US 6,485,280 B1 · Methods and apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements

Abstract

An apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements comprising a separator member having a central rotating point, the separator member having first and second spaced apart, opposed surfaces with an edge region in contact with both of said opposed surfaces. The spacing between the opposed surfaces varies with the distance outwardly from the central rotating point such that the spacing is the largest at the central rotating point and the spacing decreases outwards from the central rotating point and the spacing is a minimum at the edge region. Further each of the opposed surfaces has a substantially annular cup spaced apart from and substantially surrounding the central rotating point. The apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements also includes apparatus for dispensing first and second differently colored hardenable liquids in the cups of the first and second surfaces, respectively, and an apparatus for substantially uniformly spreading the liquid material in the annular cups located in the first and second surfaces and for substantially uniformly spreading the liquid material from the cups over the first and second surfaces toward said edge region to form a reservoir of liquid material outboard of said edge region, and for forming ligaments from said reservoir.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements comprising:

a) a separator member having a central rotating point comprising first and second spaced apart, opposed surfaces with an edge region in contact with both of said opposed surfaces, wherein the spacing between the opposed surfaces varies with the distance outwardly from the central rotating point such that the spacing is the largest at the central rotating point and the spacing decreases outwards from the central rotating point and the spacing is a minimum at the edge region, wherein each surface has a substantially annular cup for receiving a hardenable liquid spaced apart from and at least partially surrounding the central rotating point, the annular cup being of sufficient size to allow for substantially evenly spreading of a received hardenable liquid in the annular cup prior to the hardenable liquid spreading out of the annular cup
b) nozzle apparatus for dispensing first and second differently colored hardenable liquids in the cups of the first and second surfaces, respectively,
c) means for substantially uniformly spreading the liquid material in each of the annular cups located in the first and second surfaces,
d) means for substantially uniformly spreading the liquid material from the cups over the first and second surfaces toward said edge region to form a reservoir containing side by side portions of the first and second liquid materials outboard of said edge region, and for forming ligaments from said reservoir.

1 more element

An apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements comprising:

a) a separator member having a central rotating point comprising first and second spaced apart, opposed surfaces with an edge region in contact with both of said opposed surfaces, wherein the spacing between the opposed surfaces varies with the distance outwardly from the central rotating point such that the spacing is the largest at the central rotating point and the spacing decreases outwards from the central rotating point and the spacing is a minimum at the edge region, wherein each surface has at least one cup so constructed and arranged for receiving a liquid material to be first dispensed into the cup and substantially evenly spread in the cup before being dispensed from the cup onto said surface and toward said edge region to form a reservoir of liquid material outboard of said edge region,
b) nozzle apparatus for dispensing first and second differently colored hardenable liquids in the cups of the first and second surfaces, respectively, and
c) means for spreading the liquid material in the cups located in the first and second surfaces,
d) means for spreading the liquid material from the cups over the first and second surfaces toward said edge region to form a reservoir of liquid material outboard of said edge region having side by side portions of the first and second differently colored hardenable liquids, and for forming at least one ligament from said reservoir.

1 more element

An apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements comprising:

a) a separator member having a central rotating point comprising first and second spaced apart, opposed surfaces with an edge region in contact with both of said opposed surfaces, wherein the spacing between the opposed surfaces varies with the distance outwardly from the central rotating point such that the spacing is the largest at the central rotating point and the spacing decreases outwards from the central rotating point and the spacing is a minimum at the edge region, wherein each surface has an annular cup for receiving a liquid of sufficient size such that any received liquid is substantially spread in the cup before the liquid is dispensed from the cup onto the surface of the separator member, the cup being spaced apart from and substantially surrounding the central rotating point,
b) nozzle apparatus for dispensing first and second differently colored hardenable liquids in the cups of the first and second surfaces, respectively, and
c) a motor for spinning the separator member and spreading the liquid material in the annular cups located in the first and second surfaces, for spreading the liquid material from the cups over the first and second surfaces toward said edge region to form a reservoir of liquid material outboard of said edge region, and for forming ligaments from said reservoir.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods and apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42