US3583807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for making composite electrophotographic prints
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1968-07-01
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1988-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for making electrophotographic multiple color prints is provided wherein photoconductive sheets or chips of separate stacks or sets are charged and exposed to each of a plurality of color separation images projected from an original. An electrostatic latent image thus formed on each of the exposed chips is developed and transferred to a receiver in a predetermined cycle with respect to the other chips, wherein the the separate images are placed thereon in registry to form a composite color print. In one embodiment, three sets of chips are moved through separate charging stations and sequentially cycled through a single exposure station. After exposure the electrostatic image on each chip is developed by different color toners at separate development stations and transfer of the toner images is made sequentially to a receiver at a single transfer station to make a composite color print. In another embodiment, three separate exposure stations are used to expose the respective chips to color separation images to form three separate electrostatic images, one on each chip. These electrostatic images are developed and transferred at separate transfer stations onto a single receiver which is moved sequentially past each transfer station to form a composite color print. In a further embodiment each chip is exposed sequentially at a single exposure station to form electrostatic images which are developed and then are transferred at separate transfer stations to a receiver which is moved sequentially past each transfer station to form a composite color print. In each embodiment, the chips are cycled so that color prints are made substantially continuously.
Inventors
- 👤 John S Pollock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/26; G03G15/266; G03G15/01; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0178; G03G15/0194; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00443; G03G2215/00451; G03G2215/00455; G03G2215/00789; G03G2215/00814
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first and second photoconductive means includes first and second sets of separate photoconductive chips.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said improvement further comprises: first and second storage stations intermediate said transfer means and said image forming means, respectively.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for printing at least two images, from at least two radiation patterns, in registry with each other on a receiver, said device including: image forming means including exposing means; at least one developing station; transfer means; first and second sets of photoconductive elements movable in time intervals through said exposing means, said developing station and said transfer means, respectively; means for moving said photoconductive elements through said respective means and said station to transfer successive images from said elements to said receiver substantially continuously; and means for moving said photoconductive elements through said exposing means intermittently for varying the time interval each of said elements is in said exposing means in accordance with photographic characteristics of each of said radiation patterns.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
160 words
A device for printing at least two images, from at least two radiation patterns, in registry with each other on a receiver, said device including: image forming means including exposing means; first and second developing stations; transfer means; first and second cleaning stations; first and second sets of photoconductive elements, said first set being movable in time intervals through said exposing means, said first developing station, said transfer means, and said first cleaning station, said second set being movable in time intervals through said exposing means, said second developing station, said transfer means, and said second cleaning station; means for moving said photoconductive elements through said respective means and said stations to transfer successive images from said elements to said receiver substantially continuously; and means for moving said photoconductive elements through said exposing means intermittently to vary the time interval each of said elements is in said exposing means in accordance with photographic characteristics of each of said radiation patterns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said image forming means further includes: first and second charging stations; and a single exposure station, said elements of said first and second sets being continuously movable through said first and second charging stations, respectively, and being intermittently movable through said single exposure station in alternating relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transfer means includes: a single transfer station, said elements of said first and second sets being continuously movable through said first and second developing stations, respectively, and being intermittently movable through said single transfer station in alternating relationship to transfer developed images from said elements onto a receiver in registry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device, as claimed in claim 7, further Including: first and second hold-to-transfer stations between said single transfer station and said first and second developing stations, respectively, for holding a developed element of one set while an image on a developed element of the other set in said transfer station is transferred to said receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device, as claimed in claim 7, further including: first and second escape-to-clean stations between said single transfer station and said first and second cleaning stations, respectively, for holding said elements from said first and second sets, respectively, after transfer prior to movement through said respective cleaning stations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transfer means includes: first and second transfer stations, said elements of said first and second sets being intermittently movable through said first and second transfer stations, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device, as claimed in claim 6, further including: first and second hold-to-expose stations between said single exposure station and said first and second charging stations, respectively, for holding a charged element of one set while a charged element of the other set is in said exposure station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device, as claimed in claim 6, further including: first and second escape-to-develop stations between said single exposure station and said first and second developing stations, respectively, for holding said elements of said first and second sets, respectively, after exposure prior to movement through said respective developing station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said image forming means includes: first and second charging stations; and first and second exposure stations, said elements of said first and second sets being continuously movable through said first and second charging stations, respectively, and being intermittently movable through said first and second exposure stations, respectively; and said transfer means includes: first and second transfer stations, said elements of said first and second sets being intermittently movable through said first and second transfer stations, respectively.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
225 words
A device for printing three images from three color separation images in registry with each other on a receiver to make a composite color print, said device comprising: first, second and third storage stations; first, second and third charging stations; a single exposure station; first, second and third developing stations; a single transfer station; first, second and third cleaning stations; first, second and third sets of separate photoconductive chips movable seriatum through said respective stations; means for moving said chips continuously through their respective charging, developing and cleaning stations and for moving said chips intermittently through said exposure station and said transfer station; means for varying the time interval each of said chips are in said exposure station in accordance with the color and density of their respective color separation images; first, second and third hold-for-expose stations intermediate said exposure station and said first, second and third charging stations, respectively, for holding charged chips, said chips being moved into said exposure station in turn from each of said hold-for-expose station; and first, second and third hold-for-transfer stations intermediate said transfer station and said first, second and third developing stations, respectively, for holding developed chips, said chips being moved into said transfer station in turn from each of said hold-for-transfer stations so that transfer of successive images from said chips to said receiver occurs substantially continuously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: each of said chips is primarily photosensitive to one of said color separation images; and each of said developing station tones electrostatic images formed froM said color separation images with a toner having a color complementary to the color of said color separation images, respectively.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
140 words
A device for printing three images from three color separation images in registry with each other on a receiver to make a composite color print, said device comprising: first, second and third storage stations; first, second and third charging stations; first, second and third exposure stations; first, second and third developing stations; first, second and third transferring stations; first, second and third cleaning stations; first, second and third sets of separate photoconductive chips movable from their respective storage stations through the other respective stations; means for moving said chips continuously through their respective charging, developing and cleaning stations and for moving said chips intermittently through said exposure station and said transfer station; and means for varying the time interval each of said chips are in said exposure station in accordance with the color and density of said color separation images.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for printing three images from three color separation images in registry with each other on a receiver to make a composite color print, said device comprising: first, second and third storage stations; first, second and third charging stations; a single exposure station; first, second and third developing stations; first, second and third transferring stations; first, second and third cleaning stations; first, second and third sets of separate photoconductive chips movable seriatum through said respective stations; means for moving said chips continuously through their respective charging, developing and cleaning stations and for moving said chips intermittently through said exposure station and said respective transfer stations; and means for varying the time interval each of said chips are in said exposure station in accordance with the color and density of their respective color separation images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
112 words
An electrophotographic apparatus having: a plurality of active stations including a charging station, an exposure station, a developing station, a transfer station and a cleaning station; and a plurality of separate photoconductive members movable relative to some of said active stations while work is performed thereon and stationary relative to other of said active stations while work is performed thereon, the improvement comprising: at least one passive holding station serving as a buffer between adjacent active stations wherein the first of said adjacent active stations to do work on said photoconductive member is one of said relative moving stations and the other of said adjacent stations is one of said stationary stations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrophotographic apparatus, as claimed in claim 18 wherein said one of said stationary stations works on each of said photoconductive members for different time periods.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrophotographic apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, wherein the improvement further includes: a plurality of sets of said active stations, said sets having a common stationary station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
An electrophotographic apparatus for printing three images from three color separation original images in registry with each other on a receiver to make a composite color print, said apparatus having: three sets of active stations, each set of stations including a charging station, an exposure station, a developing station, a transfer station, and a cleaning station; and three sets of separate photoconductive chips, each set being sensitive primarily to one of said three color separation original images and movable relative to some of said active stations while work is performed thereon and stationary relative to other of said active stations while work is performed thereon; the improvement wherein: said stationary stations include a single exposure station common to all three sets of stations; and first passive holding stations in each of said sets of stations, said first holding stations being between said respective charging stations and said single exposure station and holding the charged chips, respectively, of any two of said sets of chips while a chip of the third set is being exposed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
78 words
An electrophotographic apparatus, as claimed in claim 21, the improvement further including: a single transfer station common to all three sets of stations; and second passive holding stations in each of said sets of stations, said second holding station being between said respective developing stations and said single transfer station and holding the developed chips, respectively, of any two of said sets of chips while a toner image on a chip of said third set is being transferred.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |