Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating stray background toner in electrostatic printer images by first electrostatically neutralizing any background toner charge and then removing neutralized toner. An ac corona wire positioned between a developer unit and a background toner scavenger is employed to neutralize unwanted background toner. Alternately, a high current density ac discharge between two electrodes separated by a dielectric layer may be employed as a bipolar ion source. Toner may be scavenged using either a vacuum suction manifold and/or a rotating brush.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously transferring an image from an imaging drum to a receptor surface in a nip formed between the imaging drum and a transfer roll using shear strain between the imaging drum and receptor sheet to provide high transfer efficiency. The improvement involves clamping the receptor sheet to the transfer roll so that all of the shear strain appears between the imaging drum and the receptor surface. Clamping may be effected by roughening the transfer roll surface, cutting fine grooves in the transfer roll surface, or providing a third or pressure roll to form a second higher pressure nip between the transfer roll and the pressure roll. The combination of high friction in the second nip and the imaging surface wrap around the pressure roll effectively cause the imaging surface to accurately track the motion of the transfer roll.

Abstract: Improved electrostatic latent image charge generator consisting of generator electrodes substantially in contact with one side of a first solid dielectric member; a discharge electrode substantially in contact with the other side of the solid dielectric member opposite the generator electrodes; a second solid dielectric member having one side substantially in contact with the discharge electrode; and modulator electrodes substantially in contact with the other side of the second dielectric member. The second dielectric member, generator electrodes, and modulator electrodes have a plurality of apertures in alignment with each other and with generator electrodes so that charge formed in discharge apertures may be extracted and employed to form an electrostatic latent image upon a dielectric image receptor.

Abstract: An apparatus for high-speed charge latent image generation which employs two or more charge generating matrix sets. These matrix sets are electrically connected so that image charges are simultaneously generated from each set. Charge from the matrix sets is deposited upon a dielectric image receptor surface adapted to move longitudinally with respect to the charge image generation apparatus. The charge image is in the form of dots that are formed using two or more sets of independently controlled matrix arrays that are spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction. The matrix sets are laid out so that the dots from any one set are interleaved among the other sets, resulting in the power loading to the charge image generating apparatus being distributed over a larger area. The method performed by such apparatus permits greater spacing of the matrix elements and results in minimizing artifacts in the latent electrostatic charge image.

Abstract: A process for generating a visible image that involves forming an electrostatic latent image upon the surface of a charge receptor medium consisting of a thin dielectric layer adjacent the metallized surface of a non-conducting substrate. The latent image is then developed to form a visible image. The thin dielectric layer may be in the form of a thin plastic film which may be delaminated from the metallized layer after image development and then laminated to the face of graphics display media such as a pressure sensitive paper. Alternately, the dielectric layer may be delaminated from the metallized layer, inverted, and laminated back to the metallized layer so that the developed visible image is sandwiched between the metallized layer and the thin plastic film. The process produces a latent image receptor comprising a support base having a metallized layer and a dielectric layer for use in producing electrographic images.