EP0540281A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for fabricating bichromal balls for a twisting ball display
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming bichromal balls (10), includes providing a laminar flow stream (36) of host liquid. bringing together two streams (26,28) of differently colored hardenable liquids for forming a single bichromal stream (40), introducing the single bichromal stream (40) substantially into the center of the stream (36) of host liquid, transporting the bichromal stream (40) at substantially the same velocity as the stream (36) of host liquid, wherein the forward end of the bichromal stream (40) becomes unstable and breaks up into droplets which form into spherical balls (10) as they are moved by the host liquid, curing the balls (10) so that they harden, and separating the balls (10) from the host liquid. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas K. Sheridon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:42
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02; G02B26/026; B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/06; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/372
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of forming bichromal balls (10), characterised by providing a laminar flow stream (36) of host liquid, bringing together two streams (26,28) of differently colored hardenable liquids for forming a single bichromal stream, introducing said single bichromal stream (40) substantially into the center of said stream (36) of host liquid, transporting said bichromal stream (40) at substantially the same velocity as said stream (36) of host liquid, wherein the forward end of said bichromal stream (40) becomes unstable and breaks up into droplets which form into spherical balls (10) as they are moved by said host liquid, curing said balls (10) so that they harden, and separating said balls (10) from said host liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
32 words
A method of forming bichromal balls as defined in claim , characterised in that said step of forming a single bichromal stream (40) produces either a rod-like stream or a sheet-like stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of forming bichromal balls as defined in claim 2, characterised in that said step of forming a sheet-like stream produces either a planar stream or a cylindrical stream.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of forming bichromal balls as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said hardenable liquid comprises a two component epoxy resin and said step of curing comprises applying thermal energy to said epoxy resin and/or applying radiative energy to said epoxy resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for forming bichromal balls (10), characterised by means for defining a channel (38) through which a host liquid is moved, means for moving said host liquid through said channel (38), input means (34) for introducing two streams (26,28) of differently colored hardenable liquids into said moving host liquid as a single bichromal stream (40), whereby as said bichromal stream (40) is moved by said host liquid, the forward end of said bichromal stream (40) becomes unstable and breaks up into droplets which form into spherical balls (10) which are continued to be moved by said host liquid, curing means (76) for curing said balls (10) so that they harden, and separating means (86) for separating said balls (10) from said host liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for forming bichromal balls as defined in claim 5, characterised in that said input means for introducing comprises a nozzle (34) for bringing together said streams (26,28) of differently colored hardenable liquids and dispensing said streams as either a single rod-like bichromal stream (40) or as a single sheet-like bichromal stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus for forming bichromal balls as defined in claim 6, characterised in that said sheet-like bichromal stream (40) is planar or cylindrical.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for forming bichromal balls as defined in claims 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that said host liquid is moved in a laminar flow stream (36) and said bichromal stream (40) is introduced substantially into the center of said laminar flow stream (36).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for forming bichromal balls as defined in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that said hardenable liquid is a thermosetting or photosetting material and said curing means for curing comprises a source of thermal energy or a source of actinic energy.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
28 words
An apparatus for forming bichromal balls as defined in any one of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that said hardenable liquid comprises a two component epoxy resin.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for forming bichromal balls as defined in any one of claims 5 to 10, characterised by recirculatory means for recirculating said host liquid after said balls (10) are separated therefrom.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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