Abstract: Method and device for detecting the presence or the absence of conductive indicia carried by a supporting substrate which together comprise a security document, for the purpose of ascertaining the genuineness, value or other selected characteristic represented by said indicia. The indicia material is electrically conductive. The detecting device includes a housing and a sensing circuit including a source of high frequency a.c. alternating signals, first and second electrodes and the a.c. source coupled thereto.A carrier for the document is arranged in proximity to said electrodes. The questioned document is placed in the vicinity of the electrodes whereby the presence of the conductive encoding indicia serves as a coupling mechanism between the electrodes for capacitively inducing a secondary a.c. signal from the first electrodes to the second which is different from the first mentioned a.c. signal, said secondary signal being of a selected measured magnitude representative of said presence and of encoding.

Abstract: A light scanning assembly for apparatus including a copyboard, an optical train and a carriage carrying charging, exposure and toning devices. The copyboard is movable from a horizontal disposition to a vertical disposition at which it is scanned in synchronism with simultaneous movement of the carriage horizontally. The light scanning assembly comprises a support bracket mounting a pair of illuminating lamps disposed each with an associated elliptically configured reflector. The support bracket is driven translating the lamp pair and their common intersection band across the face of the copyboard synchronously with the movement of the carriage. A third lamp is mounted (with reflector) on a second bracket to illuminate through the copyboard and is movable vertically with the first bracket. The third lamp is energized only when a transparent document is carried by the copyboard. The first pair of lamps are not energized at that occasion.

Abstract: A printing plate making attachment for a graphic art camera taking the place of the ordinary silver halide film cartridge back. The attachment includes an endless belt of flexible electrophotograhic film that is charged by a source of corona, exposed and then rotated to a location where an ink-receptive toner in liquid form is applied to the resulting latent image under bias conditions. A supply of plate material such as paper, aluminum, plastic or other flexible substrate material is included and a single sheet of the plate material is fed into the nip of a pressure roller engaging against the endless belt, causing the toned image to be transferred from the belt to the plate material. The plate material containing the toned image is then fed past a fixing station and thereafter dispensed as a completed plate. The plate is suitable for us in an offset printing press.

Abstract: An R.F. Sputtering apparatus operable on a flexible continuous substrate. The substrate is suitable conditioned in a conditioning vessel, then passed through a sputtering vessel between spaced electrode pairs. Each pair consists of a target (cathode) and an anode. Each pair is independently energized from an r.f. source. Air locks are provided which enable substrate movement between and through the vessels without change of pressure and other physical conditions therewithin. Access doors or closures are provided over manholes which enable the targets to be serviced, replaced, etc.Targets may be uppermost or lowermost; individual match boxes are provided for each electrode pair; heating and drive means may be provided in the main sputtering chamber; bias means may be provided for the anodes; support and/or tension controlling rollers may be provided in the sputtering chamber; and a vacuum cleaning system is provided to remove extraneous particles, dust, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining multiple copies from apparatus including an electrophotographic member of the type in which the latent image is represented by charge not removed when toner is applied and thereafter transferred. The electrophotographic member with its latent image is repeatedly subjected to toning and transfer to respective multiple receptors without intervening charge and exposure. This may be done until the desired number of copies is made or until the image quality deteriorates by reason of dark decay. If additional copies are desired the electrophotographic member is again charged and exposed and thereafter toned and the image transferred repeatedly without intervening additional charge and exposure.Structure is provided for performing other functions such as automatically sensing quality and responding to a condition which requires a new cycle of charge and expose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing a latent electrostatic image on the surface of an electrophotographic member using a liquid toner and a development electrode. An AC bias voltage is applied between the electrophotographic member and the development electrode during the developing operation to prevent the formation of spatially stable convection cells in the liquid toner.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming process, a method and apparatus for providing an electric toning bias wherein the instantaneous electric potential value of the bias is changed with time in proportion to the natural decay of the resident electric charge inherent in the photoconductor comprising the essence of the electrophotographic medium.

Abstract: A sequential corona charging method including apparatus therefor which acts to provide several corona fields, each of its own distinct origin, which are brought together with some spatial overlap to act collectively to provide uniform charge current distribution throughout the surface of an electrophotographic medium. Independence from non-uniform charging brought about by the undesirable effects of electrostatic repulsion between adjacent electric corona fields is achieved through the rapid controlled on and off sequencing of overlapping field corona regions so that the active time coincident therebetween is negligible.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus which includes a vessel that is designed to be evacuated and sealed from the ambient atmosphere during its use in sputtering target material from targets that are mounted to be exposed to the interior of the vessel is provided with a shutter system that isolates the exposed target surfaces from the interior of the vessel when the vessel is opened. In this way the target material is closed off from the ambient atmosphere which of necessity enters into the interior of the vessel when it is opened to be serviced.Each target is recessed into a chamber which is formed in the wall of the vessel, the chamber having an entrance opening to the interior of the vessel and, when open, exposing the active target surfaces to the interior of the vessel. A remotely controlled shutter is slid across the entrance of the chamber to seal the same from the vessel interior when desired.

Abstract: A power transfer network for efficiently coupling a source of high frequency energy to a physically large dimensioned electrode system in a sputtering machine which exhibits high spray capacitance to ground. The network includes an inductive element capable of being tapped along its length such as a linear line section and a tuning capacitor with the source of high frequency energy in the megahertz range, each of the source and the electrode system being connectively tapped into a suitable location along the inductive element.

Abstract: Apparatus for radio frequency sputtering in the megahertz range, primarily higher than about six megahertz, in which the target and anode electrodes are at a low input impedance reactively such that the transfer of power to the target for practical sputtering is normally difficult. The useful plasma which provides the sputtering action has an effective high impedance which obtains between the electrodes during the sputtering process, this high impedance being shunted by a capacitive reactance made up of parasitic paths and similar capacitive components.A string of at least three resonant networks is arranged between the high frequency r.f. source and the sputtering electrodes and these networks transform impedance and voltage from one end of the string at the source to different values and conditions at the other end of the string where they are tied to the electrodes in order to achieve a maximum of overall power transfer efficiency.

Abstract: Sputtering apparatus in which a substrate passes through a sputtering chamber in a continuous rectilinear movement. The chamber is formed in a coffer-like vessel which has a closure and a body that are brought together into a sealing engagement to form the chamber. There is an air lock at opposite ends of the coffer for the substrate to enter and leave.The sputtering conditions are provided by suitable gases, pumps, electrical connections and the like, these being admitted or led into the chamber. Electrode pairs are provided, one of each pair being mounted on the closure the other in the body to give good access thereto. The one mounted on the closure may be the anode and the other the cathode or vice versa. The sputtering is carried on with r.f. power.The closure may be hinged.For sputtering selectively, masks may be interposed between the targets and the anodes. Such masks will result in strip sputtering.

Abstract: An attachment for a graphic art camera taking the place of the ordinary silver halide film cartridge for use in making a lithographic printing plate. The attachment includes an endless web mounted on rollers. At least a portion of the web is made of flexible electrophotographic film. The electrophotographic film is rotated past a charging station where the film is charged, an exposure station where a latent image is formed, a toning station where the latent image is toned with an ink-receptive toner, and a transfer station. At the transfer station the toned image is transferred from the film portion to a blank lithographic printing plate. The resulting plate is suitable for use in an offset printing press.

Abstract: A removable cartridge like toning device for electrophotographic imaging apparatus of the type wherein a latent electrostatic image formed on an endless electrophotographic belt is translated past a toning station for rendering the latent image visible. The toning device described is a box-like container for liquid toner having an elongate longitudinal slot formed in the top wall and a feed roller seated for rotation within said container, a portion of the circumferential outer surface of the roller extending from the slot. The side walls of the container are provided with inclined flanges cooperating with conformingly inclined ramps provided in the imaging apparatus at the toning station so that the container is guided to a position closely spaced substantially parallel to the electrophotographic belt.

Abstract: A photoconductive coating which comprises a crystalline deposit of a wholly inorganic material, in the preferred form comprising cadmium sulfide, of almost perfect stoichiometry, either with or without small amounts of dopant.The coating is deposited on a suitable substrate such as a thin, clear, flexible polyester sheet with an intervening layer of ohmic material such as indium-tin oxide in a sputtering method that results in unusual properties. The deposit can be made on metal substrates if desired, but the greater utility is in its application to a transparent substrate so that a transparent electrophotographic member is formed suitable for many uses.Two important properties worthy of mention are that the coating is such that a charge density may be maintained on its surface (surface charge) which is ten to one hundred times greater than known photoconductive coatings and that there is no photoconductive fatigue.

Abstract: Apparatus for making lithographic plates directly from a copy original which comprises, an enclosure which houses a copyboard, an optical train and a carriage. The carriage moves in a horizontal path beneath a platen carrying a sheet of electrophotographic material. The carriage has a corona device, a slit, a toner device including a bias plate and means for withdrawing excess toner.The copyboard is loaded in a horizontal position, is moved to a vertical position where a light scanning assembly moves over its face in synchronism with movement of the carriage. The pattern on the copyboard is projected horizontally into a pit or optical chamber where it is deviated upward to cooperate with the slit.The platen is a cover of the apparatus, can be opened after imaging and toning, the toned electrophotographic member then being removed for further processing.

Abstract: The method of preparing a lithographic printing plate containing ink receptive printing image areas and water receptive non-printing background areas in which the plate consists of a substrate having on one side thereof in sequence an electrically conductive layer and a photoconductive layer consisting of fully crystalline inorganic photoconductive substance. The method comprises the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of said photoconductive layer, developing the electrostatic latent image to define the ink receptive printing image areas on the surface, and applying to the surface an aqueous chromic acid solution.

Abstract: A unitary optical system mounting component for imaging apparatus comprising a molded basket-like rigid support member of plastics material having a pair of planar opposite walls inclined at equal but opposite directed angles and a vertical partition located centrally between said inclined walls. A pair of planar mirrors is securable each to one of said inclined walls respectively. The vertical partition is provided with a mounting for accommodating a lens system. When installed in the support, the optical system is aligned properly with no further adjustments required. The support is capable of snap-in installation, say in an imaging apparatus capable of accommodating same.

Abstract: An electrophotographic attachment for use with an optical projecting system for making a copy of a document on a sheet of carrier material.The attachment includes an electrophotographic belt that is mounted on rollers. The belt is rotated through a charging station, an exposure station, a toning station, an image transfer station and a cleaning station. The toning station includes a toning platen which serves to assist in the application of toner from a supply to the belt. Four embodiments of the toning station are described.