Abstract: A homogeneous liquid composition, for use in the preparation of liquid toners containing at least one charge director and in which the electrical properties of the charge director(s) is/are stabilized, comprises: (1) insulating non-polar carrier liquid compatible with liquid toners for electrostatic imaging; (2) at least one charge director other than an amine salt; and (3) at least one stabilizing component in an amount effective to stabilize the electrical properties of said at least one charge director, said component being selected from non-quaternary amine salts and being soluble in the carrier, e.g. diethylammonium chloride and isopropylamine dodecylbenzenesulfonate. The invention further relates to liquid toners for electrostatic imaging comprise thermoplastic resin particles dispersed in an insulating non polar carrier liquid, preferably a hydrocarbon having a volume resistivity above 10.sup.9 ohm-cm and a dielectric constant below 3.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a drum having an image bearing surface, apparatus for forming an electrostatic image on the image bearing surface, apparatus for developing the electrostatic image using a toner comprising charged toner particles to form a toner image, and an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is operative for transfering the toner image from the image bearing surface to a transfer surface of the intermediate transfer member, and pfor subsequent transfer of the image to a substrate. The intermediate transfer member comprises a rigid core and an intermediate transfer blanket attached to the core.

Abstract: Apparatus for optical imaging onto a moving surface including a movable surface for receiving an optical image, apparatus for measuring the movement of the surface and providing an surface movement reference signal, optical image producing apparatus operative to produce at least one scanning optical beam for scanning the surface and to provide timing reference signals, and a servo-controlled relay mirror located so as to reflect the at least one scanning beam onto the moving surface. The mirror is precisely positioned in response to the relationship between the substrate movement reference signals and the timing reference signals to ensure proper positioning of the optical image on the moving surface.

Abstract: An improved liquid toner composition for developing latent electrostatic images comprising toner particles, a release agent and a nonpolar dispersant liquid. An agent causing an apparent increase in the cohesivity of the toner particles may be included in the toner composition, or such agent may be used independently of the release agent in the toner composition.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including an imaging surface having a latent image with image areas at a first electrical potential and background areas at a second electrical potential and a developer. The developer includes a moving developer electrode electrified to a third electrical potential intermediate the first and second electrical potentials and has sequential surface portions closely spaced from the imaging surface to form a development region. The latent image is developed at the development region with liquid toner including carrier liquid and charged toner particles. Toner particles are also attracted to the developer surface and a resilient metal blade is urged against and in contact with the developer surface after it passes the development region and is operative to remove toner particles from the developer surface. The blade is coated with an insulating coating over at least a portion of the blade not contacting the developer surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for fusing a thermoplastic image onto a substrate including a fuser element having a thin fusing member and apparatus for tensioning the thin fusing member.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a charge director solution, and a charge director composition made by this method, whereby a charge director is mixed with a solvent and a polar monomer species and a polymerization reaction is initiated and allowed to progress to completion.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus including an image forming surface, image forming apparatus for defining an electrostatic latent image on the image forming surface, the latent image having image portions and background portions, development apparatus for developing the electrostatic latent image in a reversal mode, using electrically charged pigmented toner particles to form a developed image overlying the image portions, whereby the developed image on the image forming surface is at a first electrical potential and the background portions on the image forming surface are at a second electrical potential, discharge apparatus for partially discharging the image forming surface so that the developed image is at a third electrical potential and the background portions are at a fourth potential and an image receiving surface at a fifth potential, for receiving the developed image from the image forming surface, wherein the difference between the fourth potential and the fifth potential is low enough such that substantially no

Abstract: A multi-color liquid toner electrophotographic apparatus includes an image bearing surface, a developing apparatus for developing an image on the image bearing surface using a plurality of liquid toners of different colors and a transferring apparatus for transferring the developed image from the image bearing surface to a substrate. The developing apparatus includes a plurality of colored liquid toner reservoir volumes each for a different color which are separated by a barrier which prevents pigmented particle communication therebetween and permits communication of carrier liquid therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring liquid toner images from an image forming surface (10) to an intermediate transfer member (40) for subsequent transfer to a final substrate (42). the liquid toner images include carrier liquid and pigmented polymeric toner particles which are essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature, and which form a single phase at elevated temperatures. The method includes the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image by compacting the solids portion of the liquid toner image and removing carrier liquid therefrom; transferring the liquid toner image to the intermediate transfer member (40), heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member (40) to a temperature at which the toner particles and the carrier liquid form a single phase; and transferring the heated liquid toner image to a final substrate (42).

Abstract: An imaging process which includes the steps of developing an image with liquid toner including a liquid carrier and toner particles, transferring the image to a substrate and fusing and fixing the image to the substrate by the application of energy and pressure, such that at least about 50% of the liquid carrier in the transferred image remains therein after fixing and fusing.

Abstract: Apparatus for optical imaging onto a moving surface including a movable surface for receiving an optical image, apparatus for measuring the movement of the surface and providing an surface movement reference signal, optical image producing apparatus operative to produce at least one scanning optical beam for scanning the surface and to provide timing reference signals, and a servo-controlled relay mirror located so as to reflect the at least one scanning beam onto the moving surface. The mirror is precisely positioned in response to the relationship between the substrate movement reference signals and the timing reference signals to ensure proper positioning of the optical image on the moving surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homogeneous liquid composition which comprises: (1) liquid hydrocarbon compatible with liquid toners for electrostatic imaging, (2) at least one charge director, and (3) at least one stabilizing component in an amount effective to stabilize the electrical properties of said at least one charge director, said component being selected from piperidinemethanol and polyoxyalkylene ethers of formula R(O--A).sub.n OH, wherein R is alkyl or alkenyl containing 10-20 carbon atoms, A is C.sub.2-3 -alkylene and n is 2-24; and to liquid toners characterized by the presence of at least one charge director and at least one stabilizing component therefor as defined in (3), above.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a charge director solution, and a charge director composition made by this method, whereby a charge director is mixed with a solvent and a polar monomer species and a polymerization reaction is initiated and allowed to progress to completion.

Abstract: A composition of matter including: (A) a release coating silicone polymer; (B) a cross-linker for (A) in an amount insufficient to substantially cross-link (A); and (C) a soft silicone rubber formulation, the weight ratio of (A) to (C) being in the range of from about 1:1.5 to 1:20. The composition is useful in the manufacture of fuser rollers.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus having an image forming surface arranged for movement in a first direction and an image forming apparatus for forming electrostatic latent image and background areas at respective first and second electrical potentials on the image forming surface, a development apparatus biased to a third potential intermediate the first and second potentials for developing the electrostatic latent image using a liquid developer including electrically charged toner particles to form a developed image, the development apparatus having a development surface maintained in a spaced apart relationship from the image forming surface and moving in a direction opposite to the first direction, a background toner removal surface spaced from the image forming surface for the removal of toner particles from the background areas and preferably moving in a direction opposite to the first direction, and an apparatus for supplying a liquid to at least a portion of the space between the image forming surface and the additio

Abstract: A system for imaging with liquid developer, the developer including carrier liquid, toner particles and charge director, the system including an electrostatic imaging surface apparatus for forming an electrostatic image on the electrostatic imaging surface, a reservoir for the liquid developer, a developer electrode for developing the electrostatic image with the liquid developer to form a developed image, apparatus for supplying the liquid developer to the electrostatic surface and for removing residual liquid developer from the developer electrode and returning the removed developer to the reservoir, apparatus for transferring the developed image to a substrate and charge director supply apparatus responsive to the charge level of the liquid developer, for supplying charge director at the developer electrode for maintaining the charge level of the liquid developer.

Abstract: Liquid toner compositions for electrostatic imaging comprise carrier liquid, colorant particles and charge director(s), as well as charge priming agent(s) selected from alkoxides of aluminum and zirconium.

Abstract: A liquid toner based imaging machine includes a movable photoconductive member carrying an electrostatic latent image. A developing station contains a source of toner liquid that includes charged toner particles. The station is operatively associated with the carrier for contacting the carrier with the liquid for which develops the latent image by effecting the transfer of toner particles to the image. The developing station includes a developer electrode charged to a voltage intermediate voltages on the carrier representative of background and information of the image for attracting toner particles to an elemental area of the carrier when the electric field between the carrier and the electrode is directed towards the elemental area. The deposition of toner particles on the surface of the electrode is inhibited during development of the image by coating the surface of the electrode facing the carrier with a polymer material having a conductivity increasing additive.

Abstract: Liquid toner imaging apparatus for producing an image on a substrate and having carrier liquid and toner particle carryout on the average in a first ratio, the apparatus including an image bearing surface, apparatus for developing an image on the image bearing surface using a liquid toner including carrier liquid and toner particles and apparatus for transferring a developed image from the image bearing surface to the substrate. The apparatus for developing includes a liquid toner reservoir, supply apparatus including a replaceable enclosure initially containing toner concentrate including carrier liquid and toner particles therein and having an opening communicating with the reservoir and replenishment apparatus for causing transfer of toner concentrate from the replaceable enclosure to the reservoir to replenish the toner and for causing transfer of contents of the reservoir to the replaceable enclosure to remove excess liquid toner from the reservoir.