Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Eastman-kodak Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Imation Corporation

Charles W Simpson

James A Baker

Gay L Herman

Leonard Stulc

A Kristine Fordahl

Truman Frank Kellie

Ronald J Moudry

Zbigniew Tokarski

Gregory L Zwadlo

Elsie Anderson Fohrenkamm

Hsin Hsin Chou

William D Edwards

Brian P Teschendorf

Steven C Jensen

Manuel Lozada

Susan E Hill

Eric Daniel Morrison

Minyu Li

Robert A Yapel

M Zaki Ali

Jiayi Zhu

Larry A Lien

Ramnath Subramaniam

Wayne P Ray

David J Scanlan

A pattern of an electrically conductive print material is formed on a receiver element using an elastomeric relief element that has a relief pattern comprising (1) an uppermost relief surface, and (2) an average relief image depth of at least 50 &#x3bc;m relative to the uppermost relief surface. A printable material composition is applied to the uppermost relief surface, which printable material composition contains an electrically conductive print material and a carrier liquid. At least 50 weight % of the carrier liquid is removed from the uppermost relief surface, leaving the electrically conductive print material on the uppermost relief surface. Either the elastomeric relief element or the printable material composition on the elastomeric relief element, or both, are treated with an acid in vapor or liquid form to improve conductivity of the electrically conductive print material after it has been transferred from the uppermost relief surface to the receiver element.

Forming patterns of electrically conductive materials

A print material pattern is formed on a receiver element using an elastomeric relief element having a relief pattern. A printable material composition is applied only to the uppermost relief surface of the elastomeric relief element and at least at least 50 weight % of a carrier liquid is removed. A receiver element has a print material receptive layer having a dry thickness of 0.05-10 &#x3bc;m and is heated. During contact of the print material composition on the uppermost relief surface and the heated receiver element, the elastomeric relief element is compressed to provide sufficient contact with the receiver element. The elastomeric relief element is then separated from the heated receiver element to leave a pattern of the functional material on the heated receiver element, wherein at least 70 weight % of the original print material is transferred to the heated receiver element.

Method of forming printed patterns

A multilayer structure having at least two different print materials pattern is formed on a receiver element using an elastomeric relief element having a relief pattern. Multiple different printable material compositions are sequentially applied only to the uppermost relief surface of the elastomeric relief element and at least at least 50 weight % of a carrier liquid is removed from each printable material composition. During contact of the multilayer structure on the uppermost relief surface and the receiver element, the elastomeric relief element is compressed by at least 10 &#x3bc;m of its original thickness. The elastomeric relief element is then separated from the receiver element to leave a pattern of the multilayer structure on the receiver element, wherein at least 70 weight % of the multiple print materials is transferred to the receiver element.

Forming printed patterns of multiple print materials

A method of producing an image on a final image receptor from image data in a multiple pass electrophotographic system is provided. The method includes the steps of applying transfer assist material to an intermediate transfer member and providing at least one development unit including a photoreceptive element and charged toner particles. During each complete processing cycle of an intermediate transfer member, a toned image is created and transferred to the intermediate transfer member by application of a bias. In multiple processing cycles of the intermediate transfer member, the transfer assist material and the at least one toned image thereby form a composite image layer on the intermediate transfer member. The method further includes contacting the composite image layer with a final image receptor while applying a bias that is sufficiently strong to transfer at least a portion of the composite image layer to the final image receptor.

Method and apparatus for using a transfer assist layer in a multi-pass electrophotographic process with electrostatically assisted toner transfer

A method of producing an image on a final image receptor in a single pass electrophotographic system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing at least one toner development unit including a photoreceptive element and charged toner particles, and creating a toned image on the photoreceptive element that is transferred to an intermediate transfer member. The method further includes providing a transfer assist material development unit for applying a transfer assist material to at least a portion of the toned image to form a complete image layer on the intermediate transfer member, wherein the complete image layer is formed in a single pass of the intermediate transfer member. The method also includes contacting the complete image layer with a final image receptor while applying a bias that is sufficiently strong to transfer at least a portion of the complete image layer to the final image receptor.

Method and apparatus for using a transfer assist layer in a tandem electrophotographic process with electrostatically assisted toner transfer

Dry electrographic toner compositions are provided comprising a plurality of dry toner particles, wherein the toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The dry electrographic toner composition comprises a wax associated with the dry toner particles, wherein substantially all of the wax is associated with the toner particle at the surface thereof. Methods of making electrographic toner compositions are also provided comprising preparing polymeric binder particles comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions, preparing toner particles, drying the toner particles, and milling the dry toner particles in the presence of a wax component to provide a dry toner particle composition having the wax associated with the toner particles. These toner compositions provide images having excellent durability and erasure resistance properties at low fusion temperatures and with little undesired offset.

Dry toner blended with wax

Dry electrographic toner compositions are provided comprising a plurality of dry toner particles, wherein the toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The dry electrographic toner composition comprises a wax associated with the dry toner particles that has been entrained in the toner particle during the formation of the amphipathic copolymer. Methods of making the electrographic toner compositions are also provided. These toner compositions provide images having excellent durability and erasure resistance properties at low fusion temperatures and with little undesired offset.

Dry toner comprising entrained wax

Dry electrographic toner compositions are provided comprising a plurality of dry toner particles, wherein the toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The dry electrographic toner composition comprises a wax associated with the dry toner particles, wherein a substantial portion of the wax is entrained in the toner particle and a substantial portion of the wax is associated with the toner particle at the surface thereof. Methods of making electrographic toner compositions are also provided comprising preparing polymeric binder particles comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions, and milling the particles before or after formulation as toner particles with wax in the liquid carrier prior to drying to form the dry toner composition. These toner compositions provide images having excellent durability and erasure resistance properties at low fusion temperatures and with little undesired offset.

Dry toner comprising wax

The invention provides liquid electrographic toner compositions comprising a liquid carrier having toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier. The liquid carrier has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL. The toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The toner composition additionally comprises a wax component associated with the toner particle, wherein the wax component and the amphipathic copolymer each comprise at least one of a Lewis acid and a Lewis base pair in an amount sufficient to form weak, reversible intermolecular non-covalent bonds resulting from acid/base interactions between the wax component and the amphipathic copolymer. These toner particles can exhibit excellent final image durability characteristics, and can also provide toner compositions that provide excellent images at low fusion temperatures on a final image receptor.

Liquid electrophotographic toners comprising amphipathic copolymers having acidic or basic functionality and wax having basic or acidic functionality

A method of manufacturing transparencies reduces light scattering in a projection transparency formed with an electrostatically deposited color image. The method comprises:

Reduced light scattering in projected images formed from electrographic toners

A fusing apparatus for fixing images made from a liquid toner onto a substrate using an electrophotographic process, the apparatus including a first fusing station having first and second prefusing rollers, the second prefusing roller contacting the first prefusing roller to create a first nip area, wherein at least one of the prefusing rollers is heated to a temperature that provides a prefusing temperature within the first nip area, and a second fusing station spaced from the first fusing station and having first and second final fusing rollers, the second final fusing roller contacting the first final fusing roller to create a second nip area, wherein at least one of the final fusing rollers is heated to a temperature that provides a fusing temperature within the second nip area, wherein the fusing temperature of the second nip area is higher than the prefusing temperature of the first nip area.

Fuser system and method for electophotography including multiple fusing stations

Electrophotographic ink compositions display reduced malodor effects when at least one antagonistic odor vector compound for C, Cand Chydrocarbons is present in the ink composition. The use of appropriate amounts of the antagonistic odor vector compounds for C, Cand Chydrocarbons does not adversely affect the functional imaging properties of the ink.

Liquid electrophotographic inks or toners having reduced odors

A fusing apparatus for fixing images made from a liquid toner onto a substrate using an electrophotographic process, the apparatus including a prefusing roller, a backup roller positioned to create a first nip area between the prefusing roller and the backup roller, and a fusing roller positioned to create a second nip area between the fusing roller and the backup roller, wherein at least one of the prefusing roller and the backup roller is heated to a temperature that provides a prefusing temperature within the first nip area, and wherein at least one of the fusing roller and the backup roller is heated to a temperature that provides a fusing temperature in the second nip area that is different than the prefusing temperature of the first nip area.

Fusing apparatus and method for liquid toner electrophotography using multiple stations having different prefusing and fusing temperatures

A liquid electrophotographic imaging apparatus contains at least one drying sheet for removing excess carrier liquid from an intermediate transfer member or an intermediate image on the intermediate transfer member. The drying sheet comprises a flexible substrate having a first surface and second surface, at least one carrier liquid absorptive layer on the first surface of the flexible substrate, and the first surface facing the intermediate transfer member or image. A method of drying a toner image or intermediate transfer material comprises a) providing a plurality of absorbent drying sheets in a cartridge, wherein the sheets are stacked such that there is a top of the stack and a bottom of the stack; b) providing an electrophotographic apparatus comprising at least i) an intermediate transfer member, and ii) a cartridge of stacked drying sheets; c) providing a toned image on the intermediate transfer member; d) contacting an absorbent drying sheet from the cartridge to the intermediate transfer member or to the toned image on the intermediate transfer member, the drying sheet on absorbing liquid carrier becoming a used drying sheet; and e) replacing the used drying sheet at the top of the stack in the absorbent drying sheet cartridge for re-supply or discard.

Apparatus and method for removing carrier liquid from an intermediate transfer member surface or from a toned imaged on an intermediate transfer member

This invention related to an intermediate transfer member for electrophotography that includes a substrate; and a polymeric layer on said substrate wherein the polymeric layer comprises an organic titanate and a polymer selected from the group consisting of fluorosilicone, silicone, and a combination thereof.

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Lakeland, MN, United States of America

Charles W Simpson