Method and apparatus for forming and recording composite images

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; means for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium; and means for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent image forming medium.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises means for developing said composite electromagnetic latent image resulting from magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said developing means develop both the electrostatic latent image and the magnetic latent image at the same time with magnetic toner precharged with electric charge of a preselected polarity, said toner being applied, in the form of a toner layer, on a non-magnetic sleeve containing therein a permanent magnet and disposed opposed to said latent image forming medium with a space therebetween larger than the thickness of said toner layer while applying an alternating electric field to said space between the medium and sleeve.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises latent image erasing means for erasing the electrostatic latent image and/or magnetic latent image after transferring said developed image onto a recording paper.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said latent image erasing means comprises a magnetic erasing head.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said latent image erasing means comprises a corona discharger.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said latent image erasing means comprises an erasing lamp.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer, a magnetic layer and an electrically insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer and a photoconductive insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer, a photoconductive insulating layer and an insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 13

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; a magnetic head for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium; a discharge needle for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent forming medium; and a developing device for developing the composite electromagnetic latent image resulting from magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 14

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; a magnetic head for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium; a discharge needle for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent forming medium; and a developing device for developing the composite electromagnetic latent image resulting from magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a corona discharger for erasing said electrostatic latent image and a magnetic head for erasing said magnetic latent image.

Claim 16

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; means for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium, said means being disposed opposed to said magnetic latent image retaining layer; means for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent image forming medium, said means being disposed opposed to said electrostatic latent image retaining layer; and a developing device for developing the composite electromagnetic latent image resulting form magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 17

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; means for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium, said means being disposed opposed to said magnetic latent image retaining layer; means for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent image forming medium, said means being disposed opposed to said electrostatic latent image retaining layer; and a developing device for developing the composite electromagnetic latent image resulting form magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said latent image forming medium is in the form of a belt.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 20

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; means for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium; means for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent image forming medium by imagewise exposure; and a developing device for developing the composite electromagnetic latent image resulting from magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 21

Apparatus for forming and recording a composite image employing the process of forming a composite electromagnetic latent image from a magnetic latent image and an electrostatic latent image, said apparatus comprising: a latent image forming medium comprising a layer capable of forming and retaining a magnetic latent image and a layer capable of forming and retaining an electrostatic latent image; means for forming a magnetic latent image in said latent image forming medium; means for forming an electrostatic latent image in said latent image forming medium by imagewise exposure; and a developing device for developing the composite electromagnetic latent image resulting from magnetic and electrostatic charges all at once.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 which further comprises a lamp for erasing the electrostatic latent image and a magnetic head for erasing the magnetic latent image.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer and a photoconductive insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said latent image forming medium comprises a magnetic layer, a non-magnetic and electrically conductive layer, a photoconductive insulating layer and an insulating layer arranged in a laminate in this order.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 12, 14 and 17 wherein said developing means develop both of the magnetic and electrostatic latent images at the same time with magnetic toner precharged with electric charge of preselected polarity, said toner being applied, in the form of toner layer, on a non-magnetic sleeve containing therein a permanent magnet and disposed opposed to said latent image forming medium with a space therebetween larger than the thickness of said toner layer while applying an alternating electric field to said space between the medium and sleeve.