Abstract: An imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes at least one contact electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of a latent image representative of the image, and subsequent transfer of the developed image to the copy substrate. The developed image is created by separating and selectively transferring portions of a high solids content secondary toner cake layer in correspondence with the image and non-image regions of the latent image. A toner cake layer delivery apparatus draws from a supply of high solids content liquid developing material to form a primary toner cake layer on a movable donor member. The primary toner cake layer is subject to uniform charging to a first polarity followed by an induced charge of a second, opposing polarity to a selectable depth.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus containing an imaging member with an electrostatic latent image formed thereon, the imaging member containing a surface capable of supporting marking material; an imaging device for generating the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member wherein the electrostatic latent image includes image areas defined by a first charge voltage and nonimage areas defined by a second charge voltage distinguishable from the first charge voltage; a marking material supply apparatus for depositing marking material on the surface of the imaging member to form a marking material layer thereon adjacent the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member; a charging source for selectively delivering charges to the marking material layer in an imagewise manner responsive to the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member to form a secondary latent image in the marking material layer containing image and nonimage areas corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the imaging member; and a

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, comprising an imaging member with an electrostatic latent image formed thereon, said imaging member containing a surface capable of supporting marking material; an imaging device for generating the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member, wherein the electrostatic latent image includes image areas defined by a first charge voltage and non-image areas defined by a second charge voltage distinguishable from the first charge voltage; a marking material supply apparatus for depositing marking material on the surface of said imaging member to form a marking material layer thereon adjacent the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member; a charging source for selectively delivering charges to the marking material layer in an imagewise manner responsive to the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member to form a secondary latent image in the marking material layer having image and nonimage areas corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on said imaging member; a

Abstract: A multicolor image-on-image reproduction machine includes a main assembly, a controller, a movable image bearing member having a path of movement, and a plurality of air breakdown charge and development (ABCD) imaging units mounted along the path of movement for forming color separation toner images. Each (ABCD) imaging unit includes a photoreceptor having a photoconductive surface forming a toner image separation development nip with the movable image bearing member; a toner supply apparatus for applying a layer of toner onto the photoconductive surface; a charging device for uniformly charging the photoconductive surface through the layer of toner; and an exposure device connected to the controller for image-wise exposing of the photoconductive surface and the layer of toner to form therein image areas and background areas of a desired color separation image.

Abstract: A liquid developer comprised of a nonpolar liquid, resin, colorant, and a charge acceptance component comprised of an aluminum complex of the formulas, or mixtures thereof wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, and n represents the number of R1 substituents.

Abstract: A multicolor image reproduction machine includes a main assembly having an image bearing member, a controller, and a bias source for biasing the image bearing member. It also includes a plurality of color separation toner image forming units each having a photoreceptor including a photoconductive surface forming a toner image separation development nip with the image bearing member. Each imaging unit also includes a toner supply apparatus for applying a layer of toner of a particular color onto the photoconductive surface; a first charging device for uniformly charging the photoconductive surface; an exposure device connected to the controller for image-wise exposing the photoconductive surface and the layer of toner to form therein image areas and background areas of a desired image; and a second charging device connected to the controller for selectively reversing charge in the background areas of the desired image, so as to enable subsequent separation of the background areas from the image areas.

Abstract: The methods and systems for efficiently transferring images from an image bearing member include placing a release layer over the image bearing member before placing the toner layer over the release layer. The release layer reduces the adhesiveness of the toner layer to the image bearing member and, therefore, promotes efficient transfer to another substrate without applying heat. Release layer materials include, for example, a clear toner layer, a clear fluid layer and a wax layer.

Abstract: The methods and systems for efficiently transferring images from an image bearing member include placing an overlayer over a toner layer after placing the toner layer over the image bearing member. The overlayer reduces the adhesiveness of the toner layer to the image bearing member and, therefore, promotes efficient transfer to another substrate without applying heat. The overlayer also may have a higher cohesiveness and combine with the toner layer to increase the effective cohesiveness of the toner image to increase the efficiency of the transfer of the toner image. Overlayer materials include, by way of non-limiting example, a clear toner layer or a clear fluid layer.

Abstract: An imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes at least one contact electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of an electrostatic latent image representative of the image, and subsequently transfers the developed image to the copy substrate. A toner cake delivery apparatus provides a thin, uniform toner cake layer of high solids content to a suitable receiving member for subsequent pressure contact with the surface of a latent image bearing imaging member such that a developed image is created by separating and selectively transferring portions of the toner cake layer in correspondence with the image and non-image regions of the latent image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing image resolution characteristics of an electrostatographic printing device use toners of opposite polarity to generate a toner image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide improved custom color capabilities. A pre-mixed custom color toner having a high solids content of approximately 10-50% is used to generate a custom color toner layer to develop an electrostatic latent image. In contrast to conventional liquid developing systems, a complex control system is not needed to achieve consistent and stable color toner images using the invention. A custom color toner layer assembly can also be formed and used to develop an electrostatic latent image. Because the color and density of the toner layer assembly is formed before image development, color correction steps can be avoided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) (a) forming an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using a first toner image forming assembly including a charging device for uniformly charging the photoreceptor, and a development assembly, including charged toner solids having a single polarity, for image-wise applying a layer of the toner solids to the latent image to form an initial developed toner image; (b) refining the initial developed toner image using an air breakdown charging assembly, including a relatively large magnitude voltage biasing source and a nip forming roll coupled thereto, for image-wise recharging of the single polarity toner solids layer forming the initial developed toner image.

Abstract: A contact electrostatic printing (CEP) apparatus and method provide custom color capabilities. Custom colors can be provided by combining two or more toner layers of different color. Correction of custom color toner patches can also be performed by combining toner layers. Controllable toner applicators apply toner patches in any desired size, shape or density on a support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) forming an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using initial developed toner image forming assemblies including a first charging device for uniformly charging the photoreceptor, and a development assembly including charged toner solids having a single charge polarity; and (b) refining the initial developed toner image using reverse charge printing (RCP) assemblies including a second charging device for reversing charge polarity on unwanted toner solids in background areas of the initial developed toner image, and for removing such unwanted toner solids from such background areas, thereby producing a high quality final toner image having sharp image area edges and highly clean background areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes (a) forming in a first stage, an initial developed toner image on a photoreceptor using toner image forming assemblies including a charging device; and exposure device; a development unit;; and (b) refining in a second stage, the initial developed toner image using a contact electrostatic printing (CEP) assembly including a bias source and a conductive CEP roll for biasing and applying compressive and tensile forces to the initial developed toner image to enable easy separation of image areas from background areas of the initial developed toner image, and for separating and removing unwanted toner solids from the background areas, thereby producing a high quality final toner image having sharp image area edges and highly clean background areas.

Abstract: An efficient and high quality image forming method and apparatus wherein only selective scattered portions of an imaging surface are charged with a first charging device, and then coated with a layer of charged toner solids by a toner supply apparatus, thereby forming an "image area patch of toner"; wherein each selected scattered portion is centered relative to, and has an area slightly exceeding an area to be imaged; each such charged and coated portion is then image-wise exposed to form a first latent image; each such coated portion is subsequently recharged by a reverse charge printing (RCP) second charging device in an image-wise manner to create a secondary latent image having toner solids in image areas charged to a first polarity, and toner solids in background areas charged to a second and opposite polarity; and finally the toner solids in the image areas thereof are then transferred onto a copy substrate for fixing as an output document, thus leaving a significantly diminished quantity of non-develo

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing high quality liquid toner images in an electrostatic printing machine. The method using the apparatus includes selectively coat a photoreceptor only in selected image area centered portion of the photoreceptor surface thereby forming an image area centered patch of toner with developing material; image-wise exposing each such portion; patch of toner. The method using the apparatus next includes forming a final toner image from each image area centered patch of toner using an air breakdown charge development (ABCD) assembly. The ABCD assembly includes a relatively large magnitude voltage biasing source, and a nip forming roll coupled thereto and forming a toner solids recharging nip with the photoreceptor, for image-wise recharging of the single polarity toner solids coating each image area centered patch of toner, by inducing an air breakdown electrical discharge in which free mobile ions are introduced into the vicinity of each image area centered patch of toner.

Abstract: A liquid developer composition including: a resin, a colorant, a liquid carrier vehicle, and a cake inducing agent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method develops an electrostatic latent image directly from an imaging member to a final substrate, such as paper or the like. An image development apparatus and method creates a first electrostatic latent image on an imaging member and deposits a toner layer on the imaging member. The image developer then generates a second electrostatic latent image in the toner layer in response to the first electrostatic latent image on the imaging member. The second electrostatic latent image can be generated by either a broad source ion charging device or an air breakdown charging device. Next, the latent image bearing toner layer is selectively separated and developed such that the image areas are developed directly from the imaging member onto a final substrate and the non-image areas remain on the imaging member.

Abstract: A process which comprises the generation of an image on an imaging member, developing the image with a liquid developer, and transferring the image to a substrate, and which substrate is coated with an acrylic, a nylon, a vinyl polymer, a wax, or a paraffin component.