Abstract: A power supply for transmitting voltage to a device, comprising: a web including a piezoelectric exterior layer for generating a voltage on the surface thereof in response to being deformed; and means for transferring the voltage on the surface of said piezoelectric exterior layer to the device is disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging device having a non-rigid member with a charge retentive surface moving along an endless path, an imaging system for creating a latent image on the charge retentive surface, a developer for imagewise developing the latent image with toner, a transfer system for electrostatically transferring the developed toner image to a copy sheet, and a resonator for enhancing toner release from the charge retentive surface, producing relatively high frequency vibratory energy and having a portion thereof adapted for contact across the flexible belt member, generally transverse to the direction of movement thereof, the resonator includes a horn member for applying the high frequency vibratory energy to the non-rigid member, having a platform portion, a horn portion, and a contacting portion and extending across the non-rigid member.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for printing using an intermediate member acting as a receptor for marking particles representing an image. The marking particles may be deposited directly or indirectly on the member, after which time the member is exposed, via an internal heat source, to an elevated temperature sufficient to cause the melting and coalescing of the marking particles. Subsequently, the intermediate member is advanced so as to place the tackified marking particles present on the outer surface thereof into intimate contact with the surface of a recording sheet.

Abstract: An electrophotographic printing machine adapted to print a document in at least two different colors. An electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member. A non-interactive development system is employed to develop the latent image. The developing system includes a first toner carrying piezoelectric polymer belt for conveying toner of a first color to the latent image on the photoconductive member and a second toner carrying piezoelectric polymer belt for conveying toner of a second color to the latent image. A first developer activation stylus selectively vibrates toner carrying surface areas of the first toner carrying piezoelectric polymer belt to develop a first portion of the latent image with the first color. A second developer activation stylus selectively vibrates toner carry surface areas of the second toner carrying piezoelectric polymer belt to develop a second portion of the latent image with the second color.

Abstract: An ultrasonic fuser for fixing toner images to substrates utilizes an acoustic transducer or resonator in the form of an ultrasonic welding horn and a viscoelastic member. As toner images carried on a substrate are moved between the resonator and the viscoelastic member heat energy is created both in the toner particles forming the images and the viscoelastic member. The heat energy created in the viscoelastic member is transferred to the toner images through intimate contact therewith and together with the heat generated in the toner serves to elevate the toner to its fusing temperature.

Abstract: A process for forming color xerographic images by using a toner which comprises one or more dyes. Also disclosed is a process for making a toner which comprises one or more dyes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for printing using an intermediate member acting as a receptor for marking particles representing an image. The marking particles may be deposited directly or indirectly on the member, after which time the member is exposed, via an internal heat source, to an elevated temperature sufficient to cause the melting and coalescing of the marking particles. Subsequently, the intermediate member is advanced so as to place the tackified marking particles present on the outer surface thereof into intimate contact with the surface of a recording sheet.

Abstract: Ultrasonic fusing is performed sequentially by generating heat in an external fusing member (i.e. fuser roll surface) by ultrasonic absorption and then contacting unfused toner images with the heated member as they pass through a fusing nip comprising the heated member and a pressure roll. The externally heated roll member is fabricated from a material having a high loss tangent (tan delta) and is therefore capable of dissipating a large percentage of heat energy generated therein. Loss tangent is defined as the ratio of a material's viscous modulus to its elastic modulus. Heat generation in the viscoelastic member is created through acoustic distortions in viscoelastic member. Thus, the acoustic waves absorbed by the viscoelastic material forming the outer layer of the fuser roll are converted to heat energy. The heat generated in the roll member is transferred to the toner through intimate contact therewith.

Abstract: Color image creation using tri-level images wherein the image color is user selectable. Selection of a desired color establishes the voltage bias of a plurality of developer structures which, in turn, determines how much of each successive color toner is deposited on a particular image.

Abstract: A piezo-active charge retentive member, such as a photoreceptor, has a grounded electrode layer separating a photoreceptive layer and a piezo-active layer. External vibration sources become unnecessary since supplying an A.C. voltage across the piezo-active layer to the grounded electrode layer causes the piezo-active layer, and thus the entire photoreceptor, to vibrate. Vibration of the photoreceptor enhances the transfer of development powder from the photoreceptor to the transfer material, such as a sheet of paper. Vibration of the photoreceptor also improves the development of images and assists the cleaning of residual development powder from the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: An ionographic imaging member having a conductive layer and a charge accepting layer, wherein the charge accepting layer is sufficiently photosensitive to provide erasure of residual charge in the member by exposure to light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing including the use of a pyroelectric imaging member in a novel fashion to produce prints having improved resolution. The prints are produced by thermally exposing the pyroelectric imaging member in a localized fashion while neutralizing the surface charge and subsequently cooling the exposed surface of the imaging member to generate a latent electrostatic image thereon. Subsequently, the latent image is developed with charged toner particles, and transferred from the pyroelectric member to a substrate through the use of a second thermal treatment which serves to reverse the polarity of the imaging member and thereby eliminate the electrostatic forces attracting the toner particles to the imaging member. The transferred toner image may be simultaneously or subsequently fixed to the substrate by a thermal or other well known fusing treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing including the use of a pyroelectric material in a novel fashion to directly mark an image on a print substrate. The image is produced by initially coating a poled pyroelectric material with a uniform coating of charged marking particles and subsequently thermally exposing the pyroelectric material in a localized fashion, thus reversing the polarity of the charge which repels the particles from the surface of the pyroelectric material, and in the direction of the surface of a print substrate placed in close proximity thereto. Subsequently, the image formed by the transferred marking particles is fixed to the substrate by a thermal or other well known fusing treatment.

Abstract: An electrophotographic device includes a flexible belt-type sheet of paper or other transfer member into intimate contact with the charge retentive member, bearing a developed latent image and brings a charge retentive surface at a transfer station for electrostatic transfer of toner from the charge retentive surface to the sheet. At the transfer station, a resonator suitable for generating vibratory energy is arranged in line contact with the back side of the charge retentive surface, to uniformly apply vibratory energy to the charge retentive member. Toner is released from the electrostatic and mechanical forces adhering it to the charge retentive surface at the line contact position.

Abstract: A resonator suitable for generating vibratory energy is arranged in line contact with the back side of charge retentive member bearing an image on a surface thereof, in an electrophotographic device, to uniformly apply vibratory energy to the charge retentive member. The resonator includes a vacuum producing element, a vibrating member, and a seal arrangement. When the vibratory energy is to be applied to the charge retentive surface, a vacuum is applied by the vacuum producing element at the point of contact with the charge retentive surfaces resonator, to draw the surface into intimate engagement with the vibrating member,and seal arrangement. The invention has application to a transfer station of enhancing electrostatic transfer for toner from the charge retentive surface to a copy sheet, and to a cleaning station, where mechanical vibration of the surface will improve the release of residual toner remaining after transfer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using ion projection to form a tri-level latent image on a charge retentive surface. The tri-level image which comprises two image areas and a background area is utilized for highlight imaging.

Abstract: A high speed digital ionographic printer employing an ion deposition control bar interposed between the ion source and the movable charge receptor, the bar having n parallel rows of apertures each with a ring-like control electrode, the aperture rows being perpendicular to the direction of movement of the charge receptor, a combination of n line buffers and n shift registers associated with control switches for providing preset negative or positive modulating potentials to the aperture control electrodes in accordance with the image pixel content of the n lines of image signals currently in the shift registers to provide controlled ion flow through the apertures with partial ion deposition on the charge receptor of n lines at once, the block of n image lines being stepped by one each time the charge receptor moves one line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively depositing positive and negative ions on a receptor. In the preferred embodiment, the ions are deposited in image configuration from a single source of both positive and negative ions. The positive and negative images are subsequently developed with different color toners in order to form a highlight color image.

Abstract: An electrostatic voltmeter with probe for measuring the charge on a surface, the probe comprising a microdeflector unit having a base; a flexible finger supported on the base in cantilever fashion, the finger deflecting in response to a potential difference thereacross; means to bias the base to a predetermined potential; a sensing electrode on the finger having a side positionable in spaced relation to the surface, the capacitive relation established creating a charge representative of the charge on the surface on the sensing electrode causing deflection of the finger; means to impinge a beam of light on the finger; and a detector disposed to detect reflection of the beam by the finger on predetermined deflection of the finger corresponding to a preset charge measured on the surface.

Abstract: A multi-color printer using a sonic toner release development system to provide either partial or full color copies with minimal degradation of developed toner patterns by subsequent over-development with additional colors and minimal back contamination of developer materials. Multiple scanning beams, each modulated in accordance with distinct color image signals, are scanned across the printer's photoreceptor at relatively widely separated points, there being buffer means provided to control timing of the different color image signals to assure registration of the color images with one another. Each color image is developed prior to scanning of the photoreceptor by the next succeeding beam. After developing of the last color image, the composite color image is transferred to a copy sheet. Development is accomplished by vibrating the surface of a toner carrying member and thereby reducing the net force of adhesion of toner to the surface of the toner carrying member.