Buried electrode drum for an electrophotographic print engine
AssigneeT/R Systems
InventorsJack N. Bartholmae, E. Neal Tompkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buried electrode drum (48) includes a rigid core (10) over which a controlled durometer layer (12) is disposed. On the surface of the controlled durometer layer (12) is disposed a buried electrode layer (14), having electrodes (16) disposed therein along the longitudinal axis of the drum (48). The electrode layer (14) is covered by a controlled resistivity layer (18). The controlled resistivity layer (18) is operable to be contacted on the surface thereof by an electrode (24) to allow a voltage to be transferred to the underlying electrodes (16) and therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the drum (48). Various electrodes can be disposed about the peripheral edge of the drum (48) to allow any pattern to be formed on the surface of the drum (48).
Claims15
An image transfer element for an electrophotographic marking apparatus comprising:
- a substantially non-conductive support surface;
- a supporting layer for supporting an image supporting sheet, said supporting layer disposed proximate to and substantially covering the support surface, said supporting layer fabricated from a material having a controlled surface and volume resistivity;
- a plurality of conductive electrodes disposed at select regions between said image supporting layer and said support surface, said conductive electrodes having a resistivity of substantially less than the resistivity of said image supporting layer;
- and
- means for contacting the upper surface of said controlled resistivity material at the edge of said support surface and applying a voltage to select ones of said electrodes.
An electrostatic drum that is operable to provide a selectively charged surface in an electrophotographic marking apparatus, comprising:
- a cylindrical and substantially non-conductive support surface;
- a plurality of electrodes disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis of said support surface;
- a conductive layer disposed proximate to and substantially covering said support surface and said electrodes, said conductive layer having a controlled surface and volume resistivity and operable to carry a sheet of image supporting material;
- and
- means for selectively contacting the upper surface of said conductive layer and selectively applying a voltage to select ones of said electrodes through said conductive layer such that at least two portions of said conductive layer can be at different potentials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.