Abstract: A method for fabricating a membrane having a corrugated, multi-layer structure, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having an insulator layer on the top surface of the substrate, a conductive layer on the insulator layer, a sacrificial layer on said conductive layer, and a second conductive layer; patterning a series of holes the second conductive layer to allow release etchant to have access to a second sacrificial layer; depositing the second sacrificial layer onto said second conductive layer so that the series of holes are filled with the second sacrificial layer; patterning the second sacrificial layer with a radial and/or concentric grid pattern so that a third conductive layer when deposited will form the support structure and top portion of the corrugated structure; depositing the third conductive layer so that the grid pattern is filled in and is in contact with the second conductive layer; removing the first and second sacrificial layer by immersing the device in a release etchant.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejector having an inner structure on the bottom of the top of the membrane for isolating the conductor, and an outer structure, away from the center of the membrane, on the bottom of the top of the membrane to stop excessive flexing of the membrane leading to inter-electrode contact.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical fluid ejector including a substrate having an insulating layer thereon; a conductor formed on said insulating layer; a membrane adjacent to said conductor, said membrane having a corrugated, multi-layer structure for added rigidity; and an actuator chamber formed between said membrane and said conductor, said membrane flexing toward said conductor when a voltage bias is applied thereto.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a membrane having a corrugated, multi-layer structure, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having an insulator layer on the top surface of the substrate, a conductive layer on the insulator layer, a sacrificial layer on said conductive layer, and a second conductive layer; patterning a series of holes the second conductive layer to allow release etchant to have access to a second sacrificial layer; depositing the second sacrificial layer onto said second conductive layer so that the series of holes are filled with the second sacrificial layer; patterning the second sacrificial layer with a radial and/or concentric grid pattern so that a third conductive layer when deposited will form the support structure and top portion of the corrugated structure; depositing the third conductive layer so that the grid pattern is filled in and is in contact with the second conductive layer; removing the first and second sacrificial layer by immersing the device in a release etchant.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including a housing defining a reservoir storing a supply of developer material including toner. A donor member is spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting toner on an outer surface of the donor member to a region opposed from the imaging surface. A mag roll loads toner onto a region of the outer surface of the donor member. A charging device ion charges the toner loaded on the region of the donor member. An AC/DC voltage supply for biasing the donor member positioned in close proximity to the imaging member to detach toner from the donor member as to form a toner cloud for developing the latent image. A second charging device discharges and removes residual toner on the region of the donor and returning the toner to the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including a housing defining a chamber for storing a supply of developer material including toner; a dispensing system for dispensing toner of a first color and toner of a second color into said housing; an air system for fuildizing and mixing toner of said first color and toner of said second color; a donor member, spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting toner on the surface thereof to a region opposed from the imaging surface, said donor member includes an electrode array on the outer surface thereof, said array including a plurality of spaced apart electrodes extending substantial across width of the surface of the donor member; and a multi-phase voltage source operatively coupled to said electrode array, the phase being shifted with respect to each other such as to create an electrodynamic wave pattern for moving toner particles to and from a development zone.

Abstract: A process including:blending toners from a set of primary toners to form a set of secondary toners; anddeveloping the secondary color toners to form spot color images, wherein the color gamut of all said images embody substantially the entire PANTONE.RTM. spot color space.

Abstract: A process including:mixing toners in a fluidized bed;electrostatically loading the resulting toner mixture onto a donor roll;ion charging the resulting layer of toner on the donor roll; anddeveloping a latent image with the resulting charged toner layer on the donor roll member, wherein the color characteristics of the resulting developed color images encompass substantially the entire PANTONE.RTM. color space.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface, including: a housing defining a reservoir storing a supply of developer material wherein the developer material having predefined triboelectric charge about 20 to 30 microCoulombs/gram. A donor member is mounted partially in the housing and spaced from the imaging surface, for transporting toner on an outer surface of the donor member to a region opposed from the imaging surface. An electrode member is disposed in between the donor member and the imaging surface. A system is provided for loading a region of the doner member with developer material. A charging device ion charges the toner loaded on the region of the donor member to a predefined charge level. A power supply electrically biases the electrode member positioned in close proximity to the imaging member to detach toner from the region of the donor member as to form a toner cloud for developing the latent image.

Abstract: Interdigitated electrodes on a donor roll enable uncharged toner to be picked up from a fluidized bed reservoir. This layer of toner is subsequently charged by exposure to a corona device and delivered to a development zone, where it is used to develop an electrostatic latent image. Residual toner on the donor is neutralized by exposure to a second corona device and then stripped for return to the fluidized bed by applying an AC voltage between adjacent donor electrodes. So-called ion charging of the toner is known to cause the particles to have low adhesion, allowing development with DC fields alone. Optionally, an AC voltage can also be applied to adjacent donor electrodes in the development zone to enhance particle release. In addition to providing a means to impart adequate flow to the toner in this single component development system, the fluidized bed reservoir, in conjunction with ion charging, also provides a means for blending dry powder toners to achieve custom color development.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on a surface, including a housing defining a chamber storing a supply of developer material including toner and carrier beads. A toner donor member is spaced from the surface and is adapted to transport toner to a region opposed from the surface. A magnetic roller conveys the toner material in the chamber of the housing onto the donor member. An electrode member is spaced near the surface of a donor roll, the electrode member electrically biased by a power supply to detach toner from the donor member as to form a toner cloud for developing the latent image. A power supply controller, in communication with the power supply, is adapted to adjust the electrode member electrical biasing to avoid air breakdown induced contamination of the electrode member with toner.