Fluid jet assisted ion projection and printing apparatus
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorNicholas K. Sheridon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid jet assisted ion projection and printing apparatus wherein substantially equal numbers of positive and negative ions are generated simultaneously during a series of RF arc breakdowns which take place within a fluid transport channel passing through the body of the apparatus. The rapidly moving fluid stream, passing through the channel, transports the ions which may be allowed to pass out of the body or may be neutralized within the body by ion modulation electrodes within the channel. Ions of a selected sign may be accelerated toward and deposited, in an imagewise pattern, upon a relatively moving charge receptor.
Claims18
A fluid jet assisted electrographic marking apparatus for placing electrostatic charges upon a charge receptor in an imagewise pattern, said apparatus being characterized by including
- means for supplying a transport fluid,
- housing means defining a channel therethrough, said channel being elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the transport fluid, through which the transport fluid may be directed to the charge receptor, said housing including an ion generation portion and an ion modulation portion, each portion being adjacent to said channel, and wherein
- said ion generation portion includes ion generating means located adjacent said channel and extending along the length of said channel for initiating a continuous series of RF arc discharges within said channel, for simultaneously creating a uniform supply of positive and negative ions along the length of said channel, directly in the transport fluid moving within said channel, and
- said ion modulation portion includes modulation means located adjacent said channel comprising a plurality of spaced, conductive, modulating electrodes on one side of said channel, a conductive member on the side of said channel opposite to said modulating electrodes, a source of modulating potential, switch means for selectively connecting said source of modulating potential to each of said modulating electrodes, and a second source of reference potential connected to said conductive member, whereby each of said modulating electrodes controls the passage of a beam of ions from said channel when its respective switch is energized.
A method for placing electrostatic charges upon a charge receptor in an imagewise pattern, by means of a fluid jet assisted electrographic marking apparatus, said method being characterized by including the steps of
- supplying a transport fluid
- directing the transport fluid to the charge receptor through an elongated channel in the electrographic marking apparatus,
- initiating a continuous series of RF arc discharges within the channel and uniformly along its length for simultaneously creating a uniform supply of positive and negative ions along the length of said channel, directly in the transport fluid moving within the channel,
- entraining the positive and negative ions within the transport fluid moving within the channel, and
- controlling the passage of ions exiting from the channel with a series of modulating electrodes, by addressing respective modulating electrodes for either passing or inhibiting the passage of selected beams of ions from the channel.
A fluid jet assisted ion projection apparatus for placing electrostatic charges upon a charge receptor, said apparatus being characterized by including
- means for supplying a transport fluid, and
- housing means defining a channel therethrough, said channel being elongated in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the transport fluid, through which the transport fluid may be directed to the charge receptor, said housing including ion generating means, located adjacent said channel, and extending along the length of said channel for initiating a continuous series of RF arc discharges within said channel, for simultaneously creating a uniform supply of positive and negative ions along the length of said channel, directly in the transport fluid moving within and through said channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.