Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for electrostatic printing, including a photosensitive plate, composed of a conductive substrate having fine pores distributed uniformly all over the surface thereof and a liquid-repellent photoconductive layer coating the surface of the substrate except the part of the pores. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive plate, and a liquid developer is applied to the back side of the plate. The developer is prevented from exuding on that portion of the plate where said latent image does not exist due to the liquid-repellent property of the photoconductive layer. Conversely, the developer is received by those portions of the surface of the plate where the latent image exists due to decrease of contact angle in that part of the image. Finally, a paper is press-contacted onto the surface of the plate to transfer the image of exuded developer to the paper by the absorbing force of the paper.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite assembly comprise a cylindrical member comprising said substrate and said photoconductive layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite assembly comprises a continuous, flexible belt comprising said substrate and said photoconductive layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductive layer comprises a liquid-repellent resin binder and a photoconductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photoconductive layer has a thickness in the range of 3 to 400 Mu .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said openings have a diameter in the range of 10 to 100 Mu .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said openings are spaced apart a distance in the range of 10 to 100 Mu .
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of electrostatically reproducing an original image onto an image bearing medium utilizing an assembly comprised of a conductive substrate having a first exposed surface and a photoconductive layer having a liquid repellent, second surface, said assembly having a plurality of uniformly distributed openings disposed therethrough, said method comprising the following steps: forming an electrostatic latent image on the second surface of the assembly; supplying a coating solution to the first surface of the assembly to facilitate solution flow through the openings onto that portion of the second surface receiving the electrostatic latent image; and contacting the medium onto the second surface of the assembly to transfer a portion of the coating solution to the medium to thereby form an image on the medium corresponding to the original image.