Abstract: A toning method and member for electrostatography wherein a recording member containing information on its image bearing surface in the form of electrostatic latent images of one polarity is toned by attracting to such latent images toner material of opposite polarity including providing a carrier or toning member according to the invention containing on at least one surface thereof a dry pre-toner coating; activating such pre-toner coating with an insulative solvent to thereby solvate and confer opposite polarity to such pre-toner coating contained thereon while rendering such pre-toner coating releasable from the carrier member; establishing virtual contact between the activated and releasable pre-toner coating on the carrier member and the image bearing surface of the recording member; transferring the pre-toner coating in image configuration onto the recording member by attraction to the latent images to form toner deposits thereon; and separating the carrier member from the recording member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying liquid toner to fractional areas of a photoconductive recording member in processes involving microimagery. The method includes the steps of providing a photoconductor disposed over a conductive substrate having at least one fractional area thereon that is to be toned, providing a carrier member having a conductive layer, electrostatically depositing liquid toner on the carrier member to form thereon a toner pre-deposit of desired density in an area corresponding to the fractional area to be toned on the photoconductor, contacting the toner pre-deposit on the carrier member with the fractional area on the photoconductor, and toning the fractional area on the photoconductor by transferring toner thereto from the toner pre-deposit so that the quantity of liquid transferred to the photoconductor is minimal and can be rapidly removed therefrom without affecting the toner pre-deposit on the photoconductor.

Abstract: An electrostatic duplicator for forming color composite images and employing preformed electrostatic masters (color separated fixed toner images). The duplicator has a drum including four flat sides for mounting respective ones of the masters (4). The respective functional stations (charging, toning, transfer and cleaning) are positioned about said drum adjacent the respective flat sides. The drum is stationary during performance of the functions and automatically rotatable by an angle of 90.degree. in order to advance each of the electrostatic masters to the next station. Printing stock (to receive the transferred image) remains stationary until all of the component images of the composite image are received.

Abstract: An electrostatic image of binary data representing elements if 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 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 digital laser platemaker for imaging an electrophotographic member by electrostatic techniques using information which is derived from a source of binary data. The binary data may be achieved by scanning a pattern or may be synthesized electrically to represent that which it is desired to reproduce on the electrophotographic member. The binary data is applied to a pixel generator which is constructed and arranged to produce an output in the form of signals for driving an acousto-optical deflector that in turn deflects a laser beam to form a composite of rays. The composite of rays represent the columns of a pattern to be applied to each pixel which is generated, the rows of the pixel being represented by the output of a shaft encoder that is synchronized with the rotation of a cylinder carrying the electrophotographic member. The pixel generator produces hexagonal pixels and the pattern in each pixel represents density information derived from the binary data originally received by the pixel generator.

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: A method and apparatus for producing a uniform elongate corona is provided. The apparatus includes at least one stationary corona electrode coupled to a supply of corona voltage. A moving ground electrode having a series of equally-spaced grounding points is coupled to a bias circuit that returns to ground. The moving ground electrode may be arranged to form a helix on a motor-driven insulating rod, with the longitudinal axis of the rod parallel to the stationary elongate corona electrode at a predetermined distance therefrom. The supply of corona power provides a high negative D.C. voltage or a series of high frequency negative high voltage pulses. The preferred bias circuits include one of a self-bias provided by a high resistance; a high frequency pulsating D.C. power supply circuit; or a fixed value negative D.C. power supply circuit.

Abstract: Sequential scanned scaled density data representing a varying tone image is electronically screened to form binary element data that when imaged to form an array of orthogonally arranged binary elements on a member produces screened color separation plates of that original image suitable for use as the printing plates in a lithographic printing press. Screening occurs by comparing sequential density data with selected screen matrix data contained in a memory. The matrix data is ordered with density values increasing outwardly from the matrix center to the corners and edges. The matrix data is selected from matrix locations related to the desired screen frequency and angle with the selected matrix locations being determined by the application of fundamental right triangle trigonometric relationships to the matrix. Screening and imaging occurs sequentially with two density data being compared to matrix data simultaneously.

Abstract: An electrostatic transfer medium comprising a sheet formed of a transparent polyester plastic substrate having a thin transparent coating of a compatible polyester resinous composition having a softening range less than the softening range of the substrate material. A high resolution transparency is formed by electrophotographically forming a toned latent electrostatic image of a document upon an electrophotographic member, bringing the transfer medium into engagement with the image under localized pressure and heat to form a laminate and separating the cooled laminate whereby the image is transferred fully to the coating, the transfer being effected with minimal loss of optical density or resolution and practically no residue remaining on the electrophotographic member. The laminate may be cooled prior to separation.

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: Graphics and text data are combined selectively to discharge incremental areas of a charged electrophotographic member to form thereon a latent text and/or graphics image represented by the graphics and text data, the imaged member thereafter being toned and output from the system so that the toned image may be fused on the member and the member may be used as a printing plate in an offset lithographic printing press. The apparatus includes an optical system that may form a maximum of 22 individual rays which are deflected twice through a field flattening lens and then onto the charged member. The optical system further includes an optical scale or grating which provides electrical signals indicating the precise location of the individual rays along scan lines on the member. The apparatus further includes an electronic system which generates electrical signals from the graphics and text data to form the 22 individual rays.

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.