Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an image bearing surface having formed thereon a liquid image comprising carrier liquid and toner particles, an intermediate transfer member positioned in operative association with the image bearing surface, a first transfer station at which the liquid image is transferred from the image bearing surface onto the intermediate transfer member, and a second transfer station at which the liquid image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member onto a substrate including a source of heat which heats the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image so as to cause the toner to adhere to the substrate and whereat the intermediate transfer member and the liquid image are cooled sufficiently such that the adhesion of the toner to the intermediate transfer member is less than the cohesion of the toner.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including:an image-forming surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage;a developer surface charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages and having a second surface urged against and adapted for operative engagement with the image-forming surface at a development region;an applicator assembly operative to apply a layer of concentrated liquid toner comprising charged toner particles and carrier liquid onto the developer surface;a developer operative to develop the latent image by transferring less than the total thickness of the layer of concentrated liquid toner from the developer surface to the image regions of the image-forming surface thereby to form a developed image on the image-forming surface; andapparatus for transferring the developed image from the image-forming surface to a final substrate.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including a first member having a first surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage, a second member charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages and having a second surface adapted for resilient engagement with the first surface and a third member adapted for resilient contact with the second surface in a transfer region. The imaging apparatus also includes apparatus for supplying liquid toner to the transfer region thereby forming on the second surface a thin layer of liquid toner containing a relatively high concentration of charged toner particles and apparatus for developing the latent image by the selective transfer of portions of the layer of liquid toner from the second surface to the first surface.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member having a release surface suitable for receiving liquid toner images which include toner particles and a hydrocarbon carrier liquid from a first surface and for transferring them to a second surface, wherein the release surface includes a silicone material, preferably, a oxime cured silicone rubber. Imaging apparatus incorporating the member preferably includes a device for removing excess carrier liquid from the silicone material after an image is transferred to the second surface.

Abstract: An imaging system including a movable electrostatic imaging surface, apparatus for providing an electrostatic image on the electrostatic image surface and a development electrode having a developer surface with contiguous portions in spaced relationship with the electrostatic imaging surface to form a development region. The system includes apparatus for moving the developer surface such that the contiguous portions of the developer surface sequentially enter the region at an entrance and leaves the development region at an exit, apparatus for moving the electrostatic imaging surface so that it enters the development region at the exit and leaves the region at the entrance and apparatus for providing a liquid developer of a selectable color to the development region at the exit. The system also includes apparatus for transferring the developed image to a substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming an image on a final substrate which includes forming a liquid toner image on a surface using a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and charged tuner particles, electrostatically transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member coated with a release coating and transferring the liquid toner image to a final substrate.

Abstract: A method for printing giving increased color density including printing a first image of a given color onto at least a portion of a substrate and printing a second image in the given color onto at least a portion of the first image.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting concentrations of colored toner particles in the presence of black or other absorbing toner particles including a light source, a light detector having a field of view of less than about .+-.10 degrees and preferably less than .+-.5 degrees, apparatus for supplying a dispersion of colored toner particles optionally containing undesirable contamination by black toner particles between the light source and the detector and computing circuitry operative for determining the concentration of the colored toner particles utilizing output from the light detector.

Abstract: An image having enhanced cohesiveness is provided by treating the image with heat, ultraviolet radiation or chemical agents prior to transfer of the image from a photoconductor. Treating the developed image improves the efficiency of transfer, reduces the amount of residue remaining on the photoconductor and enables high quality images on a wide variety of substrates to be obtained.

Abstract: A multicolor electrostatic imaging system includes an electrostatic imaging surface, apparatus for supplying an electrostatic image on the electrostatic image surface, and multicolor supply apparatus for supplying a liquid toner of a selectable color to the electrostatic imaging surface. The supply apparatus has a multiplicity of jet outlets, including a set of jet outlets for supplying toner of the selectable color directly to the imaging surface, the set of jet outlets being distributed among the multiplicity of jet outlets. Finally, developing apparatus is provided for developing the electrostatic image using the liquid toner, and transfer apparatus is provided for transferring the developed image to a substrate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transfer of a liquid toner image, containing carrier liquid and toner particles which solvate the carrier liquid at a solvation temperature above room temperature, from an image bearing surface to a substrate, the apparatus including an intermediate transfer member positioned in operative association with the image bearing surface, transferring the image from the image bearing surface onto the intermediate transfer member, and heating the image on the intermediate transfer member to a temperature above the solvation temperature, below the melting point of the toner particles and below the boiling point of the carrier liquid prior to transfer of the image to the substrate so as to cause the image to adhere to the substrate.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus for duplex printing on a substrate having first and second sides and a leading edge and a trailing edge, the imaging apparatus including a first member having an image support surface adapted to sequentially support first and second images thereon, a second member adapted to support the substrate such that one side of the substrate engages the image support surface, leading edge first, at a transfer region and transfer apparatus for transferring the first image from the image support surface to the first side of the substrate at the transfer region while at least partially fixing the image thereto. The imaging apparatus also includes a waiting station adjacent the second member for receiving the substrate after transfer of the first image thereto and prior to the transfer of the second image thereto and an output station for receiving the substrate after completion of image transfer thereto.

Abstract: Method for forming images on a member including supplying a layer of liquid toner concentrate comprising charged toner particles and carrier liquid to a space between a first, moving member and a second, stationary member closely spaced therefrom; and selectively applying an electric field between the first and second members and transverse to the direction of motion of the moving member across selected segments of the layer of material, whereby certain segments of the layer adhere to the moving member in image configuration thereon for a first value of the electric field and other segments of the layer adhere to the second member for a second value of the electric field.

Abstract: An organic photoconductor including a base layer formed of a first material and a photoconductive layer formed of a second material. The organic photoconductor being characterized in that when it is maintained in a curved orientation with the photoconductive layer facing outward, the photoconductive layer is subjected to less stress than the base layer. In one embodiment the first material is relatively more flexible and stretchable than said second material and the materials are pre-stressed in opposite senses. In a second embodiment the first material is relatively flexible and stretchable and the second material is an initially less flexible and stretchable material which has been chemically treated to increase its stretchability and flexibility.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus incorporating a substantially rectangular organic photoreceptor sheet having a base layer, a conductive layer and a photoconductive layer, wherein along one edge of the photoreceptor sheet there is an exposed conductive area, a drum having a longitudinal cavity formed therein and including a slot formed between the cavity and the cylindrical surface of the drum into which the one edge of the photoreceptor sheet is inserted and a rotatable element within the cavity which, in a locking position, presses the photoreceptor sheet against a wall of the cavity, fixedly and removably holding the photoreceptor sheet in place.

Abstract: A method of fusing and fixing a liquid toner image on a substrate. The image includes a carrier liquid and a non-volatile portion including thermoplastic toner particles which are plasticized by the carrier liquid at a predetermined temperature. The non-volatile portion of the liquid toner, in the absence of the carrier liquid, has a viscosity of not less than 2.times.10.sup.6 centipoise at a temperature of 122.+-.1.degree. C. The method includes fusing and fixing the toner image on the substrate by heating the toner image to at least the predetermined temperature while pressing the toner image against the substrate.

Abstract: An imaging system including an image bearing surface and an intermediate transfer member operative for transfer of toner images from the image bearing surface to a transfer surface of the intermediate transfer member and for subsequent transfer to a substrate.The intermediate transfer member includes a compressible layer, a backing layer disposed away from said image bearing surface and a heating layer. The heating layer is disposed intermediate backing layer and said transfer surface.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including a first member having a first surface having formed thereon a latent electrostatic image, the latent electrostatic image including image regions at a first voltage and background regions at a second voltage, a second member charged to a third voltage intermediate the first and second voltages and having a second surface adapted for resilient engagement with the first surface and a third member adapted for resilient contact with the second surface in a transfer region. The imaging apparatus also includes apparatus for supplying liquid toner to the transfer region thereby forming on the second surface a thin layer of liquid toner containing a relatively high concentration of charged toner particles and apparatus for developing the latent image by the selective transfer of portions of the layer of liquid toner from the second surface to the first surface.

Abstract: An imaging process including the steps of forming an electrostatic image on a photoconductor surface, developing the electrostatic image with a liquid developer to form a developed image on the photoconductor surface, and transferring the developed image from the photoconductor surface to a final substrate. The cohesiveness of the developed image on the photoconductor surface is enhanced by the application of heat, ultraviolet radiation or a catalytic agent to the developed image on the photoconductor surface.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus for printing an image on a substrate (42) from a latent image formed on a latent image bearing surface (16) including developing apparatus (22) for developing the latent image/with toner to form a developed toner image of a given size, a first intermediate transfer member (40) having a surface area large enough to accomodate the developed toner image, first transfer means for transferring the developed toner image from the latent image bearing surface (16) to the first intermediate transfer member (40), a second intermediate transfer member (47) having a surface area smaller than the surface area of the first intermediate transfer member (40), and second transfer means for transferring of said developed image from said first intermediate transfer member (40) to said second intermediate transfer member (47) and from said second intermediate transfer member (47) to said substrate (42).