Abstract: An electronic read/write or microscope-camera system which can receive and store very low energy optical and equivalent electronic signals on a special optoelectronic tape or medium as varying charge density distributions over the imaged frame. Images are retrieved from the tape or medium by scanning the tape or medium with a focused electron beam which causes the tape or medium to emit secondary electrons as a charge density modulated return beam current. The electrons in the return beam are collected and amplified to develop an electrical signal representative of the image stored on the tape or medium. A method of applying images to and retrieving them from the tape or medium is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making copies of an original pattern through the use of electrostatic techniques in which there is a looped belt having an exterior photoconductive layer. The exterior of the belt passes through a charging station and is imaged by a projected pattern of light thereafter in darkness to acquire a latent image progressively as the belt moves in one direction. The belt passes a toning station where a toning roller dipping into a sump of toner picks up toner particulate matter and rolls the toner matter onto the latent image to develop the same as the belt passes through the toning station. The toning roller engages the belt and protrudes into the loop formed by the belt thereby requiring the belt to be wrapped around a peripheral segment of the toning roller. There is a stretched portion of the belt extending between the peripheral segment and each of a pair of guide rollers so that the toning roller is restrained only by the tension of the belt.

Abstract: A unitary magnification lens system for an electrophotographic imaging system including a folded optical system is made of synthetic resin. It has an f/5.6 aperture for increased light gathering power to ease the requirements of the imaging system illumination system and a moderately wide field angle of 64.degree. to image documents of up to 81/2.times.14 inches at a time. The lens system is non-vignetting and includes aspherical surfaces on its four elements, arranged in two pairs, that deviate to as much as the tenth order from the conic.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing color proofs electrophotographically. A platen carrying an electrophotographic member is translated sequentially past functional stations including a charging station, an exposure station, a toning station, a transfer station and a cleaning station. Once toning is completed, the platen carrying the toner image is translated to the transfer station. An intermediate transfer medium is disposed at the transfer station as the sole receptor of the toner image from the electrophotographic member. A roller effects transfer engagement between the intermediate transfer medium and the toner image carrier. Direct transfer mode or offset transfer mode electively is provided at the transfer station. For offset mode, the toner image on the photoconductive layer involves first transfer to the intermediate transfer medium and from the latter to the transfer medium.

Abstract: Electrophotographic imaging apparatus, particularly for color proofing, is provided for normal daylight operation including a light-tight housing having a framework mounting plural spaced functional processing stations for charging, imaging, toning, transfer and, optionally, cleaning, all interior of the housing. A platen assembly mounting an electrophotographic member is translated along a linear path, the assembly being guided by a rail and a track secured along the entire length of the framework. A copyboard is disposed below the carriage within the imaging station and carries a transparency. The electrophotographic member is translated past the charging station for charging same and brought to the imaging station where the copyboard is raised, to establish an intimate engagement with the member established and exposed to an interior disposed radiant energy source.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed that can be selectively operated with equal advantage to strip sheet material from either the top or the bottom of a stack. A translatable member having a generally planar surface formed of an electrically insulative material is disposed proximate to either the top or bottom of a stack of sheet material. A pair of electrodes in the form of an electronic grid is secured to the planar surface. A DC voltage is applied to the electrodes selectively to effect a highly intense electric field only close to the surface of the member. The intensity of the electric field can be varied in predetermined relation to the applied DC voltage so as to determine the number of sheets simultaneously removed from the stack. The electric field exerts an attractive force only on the end-most sheet or sheets of the stack so that said end-most sheet or sheets only will be stripped from the stack.

Abstract: An electrophotographic method and apparatus for recording micrographic images as high resolution positive or reversal transparencies. Plural planar reusable electrophotographic plates are mounted for stepwise movement sequentially along a path for a cycle of successive operations, each plate being sucessively sequentially charged, exposed to a projected micrographics image to form a latent charge image thereof, said charge image toned, the toned image dried and contact transferred under application of heat and pressure by lamination to a transparent substrate, the lamination separated and the plate cleaned and discharged subsequent to separation for reuse. The transparency carrying the micrographics image embedded therein is mounted on a suitable holder.The apparatus includes a rotor for mounting the plates about its circumference and a framework for mounting the functional stations positioned about the rotor circumference in operative condition relative the plates mounted on said rotor.

Abstract: An electrostatic image of binary data representing elements is formed on a particular electrophotographic member disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,339. The electrostatic image is toned and the toned image is transferred to a storage medium. The storage medium is in the form of an extended length of dual-layer transparent synthetic resin material. One of the layers has a softening range of temperature less than the substrate. At the transfer, the one layer is heated and the toned image is pressed into the one layer. The storage medium carrying the toned image then is wound up on a storage or take-up spool while fresh medium is fed from a supply spool. The two spools are carried by a housing and the housing, spools and medium form an optical mass memory cassette. Reading of the data occurs by deflecting rays of light across the medium and the light that is transmitted through and blocked by the medium is sensed in bar sensors, one for each ray.

Abstract: An opaque reflective print copy is produced by transferring via heat and pressure, an electrophotographically formed toner image to a presoftened transparent thermoplastic thin layer carried bonded to an opaque substrate. The print is formed of at least one generally planar toner image layer embedded in the plastic layer near the outer surface thereof whereby light illuminating the print enters the thin layer and is reflected from the interface between said layer and said substrate, passing through the toner particles as well as being reflected from the toner particles themselves, whereby to provide an image having greater depth intensity and contrast than can be obtained using silver halide photographic film, all without distortion of the image, loss in density or loss in resolution. The substrate may have smooth or roughened surface, and may be selected from plain or coated paper, metal, stone, stretchable and/or inflatable media as well as irregularly shaped objects.

Abstract: A method of electrophotographic color reproduction by forming sequentially superimposed toner images of each color successively on the photoconductive surface of an electrophotographic recording member. The photoconductive surface is charged uniformly by a corona generator to a predetermined charge level. The charged surface is exposed to a first color radiation pattern from a source thereof to form a latent electrostatic charge image on said surface. The resulting latent charge image is toned with one color toner to produce a first toner image. The resulting toner image is dried. Thereafter, a charge is applied uniformly to the same photoconductive surface including those portions thereof carrying the dried first toner image in a manner so that the generated charged ions effectively tunnel through the dry adjacent toner particles defining first toner image to reach the photoconductive surface.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent electrostatic charge image formed on a photoconductor surface comprising the steps of applying a thin viscous layer of electrically charged toner particles to an applicator roller preferably by electrically assisted separation thereof from a liquid toner suspension, defining a restricted passage between the applicator roller and the photoconductor surface which approximates the thickness of the viscous layer, transferring the toner particles from the applicator roller to the photoconductor surface due to the preferential adherence thereof to the photoconductor surface under the dominant influence of the electric field strength of the electrostatic latent image carried by said photoconductive surface, the quantity of toner particles transferred being proportional to the relative incremental field strength of the latent electrostatic image.

Abstract: Half-tone xerography involving high speed charging of a limited region of an electrophotographic member and subsequent high speed discharging as by writing with a fine laser beam upon the limited region of the electrophotographic member, the beam being modulated with recordable intelligence from stored digital data. The member is mounted for rotary and axial movement relative to both charging unit and an axial movement beam directing unit. The member support for the member holds the member in a cylindrical or partially cylindrical form with the photoconductive coating inside. The member as a unit and a charging device and writing device as a unit are mounted for relative axial and rotating movement at high speed to enable charging and imaging of the limited regions in a continuous progressive manner.

Abstract: Cutting apparatus forms helical races in a workpiece defining a toroidal envelope having an axis of symmetry and a circular axis perpendicular to the axis of symmetry and defining a diametric plane through the envelope by rotating the workpiece about the axis of symmetry and continuously rotating a cutting tool about a second axis perpendicular to the axis of symmetry and coincident with the circular axis in synchronism with the workpiece rotation so as to form a series of helical grooves which extend all around the envelope. As the cutting tool is swung from the entrance end of each groove toward the diametric plane, the tool is rotated through a selected angle in one direction about its own longitudinal axis and, as the tool is swung from said diametric plane toward the exit end of each groove, it is rotated through said angle in the opposite direction about its said axis so as to produce a non-varying groove geometry when measured rectilinearly to the tangent of the lead angle of the groove.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for toning a latent electrostatic image on an exposed photoconductive surface of an electrophotographic member, using liquid toner comprising toner particles suspended in an electrically insulating liquid dispersant. Plural, generally identical, toner modules are arranged side by side at a first level, each module comprising a toner tray having a development electrode mounted on the upper surface thereof. The development electrode has a planar upper surface. A motor operates an articulated linkage which causes the tray to be elevated to a second level for toning, one of the modules being selected from the others. Antifriction bearing surfaces are mounted on the upper surface of the tray at opposite ends of the development electrode. The antifriction surfaces extend upwardly of the development electrode a short distance slightly above the upper surface thereof to define a gap between the development electrode and the surface to be toned.

Abstract: Documents are encoded with at least one thin, transparent coating, normally invisible, but having a readily detectable physical characteristic such as, electrical conductivity, electrical impedance, electrical capacitance, electroluminescence. Each document consists of a substrate on which is applied (1) at least one of the thin coatings, and (2) conventional printing, preferably intaglio. The thin coating may be applied before or after the printing. The coating includes particles driven into the surface to a substantial depth. The uncoated substrate is free of the detectable physical characteristic. The coating is confined to a limited area of the substrate surface and itself constitutes a code or is laid down in a pattern for identification. A second coating can be applied so that all areas of the surface have the same appearance to mask visual detection of the first coating.

Abstract: An electrographic recording technique obtains superior image definition by providing a charged border around the image area of the recording medium and directing toner across the face of the medium at an appreciable velocity so that the toner particles are preferably attracted to unexposed areas of the medium and the charged border rather than to fully exposed areas of the medium.

Abstract: Half-tone xerography involving high speed charging of a limited region of an electrophotographic member and subsequent high speed discharging as by writing with a fine laser beam upon the limited region of the electrophotographic member, the beam being modulated with recordable intelligence from stored digital data. The member is mounted for rotary and axial movement relative to both charging unit and an axial movement beam directing unit. The member as a unit and a charging device and writing device as a unit are mounted for relative axial and rotating movement to enable charging and imaging of the limited regions in a continuous progressive manner.

Abstract: A latent electrostatic image is formed on an electrophotographic member having a crystalline, stable coating of wholly inorganic photoconductive material which is of the order of 0.2 to 2 microns thick. This is effected by moving a corona needle energized by a corona power source and a laser beam modulated from digital information together over the photoconductive coating in a progressive manner at high speed. The latent electrostatic image so formed is then developed.

Abstract: An electrostatic method of making transparencies and apparatus for practicing said method. An endless electrophotographic belt is charged, imaged and toned with a liquid toner suspension. The belt with the toned image is brought into close proximity to a precisely dimensioned gap defined by a transfer roller along with a sheet of transfer material comprising a transparent substrate polyester carrying a thin ohmic layer bonded thereto and a thin overcoat of a compatible resinous material on the ohmic layer and bonded thereto. An electrical bias is applied across the gap between the belt and the overcoated ohmic layer. The toner particles migrate electrophoretically toward the transfer sheet. Subsequent to transfer, heat is applied to the transfer sheet sufficient to soften the overcoating embedding the transferred toner particles of the toner image within the resin. The transfer material is cooled.

Abstract: An electrostatic method of making transparencies and apparatus for practicing said method. An endless electrophotographic belt is charged, imaged and toned with a liquid toner suspension. The belt with the toned image is brought into close proximity to a precisely dimensioned gap defined by a heated roller over which is passed a strip of transfer material comprising a transparent substrate carrying a thin ohmic layer bonded thereto and a thin overcoat of resinous material on the ohmic layer and bonded thereto. An electrical bias is applied across the gap between the belt and the overcoated ohmic layer. The toner particles migrate electrophoretically toward the overcoated substrate. Heat is applied sufficient to melt the overcoating just prior or during the application of the electrical bias so that transfer occurs due to electrophoretic migration through the melt, thus embedding the transferred toner particles of the toner image within the resin. The transfer material is quickly cooled.