Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an ink layer having an electrorheological fluid composition including a suspension of colorant particles dispersed in an electrically insulating carrier fluid is formed on a surface. A charge image is projected onto the ink layer to selectively form charge-stiffened regions adhering to the electrically insulating layer and representing respective regions of the projected charge image. Non-charge-stiffened ink layer components are physically separated from the charge-stiffened regions. Portions of the ink layer are electrostatically transferred to a receptor substrate.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an ink layer having an electrorheological fluid composition including a suspension of colorant particles dispersed in an electrically insulating carrier fluid is formed on a surface. A charge image is projected onto the ink layer to selectively form charge-stiffened regions adhering to the electrically insulating layer and representing respective regions of the projected charge image. Non-charge-stiffened ink layer components are physically separated from the charge-stiffened regions. Portions of the ink layer are electrostatically transferred to a receptor substrate.

Abstract: Uniform portions of fine powders are deposited on a substrate by electrostatic attraction in which the charge of the electric field and polarity of the charged particles are varied repeatedly to form a buildup of powder on the carrier surface.

Abstract: Uniform portions of fine powders are deposited on a substrate by electrostatic attraction in which the charge of the electric field and polarity of the charged particles are varied repeatedly to form a buildup of powder on the carrier surface.

Abstract: Method of printer color error correction employing the rapid alternate viewing of a scanned original color image file and an image file formed by scanning an image printed by the printer whose error is to be corrected. Color errors appear as a blinking or flickering feature in the viewing monitor. Adjustments are made to the original color image file to eliminate or minimize flicker. The adjusted color file is then employed in printing a color corrected image. Another embodiment provides the method of the invention for real time color correction in images printed on conventional or digital printing presses.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an ink layer having an electrorheological fluid composition including a suspension of colorant particles dispersed in an electrically insulating carrier fluid is formed on a surface of an electrically insulating layer supported by an electrically conducting substrate. A charge image is projected onto the ink layer to selectively form charge-stiffened regions adhering to the electrically insulating layer and representing respective regions of the projected charge image. Non-charge-stiffened ink layer components are physically separated from the charge-stiffened regions.

Abstract: A process for producing uniform small doses of finely divided substances that consists of metering precise quantities a material onto the surface of a containment vessel, pressurizing the containment vessel with a liquefied gas, and sealing the containment vessel while pressurized. A major application involves the packaging of fine pharmaceutical powders into small unit doses for inhalation therapy. Liquid nitrogen is a preferred liquefied pressurizing agent. A liquefied noble gas may be employed as a dispersing medium for sensitive or highly reactive substances, and simple hydrocarbon gasses may be used where flammability and reactivity are not problems. If the liquefied gas is used as a dispersing medium, the containment vessel may be sealed prior to the total evaporation of the liquid. Alternatively, the liquefied gas may be metered into the containment vessel after the substance has been deposited onto the surface of the containment vessel, but prior to its sealing.

Abstract: A method that intermittently or continuously introduces a known mass of fine powder into an aerosolization chamber. The dry powder is aerosolized and, in one preferred method, the aerosol powder charged. Charged powder is then electrostatically deposited into or onto unit dose package substrates as these packages are sequentially moved through the deposition region. The packages are arranged in a continuous line either around the circumference of a circular package transport or in a continuous line on the surface of an endless belt. As each package traverses the precipitation region, a small amount of powder is deposited. The number of packages, the package velocity and the aerosol deposition rate are selected so that a large number of passes are required to fill each package to the required dose level. It is this continuous sampling, or time division sampling (TDS), that very uniformly divides the pre-determined quantity of powder uniformly among the many packages.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an ink layer having an electrorheological fluid composition including a suspension of colorant particles dispersed in an electrically insulating carrier fluid is formed on a surface of an electrically conducting substrate. A charge image is projected onto the ink layer to selectively form charge-stiffened regions adhering to the electrically conducting substrate and representing respective regions of the projected charge image. Non-charge-stiffened ink layer components are physically separated from the charge-stiffened regions.

Abstract: A method that intermittently or continuously introduces a known mass of fine powder into an aerosolization chamber. The dry powder is aerosolized and, in one preferred method, the aerosol powder charged. Charged powder is then electrostatically deposited into or onto unit dose package substrates as these packages are sequentially moved through the deposition region. The packages are arranged in a continuous line either around the circumference of a circular package transport or in a continuous line on the surface of an endless belt. As each package traverses the precipitation region, a small amount of powder is deposited. The number of packages, the package velocity and the aerosol deposition rate are selected so that a large number of passes are required to fill each package to the required dose level. It is this continuous sampling, or time division sampling (TDS), that very uniformly divides the pre-determined quantity of powder uniformly among the many packages.

Abstract: Uniform portions of fine powders are deposited on a substrate by electrostatic attraction in which the charge of the electric field and polarity of the charged particles are varied repeatedly to form a buildup of powder on the carrier surface.

Abstract: Method of printer color error correction employing the rapid alternate viewing of a scanned original color image file and an image file formed by scanning an image printed by the printer whose error is to be corrected. Color errors appear as a blinking or flickering feature in the viewing monitor. Adjustments are made to the original color image file to eliminate or minimize flicker. The adjusted color file is then employed in printing a color corrected image. Another embodiment provides the method of the invention for real time color correction in images printed on conventional or digital printing presses.

Abstract: A print head has a matrix array of charge generating loci defined by crossings of a first set of electrodes which are parallel to each other and extend across the region to be printed and a second set of electrodes that extend obliquely across the first electrodes so that the crossings are closely spaced lattice points. The charge deposited by a lattice point varies with the position of the first electrode defining the point, but the electrodes are arranged so charge carriers are generated or gated for projection onto a latent imaging member with local charge dot uniformity. In one embodiment of the invention, there are an odd number of first electrodes, and the second electrodes are arranged such that when electrodes are actuated, pairs of adjacent dots are deposited by pairs of lattice points having complementary variations in charge. As viewed or measured along the print line, each pair of deposited dots has a substantially uniform level of charge, and doubling and extreme discontinuities do not occur.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the visibility of and imparting a metallic luster to holographic and diffraction pattern surface embossments on transparent media such as plastic films (12) are disclosed. Enhancement is achieved by (1), metallic effect dyes or (2), metal flake inks containing minimal quantities of resinous binders (3), inks containing crystalline pigments that have metallic visual effects, or (4), inks containing pigments formed of optical stacks. The solvent used during application of the dye or ink must not be a solvent for the embossed surface.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the visibility of and imparting a metallic luster to holographic and diffraction pattern surface embossments on transparent media such as plastic films (12) are disclosed. Enhancement is achieved by (1), metallic effect dyes or (2), metal flake inks containing minimal quantities of resinous binders (3), inks containing crystalline pigments that have metallic visual effects, or (4), inks containing pigments formed of optical stacks. The solvent used during application of the dye or ink must not be a solvent for the embossed surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for charged particle generation, particularly for use in electrographic imaging, in which a drive electrode and an isolation electrode are substantially in contact with opposite sides of a solid dielectric member, and a discharge electrode is placed on the same side of the solid dielectric member as the isolation electrode to define a discharge region. A high voltage time varying potential is imposed between the drive electrode and the discharge electrode to produce charged particles in the discharge region, and the isolation electrode is capacitively coupled to the drive electrode but otherwise is electrically isolated. The discharge electrode and isolation electrode are not coplanar and the discharge region does not border on the solid dielectric member. In a first embodiment, a dielectric shelf is placed intermediate an apertured discharge electrode and the isolation electrode, to facilitate the inception of discharges.

Abstract: A method and article providing different images from differing viewing angles. The image side of a lenticular sheet is printed with radiation curable inks and cured using a collimated radiation source located at a viewer position with respect to the lenticular surface. Uncured ink is removed from the printed surface, and the resulting clear region of the imaging surface may be processed further in a variety of ways. The clear region may be left unprinted, or printed with a second image different from the first, or a stereoscopic image that combines with its pre-printed mate to form a three dimensional image. The clear region also may be vacuum metallized or chemically plated to form a highly reflective surface.

Abstract: A method and article providing different images from differing viewing angles. The image side of a lenticular sheet is printed with radiation sensitive image layer and cured using a collimated radiation source located at a viewer position with respect to the lenticular surface. Uncured imaging material is removed from the printed surface as by rinsing, and the resulting clear region of the imaging surface may be processed further in a variety of ways. The clear region may be left unprinted, or printed with a second image different from the first, or printed with a stereoscopic image that combines with its pre-printed mate to form a three dimensional image. The clear region also may be vacuum metallized or chemically plated to form a highly reflective surface. The method permits use of relatively thin lenticular sheeting.

Abstract: An electrostatic toning system employed in applying toner to latent electrostatic images on the surface of a dielectric material. Toning is accomplished by fluidizing the toner in a gaseous stream, charging the toner in the fluidized bed, and conveying the charged toner to the dielectric surface by means of a toner receptive member in contact with the fluidized toner.

Abstract: An ion generator for the formation of electrostatic images includes two electrodes (a "control electrode" and a "driver electrode") at opposite faces of a solid dielectric member which are electrically actuated to form ions in an air region adjacent the control electrode; a third, "screen" electrode; and an additional, "deflection" electrode, which together with the screen electrode modulates ion flow to an imaging surface. Ions of a given polarity are attracted toward the imaging surface by an accelerating field resulting from a direct current potential of the control electrode. The screen electrode is maintained at a screen potential to control passage of ions through one or more apertures therein, while a further, deflection potential applied to the deflection electrode provides an additional level of control over the size, shape and location of the resulting electrostatic images.