Recording with donor transfer of magnetic toner

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 comprising the additional steps of: demagnetizing said donor surface while in the proximity of the copy surface to enhance the toner transfer process, and remagnetizing said donor web with the second spatial wavelength subsequent to the toner transfer.

Claim 4

In a magnetic imaging system including a station for forming a latent magnetic image as alternating patterns of magnetizations of a first spatial wavelength in a magnetizable copy surface, a toner station for decorating said magnetic image with a ferromagnetic particulate, and a transfer station for transferring said decorated image to a copy sheet; said magnetic imaging system being characterized by an improved toner station comprising; a magnetizable donor surface; means for uniformly magnetizing said donor surface with an alternating pattern of magnetization of a second wavelength, a reservoir of ferromagnetic particulate for decorating said latent magnetic image; means for transferring said particulate to said donor surface whereby said particulate is adhered to substantially said entire donor surface by the second alternating pattern of magnetizations; means for transporting said particulate laden donor surface into non-contacting proximity to said copy surface containing the latent magnetic image, whereby the particulate transfers to the image areas of the copy surface and remains adhered to the donor surface in non-image areas.

Claim 5

In a magnetic imaging system including a station for forming a latent magnetic image as alternating patterns of magnetizations of a first spatial wavelength in a magnetizable copy surface, a toner station for decorating said magnetic image with a ferromagnetic particulate, and a transfer station for transferring said decorated image to a copy sheet; said magnetic imaging system being characterized by an improved toner station comprising; a magnetizable donor surface; means for uniformly magnetizing said donor surface with an alternating pattern of magnetization of a second wavelength, a reservoir of ferromagnetic particulate for decorating said latent magnetic image; means for transferring said particulate to said donor surface whereby said particulate is adhered to substantially said entire donor surface by the second alternating pattern of magnetizations; means for transporting said particulate laden donor surface into non-contacting proximity to said copy surface containing the latent magnetic image, whereby the particulate transfers to the image areas of the copy surface and remains adhered to the donor surface in non-image areas.

Claim 6

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 3 which further comprises; means for erasing said donor surface magnetization pattern prior to the particulate transfer; and a rewriting means for remagnizaging said donor surface subsequent to said particulate transfer.

Claim 7

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 4 wherein the coercivity of the copy surface is greater than that of the donor surface.

Claim 8

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said erasing means includes an erase head driven by a high frequency current.

Claim 9

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 6 wherein said rewriting means includes a write head driven by a high frequency current.

Claim 10

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said erasing means includes: means for heating said donor surface beyond its Curie temperature while not under the influence of external magnetic fields.

Claim 11

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 8 wherein said rewriting means includes: means for heating said donor surface beyond its Curie tempeature, and means for cooling said donor surface while under the influence of an external magnetic field having said second spatial wavelength.

Claim 12

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 5 wherein said erasing means are a coil wound such that a magnetic field produced by a high frequency current driven therethrough will erase said donor surface.

Claim 13

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for transferring said particulate to the donor surface includes: means for suspending the particulate in a volatile liquid medium; and means for immersing said donor surface into said suspension, whereby the magnetization pattern of donor surface causes particulate to adhere thereto.

Claim 14

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 3 wherein said copy surface is an endless tape entrained about means for tape transporting.

Claim 15

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 12 wherein said donor surface is an endless tape entrained about means for tape transporting.

Claim 16

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 3 wherein said copy surface is a drum having a magnetizable surface and means for the rotation of said drum surface.

Claim 17

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 14 wherein said donor surface is a drum having a magnetizable surface and means for rotating said drum surface.

Claim 18

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 3 wherein said copy surface is an imagewise configuration in relief on a non-magnetizable surface.

Claim 19

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 16 wherein said non-magnetizable surface is a drum including means to rotate the drum surface.

Claim 20

A magnetic imaging surface as defined in claim 16 wherein said non-magnetic surface is an endless web entrained about means for web transporting.

Claim 21

A magnetic imaging system as defined in claim 3 wherin said means for transferring said particulate to the donor surface includes; means for conveying the particulate from the reservoir; means co-operating with said conveying means for cascading said particulate over said donor surface containing said alternating magnetization patterns of the second spatial wavelength, said cascading means so positioned that excess particulate will fall back into the reservoir by gravitational forces.

Claim 22

A toner system for decorating a magnetic latent image of a surface comprising: a magnetizable donor surface having a magnetic field wherein the force of said magnetic latent image is stronger than that of said donor field; means for uniformly toning substantially all of said donor surface with a transferable magnetic toner particulate; means for transporting said donor surface into non-contacting proximity of said magnetic latent image surface whereby said stronger image field will cause the toner particulate to transfer.

Claim 23

A toner system for decorating a magnetic latent image of a surface comprising: a magnetizable donor surface having a magnetic field wherein the force of said magnetic latent image is stronger than that of said donor field; means for uniformly toning substantially all of said donor surface with a transferable magnetic toner particulate; means for transporting said donor surface into non-contacting proximity of said magnetic latent image surface whereby said stronger image field will cause the toner particulate to transfer.

Claim 24

A magnetic latent image toner system as defined in claim 20 wherein: said magnetic latent image field is produced by alternating patterns of magnetization having a first spatial wavelength; said donor magnetic field is produced by alternating patterns of magnetization having a second spatial wavelength.

Claim 25

A magnetic latent image toner system as defined in claim 21 wherein the first spatial wavelength is greater than the second spatial wavelength.

Claim 26

A magnetic latent image toner system as defined in claim 22 wherein the first spatial wavelength is less than the second spatial wavelength.

Claim 27

A magnetic latent image toner system as defined in claim 21 wherein the coercivity of the latent magnetic image surface is greater than the coercivity of the donor surface.

Claim 28

A magnetic latent image toner system as defined in claim 24 wherein said latent magnetic image surface coercivity is in the range of 200-600 Oersteds.

Claim 29

A magnetic latent image toner system as defined in claim 25 wherein said donor surface coercivity is in the range of 200-600 Oersteds.