PRINTING OF OPTICAL ELEMENTS BY ELECTOGRAPHY

• US 20090016757A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Tombs, Thomas N., Priebe, Alan R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/58
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0012 characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0435 by introducing an optical element in the optical path, e.g. a filter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/221 Machines other than electrographic copiers, e.g. electrophotographic cameras, electrostatic typewriters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/321 by charge transfer onto the recording material in accordance with the image

Abstract

Electrographic printing of one or more optical elements having a particular profile by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing comprises the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing predetermined sized marking particles; and, where desired, forming one or more final optical elements utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.

Claims

1. A method for electrographic printing of one or more optical elements upon a receiver, said printing comprising the steps of:

a. depositing a first layer of toner, having predetermined sized marking particles;

b. depositing a second layer of toner, having predetermined sized marking particles, relative to the first layer; and

c. repeating steps a and b as required to form a final optical element.

2. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 further registering the first layer multi-dimensional shape relative to the second layer(s) to form an optical element in relation to the registration pattern.

3. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined particle properties comprises a particular size distribution of marking particles.

4. Electrographic printing according to claim 3 wherein the particular size distribution of marking particles comprises a volume average diameter greater then 5 microns.

5. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the particle properties comprise one or more of the following:

permanence, clarity, color, form, surface roughness, smoothness, or refractive index.

6. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the particular size distribution of marking particles comprises a volume average diameter of 6-12 microns for the first layer and a volume average diameter of 12-30 microns for the second layer.

7. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the particular size distribution of marking particles comprises a first volume average diameter is as small as obtainable on that printer for the first layer and a volume average diameter larger then the first volume average diameter for the second layer shape to give the final optical element.

8. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein predetermined sized marking particles have a volume average diameter of 12-30 μ

m.

9. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the final optical element comprises a total marking particle stack height of at least 20 μ

m.

10. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 further comprising an intermediate layer between the first and second layer of toner.

11. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the final optical element comprises a periodic pattern.

12. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the final optical element comprises one of an elliptical or circular nature having a predetermined index of refraction.

13. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 further comprising treating the final optical element to give the final optical element additional properties.

14. An electrostatographic printing apparatus for forming a toner image upon a receiver, the apparatus comprising:

a. an imaging member;

b. a development station for depositing two or more layers of toner using predetermined sized marking particles to form an optical element;

c. a registration device for registering the first layer multi-dimensional shape to the second layer multi-dimensional shape to create a final optical element;

d. a controller for controlling the application of each layer to form the final optical element; and

e. a treatment device for treating the final optical element to give the final optical element additional properties.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the predetermined sized marking particles comprises a particular size distribution of marking particles.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the final optical element comprises specific height, profile including radius of curvature, refractive index.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the predetermined particle properties comprise one or more of the following:

toner viscosity, color, density, surface tension, glass transition temperature (Tg) or melting point.

18. A print on a receiver member, said print exhibiting a final optical element, comprising:

marking particle coverage on said receiver providing a desired print image, and marking particle coverage, in areas of said receiver member where tactile feel, raised information is desired of a stack height of at least 20 μ

m.

19. The print on the receiver member according to claim 18 wherein the final optical element is in the foreground of such print and represents at least a part of the printed image.

20. The print on the receiver member according to claim 18 wherein the final optical element is in the background of such print and represents a surface characteristic for the receiver member.

21. The print on the receiver member according to claim 18 wherein the final optical element is in the foreground and background of such print.

22. A method for electrographic printing upon a receiver, said printing comprising the steps of:

a. depositing a first layer of toner, relative to a registration pattern reference, using predetermined sized marking particles having a size greater then 5 microns;

b. depositing a second layer of toner, relative to the registration patterns, using predetermined sized marking particles having predetermined particle properties; and

c. registering the first layer multi-dimensional shape relative to the second layer multi-dimensional shape to create a final multi-dimensional shape relative to the registration pattern; and

d. repeating steps a, b and c as required.