# US 6,546,221 B2 · Developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,546,221 B2 - Document ID: US6546221B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/127,236 - Filed: 2002-04-19 - Published: 2002-10-24 - Granted: 2003-04-08 - Earliest claimed: 2001-04-20 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: James A. Baker; Gay L. Herman; Robert E. Brenner; Kam W. Law - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6546221B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/06: for developing - G03G 9/131: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds} - G03G 9/132: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds} - G03G 9/135: characterised by stabiliser or charge-controlling agents - G03G 2215/0174: plural rotations of recording member to produce multicoloured copy - G03G 2215/0631: melted, or otherwise made liquid - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography having: (a) an insulating substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on the first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein the phase change developer is on the top surface of each of the discrete conductive heating elements, except that a small portion of both ends of each of the conductive heating elements is free of the phase change developer for conducting electricity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) a conductive substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on at least the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements, except that a minor portion of the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; wherein the minor portion of the top surface that is free of phase change developer comprises less than 15% of that surface area and each of said discrete conductive heating elements is in the form of a stripe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein said phase change developer comprises a crystallizing polymeric binder resin derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein said phase change developer comprises a carrier selected form the group consisting of plant oils and waxes, animal oils and waxes, petroleum oils and waxes, synthetic oils and waxes, branched paraffinic oils and waxes, and silicone oils and waxes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein said phase change developer comprises an organosol having a graft stabilizer derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl(meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl(meth)acrylate, behenyl(meth)acrylate, octadecyl(meth)acrylate, hexyldecylacrylate, tetradecylacrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein said conductive substrate is a continuous web. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 5 further comprises a take-up roll and a supply roll wherein said take-up roll and said supply roll are connected to each end of said continuous web. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein said conductive substrate is an endless belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein said conductive substrate is selected from the group consisting of metallic films, polymeric films encapsulated with a conductive coating, and conductive polymeric films. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 1 wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is in the form of a coating. ### Claim 10 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (d) a conductive substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (e) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on at least the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements, except that a minor portion of the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity wherein the minor portion of the top surface that is free of phase change developer comprises less than 15% of that surface area and each of said discrete conductive heating elements is skewed at an angle or perpendicular to the edge of said conductive substrate. ### Claim 11 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) a conductive substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer forms a layer on the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements and on said first surface free of said conductive heating elements, except that 0.1 to 10% of the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is in the form of a stripe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The developer system of claim 11 wherein said phase change developer storage and delivery comprises a continuous layer o-f phase change developer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 11 wherein said phase change developer comprises a crystallizing polymeric binder resin derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acryl ate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 11 wherein said phase change developer comprises a carrier selected form the group consisting of plant oils and waxes, animal oils and waxes, petroleum oils and waxes, synthetic oils and waxes, branched paraffinic oils and waxes, and silicone oils and waxes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 11 wherein said phase change developer comprises an organosol having a graft stabilizer derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 11 wherein said conductive substrate is a continuous web. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 16 further comprises a take-up roll and a supply roll wherein said take-up roll and said supply roll are connected to each end of said continuous web. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 11 wherein said conductive substrate is an endless belt. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claims 11 wherein said conductive substrate is selected from the group consisting of metallic films, polymeric films encapsulated with a conductive coating, and conductive polymeric films. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 11 wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is in the form of a coating. ### Claim 21 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) a conductive substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer forms a layer on the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements and on said first surface free of said conductive heating elements, except that 0.1 to 10% of the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is skewed at an angle or perpendicular to the edge of said conductive substrate. ### Claim 22 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) an insulating substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on the top surface of each of said discrete conductive heating elements, except that from 0.1 to 10% of the area of both ends of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is in the form of a stripe. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein said insulating substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric films, fabric, and cloth. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein said phase change developer comprises a crystallizing polymeric binder resin derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein said phase change developer comprises a carrier selected form the group consisting of plant oils and waxes, animal oils and waxes, petroleum oils and waxes, synthetic oils and waxes, branched paraffinic oils and waxes, and silicone oils and waxes. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein said phase change developer comprises an organosol having a graft stabilizer derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein said insulating substrate is a continuous web. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 27 further comprises a take-up roll and a supply roll wherein said take-up roll and said supply roll are connected to each end of said continuous web. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein said insulating substrate is an endless belt. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 22 wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is skew at an angle or perpendicular to the edge of said conductive substrate. ### Claim 31 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) an insulating substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on the top surface of each of said discrete conductive heating elements, except that from 0.1 to 10% of the area of both ends of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; further comprising a plurality of conductive contacts on said insulating substrate, wherein each of said conductive contacts is connected to one end of said discrete conductive heating elements. ### Claim 32 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) an insulating substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements and on said first surface free of said conductive heating elements, except that a small portion of both ends of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; and wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is in the form of a stripe. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The developer storage system of claim 32 wherein the phase change developer is present as a continuous layer. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 32 wherein said insulating substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, polymeric films, fabric, and cloth. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 32 wherein said phase change developer comprises a crystallizing polymeric binder resin derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 32 wherein said phase change developer comprises a carrier selected form the group consisting of plant oils and waxes, animal oils and waxes, petroleum oils and waxes, synthetic oils and waxes, branched paraffinic oils and waxes, and silicone oils and waxes. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 32 wherein said phase change developer comprises an organosol having a graft stabilizer derived from a polymerizable monomer selected form the group consisting of hexacontanyl (meth)acrylate, pentacosanyl (meth)acrylate, behenyl (meth)acrylate, octadecyl (meth)acrylate, hexyldecyl acrylate, tetradecyl acrylate, and amino functional silicones. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 32 wherein said insulating substrate is a continuous web. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 38 further comprises a take-up roll and a supply roll wherein said take-up roll and said supply roll are connected to each end of said continuous web. ### Claim 40 (depends on 32) A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography according to claim 32 wherein said insulating substrate is an endless belt. ### Claim 41 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (a) an insulating substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (b) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (c) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements and on said first surface free of said conductive heating elements, except that a small portion of both ends of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; wherein each of said discrete conductive heating elements is skewed at an angle or perpendicular to the edge of said conductive substrate. ### Claim 42 A developer storage and delivery system for liquid electrophotography comprising: (d) an insulating substrate with a first surface and a second surface; (e) a plurality of discrete conductive heating elements mounted on said first surface; and (f) a phase change developer having a melting point of at least 22° C., wherein said phase change developer is on the top surface of each of said conductive heating elements and on said first surface free of said conductive heating elements, except that a small portion of both ends of each of said conductive heating elements is free of said phase change developer for conducting electricity; further comprising a plurality of conductive contacts on said insulating substrate, wherein each of said conductive contacts is connected to one end of said discrete conductive heating elements.