Intermediate transfer method and roller
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsDonald S. Rimai, Carlton Baxter, Mark C. Zaretsky, Larry H. Judkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member, such as a photoconductor, and electrostatically transferred to an intermediate image member and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate image member is chosen to have characteristics making the toner less attractive to the primary image member, but more attractive to the receiving sheet, than the intermediate. The intermediate transfer member can include a base of a relatively compliant material having a Young's modulus 10.sup.7 Newtons per square meter or less with a very thin outer skin of a harder material having a Young's modulus of 5.times.10.sup.7 Newtons per square meter or more.
Claims13
A method of forming a toner image on a receiving sheet, which method comprises:
- forming an electrostatic image on a primary image member,
- toning said image with a dry toner to form a toner image,
- transferring said toner image from said primary image member to an intermediate image member in the presence of an electric field uring toner particles from said primary image member to said intermediate image member, and
- transferring said toner image from said intermediate image member to a receiving sheet at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of said toner in the presence of an electric field urging toner particles from said intermediate image member to said receiving sheet,
- characterized in that the step of toning the image is carried out by applying a dry toner to said electrostatic image having a mean particle size less than 15 microns and the surfaces of the primary image member, the intermediate image member and the receiving sheet that carry toner images have release characteristics with respect to the toner particles of said images such that the toner more readily adheres to the intermediate image member than the primary image member and more readily adheres to the receiving sheet than the intermediate image member and the intermediate image member has a Young's modulus in excess of 5.times.10.sup.7 Newtons per square meter.
A method of forming a multicolor toner image on a receiving sheet, which method comprises:
- forming a series of electrostatic images on a primary image member,
- toning said images with different color dry toners to form a series of different color toner images,
- transferring said different color toner images from said primary image member to an intermediate image member, in the presence of an electric field urging toner particles from said primary image member to said intermediate image member, in registration, to form a multicolor image on the intermediate member, and
- transferring said multicolor toner image from said intermediate image member to a receiving sheet, in the presence of an electric field urging toner particles from said intermediate image member to said receiving sheet,
- characterized in that said toning step is carried out with dry toner particles having a mean particle size less than 15 microns and the surfaces of the primary image member, the intermediate image member and the receiving sheet that carry toner images have release characteristics with respect to the toner particles of said images such that the toner more readily adheres to the intermediate image member than the primary image member and more readily adheres to the receiving sheet than the intermediate image member and the intermediate image member has a Young's modulus of 5.times.10.sup.7 Newtons per square meter or more.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.