US4853307A — Imaging member containing a copolymer of styrene …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

A migration imaging member comprising a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said softenable layer comprising a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate in at least one layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 80,000, an acid number up to about 25, T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., and a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

A migration imaging member comprising a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said softenable layer comprising a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate in at least one layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 80,000, an acid number up to about 25, T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., and a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 1 wherein said copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate is contained in a thin, uniform, continuous adhesive layer situated between said substrate and said softenable layer and wherein said layer comprises at least 80 percent by weight, based on the weight of said adhesive layer, of said copolymer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 120 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 2 wherein said copolymer comprises between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate between about 1 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 10,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 25,000 and about 80,000, an acid number between about 8 and about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., and a melt viscosity between about 1×10 3 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C. and said adhesive layer has a thickness of less than about 1 micrometer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 77 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 1 wherein a uniform, continuous charge transport spacing layer is interposed between said substrate and said softenable layer, said charge transport spacing layer comprising charge transport molecules dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing the charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer and being capable of transporting charge to said substrate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 107 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 4 wherein said copolymer comprises between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate between about 1 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 10,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 25,000 and about 80,000, an acid number between about 0 and about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., and a melt viscosity between about 1×10 3 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 1 wherein said softenable layer comprises said copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 106 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 6 wherein said copolymer comprises between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 10,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 25,000 and about 80,000, an acid number between about 0 and about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., and a melt viscosity between about 1×10 3 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 107 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 6 wherein said copolymer comprises between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 55,000, an acid number between about 0 and about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., and a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 1 wherein said softenable layer comprises charge transport molecules, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said electrically insulating layer, being capable of transporting charge to the substrate and being dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said softenable layer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 9 wherein said softenable layer comprises about 2 percent to about 50 percent by weight of said charge transport molecule based on the total weight of said softenable layer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 10 wherein said charge transport molecules comprise a substituted, unsymmetrical tertiary amine charge transport molecule.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 1 wherein said fracturable layer is a monolayer and said substrate has an electrically conductive surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 1 wherein said softenable layer is coated with a protective overcoating comprising a film forming resin.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 228 words

An imaging method comprising providing a migration imaging member comprising a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said softenable layer comprising a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate in at one layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 80,000, an acid number up to about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.; electrostatically charging said member to deposit a uniform charge on said member; exposing said member to activating radiation in an imagewise pattern prior to substantial decay of said uniform charge; and developing said member by decreasing the resistance to migration of marking material in depth in said softenable layer at least sufficient to allow migration of marking material whereby marking material migrates toward said substrate in image configuration.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 228 words

An imaging method comprising providing a migration imaging member comprising a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said softenable layer comprising a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate in at one layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 80,000, an acid number up to about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.; electrostatically charging said member to deposit a uniform charge on said member; exposing said member to activating radiation in an imagewise pattern prior to substantial decay of said uniform charge; and developing said member by decreasing the resistance to migration of marking material in depth in said softenable layer at least sufficient to allow migration of marking material whereby marking material migrates toward said substrate in image configuration.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging method according to claim 14 including decreasing said resistance to migration of marking material in depth in said softenable layer by heat softening said softenable layer.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

An imaging method according to claim 14 including decreasing said resistance to migration of marking material in depth in said softenable layer by solvent vapor softening said softenable layer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 303 words

An imaging method comprising providing a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layer on said substrate, said softenable layer comprising charge transport molecules, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer, being capable of transporting charge to said substrate and being dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said softenable layer a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate at or near the surface of said softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 10,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 25,000 and about 80,000, an acid number up to about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.; exposing said member to activating radiation in an imagewise pattern whereby said electrically photosensitive migration marking material struck by said activating radiation photogenerates charge carriers; decreasing the resistance to migration of migration marking material in said softenable layer sufficiently to allow the light-struck migration marking material to retain a small net charge which allows at most slight agglomeration, slight coalescence, slight migration in depth of marking material towards said substrate or combination thereof; and further decreasing the resistance to migration of marking material in said softenable layer sufficiently to allow migration marking material which escapes radiation to substantially agglomerate and coalesce.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 303 words

An imaging method comprising providing a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layer on said substrate, said softenable layer comprising charge transport molecules, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer, being capable of transporting charge to said substrate and being dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said softenable layer a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate at or near the surface of said softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 10,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 25,000 and about 80,000, an acid number up to about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 poise and about 1×10 6 poise at 115° C.; exposing said member to activating radiation in an imagewise pattern whereby said electrically photosensitive migration marking material struck by said activating radiation photogenerates charge carriers; decreasing the resistance to migration of migration marking material in said softenable layer sufficiently to allow the light-struck migration marking material to retain a small net charge which allows at most slight agglomeration, slight coalescence, slight migration in depth of marking material towards said substrate or combination thereof; and further decreasing the resistance to migration of marking material in said softenable layer sufficiently to allow migration marking material which escapes radiation to substantially agglomerate and coalesce.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 61 words

An imaging method according to claim 17 including contacting said migration imaging member with a liquid developer a plurality of times for a cumulative total contact time of at least about 24 hours while, during said contact time, maintaining the concentration of said charge transport molecule in said softenable layer at least at 90 percent by weight of the original concentration.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 255 words

An imaging method comprising providing a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layers on said substrate, said softenable layer comprising charge transport molecules, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer, being capable of transporting charge to said substrate and being dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said softenable layer a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate at or near the surface of said softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 55,000, an acid number up to about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 and about 1×10 5 poise at 115° C.; exposing said member to activating radiation in an imagewise pattern whereby said electrically photosensitive migration marking material struck by said activating radiation photogenerates charge carriers; decreasing the resistance to migration of migration marking material in said softenable layer sufficiently to allow migration in depth of migration marking material towards said substrate in image configuration.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 255 words

An imaging method comprising providing a substrate and an electrically insulating softenable layers on said substrate, said softenable layer comprising charge transport molecules, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer, being capable of transporting charge to said substrate and being dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said softenable layer a fracturable layer of electrically photosensitive migration marking material located substantially at or near the surface of said softenable layer spaced from said substrate, and a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate at or near the surface of said softenable layer adjacent said substrate, said copolymer comprising between about 40 and about 80 mole percent styrene, between about 20 and about 60 mole percent ethyl acrylate, and between about 0 and about 3 mole percent copolymerizable organic acid having carbon-to-carbon unsaturation or copolymerizable derivative thereof, said copolymer having a M n between about 4,000 and about 35,000, a M w between about 10,000 and about 55,000, an acid number up to about 25, a T g between about 30° C. and about 75° C., a melt viscosity between about 1×10 2 and about 1×10 5 poise at 115° C.; exposing said member to activating radiation in an imagewise pattern whereby said electrically photosensitive migration marking material struck by said activating radiation photogenerates charge carriers; decreasing the resistance to migration of migration marking material in said softenable layer sufficiently to allow migration in depth of migration marking material towards said substrate in image configuration.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 61 words

An imaging method according to claim 19 including contacting said migration imaging member with a liquid developer a plurality of times for a cumulative total contact time of at least about 24 hours while, during said contact time, maintaining the concentration of said charge transport molecule in said softenable layer at least at 90 percent by weight of the original concentration.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 77 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 17 wherein a uniform, continuous charge transport spacing layer is interposed between said substrate and said softenable layer, said charge transport spacing layer comprising charge transport molecules dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing the charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer and being capable of transporting charge to said substrate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 77 words

A migration imaging member according to claim 19 wherein a uniform, continuous charge transport spacing layer is interposed between said substrate and said softenable layer, said charge transport spacing layer comprising charge transport molecules dissolved or molecularly dispersed in said copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate, said charge transport molecules being capable of increasing the charge injection from said electrically photosensitive migration marking material to said softenable layer and being capable of transporting charge to said substrate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-07-31	1993-01-30	1993-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-07-31	1997-01-30	1997-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-07-31	2001-01-30	2001-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Imaging member containing a copolymer of styrene and ethyl acrylate

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag