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US 5,914,741 AGranted
Method of creating multiple electrostatic latent images on a pyroelectric imaging member for single transfer of a developed multiple layer image
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsChristopher Snelling, Robert W. Gundlach
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reproducing color images using a non-interactive pyroelectric imaging process is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention is used to generate multiple layers of toner on the top surface of a pyroelectric imaging member without physical contact to the imaging member top surface. The ability to generate a composite image with different materials in this manner enables printing machines to use a pyroelectric imaging process to generate color images in the image on image (I-O-I) mode.
Claims22
An electrostatic printing apparatus, comprising:
- a) a pyroelectric imaging member having an imaging surface and a supporting surface;
- b) a transport device engaging said pyroelectric imaging member, to move said pyroelectric member along a path;
- c) a first thermal activation device situated in said path to apply heat to said supporting surface in a first pre-determined pattern, thereby generating a first electrostatic potential pattern on said imaging surface, wherein said first electrostatic potential pattern resides within an imaging area, and corresponds to said first pre-determined heat application pattern;
- d) a first non-contacting surface potential neutralizing device situated in said path and coupled to said imaging surface without physically contacting said imaging area to deposit a first electrostatic charge onto said first electrostatic potential pattern, said first electrostatic charge having a polarity opposite that of said first electrostatic potential pattern, thereby neutralizing said first electrostatic potential pattern;
- e) at least one next thermal activation device situated in said path to apply heat to said supporting surface in a next pre-determined pattern, thereby generating at least one next electrostatic potential pattern on said imaging surface, wherein said next electrostatic potential pattern resides within said imaging area, and corresponds to said next pre-determined heat application pattern;
- f) at least one next non-contacting surface potential neutralizing device situated in said path and coupled to said imaging surface without physically contacting said imaging area to deposit a next induced electrostatic charge onto said next electrostatic potential pattern, said next electrostatic charge having a polarity opposite that of a next electrostatic potential pattern, thereby neutralizing said next electrostatic potential pattern;
- g) a cooling device to reduce a temperature of said neutralized electrostatic potential patterns, thereby re-generating electrostatic potential patterns having a polarity opposite said electrostatic potential pattern polarities;
- h) at least one developing station situated along said path where a developing material is deposited onto said re-generated electrostatic potential pattern after said pyroelectric member cools, to produce a developed image;
- and
- i) a transfer station where said developed image is transferred to a copy sheet.
7 more elements
A method of reproducing an image using an electrostatic printing apparatus, comprising:
- a) transporting a pyroelectric imaging member along a path;
- b) thermally activating a supporting surface of said pyroelectric imaging member at a first thermal activation source situated along said path to create a first electrostatic potential pattern in an imaging area on an imaging surface of said pyroelectric imaging member;
- c) neutralizing said first electrostatic potential pattern with a non-contacting voltage neutralizing charge source situated along said path, wherein said non-contacting voltage neutralizing charge source deposits an electrostatic charge opposite in polarity to an electrostatic potential pattern polarity without making physical contact with said imaging surface;
- d) thermally activating said supporting surface a thermal activation source situated further in a process direction along said path than said first thermal activation source to create a next electrostatic potential pattern in an imaging area on said imaging surface;
- e) neutralizing said next electrostatic potential pattern with a next non-contacting voltage neutralizing charge source situated along said path, wherein said non-contacting voltage neutralizing charge source deposits an electrostatic charge opposite in polarity to said next electrostatic potential pattern polarity without making physical contact with said imagine surface;
- f) cooling said pyroelectric imaging member, thereby allowing said neutralizing charge to stabilize;
- g) moving said imaging area past at least one developing station situated along said path, and depositing a developer material contained in said developing stations thereon;
- and
- h) transferring said developed image to a copy sheet at an end of said path after development of at least two electrostatic patterns.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.