Printing system
AssigneeArmstrong World Industries, Inc.
InventorsWalter J. Lewicki, Jr., John H. Bowers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system of this invention uses both a process and apparatus for printing an image on a removable thicker dielectric layer than conventionally used in other systems. The dielectric layer is at least 0.2 mils thick and is removed from the system after it is imaged, developed and fixed. Several alternate ways are used to imagewise charge the dielectric layer. The toner used preferably incorporates a resin of the said family resin as used in the dielectric layer or layers. The imaged layer may be attached to a base such as a tile or wallpaper support structure. The base support substantially strengthens the dielectric layer which is important for shipping, storage, ultimate use and durability.
Claims28
A novel printer comprising in combination a dielectric dispensing means, a conductive substrate, at least one means for directly depositing a latent electrostatic charge pattern, at least one developer station, at least one toner fixing station, and a separation station, providing in combination thereby a printing system, said dielectric dispensing means having means to provide a dielectric material upon said conductive substrate at a point in said system prior to said means for depositing a latent electrostatic charge pattern, and said separation station having means subsequent to said toner fixing station to separate said dielectric from said conductive substrate.
A non-impact printer comprising a conductive substrate, at least one dielectric on said conductive substrate, at least one means for imagewise charging said dielectric, at least one image developer station, at least one developer liquid removal station, at least one toner fixing station, and a separation station to provide in combination a printing system, means to deposit at least one first dielectric upon said conductive substrate, said dielectric having a substantially continuous surface capable of receiving and retaining an electrostatic latent image, said conductive substrate having means to advance it through each of the stations, means to recycle said dielectric to a means for imagewise charging for at least a second imagewise charging, and means for continuously advancing beyond a last separation station, means at said separation station for removing substantially all of said first dielectric from said conductive substrate, means to advance said conductive substrate beyond said separation station to means cabable of depositing at least a second dielectric upon said conductive substrate and means to forward said second dielectric to said means for imagewise charging and continuously through subsequent stations.
An electrographic process which comprises in at least one sequence the following steps:
- supplying a dielectric to the surface of a conductive substrate, discharging at least one surface of said dielectric, providing an imagewise charge upon the previously discharged surface of said dielectric, subsequently passing said dielectric through a developer station and a developer-liquid removal station wherein said imagewise charge is made into a visible image, fixing said visible image to the surface of said dielectric to form an imaged dielectric, removing said imaged dielectric from said conductive substrate, cleaning said conductive substrate and repeating said steps continuously to obtain a desired product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.