Electrostatic printing of functional toner materials for electronic manufacturing applications
AssigneeElectrox Corporation
InventorRobert H. Detig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention describes techniques for the electrostatic printing of functional materials configured as liquid toners (50) on glass substrates (26) in a non-contact mode. The toners are patterned by a sensitized electrostatic printing plate (11) of fixed image configuration. Toner images (50) are transferred by an electric field (33) across a fluid filled mechanical gap (42) to the glass substrate (26). Techniques for optimizing the imaging and transfer processes are also disclosed. Two other techniques in which partially finished pieces are manipulated to “self-print” themselves, are described. In both cases defects in the pieces will over print the defect in the “self-healing” mode.
Claims22
An apparatus for the printing of functional toners on a flat glass plate, said apparatus comprising:
- a. an electrostatic printing plate (10) including a polymer layer (52) bonded to an electrically conducting substrate (54) that is electrically grounded;
- b. a first corona unit means (12) for electrically charging said electrostatic printing plate with ions from a corona discharge thereby sensitizing it and defining charged and uncharged areas;
- c. a liquid development unit (16) which is electrically biased to deposit functional toner particles (50) on said uncharged areas of said electrostatic printing plate;
- d. a transfer station (48) in which said flat glass plate (26) is moved into close proximity to said electrostatic printing plate (10), but not touching;
- e. means (25) for filing the mechanical gap between said electrostatic printing plate and said glass plate with a clear toner diluent (44);
- and,
- f. a second corona unit means (30) located near said glass plate (26) but away from said electrostatic printing plate (10) and which is electrically connected to a high voltage power supply (31) for creating a corona discharge which sprays free charges on said glass plate (26) and which creates an electrical field (23) that causes said toner particles (48) to transfer across the fluid filled gap (42) in an orderly manner.
A method for producing charged areas on an electrostatic printing plate which is to be developed with toner particles, by the steps of:
- a. exposing said plate with a negative photo tool;
- b. using corona discharge (12) to generate ions of the opposite polarity to the toner (50);
- and,
- c. biasing the developer unit electrode to approximately 100 volts more than the image plate (11) voltage, in the background areas.
An apparatus (134) for the printing of functional toners on a flat glass plate, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a flat electrostatic printing plate (102, 134) including a polymer layer (52) bonded to an electrically conducting substrate (54) that is electrically grounded;
- b. a first corona unit means (114) for electrically charge said flat electrostatic printing plate (102) with ions (110) from a corona discharge thereby sensitizing it and defining charged and uncharged areas;
- c. a liquid development unit (112) which is electrically biased to deposit functional toner particles on said uncharged areas of said flat electrostatic printing plate (102);
- d. a reverse roller unit (120) means for mechanically removing excess diluent liquid from the developed plate (102);
- e. a depress corona (122) to compact the toner particle pile before transfer;
- f. a transfer station (124) in which said flat electrostatic printing plate (102) is moved in close proximity to a flat receiving glass substrate (124);
- g. means (126) for filling the mechanical gap between flat printing plate (102) and flat receiving glass (124) with clear toner diluent (126);
- and,
- h. a second corona unit means (128) located near said glass plate (124) but away from said electrostatic plating plate (102) which is electrically connected to a high voltage power supply for creating a corona discharge which sprays free charges on said glass plate (124) and which creates an electrical field that causes said toner particles to transfer across the fluid filled gap in an orderly manner.
An apparatus for the production of color for the black matrices on a flat plate (301) of said apparatus comprising:
- a. a color filter plate (301) with an electrical conductive coating (302) and color mosaic pattern (304), which coating (302) is electrically grounded;
- b. a corona unit (308) to charge the mosaic pattern (304) with charges (310);
- and,
- c. liquid toner (312) which develops in the uncharged areas of plate (301), the regions between the color mosaics (304),
- wherein the polarity of the toner particles (312) is identical to the polarity of the corona generated charges (310).
An apparatus for the production of phosphor patterned glass plates comprising:
- a. a glass plate (330) patterned with a metallic, conductive materials (332, 334) on its inside surface to conduct electronic charges to ground;
- b. means to rest said plate (301) on an electrically grounded plate (336), with the conductive patterns (332, 334) facing in an outward direction;
- c. means (338) for conducting said patterned conductive surface (332, 334) to a high voltage power supply (338) thereby generating an intense electric field between the patterned surface (332, 334) and said grounded plate (336);
- d. means (341) for bringing liquid toner in contact with said patterned surface (332, 334) thereby depositing toner particles (340) with a charge of the same polarity as the voltage connected to the patterned surface (332, 334), in areas adjacent to said patterned surface (332, 334), but not on it;
- e. means (342) for drying said liquid toner image;
- and,
- f. means (344) for reflowing said toner (340) by means of heat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.