US3873309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging method using migration material
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1973-01-09
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a colored image wherein an imaging member is employed comprising a substrate having an overlayer of softenable material. Within the softenable material there is dispersed migration material and at the free surface of the softenable material there is provided a colored light transmitting layer of non-photoconductive material. The imaging member is uniformly electrostatically charged and exposed to an imagewise pattern of light. After exposure the softenable layer is softened to permit migration of the migration material together with the light transmitting layer directly above the migrating migration material in imagewise configuration. After the migration to the substrate of the imaging member is complete, the relatively unmigrated portions of at least the light transmitting layer is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Goffe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G17/00; G03G17/10; G03G13/00; G03G13/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
AN IMAGING METHOD COMPRISING: A. PROVIDING AN IMAGING MEMBER COMPRISING AN OVERLAYER OF SOFTENABLE MATERIAL ON AN OPAQUE SUBSTRATE, SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL HAVING MIGRATION MATERIAL DISPERSED AT LEAST IN PART IN SAID SOFTENABLE LAYER, AND A FRACTURABLE ELECTRICALLY INSULATING LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER COMPRISING INDIVIDUAL LATERALLY ADJACENT ALTERNATING AREAS OF AT LEAST TWO COLORS, EACH OF SAID ALTERNATING AREAS TRANSMITTING LIGHT OF ONE OF THE THREE VISUAL PRIMARY COLORS RED, GREEN AND BLUE, SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER CONTACTING SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL AND CONTIGUOUS THE SURFACE OF SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL OPPOSITE THE SOFTENABLE MATERIAL SURFACE CONTACTING SAID SUBSTRATE, SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER BEING RELATIVELY NON-PHOTOCONDUCTIVE AS COMPARED TO THE PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL BELOW SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER AND WHEREIN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MIGRATION MATERIAL AND SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL IS PHOTOCONDUCTIVE, SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL CAPABLE OF HAVING ITS RESISTANCE TO ALLOW MIGRATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER DECREASED SUFFICIENTLY TO ALLOW MIGRATION OF AREAS OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER AND MITRATION MATERIAL IN DEPTH IN IN SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL; B. ELECTROSTATICALLY CHARGING SAID IMAGING MEMBER; C. EXPOSING SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL THROUGH SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER TO AN IMAGE PATTERN OF ACTIVATING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; D. DEVELOPING SAID IMAGING MEMBER BY DECREASING THE RESISTANCE TO MIGRATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER IN DEPTH IN THE SOFTENABLE LAYER AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW IMAGEWISE MIGRATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER COMPRISING IMAGEWISE AREAS OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER DIRECTLY OVER SAID MIGRATION MATERIAL WHEREBY SAID MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER MIGRATE IN IMAGEWISE CONFIGURATION IN DEPTH IN SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL; AND E. REMOVING THE UNMIGRATED PORTION OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER FROM SAID IMGAGING MEMBER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
AN IMAGING METHOD COMPRISING: A. PROVIDING AN IMAGING MEMBER COMPRISING AN OVERLAYER OF SOFTENABLE MATERIAL ON AN OPAQUE SUBSTRATE, SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL HAVING MIGRATION MATERIAL DISPERSED AT LEAST IN PART IN SAID SOFTENABLE LAYER, AND A FRACTURABLE ELECTRICALLY INSULATING LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER COMPRISING INDIVIDUAL LATERALLY ADJACENT ALTERNATING AREAS OF AT LEAST TWO COLORS, EACH OF SAID ALTERNATING AREAS TRANSMITTING LIGHT OF ONE OF THE THREE VISUAL PRIMARY COLORS RED, GREEN AND BLUE, SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER CONTACTING SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL AND CONTIGUOUS THE SURFACE OF SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL OPPOSITE THE SOFTENABLE MATERIAL SURFACE CONTACTING SAID SUBSTRATE, SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER BEING RELATIVELY NON-PHOTOCONDUCTIVE AS COMPARED TO THE PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL BELOW SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER AND WHEREIN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MIGRATION MATERIAL AND SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL IS PHOTOCONDUCTIVE, SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL CAPABLE OF HAVING ITS RESISTANCE TO ALLOW MIGRATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER DECREASED SUFFICIENTLY TO ALLOW MIGRATION OF AREAS OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER AND MITRATION MATERIAL IN DEPTH IN IN SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL; B. ELECTROSTATICALLY CHARGING SAID IMAGING MEMBER; C. EXPOSING SAID PHOTOCONDUCTIVE MATERIAL THROUGH SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER TO AN IMAGE PATTERN OF ACTIVATING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; D. DEVELOPING SAID IMAGING MEMBER BY DECREASING THE RESISTANCE TO MIGRATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER IN DEPTH IN THE SOFTENABLE LAYER AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW IMAGEWISE MIGRATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER COMPRISING IMAGEWISE AREAS OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER DIRECTLY OVER SAID MIGRATION MATERIAL WHEREBY SAID MIGRATION MATERIAL AND MATERIAL FROM SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER MIGRATE IN IMAGEWISE CONFIGURATION IN DEPTH IN SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL; AND E. REMOVING THE UNMIGRATED PORTION OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING LAYER FROM SAID IMGAGING MEMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said light transmitting layer is nonphotoconductive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said light transmitting layer comprises materials which are visually colored red, green and blue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said light transmitting layer is between from about 0.01 to about 5.0 microns thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said softenable material has dispersed throughout migration material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said softenable material is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said migration material is a monolayer of dispersed migration material contiguous the interface of said softenable material and light transmitting layer and between said light transmitting layer and said substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said migration material is white.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said migration mateial comprises particles of an average particle size from about 0.01 to about 2 microns and wherein said softenable layer is betwen from about 1/2 to about 16 microns thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said migration material is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An imaging method according to claim 10 wherein said migration material is zinc oxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is black.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is coated with a layer of electrically conductive material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said developing is accomplished by softening said softenable material by exposing said member to vapors of a solvent for said softenable layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said developing is accomplished by softening said softenable material by heating said member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said developing and removing steps (d) and (e) are accomplished by contacting said member with a solvent for said softenable layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein the softenable material, unmigrated migration material and unmigrated light transmitting layer are removed by contact with a solvent liquid which dissolves said softenable layer and washes away said unmigrated material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imaging method accordiNg to claim 1 wherein said unmigrated migration material and unmigrated light transmitting layer are removed by abrasion to yield a visible image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said unmigrated migration material and unmigrated light transmitting layer are removed by splitting said softenable material by means of contacting said material while softened with a substrate and contacting the opposite side of said material with a receiver material and removing the substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said softenable layer has dispersed throughout said layer photoconductive migration material and contiguous the surface of said softenable layer a fracturable electrically insulating light transmitting layer comprising individual laterally adjacent areas of non-photoconductive material in a mosaic pattern visually colored red, green and blue, each of said areas transmitting light of one of the three visual primary colors red, green and blue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging method according to claim 20 including the step of immersing said imaging member in a solvent for said softenable layer whereby said softenable layer is substantially removed from said substrate together with relatively unmigrated migration material and light transmitting layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
225 words
An imaging method comprising: a. providing an imaging member comprising an overlayer of photoconductive softenable material on an opaque substrate and contacting said photoconductive softenable layer and contiguous one surface thereof and spaced apart from said opaque substrate a fracturable, electrically insulating light transmitting layer comprising individual laterally adjacent alternating areas of at least two colors, each of said alternating areas transmitting light of one of the three visual primary colors red, green and blue, said light transmitting layer being relatively non-photoconductive as compared to the photoconductive softenable layer, said photoconductive softenable material capable of having its resistance to migration of material from said light transmitting layer decreased sufficiently to allow migration of areas of said light transmitting layer in depth in said photoconductive softenable material; b. electrostatically charging said member; c. exposing said photoconductive softenable layer through said light transmitting layer to an image pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation; d. developing said imaging member by decreasing the resistance to migration of said light transmitting layer in depth in the softenable layer at least sufficient to allow imagewise migration of said light transmitting layer at least in depth in said photoconductive softenable layer whereby said material from said light transmitting layer migrates in imagewise configuration in depth in said softenable material; and e. removing the unmigrated portion of said light transmitting layer from said member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
225 words
An imaging method comprising: a. providing an imaging member comprising an overlayer of photoconductive softenable material on an opaque substrate and contacting said photoconductive softenable layer and contiguous one surface thereof and spaced apart from said opaque substrate a fracturable, electrically insulating light transmitting layer comprising individual laterally adjacent alternating areas of at least two colors, each of said alternating areas transmitting light of one of the three visual primary colors red, green and blue, said light transmitting layer being relatively non-photoconductive as compared to the photoconductive softenable layer, said photoconductive softenable material capable of having its resistance to migration of material from said light transmitting layer decreased sufficiently to allow migration of areas of said light transmitting layer in depth in said photoconductive softenable material; b. electrostatically charging said member; c. exposing said photoconductive softenable layer through said light transmitting layer to an image pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation; d. developing said imaging member by decreasing the resistance to migration of said light transmitting layer in depth in the softenable layer at least sufficient to allow imagewise migration of said light transmitting layer at least in depth in said photoconductive softenable layer whereby said material from said light transmitting layer migrates in imagewise configuration in depth in said softenable material; and e. removing the unmigrated portion of said light transmitting layer from said member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said light transmitting layer is nonphotoconductive.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said light transmitting layer comprises materials which are visually colored red, green and blue.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein the light transmitting layer is between from about 0.01 to about 5.0 microns thick.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said substrate is coated with a layer of electrically conductive material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said softenable material is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said developing is accomplished by softening said softenable material by exposing said member to vapors of a solvent for said softenable layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said developing is accomplished by softening said softenable material by heating said member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said developing and removing steps (d) aNd (e) are accomplished by contacting said member with a solvent for said softenable layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein the softenable material and unmigrated light transmitting layer are removed by contact with solvent liquid and which dissolves said softenable layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said unmigrated light transmitting layer is removed by abrasion of said imaging member to yield a visible image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said unmigrated light transmitting layer is removed by splitting said softenable material by means of contacting said material while softened with a substrate and contacting the opposite side of said material with a receiver material and removing the substrate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
48 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said light transmitting layer comprising individual laterally adjacent areas of non-photoconductive material in a mosaic pattern visually colored red, green and blue, each of said areas transmitting light of one of the three visual primary colors red, green and blue.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
An imaging method according to claim 34 including the step of immersing said imaging member in a solvent for said softenable layer whereby said softenable layer is substantially removed from said substrate together with unmigrated light transmitting layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |