Photoelectrophoretic imaging method employing a belt electrode

Claim 2

IN A PHOTOELECTROPHORETIC IMAGING METHOD WITH APPARATUS COMPRISING A TRANSPARENT FLEXIBLE, CLOSED, ENDLESS BELT LOOP ELECTRODE HAVING A PLANAR SEGMENT WITH PHOTOELECTROPHORETIC IMAGING SUSPENSION ON THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, A ROLLER ELECTRODE POSITIONED AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID LOOP ELECTRODE AT SAID PLANAR SEGMENT TO FORM A NIP, EXPOSURE MEANS LOCATED INSIDE SAID LOOP ELECTRODE FOR EXPOSING SAID ORIGINAL AND SAID PHOTOELECTROHORETIC IMAGING SUSPENSION

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said projection is a full frame projection of an oRiginal image for at least the length of time required for said roller electrode to be advanced along portions of said planar segment so exposed.

Claim 4

The imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said advancing of said roller electrode and thus said nip is in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension and the advancing direction of said loop electrode.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 including a platen positioned inside said loop electrode for holding stationary, an original to be imaged and wherein said exposure means include means for linearly projecting radiation to said platen and the original to be imaged and then to said photoelectrophoretic imaging suspension located in said nip wherein said projection includes advancing said exposure means relative to said stationary original and said loop electrode while said planar segment thereof is stationary to linearly expose said nip to activating electromagnetic radiation through said loop electrode, while advancing said roller electrode synchronously with said exposure means.

Claim 6

The imaging method according to claim 4 wherein said exposure means and said roller electrode are advanced, after and in the opposite direction to said exposure advance, in the same direction as said loop electrode but staying behind the imaged loop electrode area to a starting position, ready to form another image on said clean planar segment portion.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 further including left and right compression members positioned on each side of said nip, in the direction of the length of said loop electrode and bearing on the inside of said loop electrode to press it at said nip against said roller electrode.