Imaging apparatus for typewriter employing electrostatic printing process

Imaging apparatus comprising:

• a. an elongate platen for supporting a receiving medium;
• b. a first web of electrically insulating material formed into a closed loop supported for translation along a first predetermined path, the first predetermined path at least, in part, running parallel to and adjacent the surface of said platen;
• c. means to advance said first web along the first predetermined path;
• d. a second web of electrically insulating material formed into a closed loop supported for translation along a second predetermined path, the second predetermined path running parallel to and forming a contact area with said first web at most only in that portion of the first predetermined path not adjacent said platen;
• e. means to advance said second web along the second predetermined path;
• f. means to apply a layer of photoresponsive ink to said second web prior to entering the contact area with said first web;
• g. activation means positioned relative to the contact area between said first and second webs to render the layer of photoresponsive ink fracturable;
• h. imaging means positioned relative to the contact area between said first and second webs to create a latent image in the layer of photoresponsive ink layer;
• i. transfer means positioned relative to the first predetermined path after separation of said first and second webs to transfer the ink image to the receiving medium, said transfer means comprising web displacement means and web displacement drive means for contacting the web displacement means to said first web on the surface opposite the ink image bearing surface, to temporarily displace said first web in a direction substantially transverse to the advancing direction of said first web along the first predetermined path, to press the ink image against the receiving medium.