US3625604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aperture controlled electrostatic printing system
Assignee: Markem Imaje Corp
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Filing: 1967-10-06
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1987-10-06
Abstract
Abstract An aperture controlled electrostatic printing device which employs a multilayer screen comprising at least a conductive layer and a superimposed insulative layer to enable the deployment of opposite electrostatic charges on the screen relative to the insulative layer. The double layer charges are modified in accordance with an image to produce blocking and nonblocking fields controlling the apertures in accordance with the image to be reproduced. The conductive screen layer is maintained at a potential usually during charging and printing, and a propulsion field is provided for directing charged printing particles toward the screen. The charged particles pass through the screen where the apertures are not blocked by the fringing fields and also pass through apertures which are partially blocked, but in fewer numbers. This device uses a charge pattern which modulates the flow of toner particles through the screen to a print receiving medium, via preferably an airgap, for subsequent fixing thereon, if necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald L Pressman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/34; G03G15/344; G03G15/346; G03G2217/00; G03G2217/0008; G03G2217/0025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S101/00; Y10S101/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for electrostatic reproducing comprising, in combination composite screen means supported for movement along a predetermined path; said screen means comprising an insulative screen layer and a conductive screen layer; means for applying a direct electrical potential to the conductive layer; means for electrically charging the insulative layer with substantially equal and opposite charges; means for modifying the charges in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means disposed on one side of the screen means for supplying charged marking material; and means establishing a projection field for propelling the charged marking material from the means for supplying directly through the screen means toward print receiving material disposed on the other side of the screen means whereby the modified charges on the screen control passage of the charged printing material to the print receiving material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for electrostatic reproducing comprising, in combination composite screen means supported for movement along a predetermined path; said screen means comprising an insulative screen layer and a conductive screen layer; means for applying a direct electrical potential to the conductive layer; means for electrically charging the insulative layer with substantially equal and opposite charges; means for modifying the charges in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means disposed on one side of the screen means for supplying charged marking material; and means establishing a projection field for propelling the charged marking material from the means for supplying directly through the screen means toward print receiving material disposed on the other side of the screen means whereby the modified charges on the screen control passage of the charged printing material to the print receiving material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for modifying the charges comprises an image station; and the means establishing the projection field comprises a printing station disposed in spaced relation to the image station along said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the insulative screen layer comprises a photoconductor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a screen insulative layer overlying a screen conductive layer; means applying a potential to the conductive layer which potential may be ground; means for electrostatically charging the insulator layer to provide a double charge layer; means for modifying the charge of the insulator layer in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for directing charged printing material through the multilayer screen in accordance with the modified charge; said directing means comprising a source of printing material particles disposed on one side of the screen, an electrode disposed on the other side of the screen, and a source of potential effective between the electrode and source of particles for directly drawing particles through the screen; and means for locating a print receiving medium oppositely of the insulator layer relative to the means for directing charged printing material to receive the printing material passing through said multilayer screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a screen insulative layer overlying a screen conductive layer; means applying a potential to the conductive layer which potential may be ground; means for electrostatically charging the insulator layer to provide a double charge layer; means for modifying the charge of the insulator layer in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for directing charged printing material through the multilayer screen in accordance with the modified charge; said directing means comprising a source of printing material particles disposed on one side of the screen, an electrode disposed on the other side of the screen, and a source of potential effective between the electrode and source of particles for directly drawing particles through the screen; and means for locating a print receiving medium oppositely of the insulator layer relative to the means for directing charged printing material to receive the printing material passing through said multilayer screen.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for image reproduction through the use of modulated apertures comprising, in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a conductor screen and an insulative screen overlying the conductive screen and affixed thereto with the apertures coinciding; image means; means for double charging the insulative screen in accordance with the image means; thereby establishing blocking fields, and partially blocking fields in selected apertures of said screen by establishing lines of flux extending through and at least into selected apertures; means for charging printing material; and means for transferring the charged printing material via partially blocked and unblocked apertures to print receiving material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for image reproduction through the use of modulated apertures comprising, in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a conductor screen and an insulative screen overlying the conductive screen and affixed thereto with the apertures coinciding; image means; means for double charging the insulative screen in accordance with the image means; thereby establishing blocking fields, and partially blocking fields in selected apertures of said screen by establishing lines of flux extending through and at least into selected apertures; means for charging printing material; and means for transferring the charged printing material via partially blocked and unblocked apertures to print receiving material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for electrostatic printing, the combination comprising a multilayer screen including at leaSt a screen insulator layer overlying a screen conductor layer, means drivingly mounting the screen for endless conveyor type movement; means maintaining the conductor layer at a fixed potential; means for charging the insulative layer with equal and opposite charges; means for modifying the charged insulator layer in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for charging marking material; means moving the modified charge pattern from the charging region by movement of the screen; means registering print receiving material opposite the modified charge pattern; and means for projecting marking material toward the screen from the conductive layer side for continuous flight passage through the modified charge in accordance with the image pattern to the print receiving material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for electrostatic printing, the combination comprising a multilayer screen including at leaSt a screen insulator layer overlying a screen conductor layer, means drivingly mounting the screen for endless conveyor type movement; means maintaining the conductor layer at a fixed potential; means for charging the insulative layer with equal and opposite charges; means for modifying the charged insulator layer in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for charging marking material; means moving the modified charge pattern from the charging region by movement of the screen; means registering print receiving material opposite the modified charge pattern; and means for projecting marking material toward the screen from the conductive layer side for continuous flight passage through the modified charge in accordance with the image pattern to the print receiving material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a screen insulator layer overlying a screen conductive layer; means applying a potential level to the conductive layer; means for double charging the insulator layer with charges varying from one polarity to zero, in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for directing charged printing material through the charged multilayer screen without flight interruption in accordance with the charges thereon to control the density of passage of printing material; and means for locating a print receiving medium oppositely of the insulator layer relative to the means for directing charged printing material to receive the printing material passing through said multilayer screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a screen insulator layer overlying a screen conductive layer; means applying a potential level to the conductive layer; means for double charging the insulator layer with charges varying from one polarity to zero, in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for directing charged printing material through the charged multilayer screen without flight interruption in accordance with the charges thereon to control the density of passage of printing material; and means for locating a print receiving medium oppositely of the insulator layer relative to the means for directing charged printing material to receive the printing material passing through said multilayer screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a screen insulator layer overlying a screen conductive layer; means for double charging the insulator layer with charges varying from one polarity to zero in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for directing charged particles through the charged multilayer screen in accordance with the charges thereon to control the density of passage of the particles; and means for locating a receiving medium to receive the particles passing in continuous flight through said multilayer screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising in combination a multilayer screen comprising at least a screen insulator layer overlying a screen conductive layer; means for double charging the insulator layer with charges varying from one polarity to zero in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for directing charged particles through the charged multilayer screen in accordance with the charges thereon to control the density of passage of the particles; and means for locating a receiving medium to receive the particles passing in continuous flight through said multilayer screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising a screen means comprising an array of apertures; said screen means comprising insulative material over conductive material characterized by the ability to carry charge patterns establishing fields within the apertures in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for establishing a charge pattern on the screen means in accordance with the image to be reproduced said fields selectively extending through apertures, into apertures or not affecting apertures according to said image; and electrical field projection means for directing charged particles through the charged screen means to a medium to be printed in accordance with the charge pattern thereon to control the density of the passage of the particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising a screen means comprising an array of apertures; said screen means comprising insulative material over conductive material characterized by the ability to carry charge patterns establishing fields within the apertures in accordance with an image to be reproduced; means for establishing a charge pattern on the screen means in accordance with the image to be reproduced said fields selectively extending through apertures, into apertures or not affecting apertures according to said image; and electrical field projection means for directing charged particles through the charged screen means to a medium to be printed in accordance with the charge pattern thereon to control the density of the passage of the particles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising screen means comprising an array of apertures; said screen means comprising both insulative and conductive materials between adjacent apertures characterized by the ability to carry charge patterns establishing lines of force capable of extending through the apertures; means for establishing a charge pattern on the screen means in accordance with the image to be reproduced means for directing charged particles from a source directly through said charged screen means in accordance with the charge pattern thereon to control the density of passage of the particles; and means for locating a receiving medium oppositely of the source of the particles to receive the particles passing through said screen means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising screen means comprising an array of apertures; said screen means comprising both insulative and conductive materials between adjacent apertures characterized by the ability to carry charge patterns establishing lines of force capable of extending through the apertures; means for establishing a charge pattern on the screen means in accordance with the image to be reproduced means for directing charged particles from a source directly through said charged screen means in accordance with the charge pattern thereon to control the density of passage of the particles; and means for locating a receiving medium oppositely of the source of the particles to receive the particles passing through said screen means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising screen means comprising an array of apertures; said screen means comprising contiguous insulative and conductive material characterized by the ability to carry charge patterns establishinG lines of force capable of extending through the apertures which electrically close apertures in varying degrees from complete closure to open in accordance with an image; means for establishing a charge pattern on the screen means in accordance with the image to be reproduced means for directing charged particles on continuous flight paths through the screen means in accordance with the closed and open apertures therein to control the density of passage of the particles; and means for locating a receiving medium to receive the particles passing through said screen means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
123 words
An aperture controlled electrostatic printing system comprising screen means comprising an array of apertures; said screen means comprising contiguous insulative and conductive material characterized by the ability to carry charge patterns establishinG lines of force capable of extending through the apertures which electrically close apertures in varying degrees from complete closure to open in accordance with an image; means for establishing a charge pattern on the screen means in accordance with the image to be reproduced means for directing charged particles on continuous flight paths through the screen means in accordance with the closed and open apertures therein to control the density of passage of the particles; and means for locating a receiving medium to receive the particles passing through said screen means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3339469A
Cited
US3277818A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |