Method and apparatus for stabilizing the charge-to-mass ratio of various toner components in a multi-toner tone-on-tone electrophotographic device
US6484004B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 27, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 27, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0163
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for efficiently transferring at least two subtractive color toner images simultaneously onto a substrate. The apparatus includes a photoreceptor, transfer charger, mechanism for placing the substrate between the photoreceptor and transfer charger, a plurality of print stations and a stabilizing charger unit. Each of the print stations include a charger unit, an exposure unit, and a developer unit for applying a respective color toner to the latent image formed by the exposure unit in conjunction with the charger unit upon the photoreceptor. Upon application to photoreceptor, each toner has an initial charge-to-mass ratio, which is subsequently increased to a saturated charge-to-mass ratio when the toner passes under the charger unit of a subsequent print station. Thus, the stabilizing charger unit substantially conforms the charge-to-mass ratio of the toner deposited by the last print station to the charge-to-mass ratio of the toner developed previously. This results in more homogeneous transfer characteristics for all toners. A similar method is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.