Abstract: A toner mass sensor includes a piezoelectric crystal having a resonant frequency, an electrode on a first face of the crystal, an electrically conductive lead connecting the first face of the crystal to an electrical contact point in the vicinity of a second side of the crystal, and a casing closed at one end by the crystal with the first face of the crystal allowed to contact developer outside of the closed casing through the opening of the casing. The casing and crystal defines an interior which is sealed from developer in a development station, within which sealed interior the second face of the crystal is protected from contamination by developer. The electrode is wrapped around the edge of the crystal to be accessible from the second side of the crystal, and the electrode is a metal; preferably aluminum. The interior of the casing is closed by a base member which carries an electrical circuit.

Abstract: A dry toner image is fixed to a thermoplastic layer on a receiving sheet by pressing a ferrotyping web against the image in the presence of sufficient heat to soften the layer. A curl preventing layer opposite the thermoplastic layer does not offset on a backing roller or the like because it has a melting point that is high compared to the thermoplastic layer.

Abstract: First and second toner images are created on a primary image member. The first toner image is transferred to an intermediate image member and then transferred back to the primary image member to combine the two images. Preferably, the intermediate image member is a light roller that is inarticulatable and maintained in contact with the primary image member which is preferably an endless belt with sufficient wrap to drive the intermediate image member with low pressure in the contact nip. Cleaning is effected by transferring residual toner back to an empty portion of the primary image member from where it may be cleaned off by a primary image member cleaning station. Intrack registration of the images is maintained by adjusting the time between flashes in creating the two images.

Abstract: A piezoelectric toner mass sensor to be positioned adjacent to a toner applicator in an electrostatographic recording apparatus. The piezoelectric sensor has a circular central crystal having its front and rear surfaces metallized, the two metallized surfaces being concentric with one another. The front surface of the sensor directed toward the toner applicator is smaller than the rear surface. Reducing the area of metallization on the piezoelectric toner mass sensor greatly increases sensitivity of the device. In addition, limiting the development area on the sensor facilitates the cleaning of the piezoelectric element and facilitates the mounting of the sensor in a suitable holder.

Abstract: Ultrathin film thermocouple devices, which are extremely small in size and thickness and flexible, allow measurement of temperatures during processing of flexible elements which flex during processing. The invention includes temperature measuring devices where the thermocouple is deposited on the flexible element being processed. Such thermocouple devices are useful in a variety of applications where conventional temperature measuring devices can not be used. Such thermocouples devices are made from a variety of thermocouple metals including copper-constantan and copper-nickel and may be fabricated on flexible substrates by evaporation. Detailed fabrication procedures are also described. These devices are surprisingly robust, able to withstand extensive flexing without alteration or deterioration in thermocouple properties, and exhibit thermal EMF's which are reproducible from sample to sample and readily measurable.

Abstract: A method is provided for non-electrostatically transferring dry toner particles which comprise a toner binder and have a particle size of 8 micrometers or less from the surface of an element to a receiver. The receiver comprises a substrate having a coating of a semi-crystalline polyester on a surface of the substrate. The semi-crystalline polyester has a glass transition temperature in a range of from approximately 5.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.; a melting temperature in a range of from approximately 40.degree. C. to 200.degree. C.; a weight average molecular weight in a range of from approximately 10,000 to 150,000; a number average molecular weight in a range of from approximately 5,000 to 75,000; a crystallinity of from approximately 5 to 25 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the polyester and a surface energy of from approximately 44 to 52 dynes/cm. The method involves preheating the receiver to a temperature ranging from approximately 70.degree. C. to 95.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of forming a toner image on a receiving sheet includes a step of either transferring or fixing a toner image to the receiving sheet, in which the receiving sheet is heated to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. To allow steam to escape from the receiving sheet, a gas impermeable layer on the side of the sheet opposite the toner image is made permeable by application of small, closely spaced holes in the layer. The method is particularly usable with a receiving sheet having a heat-softenable layer which is heated beyond its softening point to facilitate transfer of images made up of very small toner particles. The holes are preferably mechanically punched in a curl-preventing layer on the opposite side of the sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the rate of development characteristic of electroscopic toner particles of the type used in electrostatographic recording to develop electrostatic images. The apparatus has a biased electrode for attracting toner particles and a microprocessor-based logic and control unit for sampling the mass of toner particles attracted to the electrode at preselected times during the accumulation of toner on the biased electrode. This development rate parameter is used by the logic and control unit to control process parameters (e.g. primary charging and exposure levels, development electrode bias, toner concentration) which affect image quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the charge-to-mass ratio of electroscopic toner particles of the type used in electrostatographic recording to develop electrostatic images. The apparatus uses a biased electrode for attracting toner particles thereto, and a microprocessor-based logic and control unit for sampling the mass of toner particles deposited on the electrode after the deposited toner particles have neutralized the electric field produced by the electrode bias. This toner mass information, together with certain toner constants and known parameters, is used by the logic and control unit to calculate the toner's charge-to-mass ratio. The output of the apparatus is useful for controlling process parameters (e.g. primary charging and exposure levels, development electrode bias, toner concentration) which affect image quality.

Abstract: Information regarding a toner development characteristic associated with a development station is used to automatically adjust process control parameters associated with the other development stations to achieve quality color productions. A color electrostatographic image production device having a plurality of toner development stations, includes a toner development characteristic sensor at at least one of the development stations. A set of process control parameter control signals are produced for color separations produced by at least one other development station in response to the sensed development characteristic. Preferably, the toner development characteristic is the development rate of the development station or is a characteristic which influences the development rate of the development station.

Abstract: A process is provided for the non-electrostatic transfer of a toned image. Using an intermediate transfer roll from an element to a receiver, a developed toned image on the surface of an element is transferred by pressure and heat to a transfer roll. The heat is sufficient to sinter the toner particles to each other. The roll is then positioned against a receiver and rolled thereover and the toned image is transferred to the receiver. If the combination of heat and pressure is sufficient, the transferred toned image is fused to the receiver during the transfer; if not, then the transferred image can be subsequently fused to the receiver. The process is suited for producing high resolution images from very small particle size toner powder on rough paper.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making high resolution copies wherein a toned image is formed on a receiver. First, a uniform coating of clear toner particles is transferred to the surface of a receiver. Next, a latent electrostatic image is developed and transferred to the coated receiver by conventional electrostatic transfer technique.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making high resolution copies wherein a toned image is formed on a receiver. First, a uniform coating of nonmarking toner particles is transferred to the surface of a receiver. Next, a latent electrostatic image is developed and transferred to the coated receiver and the toned image is heat fused. Thus, the receiver has heat fused thereto a continuous coating of the nonmarking toner which is overlaid by a toned image of the marking toner.

Abstract: A process is provided for providing a non-electrostatically transferred toned image. From the surface of an element, the image is thermally transferred by contact to the face of a thermoplastic film that is strippably laminated to a paper or like backing. The film is then positioned against a receiver with the toner image therebetween, and the resulting composite is subjected to two successive stages of compressive heating. The process is particularly well suited for producing high resolution images from very small particle size toner powder on rough paper.

Abstract: A dry toner image is embedded in a thermoplastic layer on a receiving sheet by pressing a ferrotyping web against the image in the presence of sufficient heat to soften the layer. Preferably, the layer is preheated and the web and image are pressed together by a pair of hard rollers to a pressure in excess of 100 pounds per square inch.A curl preventing layer opposite thermoplastic layer does not offset on a backing roller because it has a melting point above the temperature of the process.

Abstract: A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member, such as a photoconductor, and electrostatically transferred to an intermediate image member and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate image member is chosen to have characteristics making the toner less attractive to the primary image member, but more attractive to the receiving sheet, than the intermediate.The intermediate transfer member can include a base of a relatively compliant material having a Young's modulus 10.sup.7 Newtons per square meter or less with a very thin outer skin of a harder material having a Young's modulus of 5.times.10.sup.7 Newtons per square meter or more.

Abstract: A web cleaning device is particularly adapted for cleaning a small amount of toner off the photoconductive surface of an image member. A backing element for the web has a plurality of elongated protrusions which urge the web into a plurality of lines or bands of cleaning contact with the surface to be cleaned. Preferably, the protrusions are separated by distances which vary so that as the web is advanced the web presents a different footprint to the cleaning surface with a fresh web at at least two of the protrusions. Cleaning is enhanced by the application of an electric field urging toner toward the web.

Abstract: A toner image is transferred to a heat softened first thermoplastic outer layer of a receiving sheet, which receiving sheet also has a second thermoplastic layer on its backside. The second layer has a higher heat softening point than the first layer. Transfer is effected by securing the receiving sheet to a roller having a metal surface in contact with the second layer and bringing the first layer into pressure contact with an image bearing member while heating the roller from within to a temperature sufficient to soften the first layer and the toner but not sufficient to cause release of the second layer onto the roller.

Abstract: A microvoided polymeric receiver sheet provides important advantages in the transfer of electrophotographic toner images. Especially advantageous in reducing image defects is the use of such receiver sheets for thermally assisted transfer of toners of small particle size.

Abstract: A method transferring dry toner particles from the surface of an element which has a surface layer comprising polyester or polycarbonate thermoplastic polymeric binder resin matrix to a receiver which comprises a substrate having a polymeric coating on a surface in which the polymeric coating comprises a blend of:(i) from about 40 to about 90 percent by weight based on the total weight of the blend of a thermoplstic addition polymer and(i) from about 10 to about 60 percent by weight based on the total weight of the blend of a thermoplastic addition polymer having a ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight in the range of from about 1:1 to 10:1.wherein the Tg of the thermoplastic addition polymers in the blend is less than approximately 10.degree. C.