US4992822A — Optical printing system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 159 words

An optical printing system for printing an image on a recording sheet, the improvement which comprises in that said recording sheet is coated with microcapsules on one surface thereof, each said microcapsule enveloping a first component which changes color when reacted with second component, said microcapsule further enveloping a third component which varies the mechanical strength of microcapsule when light is projected thereto; that said printing is carried out by means for selectively exposing a light against said one surface of the recording sheet in accordance with an image to be printed on said recording sheet, said exposing being carried out by repeating a predetermined-period exposure at a predetermined interval against the same portion of said one surface of the recording sheet in accordance with the same image, and means for rupturing the microcapsules whose mechanical strength is low; and that said optical printing system includes control means for carrying out said printing in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 159 words

An optical printing system for printing an image on a recording sheet, the improvement which comprises in that said recording sheet is coated with microcapsules on one surface thereof, each said microcapsule enveloping a first component which changes color when reacted with second component, said microcapsule further enveloping a third component which varies the mechanical strength of microcapsule when light is projected thereto; that said printing is carried out by means for selectively exposing a light against said one surface of the recording sheet in accordance with an image to be printed on said recording sheet, said exposing being carried out by repeating a predetermined-period exposure at a predetermined interval against the same portion of said one surface of the recording sheet in accordance with the same image, and means for rupturing the microcapsules whose mechanical strength is low; and that said optical printing system includes control means for carrying out said printing in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said first component is a dye precursor, said second component is a color developer, and said third component is a photo-softenable resin.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said first component is a dye precursor, said second component is a color developer, and said third component is a photo-curable resin.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said microcapsules are coated on a layer of said second component on said recording sheet.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said first component is a decolorizing agent while said second component is a dye which colors said one surface of the recording sheet.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said microcapsule further envelopes a substance swelled by heat.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein shells of said microcapsule are made of a meltable substance.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said exposure means comprises a light source, a liquid crystal shutter array disposed on said recording sheet, and means for concentrating the light on said liquid crystal shutter array as a straight line.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The optical printing system according to claim 8 which further comprises switch means for turning on and off said light source, sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet and print instruction means for feeding a printing information to said control means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 64 words

The optical printing system according to claim 9 wherein said control means controls, responsive to said printing information, said switch means and said liquid crystal shutter array to transmit or intercept the light of said light source with minute intervals while controls said sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet at a predetermined speed, thus providing a dot-shaped exposure along said straight line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said exposure means comprises a laser beam source, modulating means for modulating laser beam emitted by said laser beam source, and deflecting means for scanning said modulated laser beam across said recording sheet.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The optical printing system according to claim 11 which further comprises switch means for turning on and off said laser beam source, sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet and print instruction means for feeding a printing information to said control means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 59 words

The optical printing system according to claim 12 wherein said control means controls, responsive to said printing information, said switch means, said modulating means and said deflecting means to scan the laser beam modulated in accordance with said printing information across said recording sheet, while controls said sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet at a predetermined speed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The optical printing system according to claim 11 wherein said deflecting means comprises a polygonal rotary mirror.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The optical printing system according to claim 14 wherein fθ lens is utilized for compensating for variation in a length of an optical path.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 203 words

An optical printing system for printing an image on a recording sheet, the improvement which comprises in that said recording sheet comprises a supporting sheet and a plurality of photosensitive microcapsules being uniformly coated on one surface of said supporting sheet, the mechanical strength of said photosensitive microcapsules being varied when exposed to light, said microcrocapsules comprising cyan microcapsules each containing a cyan dye precursor and a first photosensitive resin, magenta microcapsules each containing a magenta dye precursor and a second photosensitive resin, and yellow microcapsules each containing a yellow dye precursor and a third photosensitive resin, said first, second and third photosensitive resins being sensitive to lights of different wave length respectively; that said printing is carried out by means for exposing lights of wavelength regions sensible by said respective microcapsules on said one surface of the recording sheet, said exposing being carried out by repeating a predetermined-period exposure at a predetermined interval against the same portion of said one surface of the recording sheet in accordance with the same image, and means for rupturing the microcapsules whose mechanical strength is low; and that said optical printing system includes control means for carrying out said printing in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 203 words

An optical printing system for printing an image on a recording sheet, the improvement which comprises in that said recording sheet comprises a supporting sheet and a plurality of photosensitive microcapsules being uniformly coated on one surface of said supporting sheet, the mechanical strength of said photosensitive microcapsules being varied when exposed to light, said microcrocapsules comprising cyan microcapsules each containing a cyan dye precursor and a first photosensitive resin, magenta microcapsules each containing a magenta dye precursor and a second photosensitive resin, and yellow microcapsules each containing a yellow dye precursor and a third photosensitive resin, said first, second and third photosensitive resins being sensitive to lights of different wave length respectively; that said printing is carried out by means for exposing lights of wavelength regions sensible by said respective microcapsules on said one surface of the recording sheet, said exposing being carried out by repeating a predetermined-period exposure at a predetermined interval against the same portion of said one surface of the recording sheet in accordance with the same image, and means for rupturing the microcapsules whose mechanical strength is low; and that said optical printing system includes control means for carrying out said printing in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The optical printing system according to claim 16 wherein said exposure means comprises three laser oscillator respectively emitting laser beams having wavelengths sensible by said respective microcapsules, and deflecting means for scanning said laser beams across said recording sheet.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The optical printing system according to claim 17 wherein said laser beams emitted by said three laser oscillator are combined into a single beam by optical means, and said recording sheet is scanned with said single beam.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The optical printing system according to claim 17 which further comprises sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet, and print instruction means for feeding a printing information to said control means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 56 words

The optical printing system according to claim 19 wherein said control means controls, responsive to said printing information, said laser oscillators and said deflecting means to scan the laser beams emitted in accordance with said printing information across said recording sheet, while controls said sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet at a predetermined speed.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 62 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said exposure means comprises a first exposure means and a second exposure means, and said optical printing system includes select means for selecting which one of said first and second exposure means is utilized to expose said recording sheet, and wherein said repeated exposure are executed when said second exposure means is selected.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 55 words

The optical printing system according to claim 21 wherein said first exposure means comprises a light source for projecting a light against a subject to be copied to form an optical image corresponding to said subject to be copied, and converge means for converging said optical image onto said one surface of said recording sheet.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 38 words

The optical printing system according to claim 22 wherein said second exposure means comprises a laser oscillator and deflecting means for deflecting a laser beam emitted by said laser oscillator across said one surface of said recording sheet.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 81 words

The optical printing system according to claim 22 which further comprises switch means for turning on and off said light source and sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet; and wherein said control means controls, if said first exposure means is selected by said select means, said switch means for forming said optical image so that said recording sheet is exposed to said optical image, while controls said sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet at a predetermined speed.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 81 words

The optical printing system according to claim 23 which further comprises sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet and print instruction means for feeding a printing information to said control means; and wherein said control means controls, responsive to said printing information, said laser oscillator and said deflecting means to scan the laser beam emitted in accordance with said printing information across said recording sheet, while controls said sheet feed means for transferring said recording sheet at a predetermined speed.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 55 words

The optical printing system according to claim 1 wherein said exposure is executed with the light having its light intensity of 1000 to 50000 W/cm 2 , said predetermined-period is 10 -2 -10 2 μs, said predetermined interval is 10 -2 -10 4 μs, and said predetermined-period exposure is repeated in 2 to 3000 times.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-02-11	1994-08-13	1995-02-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-02-11	1998-08-13	1999-02-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-02-11	2002-08-13	2003-02-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical printing system

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