Method for transferring a dye image and electrophotographic copy process embodying same

Claim 2

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the temperature is within the range of a temperature of 10* C. to 25* C. above the melting point of the toner.

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the toner is selected from the group consisting of antipyrine and 1-allyl-2-thiourea.

Claim 4

A meThod as defined in claim 1 wherein the photoconductor is zinc oxide.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the receptor sheet has a single photoconductive coating. cm 7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the photoconductive coating contains a sensitizer to sensitize the photoconductor to the entire spectrum of visible light.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the receptor sheet contains at least two photoconductive coatings interspersed on the face thereof.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 8 wherein each photoconductive coating contains a sensitizer which sensitizes the photoconductor to a particular segment of the visible light range for absorption of light within said range and reflection of light outside said range, and wherein the receptor sheet contains separate coatings to provide a total receptor sensitivity covering substantially the entire spectrum of visible light.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the dispersed dye in each photoconductive coating corresponds with the color of the light reflected from each coating.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 10 wherein the interspersed photoconductive coatings comprise interspersed coatings sensitized to the additive primary colors of red, green and blue, respectively.

Claim 10

In an electrostatic copy process in which a receptor sheet having at least one photoconductive coating comprising a photoconductor, a resinous binder, a sensitizer for the photoconductor and a dispersed dye is provided with an electrostatic charge, exposed to an original whereby the non-imaged portions of the original cause corresponding areas of the receptor sheet to become conductive and thereby be discharged and the electrostatic charge is retained by areas of the face of the receptor sheet corresponding to the image areas of the original an developed with a developer composition containing a toner in the form of a material which, when reduced to a molten state, is a solvent for the dispersed dye in the photoconductive coating, the improvement comprising the steps of transferring a dye image from the receptor sheet to a copy sheet comprising pre-fusing the toner to reduce the toner to a molten state and thereby solubilize the dispersed dye and then placing a copy sheet in surface contact with the face of the receptor sheet at an elevated temperature whereby the dispersed dye is transferred from the face of the receptor sheet to the copy sheet.

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein the dispersed dye is transferred to the copy sheet by passing the developed receptor sheet having pre-fused toner on the face thereof in surface contact with a copy sheet through a pair of heated compression rollers.

Claim 12

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein the temperature is within the range from 25* C. to a temperature of 10* C. above the melting point of the toner.

Claim 13

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein the toner is selected from the group consisting of antipyrine and 1-allyl-2-thiourea.

Claim 14

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein the photoconductor is zinc oxide.

Claim 15

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein the receptor sheet has a single photoconductive coating.

Claim 16

A process as defined in claim 17 wherein the photoconductive coating contains a sensitizer to sensitize the photoconductor to the entire spectrum of visible light.

Claim 17

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein the receptor sheet contains at least two photoconductive coatings interspersed on the face thereof.

Claim 18

A process as defined in claim 19 wherein each photoconductive coating contains a sensitizer which sensitizes the photoconductor to a particular segment of the visible light range for absorption of light within said range and reflection of light outside said range, and wherein the receptor sheet contains separate coatings to provide a total receptor sensitivity covering substantially the entire spectrum of visible light.

Claim 19

A process as defined in claim 20 wherein the dispersed dYe in each photoconductive coating corresponds with the color of the light reflected from each coating.

Claim 20

A process as defined in claim 21 wherein the interspersed photoconductive coatings comprise interspersed coatings sensitized to the additive primary colors of red, green and blue, respectively.