Abstract: The invention relates to an emission tip assembly (100) on high-voltage electrodes for charging or discharging substrates, comprising at least one emission tip (1) and a carrier body (7) comprised of an insulating material, which has at least one high-resistance series resistor (13), wherein the at least one emission tip (1) can be connected to a high-voltage connection (14) by means of the series resistor (13).

Abstract: A bi-directional device for generating or absorbing atoms or ions. In some embodiments, the device comprises a solid-phase ion-conducting material, a first electrode positioned on a first surface of the solid-phase ion-conducting material, and a second electrode positioned on a second surface of the solid-phase ion-conducting material. The first electrode includes a plurality of triple phase boundaries, each located at an interface between the solid-phase ion-conducting material and the first electrode. A density of the triple phase boundaries is in the range of about 104 m/m2 to about 2×107 m/m2 on the first surface of the ion-conducting material. A method of operating the bi-directional device and a method of fabricating a bi-directional device are also provided.

Abstract: An ion writing unit includes a housing, an electrode assembly, and a heating mechanism. The housing includes a chamber at least partially containing an ion generator. The electrode assembly includes an array of electrode nozzles on one exposed exterior surface of the housing and aligned to receive and guide generated ions. The heating mechanism applies heat to at least one of the chamber and at least a portion of the array of electrode nozzles.

Abstract: A printer for printing on a semiporous recording medium includes a dryer adapted to dry the semiporous recording medium to a moisture content not to exceed that of the recording medium equilibrated to 20% RH. A liquid-deposition unit deposits hydrophilic liquid in a selected fluid pattern on the recording medium within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. A charging member charges the recording medium so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the recording medium and the charged areas have a potential of at least 100 V. A development station deposits charged dry ink on the medium, the dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charged areas, so that the charged dry ink is deposited on the paper in a dry ink pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern.

Abstract: A print head element part of an ionographic print head is provided having a mechanism for introducing at one end an ionisable gas or gas mixture into a tubular channel, the print head element further having a planar driver electrode and a planar control electrode both surrounding channel, a dielectric body keeping driver electrode and control electrode separate, a source for applying an alternating voltage for the ionization of the gas or gas mixture in channel, a modulation electrode being separated from control electrode by dielectric material, a source for applying a direct current voltage between modulation electrode and control electrode to either block ions in channel or to allow the flow out of ions from channel.

Abstract: A discharging apparatus has a substrate holding part 32 which holds a substrate S; an discharging head 34 which discharges a liquid material onto the substrate S; an ion producing device 38 which provides an ionized wind on the substrate S; an exhaust device 40 which is placed on a direction where the ionized wind from the ionized wind producing device 38 is blowing, and the ionized wind is provided toward the liquid material on the substrate S, at least, immediately after discharging the liquid material onto the substrate S.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of printing on electrically writable media and electrically writable displays are described. In one aspect, a printer for printing on an electrically writable medium includes a source of an invisible charge species, and a charge species projector. The charge species projector is operable to project charge species from the source onto the medium to electrically reorient switchable display elements in the medium. In another aspect, a portable storage device that includes a memory and an electrically writable medium is received. Data is written to the memory of the portable data storage device. The electrically writable medium of the portable data storage device is printed on by electrically reorienting switchable display elements in the medium. In another aspect, an electrically writable display includes an electrically writable medium that is incorporated into a continuous web having an outward-facing side and an inward-facing side.

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 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: An ion generator for the generation of a plasma is assembled from module subassemblies. The first subassembly includes a dielectric plate 1, on the first surface 1a of which are located a large number of first electrodes 3, and the second surface 1b of which is coated with a structured conductive layer 2. The second subassembly includes an aperatured spacer plate with a large number of dielectric spacers with a second electrode 5 on the side facing away from the dielectric plate 1. In joining the subassemblies together, the aperatured spacer plate is connected to the dielectric plate 1 at its first surface 1a in such a way that cavities 6 for accommodating plasma are formed by the first electrodes 3, parts of the first surface 1a of the dielectric plate 1 and the spacers 4 with the second electrodes 5. The first set of electrodes 3 shield the points where the subassemblies are bonded together from plasma in the cavities.

Abstract: In a laser beam printer, automatic optical quantity (APC) control is performed based on an optical quantity detection output to generate a laser beam having a predetermined quantity of light. In each scanning cycle, APC is effected by utilizing a period (unblanking period) in which the laser device is forcibly actuated to generate a horizontal synchronization signal. The unblanking period may be changed according to the print paper size or image formation/non-image-formation periods. Also, light quantity control may be effected through a plurality of scanning cycles before image formation and may be effected by utilizing the unblanking period during the period corresponding to the intervals of print sheets. Techniques also provided to prevent a transfer unit from being contaminated by toner images formed as a byproduct of APC.

Abstract: An erase unit for an ion deposition web-fed print engine includes a plenum extending the width of the electrostatic image on the image cylinder and defining an ionization chamber with the image cylinder surface. The plenum has first and second electrodes separated by a dielectric. Upon application of a time-varying potential having a frequency of 0.2 to 50 mHz across the electrodes, ionization occurs, causing an ion current flowing in relation to the image surface until the image surface and the biasing electrode are at the same potential, thus erasing any residual electrostatic image on the cylindrical surface. By providing a DC biasing voltage, the residual electrostatic image may be erased when equalization occurs, with the image cylinder maintaining a pre-charged potential.

Abstract: An aperture electrode unit mounted in an image forming apparatus includes a polyimide insulating sheet, plural apertures, substantially T-shaped control electrode portions each of which is provided at a part of the peripheral edge of each aperture, and conductive wiring portions extending from the control electrode portions to the downstream side of a toner supply direction. With this construction, a minimum distance can be kept between a control electrode portion and a conductive wiring portion, which are adjacent to each other. So, no breakdown occurs, and image quality can be improved.

Abstract: A non-impact printer apparatus includes a printhead having a plurality of recording elements. Nonuniformities in emission characteristics of the recording elements are corrected using look-up tables (LUT) assemblages that include a first LUT wherein the recording elements are binned in accordance with bin values associated with their emission characteristics and a second LUT wherein bin values, output from the first LUT are used to address various tables providing exposure correction. The first and second LUTs are advantageously dual port RAM devices that allow operation during printing while simultaneously allowing loading of data into the tables for use for subsequent printing. Thus, process conditions may be continually monitored and correction data updated without delaying of current printing which may occur using correction data already stored in the LUT assemblages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving printing quality in electrographic printers includes an electrode device for generating a latent electrostatic charge pattern from electric signals. The electrode device is arranged within a gap area between a particle carrier and a back electrode. During a portion of the operating cycle, preferably when no development is performed, a duel airflow that is charged with positive and/or negative ions is directed into the gap area to neutralize the electrostatic attraction forces between the toner particles, and the electrode device and for achieving a homogeneous charge level on the surface layer of the electrode device. A magnet can be positioned opposite the electrode device so as to attract toner particles.