Patent · US Expired

Imaging method and apparatus

US5276492A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
14References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 14, 1992
Grant dateJan 4, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 14, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/1695
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring liquid toner images from an image forming surface (10) to an intermediate transfer member (40) for subsequent transfer to a final substrate (42). the liquid toner images include carrier liquid and pigmented polymeric toner particles which are essentially non-soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature, and which form a single phase at elevated temperatures. The method includes the steps of: concentrating the liquid toner image by compacting the solids portion of the liquid toner image and removing carrier liquid therefrom; transferring the liquid toner image to the intermediate transfer member (40), heating the liquid toner image on the intermediate transfer member (40) to a temperature at which the toner particles and the carrier liquid form a single phase; and transferring the heated liquid toner image to a final substrate (42).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.