Printing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces, comprising: A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; and D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including: a. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a coNtinuously curved course such that the medium intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces, and b. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface, said flow producing means including liquid slide means for forming an inclined upper surface spaced from said guide means so as to form a gap between the curved course and the slide means, and liquid moving means including a flat nozzle means for spreading the liquid over the surface of the slide means so as to make the liquid flow gravitationally through the gap, the size of the gap being sufficiently small so that when the recording medium is moved through the gap the liquid forms a continuous meniscus at the medium gap, the liquid encountering a continuous band across the medium at the meniscus.

Claim 3

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. said flow producing means includes control means for controlling the flow of toning liquid.

Claim 4

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. said flow producing means includes control means responsive to said driving means for controlling the flow of liquid over said surface.

Claim 5

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. said liquid moving means includes a plurality of reservoirs of liquid of different colors and means for controlling the flow of said liquids so as to selectively pass one color of liquid over said slide means.

Claim 6

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. said driving means move the medium longitudinally; B. said guide means include a roller extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the movement of the flexible recording medium and co-operating with said drive means to hole said recording medium taut over an arc of said roller and thereby to apply a normal force continuously over said arc with said recording medium.

Claim 7

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. said driving means include a capstan for driving said recording medium in a continuous longitudinal path through said excitation means, said developing means and said drying means, and B. said driving means further include braking means for restraining movement of the recording medium so as to hold it taut.

Claim 8

An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein A. said driving means move said recording medium along a continuous longitudinal path through said sensitizing means, said developing means, and said drying means and so the recording medium extends simultaneously through said sensitizing means, said developing means and said drying means.

Claim 9

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. the gap between said guide means and said slide means is sufficiently small so the recording medium contacts the liquid and wherein B. said gap is sufficiently large so as to keep the liquid in contact with only one side of the recording medium.

Claim 10

An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein A. trough means for collecting liquid passing down said slide means, B. reservoir means for receiving liquid from said trough means, and C. pump means for pumping the liquid to the upper surface of said slide means; D. whereby said liquid flows down said slide means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces comprising; A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including: a. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface, and b. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a continuously curvEd course that intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces; and F. said liquid removing means including a. first and second engaging means for engaging opposite faces of the recording medium between them, b. at least one of said engaging means having an externally curved surface so as to permit rolling engagement between said engagement means when the recording medium is moved between them, c. said first engaging means having a compressible porous absorbent surface and said second engaging means having a surface, d. pressure means for pressing the moving recording medium between said engagement means so that as said recording medium advances longitudinally said engagement means squeeze continuously successive portions of the recording medium and the absorbent surface and then release the recording medium and the absorbent surface so that said absorbent surface absorbs liquid on said recording medium, e. and compression means for compressing the previously squeezed portion of the absorbent surface and scraping it so as to remove the liquid therefrom and scrape it away.

Claim 12

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces comprising; A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including: a. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface, and b. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a continuously curvEd course that intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces; and F. said liquid removing means including a. first and second engaging means for engaging opposite faces of the recording medium between them, b. at least one of said engaging means having an externally curved surface so as to permit rolling engagement between said engagement means when the recording medium is moved between them, c. said first engaging means having a compressible porous absorbent surface and said second engaging means having a surface, d. pressure means for pressing the moving recording medium between said engagement means so that as said recording medium advances longitudinally said engagement means squeeze continuously successive portions of the recording medium and the absorbent surface and then release the recording medium and the absorbent surface so that said absorbent surface absorbs liquid on said recording medium, e. and compression means for compressing the previously squeezed portion of the absorbent surface and scraping it so as to remove the liquid therefrom and scrape it away.

Claim 13

An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said engagement means each include rotatable roll means adapted to engage opposite faces of the same portion of the recording medium and squeeze the recording medium between them.

Claim 14

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces comprising; A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including a. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface; and b. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a continuously curved course that intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces; and F. said fixing means including a pair of elastomeric rolls having absorptive surfaces for removing excess liquid, G. said recording medium passing between said rolls, means for squeezing said rolls so as to squeeze the recording medium between them, H. and scraping means for compressing the surface of one of said rolls and scraping away the liquid at said roll.

Claim 15

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces comprising; A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including a. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface; and b. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a continuously curved course that intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces; and F. said fixing means including a pair of elastomeric rolls having absorptive surfaces for removing excess liquid, G. said recording medium passing between said rolls, means for squeezing said rolls so as to squeeze the recording medium between them, H. and scraping means for compressing the surface of one of said rolls and scraping away the liquid at said roll.

Claim 16

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces comprising A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for electrostatically exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including a. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface, and b. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a continuously curved course that intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces; and F. said flow producing means including a. liquid slide means for forming an inclined upper surface spaced from said guide means so as to form a gap between the curved path and the surface of said slide means, and b. liquid moving means for passing the toning liquid over the surface of said slide means so as to make the liquid flow gravitationally through the gap, c. the size of said gap being sufficiently small so that when The recording medium is moved through the gap and the liquid flows through the gap the liquid forms a continuous meniscus at the medium in the gap; G. said guide means including a conductive roller extending axially across the longitudinal direction of movement of the medium; and H. said liquid slide means being conductive and spaced from said roller closely enough to align the electrostatic field lines of the excited medium perpendicularly to the medium.

Claim 17

Apparatus for printing on a flat flexible recording medium having opposing faces comprising A. driving means for moving the medium along a given path; B. excitation means in the path of the recording medium for electrostatically exciting the medium according to the image to be printed; C. developing means in the path of the recording medium for applying a toning liquid to one face of the excited recording medium; D. fixing means in the path of the recording medium after said developing means for fixing the image and removing excess liquid from the recording medium; E. said developing means including a. flow producing means for forming a laminar flow of toning liquid having a substantially flat surface, and b. guide means for longitudinally guiding the moving recording medium along a continuously curved course that intersects the moving liquid at only one of its surfaces; and F. said flow producing means including a. liquid slide means for forming an inclined upper surface spaced from said guide means so as to form a gap between the curved path and the surface of said slide means, and b. liquid moving means for passing the toning liquid over the surface of said slide means so as to make the liquid flow gravitationally through the gap, c. the size of said gap being sufficiently small so that when The recording medium is moved through the gap and the liquid flows through the gap the liquid forms a continuous meniscus at the medium in the gap; G. said guide means including a conductive roller extending axially across the longitudinal direction of movement of the medium; and H. said liquid slide means being conductive and spaced from said roller closely enough to align the electrostatic field lines of the excited medium perpendicularly to the medium.