Method and apparatus for enhancing the development of deformable storage mediums

Claim 1

IN AN ELECTRICAL RECORDING SYSTEM EMPLOYING A STORAGE MEDIUM OF THERMOPLASTIC TAPE INCLUDING A LAYER OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL SUPPORTED UPON A BASE LAYER OF NONCONDUCTING MATERIAL AND HAVING A LAYER OF CONDUCTING MATERIAL INTERMEDIATE SAID THERMOPLASTIC LAYER AND SAID BASE LAYER, APPARATUS ADAPTED TO DEVELOP A PHYSICAL SURFACE DEFORMATION IN SAID THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL FROM A LATENT IMAGE PROVIDED BY AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE DISTRIBUTION DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF SAID THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN INFORMATION INPUT COMPRISING: MEANS FOR TEMPORARILY HEATING SAID THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL TO A SOFTENED CONDITION, A PLANAR ELECTRODE POSITIONED PARALLEL AND IN PROXIMITY TO SAID SURFACE, VOLTAGE SUPPLY MEANS COUPLED BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND SAID CONDUCTING LAYER FOR CREATING A UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD AT SAID SURFACE FOR APPLYING A COMPRESSIVE FORCE TO SAID ELECTRICAL CHARGES IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID SURFACE DURING THE PERIOD THAT SAID THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL IS IN ITS SOFTENED CONDITION WHEREBY THE THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL IS RAPIDLY DEFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID ELECTRICAL CHARGE DISTRIBUTION.