Patents by Inventor Donald S. Rimai

Donald S. Rimai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5043242
    Abstract: A method is provided for non-electrostatically transferring dry toner particles which comprise a toner binder and have a particle size of less than 8 micrometers from the surface of an element which has a surface layer comprising a film-forming, electrically insulating polyester or polycarbonate thermoplastic polymeric binder resin matrix and a surface energy of not greater than approximately 47 dynes/cm, preferably from about 40 to 45 dynes/cm, to a receiver which comprises a substrate having a coating of a thermoplastic addition polymer on a surface of the substrate in which the Tg of the polymer is less than approximately 10.degree. C. above the Tg of the toner binder and the surface energy of the thermoplastic polymer coating is approximately 38 to 43 dynes/cm by contacting the toner particles with the receiver which is heated to a temperature such that the temperature of the thermoplastic polymer coating on the receiver substrate during transfer is at least approximately 15.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William A. Light, Donald S. Rimai, Louis J. Sorriero
  • Patent number: 5037718
    Abstract: A method is provided for non-electrostatically transferring dry toner particles which comprise a toner binder and have a particle size of less than 8 micrometers from the surface of an element which has a surface layer comprising a film-forming, electrically insulating polyester or polycarbonate thermoplastic polymeric binder resin matrix and a surface energy of not greater than approximately 47 dynes/cm, preferably from about 40 to 45 dynes/cm, to a receiver which comprises a substrate having a coating of a thermoplastic condensation polymer on a surface of the substrate in which the Tg of the polymer is less than approximately 10.degree. C. above the Tg of the toner binder and the surface energy of the thermoplastic polymer coating is approximately 38 to 43 dynes/cm by contacting the toner particles with the receiver which is heated to a temperature such that the temperature of the thermoplastic polymer coating on the receiver substrate during transfer is at least approximately 5.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William A. Light, Donald S. Rimai, Louis J. Sorriero
  • Patent number: 5006897
    Abstract: In electrostatographic apparatus, the ratio of toner particle electrostatic charge-to-toner particle mass and the development rate are determined by providing a piezo device positioned to interact with toner particles. The device is periodically electrically biased to attract toner particles, and the frequency shift of the piezo device due to the mass of attracted toner particles is detected. The electrostatic charge buildup on the electrode due to the attracted toner particles is detected to determine the mass of toner. The potential on the device may be changed periodically from a potential which attracts toner to a potential which repels toner to clean the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Rimai, Joseph F. Laukaitis, Mark Zaretsky, Bruno Primerano
  • Patent number: 4968578
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method of non-electrostatically transferring dry toner particles which comprise a toner binder and which have a particle size of less than 8 micrometers from an element to a receiver. The receiver comprises a substrate having a coating of a thermoplastic polymer thereon and a layer of a releasing agent on the coating, where the polymer has a T.sub.g less than 10.degree. C. above the T.sub.g of the toner binder, and the release agent is present in an amount sufficient to prevent the polymer from adhering to the element. The receiver is heated to a temperature such that its temperature during transfer is above the T.sub.g of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William A. Light, Donald S. Rimai, Louis J. Sorriero
  • Patent number: 4927727
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method of making a hard copy in a process where a latent electrostatic image on an image-bearing substrate is developed by applying to the image a dry thermoplastic toner which comprises a binder polymer, and the developed image is transferred to the surface of a receiver by contacting the developed image on the substrate with the surface, then removing the surface from the substrate. The improvement comprises developing the latent electrostatic image with a toner having a particle size less than 8 micrometers, heating the surface before it contacts the developed image to a temperature such that the surface heats the toner particles when it contacts the developed image to a temperature between 10.degree. C. above the T.sub.g of the toner binder and 20.degree. C. below the T.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Rimai, Chandra Sreekumar
  • Patent number: 4737433
    Abstract: An electrostatographic method of forming a latent electrostatic image, developing the latent image with a toner having an average radius (r.sub.avg) less than 5 .mu.m, 90% of the particles having a radius of 0.8 r.sub.avg to 1.2 r.sub.avg and 99% of the toner particles having a radius of 0.5 r.sub.avg to 2 r.sub.avg, electrostatically transferring the developed image to a receiver, the surface of whch has an average peak height less than 0.3 r.sub.avg and fixing the image on the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Donald S. Rimai, Arun Chowdry
  • Patent number: 4714939
    Abstract: An electrographic reproduction apparatus, of the single-pass type, capable of producing simplex or duplex copies on a receiver sheet traveling in a continuous direction along a path. The reproduction apparatus comprises a first dielectric member movable along a first path, a portion of such first path being tangent to and on one side of the sheet travel path. Transferable images, corresponding to information to be reproduced, are sequentially formed on such first member. A second member is movable along a second path. One portion of such second path is tangent to the sheet travel path on the opposite side from the first path; and another portion of the second path, spaced from such one portion, is located to position the second member in image transfer relation to the first dielectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Douglas K. Ahern, William Y. Fowlkes, Donald S. Rimai
  • Patent number: 4517272
    Abstract: The hollow character defect in electrostatically transferred dry toner images is reduced by an electrostatic dry toner composition comprising a binder polymer and a low surface energy liquid such as a silicone oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jadwin, Donald S. Rimai