US5215852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming method
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1991-07-22
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2011-07-22
Abstract
Abstract In the improved image forming method, an electrophotographic photoreceptor drum carrying an a-Si (amorphous silicon) photoconductor having a SiC (silicon carbide) is subjected to imagewise exposure to form a latent electrostatic image on the photoconductor, the latent image is then developed with a toner the particles of which are coated with a polymer having a cohesive energy constant G of at least 280, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor is adhesive-transferred onto an intermediate transfer element having an adhesive layer formed from an adhesive that is based on a urethane (meth)acrylic resin and which further contains at least one member selected from among an acrylic rubber, a saturated polyester resin and a fluorine-containing additive, with the toner image on the adhesive layer being retransferred onto a support to form a final image. To form a color image, this process including the retransfer step is repeated either three or four times depending on the number of colors to be reproduced. The toner image formed on the final support is such that is has been completely transferred form the photoconductor and hence has high contrast and quality in the absence of density unevenness and other defects.
Inventors
- 👤 Keishi Kato
- 👤 Etsuo Shiozawa
- 👤 Yoshio Kishimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G13/00; G03G13/22; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1605; G03G15/162; G03G7/00; G03G7/0006; G03G7/002; G03G7/0026; G03G7/004; G03G7/0046; G03G9/00; G03G9/08; G03G9/0825; G03G9/087; G03G9/08784; G03G9/08797
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In an electrophotographic image forming method which comprises the steps of forming a toner image on the photoconductor on an electrophotographic photoreceptor drum by electrophotography, adhesive-transferring said toner image onto the adhesive layer of an intermediate transfer element and then retransferring said toner image onto a final support to form a final image, the improvement wherein the photoconductor on said electrophotographic photoreceptor drum is an a-Si (amorphous silicon) photoconductor having a SiC (silicon carbide) surface, the particles of said toner being coated with a polymer having a cohesive energy constant G of at least 280, and the adhesive layer of said intermediate transfer element being formed from an adhesive that is based on a urethane (meth)acrylic resin and which further contains at least one member selected from among an acrylic rubber, a saturated polyester resin and a fluorine-containing additive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In an electrophotographic image forming method which comprises the steps of forming a toner image on the photoconductor on an electrophotographic photoreceptor drum by electrophotography, adhesive-transferring said toner image onto the adhesive layer of an intermediate transfer element and then retransferring said toner image onto a final support to form a final image, the improvement wherein the photoconductor on said electrophotographic photoreceptor drum is an a-Si (amorphous silicon) photoconductor having a SiC (silicon carbide) surface, the particles of said toner being coated with a polymer having a cohesive energy constant G of at least 280, and the adhesive layer of said intermediate transfer element being formed from an adhesive that is based on a urethane (meth)acrylic resin and which further contains at least one member selected from among an acrylic rubber, a saturated polyester resin and a fluorine-containing additive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein the peeling force required to peel the deposited toner particles from said photoconductor together with said adhesive layer is no more than 130 g per width of 25 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein the force required to peel the deposited toner particles from said photoconductor together with said adhesive layer is no more than 70 g per width of 25 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein the force required to peel the deposited toner particles from said photoconductor together with said adhesive layer is no more than 30 g per width of 25 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said urethane (meth)acrylic resin is formed of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a urethane acrylic monomer, a urethane acrylic oligomer, a urethane methacrylic monomer and a urethane methacrylic oligomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive layer contains a reaction initiator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming method according to claim 6 wherein said reaction initiator is a thermal reaction initiator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate transfer element and said final support are thermocompressed to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said final support is compatible with said toner coating polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said coating polymer is at least one member selected from the group consisting of a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a methyl methacrylate-stearyl methacrylate copolymer and an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said toner coating polymer has a cohesive energy constant G of at least 500.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein said toner coating polymer has a cohesive energy constant G of at least 700.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image forming method according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive force between the surface of the photoconductor and the toner image formed thereon (F P-T ) is less than the adhesive force at the interface between the adhesive layer and the toner particles (F T-A ) and F T-A is less than the cohesive force between individual toner particles (F T-T ).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-31 | 1996-11-30 | 1997-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-31 | 2004-11-30 | 2005-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |