Abstract: A method for printing an image on a surface of a substrate having a surface finish defined by a gloss, the method comprising: printing an image on the surface of the substrate, such that image areas thereof have a thickness, when fixed to the substrate and dry, of less than about 6 micrometers of a thermoplastic material; and smoothing the surface of at least a portion of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A coating system comprising: a rotating roller; an electrode having a surface located adjacent the roller that defines a space between the surface of the roller and the electrode surface, which space has first and second apertures located at different angular positions about the axis of the roller, wherein the electrode surface is formed with at least one drain aperture located between the first and second apertures; a voltage source that applies a voltage difference between the electrode and the roller; and a source of liquid toner comprising charged toner particles dispersed in a carrier liquid that discharges the liquid toner into the space through the first aperture, wherein a portion of the liquid toner discharged into the space coats a region of the surface of the roller that passes by the electrode, a portion exits the space through the second aperture and a portion exits through the at least one drain aperture.

Abstract: Duplex printing apparatus for printing on two sides of a sheet, the apparatus comprising: an impression roller on which the sheet is held during printing; an imager which prints an image on a first side of the sheet while it is being held on the impression roller; and a sheet inverter which removes the sheet from the impression roller, inverts the sheet and returns it to the impression roller for printing on a second side of the sheet by the imager, wherein the sheet is held on said impression roller referenced to a first edge thereof during the printing of the first side thereof and is also held on the impression roller referenced to said first edge during printing of the second side thereof.

Abstract: A method of printing a multi-page job including producing separate non-bit mapped files for each page of the multi-page job, producing a page file for each page of the multi-page job, storing the page files in a memory and printing the page files in sequence. The page file may include color separations for the various colors to be printed on the page or other convenient forms of storage devoted to a single page. The page file may be in a bit mapped format or may be in the form of a continuous tone image in a format which can be easily converted into a bit-map format by the printer during the printing process. Preferably, the continuous tone image can be converted into a bit map for printing on the fly.

Abstract: A method of transferring an image on a surface to a substrate comprising: a) heating the surface to a first temperature above a temperature at which the image adheres to the substrate; b) heating the substrate to a second temperature above ambient temperature and below the first temperature; c) pressing the substrate to the surface; d) cooling the image while it is in contact with both the surface and the substrate such that it cools during said contact to a third temperature, below a temperature at which its cohesion is greater than its adhesion to the surface; and e) then separating the substrate from the surface, said image being transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing a coating on a member comprising: providing a body portion; coating the body portion with a catalyst material for a release coating material; and overcoating the catalyst material with an uncured polymer material for which the catalyst is active. Preferably, the release coating material is a condensation type silicone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid toner and imaging apparatus provided with an imaging surface having a liquid toner image formed thereon on fibrous toner particles and carrier liquid. The fibrous toner particles can be composed of a polymer portion and pigment dispersed therein, where the polymer portion comprises a surface of the fibrous toner particles and is insoluble in the carrier liquid at temperatures below 40° C., so that the polymer portion will not dissolve or solvate in storage. The polymer portion also is solvatable by the carrier liquid only at temperatures above 50° C. The carrier liquid has, as a major component, first liquid hydrocarbon having a first rate of evaporation, and, as a minor component, second liquid hydrocarbon having a second rate of evaporation which, at room temperature, is at least an order of magnitude less than the first rate of evaporation.

Abstract: A method for registration of print separations in a printer comprising: (a) printing a first pattern, for which at least one image characteristic varies relatively weakly with misregistration, using at least one of first and second separations; (b) printing a second pattern, for which said at least one image characteristic varies relatively strongly with misregistration, using said at least one first and second separations; (c) determining said at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns; and (d) correcting the mutual registration of said at least one first and second separations responsive to a difference in the determined at least one image characteristic for the first and second patterns.

Abstract: Duplex printing apparatus for printing on two sides of a sheet, the apparatus including: an expression roller on which the sheet is held during printing; a imager which prints an image on a first side of the sheet while it is being held on the impression roller; and a sheet inverter which removes the sheet from the impression roller, inverts the sheet and returns it to the impression roller for printing on a second side of the sheet by imager, wherein the sheet it to held on said impression roller referenced to a first edge thereof during the printing of the first side thereof and is also held on the impression roller referenced to said first edge during printing of the second side thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus from removing excess liquid from a surface containing a liquid toner image comprising: a source of gas which flows gas onto the surface; and a chamber, adjacent the source and the surface which receives a mixture of air and liquid carried by the air and removes the mixture from the surface substantially without contaminating the surroundings, wherein the surface is an intermediate transfer member which receives images from a first surface and from which the images are transferred to a further surface.

Abstract: A liquid toner for electrostatic imaging which includes: an insulating non-polar carrier liquid, at least one charge director and toner particles dispersed in the carrier liquid. The particles include a core material which is unchargeable or weakly chargeable by the at least one charge director, but which is otherwise suitable for use as a toner material and a coating of at least one ionomer component in an amount effective to impart enhanced chargeability to the ordinarily unchargeable or weakly chargeable particles.

Abstract: A method of processing a photoconductor comprising: providing a photoconductor having a base layer and a photoconductive layer; bending the photoconductor with the photoconductive layer facing outward without subjecting the photoconductor to substantial external stress other than by virtue of said bending; heat treating the bent; and allowing the bent photoconductor to cool.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning a beam across a surface, such as a photosensitive surface or a document, the scanner comprising: a plurality of multi-faceted polygon disks, mounted for common rotation on an axis; a plurality of data modulated beams, wherein one of said beams is configured to impinge on the facets of one of the disks and be reflected therefrom toward the surface.

Abstract: An imaging device comprising an imaging surface on which images are formed; an image transfer surface which receives the images onto an image transfer portion thereof at a first transfer region and from which images are transferred at a second transfer region; and a cleaning arrangement including a cleaning surface which engages the image transfer portion at a cleaning region of the transfer surface. The image transfer portion receives a non-image pattern from the imaging surface at the first transfer region and the cleaning surface collects the non-image pattern at the cleaning region.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an improved exit device are provided for guiding a substrate bearing an at least partly deformable image upon exit of the substrate from an image impression region on an image impression surface of an imaging system. The exit device includes an exit roller urged against the image impression surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing liquid toner concentrate including a container containing liquid toner concentrate, mounting apparatus operative to secure the container while allowing for axial movement of the container and air pressure apparatus for causing axial movement of the container and movement of a movable partition in the canister to aid in selective dispensing of the liquid toner concentrate from the container.

Abstract: In a liquid toner for use in imaging processes which comprises pigmented polymer particles, at least one charge director and a hydrocarbon liquid toner carrier, the polymer is a blend of at least two distinct polymer components, the blend being characterized in that in a 40% non-volatile mixture with a hydrocarbon liquid toner carrier, it has on a semi-logarithmic viscosity vs. temperature cooling curve, a break-point at a temperature below about 65.degree. C. at a viscosity of between about 3.times.10.sup.5 centipoises and about 5.times.10.sup.6 centipoises. The polymer blend and an electrostatic imaging process (particularly one using an intermediate transfer member) utilizing the above toner are also claimed. Use of such polymer blends enables liquid toner to be applied in such processes at no more than and in some cases less than the customary processing temperatures.

Abstract: A method of pre-conditioning an organic photoreceptor, comprising: a) providing an organic photoreceptor having a residue of organic material thereon; and b) applying a solubilizing agent for the soluble organic material to the photoreceptor surface.

Abstract: A system for double-sided imaging on a continuous-web substrate having first and second substrate surfaces, the system including an imaging device including a toner-image bearing surface having selectively formed thereon first and second images. The system further includes a web-feeder system which selectively brings the first and second substrate surfaces into operative engagement with the toner-image bearing surface, to transfer thereto the first and second images, respectively, in accordance with a preselected imaging sequence.

Abstract: Toning apparatus for toning an electrostatic latent image, having image and background portions at different potentials on an imaging surface. The apparatus comprises an endless toning surface coated with a layer of concentrated toner and engaging the imaging surface at a toning region. The apparatus additionally comprises a source: of voltage connected to the toning surface and electrifying the toning surface to a voltage operative to selectively transfer at feast a portion of the layer to image: portions on the imaging surface. A developed mass per unit area (DMA) controller having an input indicative of the DMA on the imaging surface is operative to adjust the DMA on the toning surface in response to the input.