972-07-14 Process for electrostatic printing, products produced by such process, and use of these products

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US (1) US3875320A (de)
JP (1) JPS4831951A (de)
BE (1) BE786993A (de)
CA (1) CA994412A (de)
CH (1) CH542060A (de)
DE (1) DE2220755A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2149780A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1397099A (de)
NL (1) NL7204445A (de)
SE (1) SE381753B (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3961574A (en) * 1975-01-15 1976-06-08 Horizons Incorporated Electrostatic bar code printer
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
US4794254A (en) * 1987-05-28 1988-12-27 Xerox Corporation Distributed resistance corona charging device

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3306541A1 (de) * 1983-02-24 1984-08-30 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Registriergeraet mit einem bewegten registrierstreifen und mindestens einem quer zu dessen vorschubrichtung angeordneten kamm mit unbeweglichen schreibelektroden

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3023731A (en) * 1957-06-06 1962-03-06 Haloid Co Electrostatic alphanumerical printer with image transfer mechanism
US3661453A (en) * 1970-06-22 1972-05-09 Xerox Corp Electrostatic label printer
US3674352A (en) * 1970-06-22 1972-07-04 Xerox Corp Electrostatic label printer
US3679300A (en) * 1970-06-22 1972-07-25 Xerox Corp Label printing apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3023731A (en) * 1957-06-06 1962-03-06 Haloid Co Electrostatic alphanumerical printer with image transfer mechanism
US3661453A (en) * 1970-06-22 1972-05-09 Xerox Corp Electrostatic label printer
US3674352A (en) * 1970-06-22 1972-07-04 Xerox Corp Electrostatic label printer
US3679300A (en) * 1970-06-22 1972-07-25 Xerox Corp Label printing apparatus

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3961574A (en) * 1975-01-15 1976-06-08 Horizons Incorporated Electrostatic bar code printer
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
US4794254A (en) * 1987-05-28 1988-12-27 Xerox Corporation Distributed resistance corona charging device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE786993A (fr) 1972-11-16
CA994412A (en) 1976-08-03
NL7204445A (de) 1973-02-20
SE381753B (sv) 1975-12-15
CH542060A (de) 1973-09-30
JPS4831951A (de) 1973-04-26
GB1397099A (en) 1975-06-11
DE2220755A1 (de) 1973-02-22
FR2149780A5 (de) 1973-03-30

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