Abstract: An electrical image signal is generated by providing a toner image on a support, scanning the toner image through a liquid layer in contact with the toner image to produce an optical response and photoelectrically detecting the optical response to produce an electrical image signal.

Abstract: An electrical image signal is produced by an electrographic process including the steps of forming a differential voltage pattern; developing the voltage pattern with a luminescent toner; exciting the developed image to emit radiation; and photoelectrically detecting the emitted radiation to produce an electrical image signal.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel includes a layer of transparent stimulable phosphor, a filter layer for strongly absorbing stimulating radiation and transmitting emitted radiation, and a radiation diffusing layer. The filter layer absorbs the beam of stimulating radiation so that an image recorded in the storage panel is not blurred by scattered stimulating radiation during readout, and the diffusing layer increases the escape efficiency of the emitted light from the storage panel.

Abstract: Light collectors formed by rolling one edge of a sheet of transparent thermoplastic material into an annular configuration, while keeping an opposite edge flat suffer from light collection inefficiency caused by local stretching and thus thinning of the sheet near the annular end, thereby increasing the number of internal reflections experienced by a light ray. This problem is solved by making a light collector that is uniform in thickness, or thicker toward the annular end.

Abstract: Apparatus for scan-stimulating a transparent image-storage phosphor to recover a latent image previously formed therein by, for example, an imagewise exposure to x-radiation. Such apparatus includes a source of stimulating radiation and optical apparatus for causing the stimulating radiation to appear (to the storage phosphor) to diverge from the same position in space as the source (x-ray) used to form the latent image in the phosphor. By scanning the phosphor with stimulating radiation propagating along the same path as that traversed by the imagewise-exposing radiation, the recovered image is significantly sharper than prior art techniques.

Abstract: Apparatus for scanning a transparent storage phosphor including, a source of stimulating radiation, scanning apparatus, apparatus for supporting the transparent phosphor and apparatus for optically directing the scanning radiation from the scanning apparatus so that it always strikes the phosphor perpendicular to the surface of the phosphor. Preferably, the apparatus for directing the scanning radiation is a telecentric lens system located between the scanning apparatus and the phosphor.

Abstract: To minimize the adverse effects of "flare" in reading-out stimulable phosphor recording elements, the light-collecting face of a photodetector is provided with a multiplicity of sharp, light-transparent, optical projections. By a combination of reflections and refractions, such optical projections serve to absorb substantially all incident photons thereby preventing phosphor-stimulating photons from being reflected by the photodetector's light-collecting face and exciting non-addressed regions of the recording element. Preferably, the optical projections take the form of a sawtooth array of optical wedges; however, pyramid-shaped and cone-shaped projections are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for correcting the density nonuniformities that occur down the page of a thermally printed document by providing a correction component, representing heating pulses, to each thermal printing element as a function of the line on which the thermal printer is printing. The correction component is determined from the product of a correction factor times the logarithm of the total number of lines to be printed divided by the number of the line next to be printed. The correction factor is calculated from the average number of heat pulses to be applied across the head at any time, or as a compromise a single number may be selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention corrects the nonuniformity in the printing density between the printing elements of a thermal print head by first printing across a transparent receiver with each element of the head activated with equal inputs (flat field). The print transmittance values are read from the transparent receiver using, for example, a microdensitometer, and an adjustment factor for each heating element is computed and maintained in storage to be combined with the number of heating pulses assigned to each of the respective heating elements as they perform their normal printing function.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading out an image stored in a transparent stimulable phosphor sheet includes means for maintaining a layer of optical index matching fluid between a light detector and the transparent stimulable phosphor sheet, to provide optical contact between the light detector and the transparent stimulable phosphor, means for scanning a beam of stimulating light in a line across the phosphor sheet, and means for providing relative movement between the transparent stimulable phosphor sheet and the light detector in a direction perpendicular to a scan line.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting emitted light from a raster scanned photostimulable phosphor sheet in a photostimulable phosphor imaging apparatus includes a generally rectangular slab of transparent material having a thickness greater than 20 mm, a first face of said slab being arranged along the scan line of the photostimulable phosphor, said first face making an angle .theta. of between 10.degree. and 15.degree. with respect to a perpendicular to the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a plurality of photomultiplier tubes being arranged at an opposite face of the slab. An elongated mirror is arranged opposite first face for directing light emitted from the phosphor onto said first face of said slab of transparent material.

Abstract: An image recorded by a photostimulable phosphor image recording medium that is transparent (i.e. substantially non-scattering) to stimulating radiation is read out by scanning the stimulable phosphor with a beam of stimulating radiation of such power and at such a speed effective to completely discharge the photostimulable phosphor in a fraction of the beam spot diameter in the scanning direction, whereby the effective size of the scanning spot is smaller than the beam spot diameter, thereby increasing the resolution of the image signal in the scanning direction.

Abstract: A light collector for collecting and detecting emitted light from a raster scanned photo-stimulable phosphor sheet in photo-stimulable phosphor imaging apparatus includes a generally rectangular mirror box having two opposite open ends, one of the open ends being arranged along the scan line of the photo-stimulable phosphor, and a plurality of photomultiplier tubes being arranged at the other open end of the mirror box. An elongated mirror is arranged opposite the one open end of the mirror box for directing light emitted from the phosphor sheet into the mirror box.

Abstract: Electrophotographic color proof generating apparatus includes a charger station, an exposure station, and a development station. Starting with color half-tone separations of artwork, the apparatus, using a unique method, electronically controls the exposure and potentials at the charger and development stations to generate a proof. The apparatus is designed to generate proofs which match the dot gain or loss and density of press sheets printed by a great variety of commercial presses starting with the same separations as are used to form the proofs. The separations are then modified until the apparatus generates a proof which is an acceptable reproduction of the artwork. The modified separations are then used to generate a press sheet on the commercial press which will be an acceptable reproduction of the artwork.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a developer roller transports developer material into contact with a flexible member in a development zone so as to develop a latent image recorded thereon. The developer material being transported through the development zone on the developer roller is magnetically agitated to improve development of the latent image.

Abstract: An apparatus which develops a latent image recorded on a flexble photoconductive member. Developer material comprising conductive carrier granules and magnetic toner particles is transported into contact with the photoconductive member in two development zones. In the first development zone, the flexible photoconductive belt is deflected to wrap about the developer roller. This optimizes development of the solid areas in the latent image. In the second development zone, the developer roller transports the developer material into contact with the latent image. This development zone optimizes development of lines in the latent image with carrier granules adhering to the photoconductive member being removed therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus in which a plurality of developer rollers develop a latent image recorded on a flexible photoconductive member. The photoconductive belt is deflected by the developer material to wrap around at least a portion of the first two developer rollers forming wrapped development zones. The last developer roller may either have the photoconductive belt wrapped about a portion thereof, or the photoconductive belt may remain in an undeflected condition. The developer rollers having the photoconductive belt wrapped thereabout rotate in opposite directions. A blanket of developer material is formed between the last two developer rollers. An apparatus of this type optimizes development of the latent image recorded on the photoconductive member.