US5150161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color printing apparatus and process using first and second transfer surfaces
Assignee: Hunt Imaging LLC
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Filing: 1991-11-14
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Granted: 1992-09-22
•
Expires: 2011-11-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and a method of using the apparatus to transfer a liquid toned image from a first master surface to a final receiving surface via two intermediate transfer surfaces is disclosed. The liquid developed image is transferred three times, the initial transfer from the master surface being a non-contact transfer and the next two transfers being contact transfers. The second intermediate transfer surface is tacky or adhesive to remove all of the dried toner image from the first intermediate transfer surface.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Bujese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:09
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1605; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0131; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/01; G03G2215/0167; G03G2215/0174; G03G2215/018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for transferring a liquid toner color image comprising in combination: (a) a photosensitive surface mounted adjacent imagewise exposing means for exposing an image thereon; (b) charging means cooperative with the photosensitive surface to charge the surface on the photosensitive surface; (c) developing means to develop the charged image with liquid toner; (d) a first intermediate transfer surface mounted adjacent the photosensitive surface to receive the developed liquid image from the photosensitive surface; (e) drying means to substantially dry the developed liquid image on the first intermediate transfer surface to form a dry image; (f) a second intermediate transfer surface contactable with the first intermediate transfer surface, the second intermediate transfer surface having an adhesive or tacky quality effective to remove the dry image from the first intermediate transfer surface; (g) feeding means effective to feed a final receiving surface to the second intermediate transfer surface; and (h) fusing means effective to contact the dry image to the final receiving surface and fuse the image thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for transferring a liquid toner color image comprising in combination: (a) a photosensitive surface mounted adjacent imagewise exposing means for exposing an image thereon; (b) charging means cooperative with the photosensitive surface to charge the surface on the photosensitive surface; (c) developing means to develop the charged image with liquid toner; (d) a first intermediate transfer surface mounted adjacent the photosensitive surface to receive the developed liquid image from the photosensitive surface; (e) drying means to substantially dry the developed liquid image on the first intermediate transfer surface to form a dry image; (f) a second intermediate transfer surface contactable with the first intermediate transfer surface, the second intermediate transfer surface having an adhesive or tacky quality effective to remove the dry image from the first intermediate transfer surface; (g) feeding means effective to feed a final receiving surface to the second intermediate transfer surface; and (h) fusing means effective to contact the dry image to the final receiving surface and fuse the image thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the photosensitive surface is photoconductive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising the first intermediate transfer surface being smooth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising the first intermediate transfer surface being conductive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising the conductive first intermediate transfer surface being non-oxidizable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the conductive first intermediate transfer surface is metallic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the conductive first intermediate transfer surface is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel or chrome plated steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is a gap between the photosensitive surface and the first intermediate transfer surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the gap between the photosensitive surface and the first intermediate transfer surface is filled with a liquid during transfer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the liquid further comprises a nonpolar insulating solvent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the drying means is an air dryer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the second intermediate transfer surface is dielectric.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second intermediate transfer surface is silicone rubber or fluorosilicone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the feeding means further comprises a plurality of feed rollers between which the final receiving surface passes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the fusing means further comprises a rotatable fusing roller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the fusing roller is coated with silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising the fusing roller being heated to provide both heat and pressure during fusing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
In an apparatus for transferring a liquid toner color image as a developed liquid image from a photosensitive surface to a final receiving surface, the improvement comprising: a first intermediate transfer surface adjacent the photosensitive surface to receive the developed liquid image therefrom cooperative with drying means to dry the developed liquid image to a dried image thereon and effective to transfer the dried developed image to a second intermediate transfer surface having an adhesive tacky surface layer to remove and transfer all of the toner and dried image from the first intermediate transfer surface to the final receiving surface, the final receiving surface being cooperative with fusing means to fuse the dried image thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
115 words
In an apparatus for transferring a liquid toner color image as a developed liquid image from a photosensitive surface to a final receiving surface, the improvement comprising: a first intermediate transfer surface adjacent the photosensitive surface to receive the developed liquid image therefrom cooperative with drying means to dry the developed liquid image to a dried image thereon and effective to transfer the dried developed image to a second intermediate transfer surface having an adhesive tacky surface layer to remove and transfer all of the toner and dried image from the first intermediate transfer surface to the final receiving surface, the final receiving surface being cooperative with fusing means to fuse the dried image thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the photosensitive surface is photoconductive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising the first intermediate transfer surface being smooth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising the first intermediate transfer surface being conductive.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising the first intermediate transfer surface being non-oxidizable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the conductive first intermediate transfer surface is metallic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the conductive first intermediate transfer surface is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel or chrome plated steel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein there is a gap between the photosensitive surface and the first intermediate transfer surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the gap between the photosensitive surface and the first intermediate transfer surface is filled with a liquid during transfer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the liquid further comprises a nonpolar insulating solvent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the drying mean is an air dryer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the second intermediate transfer surface is dielectric.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the second intermediate transfer surface is silicone rubber or fluorosilicone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising a plurality of feed rollers connected to the apparatus adjacent the second intermediate transfer surface between which the final receiving surface passes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the fusing means further comprises a rotatable fusing roller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the fusing roller is coated with silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the fusing roller is heated to provide both heat and pressure during fusing.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of transferring a liquid toner color image from a photosensitive surface to a final receiving surface comprising the steps of: (a) creating a charged latent image on the photosensitive surface; (b) developing the charged latent image with a liquid toner; (c) applying a transfer voltage to a first intermediate transfer surface and transferring the developed liquid toner image to the first intermediate transfer surface; (d) drying the developed liquid image on the first intermediate transfer surface to form a substantially dry image; (e) contact transferring the substantially dry image to a second intermediate transfer surface having an adhesive or tacky surface layer; (f) feeding the final receiving surface to the second intermediate transfer surface under pressure against the second intermediate transfer surface to transfer the dried image from the second intermediate transfer surface to the final receiving surface; and (g) fusing the dried transferred image to the final receiving surface.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of transferring a liquid toner color image from a photosensitive surface to a final receiving surface comprising the steps of: (a) creating a charged latent image on the photosensitive surface; (b) developing the charged latent image with a liquid toner; (c) applying a transfer voltage to a first intermediate transfer surface and transferring the developed liquid toner image to the first intermediate transfer surface; (d) drying the developed liquid image on the first intermediate transfer surface to form a substantially dry image; (e) contact transferring the substantially dry image to a second intermediate transfer surface having an adhesive or tacky surface layer; (f) feeding the final receiving surface to the second intermediate transfer surface under pressure against the second intermediate transfer surface to transfer the dried image from the second intermediate transfer surface to the final receiving surface; and (g) fusing the dried transferred image to the final receiving surface.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 35 wherein steps (a) through (c) are repeated until the full image has been transferred to the first intermediate transfer surface.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 35 further comprising forming the charged latent image by the steps of: (a) charging the photosensitive surface to create a charge thereon; and (b) exposing the photosensitive surface to create an area with a charged latent image thereon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 37 further comprising using a photoconductor as the photosensitive surface.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 35 further comprising using a conductive surface as the first intermediate surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 39 wherein the dry image is maintained at a temperature lower than the toner fusing temperature on the conductive first intermediate transfer surface.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 40 wherein the dry image is raised to a temperature at or above the toner fusing temperature on the second intermediate transfer surface by a fusing roller to transfer the image and fuse it to the final receiving surface.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 35 further comprising forming the charged latent image by the steps of: (a) exposing the photosensitive surface to create an area with a charged latent image thereon; and (b) charging the photosensitive surface to create a charge thereon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 42 wherein the dry image is maintained at a temperature lower than the toner fusing temperature on the first intermediate transfer surface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 42 wherein the dry image is raised to a temperature at or above the toner fusing temperature on the second intermediate transfer surface by a fusing roller to transfer the image and fuse it to the final receiving surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-22 | 1996-03-23 | 1996-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-22 | 2000-03-23 | 2000-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-03-23 | 2004-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |