US3982936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Deformation imaging system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-15
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Granted: 1976-09-28
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Expires: 1990-06-15
Abstract
Abstract An imaging member comprising an overlayer of material preferably photosensitive, on a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer is imaged by frost or relief wrinkling the deformable layer. In a preferred mode, where the overlayer is photosensitive, wrinkling is caused by uniformly electrostatically charging the member, exposing said member to an imagewise pattern of radiation actinic to said overlayer of photosensitive material and softening the softenable, electrostatically deformable layer to cause it to wrinkle thereby effecting the overlayer in a variety of ways to produce a variety of imaged members.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Goffe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/022; G03G16/00; G03G17/00; G03G17/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing an imaging member comprising a fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer; and b. imagewise electrostatically deforming said deformable layer, prior to and without any substantial migration of fracturable, laterally relocatable layer material in depth in said softenable, electrostatically deformable layer, to disrupt and fracture said fracturable layer whereby portions of said fracturable layer laterally relocate with respect to said deformable layer to move from the peaks of the deformations to agglomerate in the pockets of the deformations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing an imaging member comprising a fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer; and b. imagewise electrostatically deforming said deformable layer, prior to and without any substantial migration of fracturable, laterally relocatable layer material in depth in said softenable, electrostatically deformable layer, to disrupt and fracture said fracturable layer whereby portions of said fracturable layer laterally relocate with respect to said deformable layer to move from the peaks of the deformations to agglomerate in the pockets of the deformations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said fracturable layer is electrostatically photosensitive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An imaging method according to claim 2 wherein said fracturable layer is photoconductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging member according to claim 3 wherein said photoconductive fracturable layer comprises amorphous selenium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein before the deforming step said fracturable, laterally relocatable layer is substantially uniformly light absorbing to a significantly different degree when exposed to a given radiation than said softenable, electrostatically deformable layer which is also uniformly light absorbing when exposed to a given radiation and where sufficient portions of said fracturable layer laterally relocate upon deformation exposing portions of said deformation layer thereby forming an imaged member with areas of different light absorption in image configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging method according to claim 5 wherein said fracturable, laterally relocatable layer is opaque, relative to said deformable layer which is substantially transparent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said deformable layer is thermoplastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An imaging method according to claim 2 wherein said laterally relocatable layer is from about 0.2 to about 2 microns thick.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein the face of said deformable layer furthest from said fracturable layer is in contact with an electrically conductive substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said fracturable layer comprises particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging method according to claim 10 wherein said particles have an average size less than about 5 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 11 wherein said particles are submicron in average size.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein said imagewise electrostatically deforming step comprises the sub-steps of: a. forming a latent electrostatic image on said member; and, b. softening said deformable layer permitting it to inherently deform into a wrinkle image pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 13 wherein said deformable layer is softened by heating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An imaging method according to claim 14 wherein said softenable layer is heated to between about 50° C. and about 130° C. for a duration of from about 1 to about 20 seconds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging method according to claim 13 wherein said deformable layer is softened by exposing it to vapors of at least a partial solvent for said deformable layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging method according to claim 16 wherein said vapors are of a solvent for said deformable layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
An imaging method according to claim 2 wherein said imagewise electrostatically deforming step comprises the sub-steps of: a. uniformly electrostatically charging said electrostatically photosensitive fracturable layer; b. exposing said fracturable layer to an imagewise pattern of radiation actinic to said fracturable layer; and c. softening said deformable layer to cause it to inherently deform.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 18 wherein said deformable layer is softened by heating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
An imaging method according to claim 19 wherein said deformable layer is heated to between about 50° C. and about 130° C. for a duration of from about 1 to about 20 seconds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging method according to claim 18 wherein said deformable layer is softened by exposing it to vapors of at least a partial solvent for said deformable layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging method according to claim 18 wherein said deformable layer is a thermoplastic and has an electrical resistivity in darkness of at least about 10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 22 wherein said electrostatically photosensitive fracturable layer is photoconductive.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging method according to claim 23 wherein said photoconductive fracturable layer comprises amorphous selenium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging method according to claim 24 wherein said photoconductive fracturable layer comprising amorphous selenium comprises submicron size particles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 including the additional step of rehardening the softenable, electrostatically deformable layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
An imaging method according to claim 26 including the additional and subsequent step of softening said deformable layer to substantially remove said deformations but leaving said fracturable layer laterally relocated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging method according to claim 13 including the additional step of rehardening the softenable, electrostatically deformable layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
An imaging method according to claim 28 including the additional and subsequent step of softening said deformable layer to substantially remove said deformations but leaving said fracturable layer laterally relocated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging method according to claim 2 including the additional step of rehardening the softenable, electrostatically deformable layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
An imaging method according to claim 30 including the additional and subsequent step of softening said deformable layer to substantially remove said deformations but leaving said fracturable layer laterally relocated.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
68 words
An imaged member comprising: a fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying a softenable electrostatically deformable layer, wherein said fracturable laterally relocatable layer itself is not a suspension, wherein both layers have substantially uniform thicknesses, except in regions where said deformable layer is wrinkled in image configuration whereat the fracturable layer is rendered relatively thinner in areas corresponding to deformation peaks and relatively thicker in areas corresponding to deformation pockets.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
68 words
An imaged member comprising: a fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying a softenable electrostatically deformable layer, wherein said fracturable laterally relocatable layer itself is not a suspension, wherein both layers have substantially uniform thicknesses, except in regions where said deformable layer is wrinkled in image configuration whereat the fracturable layer is rendered relatively thinner in areas corresponding to deformation peaks and relatively thicker in areas corresponding to deformation pockets.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
An imaged member according to claim 29 wherein the fracturable layer in areas corresponding to deformation peaks is substantially completely laterally relocated to areas corresponding to deformation pockets to expose deformation peaks of softenable material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
An imaged member according to claim 30 wherein said fracturable layer is electrostatically photosensitive.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
An imaged member according to claim 31 wherein said fracturable layer is photoconductive.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaged member according to claim 32 wherein said photoconductive fracturable layer comprises amorphous selenium.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imaged member according to claim 33 wherein said softenable, electrostatically deformable layer is substantially transparent.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
An imaged member according to claim 29 wherein said fracturable, laterally relocatable layer is made up of a material which is opaque relative to said deformable layer which is substantially transparent.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
An imaged member according to claim 29 wherein said deformable layer is thermoplastic and wherein the face of said deformable layer furthest from said fracturable layer is in contact with an electrically conductive substrate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
8 words
The product of the method of claim 26.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imaging method according to claim 18 wherein said deformable layer is caused to deform at areas corresponding to the light struck portions of said member.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
An imaging method according to claim 18 wherein said deformable layer is caused to deform at areas corresponding to the relatively unexposed portions of said imaging member.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging method according to claim 23 wherein said fracturable layer is a separate and distinct layer adjacent one face of said deformable layer with the other face of said deformable layer in contact with an electrically conductive substrate.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
34 words
An imaging method according to claim 40 wherein said deformable layer and said substrate are substantially transparent to viewing light relative to the fracturable layer which is relatively opaque to the same viewing light.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging method according to claim 18 wherein said charging and exposing steps are carried out substantially simultaneously.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging method according to claim 13 wherein said deformable layer is a thermoplastic and has an electrical resistivity in darkness of at least about 10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging method according to claim 13 wherein said deformable layer is photoconductive and said latent electrostatic image is formed by uniformly electrostatically charging said member and exposing said photoconductive deformable layer to an image pattern of activating radiation.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
An imaging method according to claim 24 wherein the material of said deformable layer is selected from the group consisting of rosin esters, highly branched polyolefins, alpha methyl styrene-vinyl toluene copolymers, silicone resins and mixtures thereof.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging method according to claim 8 wherein the thickness of said deformable layer is between about 1/2 to about 16 microns.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
37 words
An imaging method according to claim 43 wherein said laterally relocatable layer is from about 0.2 to about 2 microns thick and wherein the thickness of said deformable layer is between about 1/2 to about 16 microns.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
37 words
An imaging method according to claim 23 wherein said laterally relocatable layer is from about 0.2 to about 2 microns thick and wherein the thickness of said deformable layer is between about 1/2 to about 16 microns.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
47 words
An imaging method according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the overlayer does not exceed about 1/3 of the thickness of the deformable layer and wherein said deformable layer is a thermoplastic and has an electrical resistivity in darkness of at least about 10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
An imaging method according to claim 49 wherein said imagewise electrostatically deforming step comprises the sub-steps of: a. uniformly electrostatically charging said member; b. exposing said deformable layer to an imagewise pattern of softening radiation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
An imaging method according to claim 23 including the additional and subsequent step of heat softening said deformable layer to substantially remove said deformations but leaving said fracturable layer laterally relocated.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging method according to claim 23 including the additional step of rehardening the softenable electrostatically deformable layer.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imaging method according to claim 55 wherein said deformable layer is at least partially transparent to the actinic radiation, and said fracturable layer is exposed to said imagewise pattern of actinic radiation from the deformable layer side of said member.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
50 words
An imaged member according to claim 32 wherein the thickness of the overlayer, in unwrinkled regions, does not exceed about 1/3 of the thickness of the deformable layer and wherein said deformable layer is a thermoplastic and has an electrical resistivity in darkness of at least about 10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
50 words
An imaged member according to claim 37 wherein the thickness of the overlayer, in unwrinkled regions does not exceed about 1/3 of the thickness of the deformable layer and wherein said deformable layer is a thermoplastic and has an electrical resistivity in darkness of at least about 10 10 ohm-cm.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
20 words
An imaged member according to claim 54 wherein said deformable layer is between about 1/2 to about 16 microns thick.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
68 words
An imaged member comprising: a fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying and at least partially embedded in and contiguous the surface of a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer wherein both layers have substantially uniform thicknesses, except in regions where said deformable layer is wrinkled in image configuration whereat the fracturable layer is rendered relatively thinner in areas corresponding to deformation peaks and relatively thicker in areas corresponding to deformation pockets.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
68 words
An imaged member comprising: a fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying and at least partially embedded in and contiguous the surface of a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer wherein both layers have substantially uniform thicknesses, except in regions where said deformable layer is wrinkled in image configuration whereat the fracturable layer is rendered relatively thinner in areas corresponding to deformation peaks and relatively thicker in areas corresponding to deformation pockets.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
58 words
An imaged member comprising: a photoconductive, fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer, wherein both layers have substantially uniform thicknesses, except in regions where said deformable layer is wrinkled in image configuration whereat the fracturable layer is rendered relatively thinner in areas corresponding to deformation peaks and relatively thicker in areas corresponding to deformation pockets.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
58 words
An imaged member comprising: a photoconductive, fracturable, laterally relocatable layer overlying a softenable, electrostatically deformable layer, wherein both layers have substantially uniform thicknesses, except in regions where said deformable layer is wrinkled in image configuration whereat the fracturable layer is rendered relatively thinner in areas corresponding to deformation peaks and relatively thicker in areas corresponding to deformation pockets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |