# US 7,611,755 B2 · Electrophoretic stylus array printing with liquid ink

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- Number: US 7,611,755 B2
- Document ID: US7611755B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/022,372
- Filed: 2004-12-23
- Published: 2006-06-29
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2004-12-23
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Truman Frank Kellie; William D. Edwards
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611755B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/34: in which the powder image is formed directly on the recording material {, e.g. by using a liquid toner}
- G03G 5/0202: {Dielectric layers for electrography}
- G03G 17/00: Electrographic processes using patterns other than charge patterns, e.g. an electric conductivity pattern; Processes involving a migration, e.g. photoelectrophoresis, photoelectrosolography; Processes involving a selective transfer, e.g. electrophoto-adhesive processes; Apparatus essentially involving a single such process
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A process and apparatus prints images. The process provides an imaging surface; an array of styli opposed to the imaging surface; and a flow of liquid ink containing charged ink particles in the ink between the imaging surface and the array of styli. A voltage bias is established between at least one stylus in the array of styli and the imaging surface. The voltage bias plates at least some charged ink particles onto the imaging surface in response to the voltage bias.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the printing of images comprising:
providing a roller having a surface;
providing an array of styli opposed to the surface;
providing a flow of liquid ink containing charged ink particles between the array of styli and the surface;
providing voltage to the styli creating a voltage bias between at least one stylus in the array of styli and the surface; and
plating at least some charged ink particles onto the surface in response to the voltage bias;
wherein the providing the voltage bias step and the plating step are performed substantially contemporaneous,
wherein the voltage applied to the styli is greater than any residual voltage of the roller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the ink particles are retained on the surface in a pattern of distribution that corresponds to a pattern of voltage supplied by the styli.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the voltage bias between the at least one stylus and the surface of the roller is at least 100V.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the voltage bias is maintained for a period of time less than about 2,000 microseconds.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the voltage bias is maintained for a period of time less than 1,000 microseconds.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the voltage bias is maintained for a period of time less than or equal to about 500 microseconds.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the surface is substantially free of photoconductor material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the roller is a cylinder having a length parallel to a central axis of the cylinder and the stylus array covers more than 50% of the length of the cylinder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the voltage bias is established and discharged in less than about 1000 milliseconds.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the providing of a flow of liquid ink containing charged ink particles occurs between the array of styli and the surface at a first physical location without formation of a latent image at the first physical location and without deposition of image-forming material at a subsequent location.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the voltage is provided to only the styli.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The process of claim 11, further comprising providing data to the styli, the data causing the ink to plate in a desired image onto the surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the ink flow provided is substantially perpendicular to the arrangement of the styli.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, further comprising providing a gap between the surface and the styli.