Migration imaging by splitting a softenable material

Claim 2

AN IMAGING METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PROVIDING AN IMAGED MEMBER COMPRISING A LAYER OF SOFTENABLE MMATERIAL AND MIGRATION MATERIAL DISTRIBUTED IN DEPTH IN SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL IN FIRST IMAGE PATTERN CONFIGURATION, AND COMPRISING IN ADDITION TO SAID FIRST IMAGE PATTERN OF MIGRATION MATERIAL A BACKGROUND OF MIGRATION MATERIAL IN SAID SOFTENABLE MATERIAL AND SPACED APART, IN DEPTH, FROM SAID FIRST IMAGE PATTERN, SAID BACKGROUND BEING IN A SECOND IMAGE PATTERN, OF MIGRATION MATERIAL COMPLEMENTARY TO SAID FIRST IMAGE PATTERN CONFIGURATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL, AND B. REMOVING SAID SECOND IMAGE PATTERN OF MIGRATION MATERIAL BY SPLITTING THE SOFTENABLE LAYER ON THE AVERAGE IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN THE FIRST IMAGE PATTERN CONFIGURATION OF MIGRATION MATERIAL AND THE SECOND IMAGE PATTERN OF MIGRATION MATERIAL.

Claim 3

An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said second image pattern of migration material is substantially unmigrated compared to the migration of said first image configuration of migration material.

Claim 4

An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said first image configuration of migration material is contiguous to a substrate for said softenable layer.

Claim 5

An imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing an imaged member comprising a layer of softenable material and migration material distributed in depth in said softenable material in first image pattern configuration, and comprising in addition to said first image pattern of migration material a background of migration material in said softenable material and spaced apart, in depth, from said first image pattern, said background being in a second image pattern of migration material complementary to said first image pattern configuration of migration material; and b. removing said second image pattern of migration material by abrading away said second image pattern of migration material.

Claim 6

An imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing an imaged member comprising a layer of softenable material and migration material distributed in depth in said softenable material in first image pattern configuration, and comprising in addition to said first image pattern of migration material a background of migration material in said softenable material and spaced apart, in depth, from said first image pattern, said background being in a second image pattern of migration material complementary to said first image pattern configuration of migration material; and b. removing said second image pattern of migration material by abrading away said second image pattern of migration material.

Claim 7

An imaging method according to claim 4 wherein said second image pattern of migration material is substantially unmigrated compared to the migration of said first image configuration of migration material.

Claim 8

An imaging method according to claim 4 wherein said first image configuration of migration material is contiguous to a substrate for said softenable layer.

Claim 9

An imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing an imaging member comprising a layer of softenable material, said softenable material containing migration material, said softenable material capable of being solvent softened to allow both migration of migration material in depth in said softenable material and splitting of the member; b. providing an electrostatic latent image on said imaging member; c. providing a stripping member carrying a solvent on the surface thereto capable of softening said softenable material sufficiently to allow both migration of said migration material and splitting of the imaging member; d. contacting said stripping member carrying said solvent with said imaging member sufficiently to soften said softenable material to allow migration of said migration material in a first image pattern configuration, in depth in said softenable material leaving a background of migration material spaced apart, in depth, from said first image pattern; and e. removing said stripping member thereby splitting the softenable layer on an average in a plane substantially between said first image pattern configuration of migration material and said background migration material.

Claim 10

An imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing an imaging member comprising a layer of softenable material, said softenable material containing migration material, said softenable material capable of being solvent softened to allow both migration of migration material in depth in said softenable material and splitting of the member; b. providing an electrostatic latent image on said imaging member; c. providing a stripping member carrying a solvent on the surface thereto capable of softening said softenable material sufficiently to allow both migration of said migration material and splitting of the imaging member; d. contacting said stripping member carrying said solvent with said imaging member sufficiently to soften said softenable material to allow migration of said migration material in a first image pattern configuration, in depth in said softenable material leaving a background of migration material spaced apart, in depth, from said first image pattern; and e. removing said stripping member thereby splitting the softenable layer on an average in a plane substantially between said first image pattern configuration of migration material and said background migration material.

Claim 11

An imaging method according to claim 7 wherein said background is a second image pattern of migration material complementary to said first image pattern configuration of migration material.

Claim 12

An imaging method according to claim 7 wherein said image configuration of migration material is contiguous to a substrate for said softenable layer.

Claim 13

An imaging method according to claim 7 wherein the pressures used in contacting said stripping member with said imaging member is from about 3 to about 14 lbs. per linear inch.

Claim 14

An imaging method according to claim 10 wherein said softening solvent is encapsulated in pressure rupturable capsules fixed to the surface of said stripping member.

Claim 15

A splitting method comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous layer of softenable material, said softenable material capable of being softened sufficiently to allow splitting of said layer; b. softening said softenable material sufficiently to allow splitting of said layer; and c. splitting said layer on the average in a plane substantially between upper and lower surfaces of said layer.

Claim 16

A splitting method comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous layer of softenable material, said softenable material capable of being softened sufficiently to allow splitting of said layer; b. softening said softenable material sufficiently to allow splitting of said layer; and c. splitting said layer on the average in a plane substantially between upper and lower surfaces of said layer.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 12 wherein said softenable material is a thermoplastic.

Claim 18

A splitting method comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous layer of softenable material, said layer capable of being split in a plane substantially between the upper and lower surfaces of said layer; b. providing a stripping member capable of splitting said layer; c. bringing said stripping member into tackified contact with said layer; and d. separating said stripping member and said layer thereby splitting said layer on the average in a plane substantially between upper and lower surfaces of said layer.

Claim 19

A splitting method comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous layer of softenable material, said layer capable of being split in a plane substantially between the upper and lower surfaces of said layer; b. providing a stripping member capable of splitting said layer; c. bringing said stripping member into tackified contact with said layer; and d. separating said stripping member and said layer thereby splitting said layer on the average in a plane substantially between upper and lower surfaces of said layer.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 14 wherein said softenable material is a thermoplastic.

Claim 21

A splitting method comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous layer of softenable material, said softenable material capable of being solvent softened to allow splitting of said layer; b. providing a stripping member carrying a solvent on the surface thereto capable of softening said softenable material to allow splitting of said layer; c. contacting said stripping member carrying said solvent with said layer sufficiently to soften said softenable material; and d. separating said stripping member and said layer thereby splitting said layer on an average in a plane substantially between upper and lower surfaces of said layer.

Claim 22

A splitting method comprising the steps of: a. providing a continuous layer of softenable material, said softenable material capable of being solvent softened to allow splitting of said layer; b. providing a stripping member carrying a solvent on the surface thereto capable of softening said softenable material to allow splitting of said layer; c. contacting said stripping member carrying said solvent with said layer sufficiently to soften said softenable material; and d. separating said stripping member and said layer thereby splitting said layer on an average in a plane substantially between upper and lower surfaces of said layer.

Claim 23

The method according to claim 16 wherein said softenable material is a thermoplastic.