PRINTING OF RAISED MULTIDMENSIONAL TONER BY ELECTOGRAPHY

• US 20090016776A1
• 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 7,965,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/231
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0435 by introducing an optical element in the optical path, e.g. a filter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/1625 on a base other than paper
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/221 Machines other than electrographic copiers, e.g. electrophotographic cameras, electrostatic typewriters

Abstract

Electrographic printing of raised multidimensional toner shapes 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 a final predetermined multidimensional shape utilizing marking particles of a predetermined size or size distribution.

Claims

1. A method for electrographic printing raised multidimensional toner shape upon a receiver, said printing comprising the steps of:

a. depositing a first layer of toner using predetermined sized marking particles having predetermined particle properties to form a predetermined multidimensional shape;

b. depositing a second layer of toner, relative to the first layer of toner, using predetermined sized marking particles having predetermined particle properties to form a predetermined multi-dimensional shape; and

c. repeating steps a and b as required to form a final multi-dimensional shape.

2. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 further comprising registering the first layer multi-dimensional shape relative to the second layer multi-dimensional shape to create the final multi-dimensional shape relative to a 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 1 wherein the particle properties further comprise one or more of the following:

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

5. 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.

6. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises an image.

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 than the first volume average diameter for the second layer shape to give the final predetermined multi-dimensional shape.

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 predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 predetermined multi-dimensional shape comprises a periodic pattern.

12. Electrographic printing according to claim 1 wherein the final predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 predetermined multi-dimensional shape to give the final predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 having predetermined particle properties to form a predetermined multi-dimensional shape;

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

d. a controller for controlling the application of each layer to form the final multi-dimensional shape; and

e. a treatment device for treating the final predetermined multi-dimensional shape to give the final predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 multi-dimensional shape 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 predetermined multi-dimensional shape, 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 in order to yield the desired final predetermined multi-dimensional shape.

19. The print on the receiver member according to claim 18 wherein the final predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 predetermined multi-dimensional shape 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 than 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.