Abstract: A high speed digital printing apparatus having an imaging member, an ink jet head capable of image-wise jetting ink onto the imaging member, a mechanism for fractionating such image-wise ink on the imaging member to remove liquid therefrom, an intermediate transfer member onto which such image-wise ink is transferred from the imaging member, and a transfer member forming a nip with the intermediate transfer member for transferring a liquid-depleted image-wise ink to a receiver. An ink suitable for use in the printing press apparatus is formed by dispersing an ink concentrate with a suitable solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method producing printed electronic circuits using electrophotography.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article of manufacture using an electrophotographic printer to produce printed electronic circuits by printing a second conductive powder layer and a first thermoplastic layer in registration. The second conductive powder layer is permanently fixed to the first layer before removing conductive powder from portions of the substrate other than that coated with the thermoplastic patterned image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for producing printed electronic circuits using electrophotography

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for allowing the resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The apparatus includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of forming a toner image on a receiving sheet. The method includes forming an electrostatic image on a primary image member and toning the image with a dry toner to form a toner image. The toner includes toner particles having a diameter of between 4 and 10 microns and transfer assisting particles appended to the toner particles surface. The transfer assisting particles have a diameter of between 20 and 100 nm. The toner image is transferred from the primary image member to an intermediate image member having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a Young's modulus of from 250 to 500 MPa. The toner image is transferred from the intermediate image member to a receiving sheet wherein the intermediate image member drives the primary image member or the receiving sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of forming a toner image on a receiving sheet. The method includes forming an electrostatic image on a primary image member and toning the image with a dry toner to form a toner image. The toner includes toner particles having a diameter of between 4 and 10 microns and transfer assisting particles appended to the toner particles surface. The transfer assisting particles have a diameter of between 20 and 100 nm. The toner image is transferred from the primary image member to an intermediate image member having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a Young's modulus of from 250 to 500 MPa. The toner image is transferred from the intermediate image member to a receiving sheet wherein the intermediate image member drives the primary image member or the receiving sheet.

Abstract: A method of producing a custom color particulate toner for use in a two-component developer by mixing two or more component color toners. The component color toners are each surface treated with a blend of two or more types of silica particles, which differ in the functional groups appended to them. The silica blend for each component color toner is chosen so that, when the component color toners are mixed together to form the custom color mixture, they will all tribocharge to the same charge-to-mass ratio when mixed with a carrier to form a developer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for printing an image-wise ink pattern on a receiver. A primary imaging member includes a series of substantially equal-sized cells located over the substrate surface thereof. The primary imaging member has an electrically conductive layer. An ink jet printhead selectively ejects drops of ink into the primary imaging member cells in a desired image-wise ink pattern. The image-wise ink on the primary imaging member is fractionated to separate the liquid in the ink. A receiver is transported into operative association with the primary imaging member, and a transfer mechanism applies a pressure between the receiver and the primary imaging member, and establishes an electrostatic field to transfer the image-wise ink pattern to the receiver.

Abstract: A high speed digital printing apparatus having an imaging member, an ink jet head capable of image-wise jetting ink onto the imaging member, a mechanism for fractionating such image-wise ink on the imaging member to remove liquid therefrom, an intermediate transfer member onto which such image-wise ink is transferred from the imaging member, and a transfer member forming a nip with the intermediate transfer member for transferring a liquid-depleted image-wise ink to a receiver. An ink suitable for use in the printing press apparatus is formed by dispersing an ink concentrate with a suitable solvent.

Abstract: In an apparatus for printing images on a moving primary imaging member by jetting ink, containing a fluid and marking particles, in an image-wise fashion onto the primary imaging member, a device for concentrating the ink prior to transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member. The ink concentrating device includes a fractionating unit for separating fluid of the ink from the marking particles. The fractionating unit is located a predetermined spaced distance from the primary image bearing member. An electrostatic field is established between the primary image bearing member and the fractionating unit for concentrating the marking particles in the liquid of the ink.

Abstract: A method for forming a receiver transport member for an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus. The transport member transports receiver members with respect to a fuser assembly and is frictional coupled to a transfer member for driving the transfer member. The method for forming the transport member provides a substrate bearing a high friction layer that includes inorganic particles, with a compound of aluminum selected from the group consisting of aluminum hydroxide, alumina hydrate, aluminum oxide, pseudo-boehmite, boehmite alumina, aluminum salts, and mixtures thereof, dispersed in an organic binder so that the high friction layer is capable of preventing a loss of frictional coupling due to release oil applied to a receiver member bearing a fused toner image.

Abstract: A process for reducing image defects in an electrostatographic image resulting from particulate contamination. A primary imaging member, including a photoconductive element and an outermost layer of silicon carbide, is uniformly charged in an electrostatographic imaging apparatus subject to particulate contamination. The electrostatographic imaging apparatus includes a charging station, an exposing station, at least one developing station, and a transfer station comprising an electrically biased roller transfer assembly. The primary imaging member is exposed imagewise at the exposing station to form a latent image on the imaging member, which is thereafter developed with toner at the developing station to form a developed image on the imaging member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling image defects associated with overdrive or underdrive, and variations thereof, in an electrostatographic machine. A speed modifying force is transmitted to a conformable member that deforms in a nip, thereby inducing strains in the surface of the member at the nip which cancel or controllably reduce the strains caused by engagement in the nip. The speed modifying force may be an externally applied drag force or torque, and may be applied using an open loop or a feedback system including an electromagnetic brake, a motor, etc. The speed modifying force may be applied to a conformable member forming the nip through a redundant linkage of the system that employs gears or other suitable mechanisms.

Abstract: Controlling image defects related to transfer or fusing of toner images in an electrostatographic machine, wherein engagement between an operational surface of a toner image bearing member or fusing member and an operational surface of another member forming a nip is adjusted using an engagement adjustment device in order to reduce or eliminate image defects relating to an overdrive or underdrive associated with the nip. The engagement adjustment device provides a preselected amount of overdrive or underdrive between a toner image bearing member or fusing member and a receiver member, which preselected amount includes zero.

Abstract: A deformable toner fuser roller, for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine comprising a rigid cylindrical core member; an overdrive-controlling, elastically deformable structure surrounding the core member; and wherein the fuser roller is adapted to be heated by a heat source external to the roller and the overdrive-controlling elastically deformable structure comprises an effective or operational Poisson's ratio between 0.2 and 0.4.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer roller that functions as an image receiving member within a reproduction apparatus having a rigid cylindrical core member and at least one layer of an elastically deformable structure surrounding the core member, the elastically deformable structure preferably has an effective Poisson's ratio in the range of 0.2 to 0.4.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling image defects associated with overdrive or underdrive and variations thereof in an electrostatographic machine, the defects related to transfer and fusing of toner images. A speed modifying fore is transmitted to a conformable member that deforms in a nip, thereby inducing strains in the surface of the member at the nip which cancel or controllably reduce the strains caused by engagement in the nip. The speed modifying fore may be an externally applied drag force, such as for example a friction force, and may be applied using an open loop or a feedback system including an electromagnetic brake, a motor, etc. Alternatively, the speed modifying force may be produced by a controllable torque applied for example by a torque generator to an axle of a roller included in a frictionally driven system of rollers.