Three-dimensional color image printer
First Claim
1. A printer for forming an image in a layer of microcapsules, comprising:
- image receiving means for receiving an image in a layer of field attractive microcapsules and comprising a locally variable attractive field plate, and controlling means operationally connected with the locally variable attractive field plate for controlling the locally variable attractive filed plate to selectively apply a respective local attractive field at corresponding discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate so that a three-dimensional structure of a layer having a varying thickness of field attractive microcapsules can be formed by selectively applying a different local attractive field strength at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate and a uniform layer of field attractive microcapsules can be formed by selectively applying a same local attractive field at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the attractive field plate; and
microcapsule supplying means for supplying a plurality of field attractive microcapsules to be attracted to the discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate depending on each local attractive field so as to form a layer of field attractive microcapsules having a thickness depending on the corresponding local attractive field at each respective discrete location of the locally variable attractive field plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A printer for forming an image by image-wise exposure of a layer of chromogenic microcapsules. The observable image produced in accordance with the present invention may have a three-dimensional topographical structure, such as to form the bumps of the braille alphabet, or to replicate the surface variations and texture of brush strokes of a conventional painting. A locally variable attractive field plate having an operable surface is provided for receiving an image in a layer of chromogenic microcapsules. A plurality of individually controllable attractive field sources are provided, each in operable connection with a corresponding discrete location of the operable surface. Each individually controllable attractive field source is controlled to selectively apply and vary a respective local attractive field associated with each corresponding discrete location of the operable surface. A plurality of field attractive microcapsules are supplied to be attracted to the discrete locations of the operable surface so as to form a layer of field attractive microcapsules having a thickness. The thickness depends on the respective local attractive field associated with each corresponding discrete location of the operable surface. A three-dimensional structure of the layer of field attractive microcapsules having a varying thickness can be formed by selectively applying a different local attractive field at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the operable surface. This three-dimensional structure can be image-wise exposed to form a latent image. Upon developing and curing, an observable image is produced.
33 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A printer for forming an image in a layer of microcapsules, comprising:
- image receiving means for receiving an image in a layer of field attractive microcapsules and comprising a locally variable attractive field plate, and controlling means operationally connected with the locally variable attractive field plate for controlling the locally variable attractive filed plate to selectively apply a respective local attractive field at corresponding discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate so that a three-dimensional structure of a layer having a varying thickness of field attractive microcapsules can be formed by selectively applying a different local attractive field strength at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate and a uniform layer of field attractive microcapsules can be formed by selectively applying a same local attractive field at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the attractive field plate; and
microcapsule supplying means for supplying a plurality of field attractive microcapsules to be attracted to the discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate depending on each local attractive field so as to form a layer of field attractive microcapsules having a thickness depending on the corresponding local attractive field at each respective discrete location of the locally variable attractive field plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- image receiving means for receiving an image in a layer of field attractive microcapsules and comprising a locally variable attractive field plate, and controlling means operationally connected with the locally variable attractive field plate for controlling the locally variable attractive filed plate to selectively apply a respective local attractive field at corresponding discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate so that a three-dimensional structure of a layer having a varying thickness of field attractive microcapsules can be formed by selectively applying a different local attractive field strength at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the locally variable attractive field plate and a uniform layer of field attractive microcapsules can be formed by selectively applying a same local attractive field at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the attractive field plate; and
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19. A printer for forming an image by image-wise exposure of a layer of chromogenic microcapsules, comprising:
- image receiving means for receiving an image in a layer of chromogenic microcapsules and comprising a locally variable attractive field plate having an operable surface and including a plurality of individually controllable attractive field sources each in operable connection with a corresponding discrete location of the operable surface;
controlling means for selectively controlling each individually controllable attractive field source to selectively apply and vary a respective local attractive field associated with each corresponding discrete location of the operable surface;
microcapsule supplying means for supplying a plurality of field attractive microcapsules to be attracted to at least one discrete location of the operable surface so as to form a layer of field attractive microcapsules having a thickness depending on the respective local attractive field associated with each corresponding discrete location of the operable surface, whereby a three-dimensional structure of the layer of field attractive microcapsules having a varying thickness can be formed by selectively applying a different local attractive field at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the operable surface and a uniform layer of field attractive microcapsules having a uniform thickness can be formed by selectively applying a same respective local attractive field at two or more corresponding discrete locations of the operable surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- image receiving means for receiving an image in a layer of chromogenic microcapsules and comprising a locally variable attractive field plate having an operable surface and including a plurality of individually controllable attractive field sources each in operable connection with a corresponding discrete location of the operable surface;
Specification