Patents Assigned to Seiko Epson Corporation, A Corporation of Japan
  • Patent number: 5053821
    Abstract: A photoconductive image forming apparatus in which charged photoconductive toner contacts a transparent insulating substrate and is exposed from within the substrate. Exposure reduces the resistivity of the toner so that its charge can be reversed by a bias voltage and the exposed toner will adhere to the image forming substrate simultaneously with exposure and then transfer to a transfer medium. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a layer of toner is applied to an electroconductive substrate and the toner layer is exposed with a latent image. The charge of the exposed toner is reversed and the exposed toner is removed by an intermediate toner removal device. The remaining toner is then transferred to a transfer medium. Toner suitable for use includes azo-type metal containing black dyes which do not absorb the exposure and can be sensitized to the near infrared region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation, A Corporation of Japan
    Inventors: Masanao Kunugi, Hajime Kurihara, Teruyuki Mizumoto