Multi-color magnetic image recording and media

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magnetic record of the first color component is provided by imparting to said first portions a first premagnetization having said first magnetic moment, and by selectively reducing said first magnetic moment in response to the first color component; and said magnetic record of the second color component is provided by imparting to said second portions a second premagnetization having said second magnetic moment, and by selectively reducing said second magnetic moment in response to the second color component.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first and second premagnetizations are imparted to said first and second portions, respectively, by providing first magnetic fields having a first predetermined intensity and second magnetic fields having a second predetermined intensity lower than said first intensity, and by magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said first magnetic fields and said second portions with the aid of said second magnetic fields.

Claim 5

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first and second premagnetizations are imparted to said first and second portions, respectively, by providing first magnetic fields having a first predetermined intensity and second magnetic fields having a second predetermined intensity lower than said first intensity, exposing said first portions to said first magnetic fields and said second portions to said second magnetic fields, and thermoremanently magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said first magnetic fields and said second portions with the aid of said second magnetic fields.

Claim 6

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first and second premagnetizations are imparted to said first and second portions, respectively, by providing magnetic fields, exposing said first and second portions to said magnetic fields, magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and first transfer stimuli, and magnetizing said second portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and second transfer stimuli having lower intensities than said first transfer stimuli.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first and second premagnetizations are imparted to said first and second portions, respectively, by providing magnetic fields, exposing said first and second portions to said magnetic fields, thermoremanently magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and first thermal stimuli, and thermoremanently magnetizing said second portions with the aid of said mAgnetic fields and second thermal stimuli having lower intensities than said first thermal stimuli.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first portions are provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a first level of magnetization correlated to said first magnetic moment; said second portions are provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a second level of magnetization correlated to said second magnetic moment; said magnetic record of the first color component is provided by premagnetizing said first portions to said first level, and by selectively reducing the premagnetization of the first portions in response to the first color component; and said magnetic record of the second color component is provided by premagnetizing said second portions to said second level, and by selectively reducing the premagnetization of the second portions in response to the second color component.

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said first portions are provided with more of said magnetic material than said second portions.

Claim 12

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said magnetic record of the first color component is provided by imparting to said first portions a first premagnetization having said first magnetic moment, and by selectively reducing said first magnetic moment in response to the first color component; said magnetic record of the second color component is provided by imparting to said second portions a second premagnetization having said second magnetic moment, and by selectively reducing said second magnetic moment in response to the second color component; and said magnetic record of the third color component is provided by imparting to said third portions a third premagnetization having said third magnetic moment, and by selectively reducing said third magnetic moment in response to the third color component.

Claim 13

A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said first, second and third Premagnetizations are imparted to said first, second and third portions, respectively, by providing first magnetic fields having a first predetermined intensity, second magnetic fields having a second predetermined intensity lower than said first intensity, and third magnetic fields having a third predetermined intensity lower than said second intensity, and by magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said first magnetic fields, said second portions with the aid of said second magnetic fields and said third portions with the aid of said third magnetic fields.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said first, second and third premagnetizations are imparted to said first, second and third portions, respectively, by providing first magnetic fields having a first predetermined intensity, second magnetic fields having a second predetermined intensity lower than said first intensity, and third magnetic fields having a third predetermined intensity lower than said second intensity, exposing said first portions to said first magnetic fields, said second portions to said second magnetic fields and said third portions to said third magnetic fields, and thermoremanently magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said first magnetic fields, said second portions with the aid of said second magnetic fields, and said third portions with the aid of said third magnetic fields.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said first, second and third premagnetizations are imparted to said first, second and third portions, respetively, by providing magnetic fields, exposing said first, second and third portions to said magnetic fields, magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and first transfer stimuli, magnetizing said second portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and second transfer stimuli having lower intensities than said first transfer stimuli, and magnetizing said third portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and third transfer stimuli having lower intensities than said second transfer stimuli.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said first, second and third premagnetizations are imparted to said first, second and third portions, respectively, by providing magnetic fields, exposing said first, second and third portions to said magnetic fields, thermoremanently magnetizing said first portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and first thermal stimuli, thermoremanently magnetizing said second portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and second thermal stimuli having lower intensities than said first thermal stimuli, and thermoremanently magnetizing said third portions with the aid of said magnetic fields and third thermal stimuli having lower intensities than said second thermal stimuli.

Claim 17

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said first portions are provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a first level of magnetization correlated to said first magnetic moment; said second portions are provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a second level of magnetization correlated to said second magnetic moment; said third portions are provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a third level of magnetization correlated to said third magnetic moment; said magnetic record of the first color component is provided by premagnetizing said first portions to said first level, and by selectively reducing the premagnetization of the first portions in response to the first color component; said magnetic record of the second color component is provided by premagnetizing said second portions to said second level, and by selectively reducing the premagnetization of the second portions in response to the second color component; and said magnetic record of the third color component is provided by premagnetizing said third portions to said third level, and by selectively reducing the premagnetization of the third portions in response to the third color comPonent.

Claim 18

A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said first portions are provided with more of said magnetic material than said second portions; and said second portions are provided with more of said magnetic material than said third portions.

Claim 19

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first and second color components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first and second portions for retaining magnetic records of said first and second color components, respectively; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions a magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment lower than said first magnetic moment; means for providing a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a second toner corresponding in color to said second color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said second magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images for printing out said toner images of said first and second color components to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 20

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first and second color components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first and second portions for retaining magnetic records of said first and second color components, respectively; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions a magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment lower than said first magnetic moment; means for providing a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a second toner corresponding in color to said second color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said second magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images for printing out said toner images of said first and second color components to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said means for providing a magnetic record of said first color component include means for imparting to said first portions a first premagnetization having said first magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said first magnetic moment in response to the first color component; and said means for providing a magnetic record of said second color component include means for imparting to said second portions a second premagnetization having said second magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said second magnetic moment in response to the second color component.

Claim 22

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first and second color components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first and second portions for retaining magnetic records of said first and second color components, respectively, with said first portions including magnetic material magnetizable up to a first level of magnetization and said second portions including magnetic material magnetizable up to a second level of magnetization lower than said first level of magnetization; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions a magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment correlated to said first level of magnetization; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment correlated to said second level of magnetization and being lower than said first magnetic moment; means for providing a supply of a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a maximum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a secoNd toner corresponding in color to said second color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said second magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images for printing out said toner images of said first and second color components so as to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 23

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first and second color components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first and second portions for retaining magnetic records of said first and second color components, respectively, with said first portions including magnetic material magnetizable up to a first level of magnetization and said second portions including magnetic material magnetizable up to a second level of magnetization lower than said first level of magnetization; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions a magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment correlated to said first level of magnetization; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment correlated to said second level of magnetization and being lower than said first magnetic moment; means for providing a supply of a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a maximum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a secoNd toner corresponding in color to said second color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said second magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images for printing out said toner images of said first and second color components so as to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 24

Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said means for providing a magnetic record of said first color component include means for imparting to said first portions a first premagnetization having said first magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said first magnetic moment in response to the first color component; and said means for providing a magnetic record of said second color component include means for imparting to said second portions a second premagnetization having said second magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said second magnetic moment in response to the second color component.

Claim 25

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first, second and third components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first, second and third portions for retaining magnetic records of said first, second and third color components, respectively; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions of magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment lower than said first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said third portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum third magnetic moment lower than said second magnetic moment; means for providing a supply of a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a second toner corresponding in color to said color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said second and third magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a third toner corresponding in color to said third color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said third magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; means operatively associated with said supply of third toner for establishing a toner image of said third color component through magnetic attraction of said third toner by the magnetic record of the third color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images of said first, second and third color components for printing out said toner images of said first, second and third color components to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 26

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first, second and third components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first, second and third portions for retaining magnetic records of said first, second and third color components, respectively; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions of magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment lower than said first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said third portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum third magnetic moment lower than said second magnetic moment; means for providing a supply of a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a second toner corresponding in color to said color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said second and third magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a third toner corresponding in color to said third color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said third magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; means operatively associated with said supply of third toner for establishing a toner image of said third color component through magnetic attraction of said third toner by the magnetic record of the third color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images of said first, second and third color components for printing out said toner images of said first, second and third color components to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 27

AppaRatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein: said means for providing a magnetic record of said first color component include means for imparting to said first portions a first premagnetization having said first magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said first magnetic moment in response to the first color component; said means for providing a magnetic record of said second color component include means for imparting to said second portions a second premagnetization having said second magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said second magnetic moment in response to the second color component; and said means for providing a magnetic record of said third color component include means for imparting to said third portions a third premagnetization having said third magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said third magnetic moment in response to the third color component.

Claim 28

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first, second and third color components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first, second and third portions for retaining magnetic records of said first, second and third color components, respectively, with said first portion being provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a first level of magnetization, said second portions being provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a second level of magnetization lower than said first level, and said third portions being provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a third level of magnetization lower than said second level; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions a magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment correlated to said first level of magnetization; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment correlated to said second level of magnetization and being lower then said first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said third portions a magnetic record of said third color component having a maximum third magnetic moment correlated to said third level of magnetization and being lower than said second magnetic moment; means providing a supply of a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a second toner corresponding in color to said second color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said second and third magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a third toner corresponding in color to said third color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said third magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; means operatively associated with said supply of third toner for establishing a toner image of said third color component through magnetic attraction of said third toner by the magnetic record of the third color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images of said first, second and third color components for printing out said toner images of said first, second and third color components to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 29

Apparatus for providing a color print of an image having first, second and third color components, comprising in combination: a magnetic recording medium including alternating first, second and third portions for retaining magnetic records of said first, second and third color components, respectively, with said first portion being provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a first level of magnetization, said second portions being provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a second level of magnetization lower than said first level, and said third portions being provided with magnetic material magnetizable up to a third level of magnetization lower than said second level; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said first portions a magnetic record of said first color component having a maximum first magnetic moment correlated to said first level of magnetization; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said second portions a magnetic record of said second color component having a maximum second magnetic moment correlated to said second level of magnetization and being lower then said first magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said magnetic recording medium for providing at said third portions a magnetic record of said third color component having a maximum third magnetic moment correlated to said third level of magnetization and being lower than said second magnetic moment; means providing a supply of a first toner corresponding in color to said first color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said first and second magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a second toner corresponding in color to said second color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value between said second and third magnetic moments; means for providing a supply of a third toner corresponding in color to said third color component and being magnetically attractable by a magnetic moment of a minimum value at least as low as said third magnetic moment; means operatively associated with said supply of first toner for establishing a toner image of said first color component through magnetic attraction of said first toner by the magnetic record of the first color component; means operatively associated with said supply of second toner for establishing a toner image of said second color component through magnetic attraction of said second toner by the magnetic record of the second color component; means operatively associated with said supply of third toner for establishing a toner image of said third color component through magnetic attraction of said third toner by the magnetic record of the third color component; and means operatively associated with said toner images of said first, second and third color components for printing out said toner images of said first, second and third color components to provide a color print of said image.

Claim 30

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said means for providing a magnetic record of the first color component include means for imparting to said first portions a first premagnetization having said first magnetic moment, and by selectively reducing said first magnetic moment in response to the first color component; said means for providing a magnetic record of the second color component include means for imparting to said second portions a second premagnetization having second magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said second magnetic moment in response to the second color component; and said means for providing a magnetic record of the third color component include means for imparting to said third portions a third premagnetization having said third magnetic moment, and for selectively reducing said third magnetic moment in response to the third color component.

Claim 31

A composite magnetic recording medium for recording first and second color components of an image, comprising in combination: an optical filter structure including alternating first and second portions for passing, respectively, said first and second color components; photoconductive means operatively associated with said filter structure for producing thermal images of said first and second color components; and a layer of magnetic material operatively associated with said photoconductive means and selectively undergoing a change in magnetic states in response to said thermal images, said layer of magnetic material including alternating first and second portions corresponding, respectively, to said first and second portions of said optical filter structure, with said first portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a first level of magnetization, and said second portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a second level of magnetization different from said first level.

Claim 32

A composite magnetic recording medium for recording first and second color components of an image, comprising in combination: an optical filter structure including alternating first and second portions for passing, respectively, said first and second color components; photoconductive means operatively associated with said filter structure for producing thermal images of said first and second color components; and a layer of magnetic material operatively associated with said photoconductive means and selectively undergoing a change in magnetic states in response to said thermal images, said layer of magnetic material including alternating first and second portions corresponding, respectively, to said first and second portions of said optical filter structure, with said first portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a first level of magnetization, and said second portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a second level of magnetization different from said first level.

Claim 33

A composite magnetic recording medium for recording first, second and third color components of an image, comprising in combination: an optical filter structure including alternating first, second and third portions for passing, respectively, said first, second and third color components; photoconductive means operatively associated with said filter structure for producing thermal images of said first, second and third color components; and a layer of magnetic material operatively associated with said photoconductive means and selectively undergoing a change in magnetic states in response to said thermal images, said layer of magnetic material includes recurring first, second and third portions corresponding, respectively, to said first, second and third portions of said optical filter structure, with said first portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a first level of magnetization, said second portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a second level of magnetization different from said first level, and said third portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a third level of magnetization different from said first and second levels.

Claim 34

A composite magnetic recording medium for recording first, second and third color components of an image, comprising in combination: an optical filter structure including alternating first, second and third portions for passing, respectively, said first, second and third color components; photoconductive means operatively associated with said filter structure for producing thermal images of said first, second and third color components; and a layer of magnetic material operatively associated with said photoconductive means and selectively undergoing a change in magnetic states in response to said thermal images, said layer of magnetic material includes recurring first, second and third portions corresponding, respectively, to said first, second and third portions of said optical filter structure, with said first portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a first level of magnetization, said second portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a second level of magnetization different from said first level, and said third portions of said layer of magnetic material being magnetizable to a third level of magnetization different from said first and second levels.