Method of developing electrostatic latent images with pressure sensitive toner

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A FINAL IMAGE COMPRISING: FIXING A TONER IN IMAGE CONFIGURATION TO A SUPPORT BY THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE, SAID TONER COMPRISNG A FINELY DIVIDED COLORED RESIN, SAID RESIN COMPRISING AN AMORPHOUS WEAKLY CROSSLINKED POLYMER HAVING A BOND STRENGTH FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 30 KCAL/MOLE AND A TG OF GREATER THAN ABOUT -20*C.

Claim 3

A PROCESS FOR RENDERING AN ELECTROSTATIC LATEN IMAGE VISIBLE, COMPRISING: DEVELOPING THE ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE WITH A FINELY DIVIDED COLORED RESIN, SAID RESIN COMPRISING AN AMORPHOUS WEAKLY CROSSLINKED POLYMER HAVING A CROSSLINK BOND STRENGTH FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 30 KCAL/MOLE AND A TG OF GREATER THAN ABOUT -20*C.

Claim 4

A PROCESS FOR RENDERING AN ELECTROSTATIC LATEN IMAGE VISIBLE, COMPRISING: DEVELOPING THE ELECTROSTATIC LATENT IMAGE WITH A FINELY DIVIDED COLORED RESIN, SAID RESIN COMPRISING AN AMORPHOUS WEAKLY CROSSLINKED POLYMER HAVING A CROSSLINK BOND STRENGTH FROM ABOUT 2 TO ABOUT 30 KCAL/MOLE AND A TG OF GREATER THAN ABOUT -20*C.

Claim 5

An electrostatographic development method comprising forming an electrostatographic latent image on a surface; developing the latent image with a finely divided electrostatographic toner capable of being fixed to a support medium in image configuration by the application of pressure, said toner comprising a finely divided colored resin, said resin comprising an amphorous weakly crosslinked polymer having a crosslink bond strength from about 2 to about 30 kcal/mole and a glass transition temperature greater than about -20* C., said weakly crosslinked polymer being pressure sensitive; and subjecting the developed image present on the surface to pressure, whereby the pressure application to said weakly crosslinked polymer results in a polymer having the properties of the uncrosslinked polymer thereby fixing said toner to said surface.

Claim 6

An electrostatographic development method comprising forming an electrostatographic latent image on a surface; developing the latent image with a finely divided electrostatographic toner capable of being fixed to a support medium in image configuration by the application of pressure, said toner comprising a finely divided colored resin, said resin comprising an amphorous weakly crosslinked polymer having a crosslink bond strength from about 2 to about 30 kcal/mole and a glass transition temperature greater than about -20* C., said weakly crosslinked polymer being pressure sensitive; and subjecting the developed image present on the surface to pressure, whereby the pressure application to said weakly crosslinked polymer results in a polymer having the properties of the uncrosslinked polymer thereby fixing said toner to said surface.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 wherein the surface is a photoconductive insulating surface.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 further comprising transferring the developed latent image to a suitable transfer member.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 wherein the suitable transfer member is paper.

Claim 10

The method of claim 3 wherein the developed image present on the surface is subjected to pressure by pressing the surface having the toner image thereon between a pair of polished metal rollers that are in contact with each other.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 wherein the pressure is from about 10 to about 600 pounds per linear inch.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7 wherein the pressure is from about 50 to about 400 pounds per linear inch.

Claim 13

The method of claim 3 further comprising applying heat to assist the pressure fixing of the toner.