Patent US5276492A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5276492A
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US
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Imaging method and apparatus
Assignee: HP Indigo BV
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Filing: 1990-07-23
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Granted: 1994-01-04
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Expires: 2010-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for transferring liquid toner images from an image forming surface (10) to an intermediate transfer member (40) for subsequent transfer to a final substrate (42). the liquid toner images include carrier liquid and pigmented polymeric toner particles which are essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature, and which form a single phase at elevated temperatures. The method includes the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image by compacting the solids portion of the liquid toner image and removing carrier liquid therefrom; transferring the liquid toner image to the intermediate transfer member (40), heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member (40) to a temperature at which the toner particles and the carrier liquid form a single phase; and transferring the heated liquid toner image to a final substrate (42).
Inventors
- 👤 Benzion Landa
- 👤 Yehuda Niv
- 👤 Amiran Lavon
- 👤 Hanna Pinhas
- 👤 Yossi Adam
- 👤 Yakov Krumberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1605; G03G15/01; G03G15/0142; G03G15/0147; G03G15/0152; G03G15/0173; G03G15/161; G03G15/169; G03G15/22; G03G15/23; G03G15/231; G03G15/232; G03G15/238; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/14; G03G5/142; G03G7/00; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/16; G03G2215/1666; G03G2215/1671; G03G2215/1676; G03G2215/1695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for transferring a liquid toner image including a liquid portion comprising carrier liquid and a solids portion which includes pigmented polymeric toner particles being essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature, said method for transferring being operative to transfer the liquid toner image from an image forming surface to a final substrate, and comprising the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image to a given non-volatile solids percentage by compacting the solids portion thereof and removing carrier liquid therefrom such that the particles and the carrier liquid form a single phase at a given toner temperature; transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member; heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a given temperature at least as high as that at which the toner particles and carrier liquid at the given solids percentage form substantially a single phase; and transferring the liquid toner image to the final substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for transferring a liquid toner image including a liquid portion comprising carrier liquid and a solids portion which includes pigmented polymeric toner particles being essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature, said method for transferring being operative to transfer the liquid toner image from an image forming surface to a final substrate, and comprising the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image to a given non-volatile solids percentage by compacting the solids portion thereof and removing carrier liquid therefrom such that the particles and the carrier liquid form a single phase at a given toner temperature; transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member; heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a given temperature at least as high as that at which the toner particles and carrier liquid at the given solids percentage form substantially a single phase; and transferring the liquid toner image to the final substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said single phase is a liquid phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of concentrating is operative to increase said solids percentage to a value at which phase separation cannot occur.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said solids percentage is above about 20%.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for transferring a liquid toner image comprising a solids potion and a liquid portion from an image forming surface to a final substrate comprising the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image to a non-volatile solids percentage of between 20 and 35% by compacting the solids portion thereof and removing carrier liquid therefrom; transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member after the step of concentrating; and transferring the liquid toner imae to the final substrate after the step of concentrating.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for transferring a liquid toner image comprising a solids potion and a liquid portion from an image forming surface to a final substrate comprising the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image to a non-volatile solids percentage of between 20 and 35% by compacting the solids portion thereof and removing carrier liquid therefrom; transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member after the step of concentrating; and transferring the liquid toner imae to the final substrate after the step of concentrating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of concentrating comprises a simultaneous application of an electric field to compact the solids portion of the liquid toner image and of mechanical pressure to remove liquid from the imae.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said solids percentage is below about 30%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said solids percentage is about 25%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of concentrating precedes said step of transferring the liquid toner image to the intermediate transfer member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
18 words
A method according to claims 1 and also including the step of irradiating the image with optical radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said optical radiation includes radiation from at least two radiation sources radiating different color light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
Image apparatus utilizing a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and pigmented polymeric toner particles which are essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature the apparatus comprising: an image forming surface; means utilizing said liquid developer, for forming a liquid toner image comprising a liquid portion comprising carrier liquid and a solids portion comprising toner particles on said image forming surface; means for concentrating the liquid toner image by compacting the solids portion of the liquid toner image and removing a portion of the carrier liquid therefrom to form a liquid image having a given non-volatile solids percentage wherein said toner particles form substantially a single phase with the remaining carrier liquid at an elevated temperature; means for transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member after concentration thereof; and means or heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a given temperature at least as high as that at which the toner particles and the remaining carrier liquid form substantially a single phase at the given solids percentage; and means for transferring the liquid toner image after heating thereof to a final substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
Image apparatus utilizing a liquid developer comprising carrier liquid and pigmented polymeric toner particles which are essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature the apparatus comprising: an image forming surface; means utilizing said liquid developer, for forming a liquid toner image comprising a liquid portion comprising carrier liquid and a solids portion comprising toner particles on said image forming surface; means for concentrating the liquid toner image by compacting the solids portion of the liquid toner image and removing a portion of the carrier liquid therefrom to form a liquid image having a given non-volatile solids percentage wherein said toner particles form substantially a single phase with the remaining carrier liquid at an elevated temperature; means for transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member after concentration thereof; and means or heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a given temperature at least as high as that at which the toner particles and the remaining carrier liquid form substantially a single phase at the given solids percentage; and means for transferring the liquid toner image after heating thereof to a final substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said single phase is a liquid phase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means or concentrating is operative to increase said solids percentage to a value at which phase separation cannot occur.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said solids percentage is above about 20%.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
Imaging apparatus utilizing a liquid developer, said apparatus comprising: an image forming surface; means, utilizing said liquid developer, for forming a liquid toner image comprising a liquid portion comprising carrier liquid and a solids portion comprising toner particles, on said image forming surface; means for concentrating the liquid toner image to a non-volatile solids percentage of said liquid toner image to between about 20% and 35% by compacting the solids portion thereof and removing carrier liquid therefrom; means for transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member; and means for transferring the liquid toner image to a final substrate from the intermediate transfer member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
Imaging apparatus utilizing a liquid developer, said apparatus comprising: an image forming surface; means, utilizing said liquid developer, for forming a liquid toner image comprising a liquid portion comprising carrier liquid and a solids portion comprising toner particles, on said image forming surface; means for concentrating the liquid toner image to a non-volatile solids percentage of said liquid toner image to between about 20% and 35% by compacting the solids portion thereof and removing carrier liquid therefrom; means for transferring the liquid toner image to an intermediate transfer member; and means for transferring the liquid toner image to a final substrate from the intermediate transfer member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for concentrating includes means for effacing a simultaneously application of an electric field to compact the solids portion of the liquid toner image and of mechanical pressure to remove liquid from the image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for concentrating comprises a electrified squeegee roller urged against said image forming surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said solids percentage is below about 30%.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said solids percentage is about 25%.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 and also including optical radiation means (29) for discharging both image and background areas prior to image transfer to said image transfer member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said optical radiation means includes at least one light emitting diode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said optical radiation means includes at least two radiation sources radiating different color light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of concentrating comprises a simultaneous application of an electric field to compact the solids portion of the liquid toner image and of mechanical pressure to remove liquid from the image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said solids percentage is below bout 30%.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according of claim 25 wherein said solids percentage is about 25%.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of concentrating precedes said step of transferring the liquid image to the intermediated transfer member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 and also including the step of irradiating the liquid toner image with optical radiation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 28 wherein said optical radiation includes radiation from at least two radiation sources radiating different color light.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means for concentrating includes means for effacing a simultaneous application of an electric field to compact the solids portion of the liquid toner image and of mechanical pressure of remove liquid from the image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according of claim 16 wherein said means for concentrating comprises a electrified squeegee roller urged against said image forming surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said solids percentage is below about 30%.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said solids percentage is about 25%.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 and also including optical radiation mans or discharging both image and background areas prior to image transfer to said image transfer member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said optical radiation means includes at least one light emitting diode.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said optical radiation means includes at least two radiation sources radiating different color light.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-03 | 1997-07-05 | 1998-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-03 | 2001-07-05 | 2002-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-03 | 2005-07-05 | 2006-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |