Abstract: The invention basically comprises systems and methods relating to the field of electrostatics and is concerned with multicolor electrostatic reproduction, printing or constituting on coated and uncoated print receiving media with multilayer apertured elements or screens carrying charge distributions in accordance with selected color separation patterns. Ions accelerated through the apertures of the multilayer element pass therethrough under modulation control dictated by the color separation pattern, thereby forming a modulated ion stream having a cross-sectional density pattern corresponding to the color separation pattern. Electrostatic latent images are formed with modulated ion streams and are developed in various ways.

Abstract: The invention basically comprises systems and methods relating to the field of electrostatics and is concerned with multicolor electrostatic reproduction, printing or constituting on coated and uncoated print receiving media with multilayer apertured elements or screens carrying charge distributions in accordance with selected color separation patterns. Ions accelerated through the apertures of the multilayer element pass therethrough under modulation control dictated by the color separation pattern, thereby forming a modulated ion stream having a cross-sectional density pattern corresponding to the color separation pattern. Electrostatic latent images are formed with modulated ion streams and are developed in various ways.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is impressed on a multilayer apertured screen to establish within the apertures electric fields that modulate the passage of charged particles through the screens so that the charged particles are distributed in correspondence with the image. After imaging the screen is operated to control the gray scale response thereof in order to optimize copy quality. The gray scale screen response is expanded by applying a bias voltage of at least two different values to the screen during the duplication interval. The response is limited by altering the latent image charge to provide a high density cutoff and by applying a bias voltage to establish a low density cutoff during the duplication interval. Copy quality is further improved by adjusting the integrated charged particle current to establish the desired degree of density in regions of the copy image corresponding to high density regions of the original image.

Abstract: A line printing apparatus in which spot patterns of ink or toner particles are formed on a moving paper sheet. A modulator defined by a corona source and an electric shield which has a multiplicity of linearly arranged apertures is spaced from one side of the paper. The voltage at each aperture is individually controlled so that ions from the corona are permitted or prevented from passing through preselected apertures. The passing ions impinge certain particles in a toner particle cloud between the modulator and the one side of the paper sheet. A paper support bar is positioned on the other side of the paper and constructed of an insulator and an elongate electrode is secured to the back side of the insulator and positioned parallel to the aperture array.

Abstract: An electrostatic line printing process employing multilayered particle modulator comprising a layer of insulating material on one side of the insulating layer and a segmented layer of conducting material on the other side of the insulating layer. At least one row of apertures is formed through the multilayered particle modulator. Each segment of the segmented layer of conductive material is formed around a portion of an aperture and is insulatively isolated from every other segment of the segmented conductive layer. Selected potentials are applied to each of the segments of the segmented conductive layer while a fixed potential is applied to the continuous conductive layer. An overall applied field projects charged particles through the row of apertures of the particle modulator and the density of the particle stream is modulated according to the pattern of potentials applied to the segments of the segmented conductive layer.

Abstract: A machine for making a copy on a medium such as paper of a visual image. Particles of toner material are accelerated toward the paper through an apertured screen. Formed on the screen is a pattern of electrostatic charge regions that corresponds to the image so that the arrangement of the toner particles impinging on the paper corresponds to the image. A composite apertured screen composed of two conductive layers separated by an insulative layer and having an insulative layer on one outer surface. Means for establishing oppositely polarized fields across the inner insulative layer and across the outer insulative layer. One of the fields is selectively discharged to control the passage of toner particles through the apertures in the screen.

Abstract: The invention basically comprises systems and methods relating to the field of electrostatics and is concerned with multicolor electrostatic reproduction, printing or constituting on coated and uncoated print receiving media with multilayer apertured elements or screens carrying charge distributions in accordance with selected color separation patterns. Ions accelerated through the apertures of the multilayer element pass therethrough under modulation control dictated by the color separation pattern, thereby forming a modulated ion stream having a cross-sectional density pattern corresponding to the color separation pattern. Electrostatic latent images are formed with modulated ion streams and are developed in various ways.

Abstract: A high speed printing apparatus for causing ions generated by the application of a high voltage to adhere to ink particles and causing the ink particles to be absorbed selectively to recording paper for printing, wherein a layer of air flow is produced selectively between the recording paper and the ink mist in response to the completion of printing operation or the stoppage of feed of the recording paper.

Abstract: In an electrostatic high speed line printer, a pair of lightly wetted cylindrical rollers are sequentially arranged upstream of the print station to engage the paper surface to be printed. The roller surfaces are wetted with a very thin film of non-staining viscous film such as isopar, and driven at roughly the same speed as the paper causing the paper surface to be very slightly wetted, thereby tending to attract debris particles from the surface of the paper to the roller and also tending to cause other debris particles to be adhered to the paper surface at least until after they have passed through the print head. A dancer roller is positioned on the opposite side of the paper from the wet rollers, between the wetted rollers, to provide approximately 30.degree. of wrap across each wetted roller.

Abstract: A system for electrostatic printing including a corona source and electrode for coulombs/m.sup.a substantially uniform stream of ions in the direction of a print receiving medium and a multilayer apertured modulator interposed in the ion stream for modulating the cross-sectional flow density of ions in the stream in accordance with a pattern to be reproduced. A cloud of substantially uncharged liquid aerosol ink particles is introduced adjacent the print receiving medium whereby the modulated ion stream selectively impinges upon and charges particles in the cloud which are thereby accelerated and deposited on the print receiving medium in accordance with the pattern to be reproduced. The average surface charge density on liquid aerosol particles in the cloud is no greater than about 1 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.6 coulombs/m.sup.2, and preferably no greater than about 5 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.7 coulombs 2. The liquid aerosol droplets are in the range of from about 0.10 micron to 50.

Abstract: A system for electrostatic photography using a camera having an aperture formed in one side for imaging light onto a photoconductive insulating layer positioned and supported in the camera housing to permit formation of an electrostatic latent image on dielectric film. A contact charging plate including a conductive layer and the photoconductive insulating layer is positioned in the camera so that light passing through the aperture is imaged onto the photoconductive layer. A dielectric camera "film" is positioned adjacent the photoconductive insulating layer and the film and photoconductive layer are pressure biased against each other. A voltage pulse is applied between conductive layers on either side of the dielectric film and photoconductive layer during exposure of the photoconductive layer to an image to establish on the film an electrostatic latent image which is developed with toner marking particles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supplying an ink mist to an electrostatic printing head or the like including means for continual replenishment, density monitoring, and density adjustment of the ink supply, and means for generating a highly uniform mist of ink droplets. An ion stream is modulated in accordance with images or characters to be printed. Ink mist is introduced into the ion stream. Ink particles impinged upon by ions become charged and are accelerated toward a receiving medium by an overall accelerating field. Ink not utilized by the printing mechanism is returned to the ink supply for recycling. The composition of the ink supply is regulated by means of continuous monitoring of the ink density; automatically controlling additions of the ink constituents functions to maintain the ink density at a given level. The ink recycling system includes a precipitator to convert the unused ink mist into liquid ink and air.