摘要:
An improved heater for electrophotographic copiers wherein a plurality of laterally spaced heaters dry or fix the transferred image along narrow longitudinally extending strips to prevent smearing of the image from subsequent contact with feed wheels or guides.
摘要:
My invention comprises an improved method of electrophotography which enables me to increase the effective speed of a photoconductor. The distinguishing feature of xerography is the creation of an electrostatic image at some point in the process. Most conveniently, a photoconductor is charged in the dark and then exposed to a light and shade image of the original to produce a latent electrostatic image of the original. In order to make a satisfactory copy, the exposure time must be such that sufficient contrast is achieved to enable the latent image to be made visible by the application of a developer formed of inherently colored or pigmented minute charged particles. The speed at which copies may be made is the function of the quantum of light falling on the photoconductive surface and the conductivity of the photoconductor under illumination. Since the rate at which a given photoconductor discharges applied surface potential through the action of light is limited, speed can be increased only by increasing the illumination. This requires energy and produces heat. My process deliberately underexposes a charged photoconductor to a light and shade image of the original to produce a weak latent image of low contrast which is insufficient to make a satisfactory copy. The latent image, however, is sufficient in contrast to enable me to provide an optical mask or shield over the image by toning it. I then discharge the background or non-image areas of the photoconductor by a blanket illumination of low intensity. The optical mask prevents the image areas from discharging while enhancing the contrast of the weak latent image. The enhanced image is easily developed by any known developing method for making latent electrostatic images visible at a development station.
摘要:
This invention relates to a composition for developing latent electrostatic images by liquid development and a method of transferring the developed image to a carrier sheet over a gap. The gap is formed by dielectric spacing particles disseminated through a dielectric carrier liquid, through which toner particles are also disseminated. The toner particles and the spacing particles bear the same surface charge so as to repel each other while in the developing liquid. Apparatus is provided, for use of the novel developing composition, which includes a metering means adapted to remove excess liquid from the surface of a developed image. In order to induce the spacing particles to migrate toward the photoconductor, the metering means is biased to a potential greater than that of the non-image areas. This enables the spacing particles, which have a higher dielectric constant than the carrier liquid, to migrate toward the photoconductor. The toner particles, however, will be attracted to the metering means from the background areas so as to maintain these clear of toner particles. The method contemplates the steps of biasing the metering means with a potential of opposite polarity to the polarity of the toner particles and yet permitting the spacing particles to remain on the photoconductor to perform their spacing function at the gap transfer station.
摘要:
A centrifugal ball elevator for use in a microballistic impact printer or the like in which a hollow rotary member arranged on a generally vertical axis and having an inlet at the lower end and an outlet at the upper end is formed with an internal surface extending between the inlet and the outlet with a radius that increases from the inlet to the outlet. Balls to be elevated for recycling through the printer are supplied to the lower end of the surface through the inlet, while the member is rotated at such a speed as to impel the balls toward the outlet under the action of centrifugal force. In certain disclosed embodiments the internal surface is so formed as to entrap or filter out contaminants which have accumulated on the balls, while in another disclosed embodiment the internal surface is provided with a self-lubricating coating which lubricates the balls to reduce the abrasive effect of the balls on constricted portions of the printer through which they pass.
摘要:
This invention relates to a composition for developing latent electrostatic images by liquid development and a method of transferring the developed image to a carrier sheet over a gap. The gap is formed by dielectric spacing particles disseminated through a dielectric carrier liquid, through which toner particles are also disseminated. The toner particles and the spacing particles bear the same surface charge so as to repel each other while in the developing liquid. Apparatus is provided, for use of the novel developing composition, which includes a metering means adapted to remove excess liquid from the surface of a developed image. In order to induce the spacing particles to migrate toward the photoconductor, the metering means is biased to a potential greater than that of the non-image areas. This enables the spacing particles, which have a higher dielectric constant than the carrier liquid, to migrate toward the photoconductor. The toner particles, however, will be attracted to the metering means from the background areas so as to maintain these clear of toner particles. The method contemplates the steps of biasing the metering means with a potential of opposite polarity to the polarity of the toner particles and yet permitting the spacing particles to remain on the photoconductor to perform their spacing function at the gap transfer station.
摘要:
A developed electrostatic image is transferred from a support to a carrier sheet over a gap of between twenty and seventy microns. The gap is formed by dusting onto the developed electrostatic image particles of such size as to form the required gap or by providing protuberances on the insulating support, which may be a photoconductor. The protuberances on the support or the majority of dusted particles are spaced apart by four millimeters or less.
摘要:
A magnetically actuated clutch in which a helical spring is carried by an input clutch member with portions surrounding a relatively rotatable output clutch member. An electromagnet is positioned with its poles lightly engaging the surrounding spring portions at circumferentially spaced locations, while either the spring or the output clutch member or both are formed of a magnetically permeable material to complete a magnetic circuit. Energizing the electromagnet causes the poles to clamp the spring to retard its rotation with the input member, thereby causing the spring to wrap down on the output clutch member and engage the clutch.
摘要:
A barrelless gun for use with a microballistic printer to propel balls toward a printing medium in which the ball next to be fired is releasably held in a resilient breech with gas under pressure supplied to the region behind the breech and with the region in front of the breech extending to the medium being unobstructed so that no element of structure affects the flight of a ball fired from the breech. Preferably the ball in the breech is fired by moving another ball into the breech to dislodge the first ball.
摘要:
My invention comprises an improved method of electrophotography which enables me to increase the effective speed of a photoconductor. The speed at which copies may be made is a function of the quantum of light falling on the photoconductive surface and the conductivity of the photoconductor under illumination. Since the rate at which a given photoconductor discharges the surface potential on the photoconductor through the action of light is limited, speed can be increased for a given photoconductor only by increasing the illumination. This requires energy and produces heat. My process deliberately underexposes a charged photoconductor to a light and shade image of the original to produce a weak latent electrostatic image of low contrast which is insufficient to make a satisfactory copy. I then mask the latent image with a liquid-carried toner while preventing deposition of the toner on the background areas. I then discharge the background areas with a blanket illumination of low intensity. The optical mask prevents the image areas from discharging while enhancing the constrast of the weak latent image. The enhanced image is then easily developed by any known developing method for making latent electrostatic images visible at a development station.