Method of producing latent images on an electrostatic plate

Abstract

A method for producing a latent image of differentially charged regions on an electrostatic printing plate that may subsequently be realized using toner particles. The printing plate's electrically conducting substrate is coated with a layer of photo-polymer material that has a low electrical conductivity in a normal state. Selected regions of the photo-polymer are then exposed to radiation of a wavelength that produces cross-linking of the photo-polymer. The surface of the photo-polymer is then charged using a corona-discharge while the conducting substrate is grounded. The applied charge is discharged in the unexposed, normal regions of the photo-resist, and retained in the cross-linked regions that were exposed to the radiation because the cross-linking increases the electrical resistance of the photo-polymer. The result is a latent image of differential charge.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.