Electrostatic printing of functional toner materials for electronic manufacturing applications
AssigneeElectrox Corporation
InventorRobert H. Detig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention describes techniques for the electrostatic printing of functional materials configured as liquid toners (45) on glass substrates (26) in a non-contact mode. The toners are patterned by a sensitized electrostatic printing plate (11) of fixed image configuration. Toner images (50) are transferred by an electric field (33) across a fluid filled mechanical gap (42) to the glass substrate (26). Techniques for optimizing the imaging and transfer processes are also disclosed. Two other techniques in which partially finished pieces are manipulated to “self-part” themselves, are described. In both cases defects in the pieces will over print the defect in the “self-healing” mode.
Claims16
An apparatus for the printing of functional toners on a flat glass plate, said apparatus comprising:
- an electrostatic printing plate including a polymer layer bonded to an electrically conducting substrate that is electrically grounded;
- a first corona unit means for electrically charging said electrostatic printing plate with ions from a corona discharge thereby sensitizing said electrostatic printing plate and defining charged and uncharged areas on said electrostatic printing plate;
- a liquid development unit which is electrically biased to deposit liquid functional toner having toner particles on said uncharged areas of said electrostatic printing plate;
- a transfer station in which said flat glass plate is moved into close proximity to said electrostatic printing plate, but not touching, forming a mechanical gap;
- a filling means for filling the mechanical gap between said electrostatic printing plate and said glass plate with a clear toner diluent;
- and,
- a second corona unit means located near said glass plate but away from said electrostatic printing plate and which is electrically connected to a high voltage power supply for creating a corona discharge which sprays free charges on said glass plate and which creates an electrical field that causes said toner particles to transfer across the diluent filled mechanical gap in an orderly manner.
An apparatus for the printing of functional toners on a flat glass plate, said apparatus comprising:
- a flat electrostatic printing plate including a polymer layer bonded to an electrically conducting substrate that is electrically grounded;
- a first corona unit means for electrically charging said flat electrostatic printing plate with ions from a corona discharge thereby sensitizing said flat electrostatic printing plate and defining charged and uncharged areas on said flat electrostatic printing plate;
- a liquid development unit which is electrically biased to deposit liquid functional toner having toner particles on said uncharged areas of said flat electrostatic printing plate;
- a reverse roller unit means for mechanically removing excess liquid from the developed plate;
- a depress corona to compact the developed toner particles before transfer;
- a transfer station in which said flat electrostatic printing plate is moved in close proximity to said flat glass plate forming a mechanical gap between said printing plate and said glass plate;
- a filling means for filling the mechanical gap between said flat printing plate and said flat glass plate with clear toner diluent;
- and,
- a second corona unit means located near said glass plate but away from said electrostatic printing plate which is electrically connected to a high voltage power supply for creating a corona discharge which sprays free charges on said glass plate and which creates an electrical field that causes said toner particles to transfer across said diluent filled mechanical gap in an orderly manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.