Direct electrostatic printing device which uses a gas stream to provide a cloud of toner particles

US5984443A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Agfa-Gevaert NV · BE

Inventors

• Guido Desie · Mortsel, BE
• Ludo Joly · Hove, BE
• Luc Van Aken · Kuringen, BE
• Jacques Leonard · Ekeren, BE
• Frans Backaljauw · Zwijndrecht, BE
• Andre Van Geyte · Schilde, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 12, 1996
• Grant date: Nov 16, 1999
• Expiry date: Sep 12, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03G2215/0621
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A DEP device is provided that comprises a back electrode (105), a printhead structure (106), an array of printing apertures (107) in the printhead structure (106) through which a particle flow can be electrically modulated by a control electrode (106a), a toner delivery means (101), presenting a cloud (100) of dry toner particles in the vicinity of the apertures (107), characterized in that the toner cloud (100) is formed in the vicinity of the apertures (107) by means of a gas stream. The toner cloud is formed by detaching toner particles from a charged toner conveyer by the gas stream, or by forming a fluidized bed of toner particles.