Back to results
US 5,185,226 AGranted
Electrostatic method for multicolor imaging from a single toner bath comprising double-encapsulated toner particles
AssigneeOlin Corporation
InventorsPaul V. Grosso, Feagin A. Wing, Jr., Michael J. Morgan, Renate C. Stegmeier, Roger W. Day, Willard F. Burt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrostatic method is disclosed for providing multicolor imaging from a single toner bath. The toner bath is a blend of individual toners, each of which contains a color precursor different from the others. Also disclosed is a method for the double encapsulation of toner particles to produce toner particles characterized by multiple encapsulation.
Claims22
A color imaging method which comprises the steps of:
- (a) forming a latent image on a photoconductive or dielectric substrate,
- (b) electrostatically depositing a blended toner composition onto a charged or uncharged surface of said substrate to form a toned image which is a positive or reverse image as compared to said latent image, said blended toner composition comprising at least two different toners, each of said toners comprising a color precursor contained in photo-sensitive double-encapsulated toner particles,
- (c) selectively photohardening or photosoftening at least a portion of said toner particles by imagewise exposure to appropriate wavelengths of radiation to provide harder toner particles and softer, rupturable toner particles,
- (d) transferring said harder toner particles and said rupturable toner particles to a copy surface,
- (e) rupturing at least a portion of said toner particles on said copy surface to release color precursor(s) from said rupturable toner particles, and
- (f) contacting said released color precursor(s) on said copy surface with a developer to form a color image on said copy surface,
- said double-encapsulated toner particles being fabricated by carrying out the steps of:
- (1) forming a first, inner microcapsule by encapsulating a solution of color precursor in a spreading oil;
- (2) encapsulating said first, inner microcapsule in a second, outer microcapsule and enclosing at least a radiation-sensitive composition in an annular region between an outside wall of said inner microcapsule and an inside wall of said outer microcapsule.
6 more elements
A color imaging method which comprises the steps of:
- (a) forming a latent image on a photoconductive or dielectric substrate,
- (b) electrostatically depositing a blended toner composition onto a charged or uncharged surface of said substrate to form a toned image which is a positive or reverse image as compared to said latent image, said blended toner composition comprising at least two different toners, each of said toners comprising a color precursor contained in photo-sensitive double-encapsulated toner particles,
- (c) selectively photohardening or photosoftening at least a portion of said toner particles by imagewise exposure to appropriate wavelengths of radiation to provide harder toner particles and softer, rupturable toner particles,
- (d) rupturing at least a portion of said toner particles on said substrate to release color precursor(s) from said rupturable toner particles,
- (e) transferring said released color precursor to a copy surface, and
- (f) contacting said released color precursor(s) on said copy surface with a developer to form a color image on said copy surface, said double-encapsulated toner particles being fabricated by carrying out the steps of:
- (1) forming a first, inner microcapsule by encapsulating a solution of color precursor in a spreading oil;
- (2) encapsulating said first, inner microcapsule in a second, outer microcapsule and enclosing at least a radiation-sensitive composition in an annular region between an outside wall of said inner microcapsule and an inside wall of said outer microcapsule.
5 more elements
A color imaging method which comprises the steps of:
- (a) forming a latent image on a photoconductive or dielectric substrate,
- (b) electrostatically depositing a blended toner composition onto a charged or uncharged surface of said substrate to form a toned image which is a positive or reverse image as compared to said latent image, said blended toner composition comprising at least two different toners, each of said toners comprising a color precursor contained in photo-sensitive double-encapsulated toner particles,
- (c) transferring said toned image to a copy surface,
- (d) selectively photohardening or photosoftening at least a portion of said toner particles by imagewise exposure to appropriate wavelengths of radiation to provide harder toner particles and softer, rupturable toner particles,
- (e) rupturing at least a portion of said toner particles on said copy surface to release color precursor(s) from said rupturable toner particles, and
- (f) contacting said released color precursor(s) on said copy surface with a developer to form a color image on said copy surface,
- said double-encapsulated toner particles being fabricated by carrying out the steps of:
- (1) forming a first, inner microcapsule by encapsulating a solution of color precursor in a spreading oil;
- (2) encapsulating said first, inner microcapsule in a second, outer microcapsule and enclosing at least a radiation-sensitive composition in an annular region between an outside wall of said inner microcapsule and an inside wall of said outer microcapsule.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.