Imaging member
AssigneesXerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsJing Zhou, Eugene M. Chow, Nancy Y. Jia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging member is disclosed having a surface layer comprising a heat-sensitive material whose surface compatibility to printing agents, such as toners and inks, can be substantially reversed in response to small changes in temperature. The imaging member is suitable for use in lithographic and printing applications, permitting reversible switching between compatibility states of printing agents, such as between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states or oleophilic and oleophobic states, and enabling rapid production of images on a recording medium.
Claims29
An imaging member, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- a surface layer comprising a heat sensitive material permitting reversible switching between compatible and non-compatible states within one second.
A printing apparatus comprising:
- a heat source;
- an ink source;
- and
- an imaging member comprising (i) a substrate and (ii) a surface layer that comprises a heat sensitive material whose compatibility with a printing agent can be substantially reversed in response to a temperature change.
A method of printing comprising:
- coating a substrate with a heat sensitive material whose compatibility with a printing agent can be substantially reversed in response to a temperature change to form an imaging member having a surface layer;
- selectively exposing the surface layer to a thermal stimulus to form an image area and a non-image area;
- filling the image area with a printing agent to form a printed image;
- and
- transferring the printed image to a recording medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.