Toner applicator for electrophotographic microimagery
First Claim
1. A method of toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising the steps of:
- providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned;
providing a carrier member having a conductive layer;
electrostatically depositing liquid toner on said carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area substantially corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor;
contacting said toner pre-deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor;
toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for applying liquid toner to fractional areas of a photoconductive recording member in processes involving microimagery. The method includes the steps of providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned, providing a carrier member having a conductive layer, electrostatically depositing liquid toner on the carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area corresponding to the fractional area to be toned on the photoconductor, contacting the toner pre-deposit on the carrier member with the fractional area on the photoconductor, and toning the fractional area on the photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from the toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to the photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner pre-deposit on the photoconductor. The apparatus includes backing members for supporting the photoconductor and contacting the fractional areas on the photoconductor with the fractional toner predeposits on the carrier member.
83 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising the steps of:
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providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned; providing a carrier member having a conductive layer; electrostatically depositing liquid toner on said carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area substantially corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor; contacting said toner pre-deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor; toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A toner applicator for toning a fractional area on a photoconductor to a predetermined image density that prevents dispersion of any liquid toner or carrier liquid beyond the fractional area to be toned and is capable of rapid drying comprising:
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a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned; a carrier member having a conductive layer and electrostatically deposited liquid toner thereon to form a toner pre-deposit thereon of desired density in an area corresponding to said fractional area to be toned on said photoconductor, said carrier member being in close proximity to said photoconductor; means for contacting said toner deposit on said carrier member with said fractional area on said photoconductor; and means for toning said fractional area on said photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from said toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to said photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner deposit on said photoconductor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification