Abstract:
Apparatus for dispersion of solids in liquids including two relatively movable elements arranged so as to define a dispersing volume therebetween, a multiplicity of separate generally cylindrical dispersing elements disposed within the dispersing volume, and apparatus for supplying a solid suspended in a liquid to the dispersing volume for dispersing and for removing a solid dispersed in a liquid from the dispersed volume after dispersing, wherein the relatively movable elements are separated at the dispersing volume by a separation distance which is slightly greater than the minimum dimension of the dispersing elements.
Abstract:
Apparatus for fusing a thermoplastic image onto a substrate comprising a fuser element comprising a thin fusing member and apparatus for tensioning the thin fusing member.
Abstract:
In a liquid toner for use in imaging processes which comprises pigmented polymer particles, at least one charge director and a hydrocarbon liquid toner carrier, the polymer is a blend of at least two distinct polymer components, the blend being characterized in that in a 40 % non-volatile mixture with a hydrocarbon liquid toner carrier, it has on a semi-logarithmic viscosity vs. temperature cooling curve, a break-point at temperature below about 65 DEG C at a viscosity of between about 3 x 10 centipoises and about 5 x 10 centipoises. The polymer blend and an electrostatic imaging process (particularly one using an intermediate transfer member) utilizing the above toner are also claimed. Use of such polymer blends enables liquid toner to be applied in such processes at no more than and in some cases less than the customary processing temperatures.
Abstract:
Liquid toner compositions for electrostatic imaging, which comprise colorant particles, a carrier liquid, at least one charge priming agent selected from alkoxides of aluminum and alkoxides of zirconium reacted with said particles and at least one charge director, wherein said charge priming agent is present in the colorant particles only near the surface thereof.
Abstract:
A method for providing an image on either opaque or transparent substrates (42) to have substantially equal apparent color saturation when viewed and including the steps of: developing a latent electrostatic image on an image bearing surface (16) using a colored liquid developer in a developer system operating at given voltages; and subsequently transferring the image to the substrate (42) wherein said liquid developer, developer system and voltages are the same for printing on both opaque and transparent substrates. The method utilizes a control apparatus, operative when the substrate (42) sought to be printed is transparent, for causing each toner image to be developed on an image bearing surface (16) and transferred to an intermediate transfer member (40) a plurality of times, before the image is transferred therefrom to the transparency, and when the substrate (42) sought to be printed is opaque, for causing each toner image to be developed on the image bearing surface (16) and transferred to the intermediate transfer member (40) only once, before the image is transferred therefrom to the opaque substrate.
Abstract:
Apparatus for optical imaging onto a moving surface including a movable surface for receiving an optical image, apparatus for measuring the movement of the surface and providing an surface movement reference signal, optical image producing apparatus operative to produce at least one scanning optical beam for scanning the surface and to provide timing reference signals, and a servo-controlled relay mirror located so as to reflect the at least one scanning beam onto the moving surface. The mirror is precisely positioned in response to the relationship between the substrate movement reference signals and the timing reference signals to ensure proper positioning of the optical image on the moving surface.
Abstract:
An organic photoconductor including a base layer formed of a first material and a photoconductive layer formed of a second material. The organic photoconductor being characterized in that when it is maintained in a curved orientation with the photoconductive layer facing outward, the photoconductive layer is subjected to less strees than the base layer. In one embodiment the first material is relatively more flexible and stretchable than said second material and the materials are pre-stressed in opposite senses. In a second embodiment the first material is relatively flexible and stretchable and the second material is an initially less flexible and stretchable material which has been chemically treated to increase its stretchability and flexibility.
Abstract:
A liquid developer system for use in electrostatic imaging processes of the positive toner type comprises toner particles micro-dispersed in a carrier liquid and at least one charge director compound soluble in the carrier liquid, wherein the total amount of charge director compound is associated with the toner particles and essentially no charge director compound is present in the carrier liquid. Especially useful charge director compounds are those which have been reacted with at least about one molar equivalent of at least one acid containing at least one organic moiety, the acid being effective in that the reacted positive charge director compound increases the short-term charging of the micro-dispersed toner particles as compared with charging when the same molar amount of unreacted charge director compound is used. Positive charge director compounds reacted with acid are e.g. those of the general formula RSiX3 wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical, one or more of the hydrogen atoms of which may be substituted by halogen atoms, and X is halogen or lower alkoxy; the reaction products with acid of the compounds RSiX3 are believed to be novel.
Abstract:
A ribbon ink has a viscosity that increases with increasing rate of shear for rates of shear greater than a predetermined value. A printer ribbon for use with an impact printer comprises a substate containing ink having a viscosity that increases with increasing rate of shear for rates of shear greater than a predetermined value. The substrate is preferably formed of two layers of non-woven fabric.
Abstract:
A self-replenishing liquid developer system for an electrostatic imaging system including an insulating non-polar carrier liquid, toner particles dispersed in the carrier liquid, at least one charge director compound having a limited solubility in the carrier liquid and dissolved therein at its saturation concentration and excess of the at least one charge director compound comprised in a solid phase and being in equilibrium contact with the carrier liquid.