Eastman-kodak Company

Dennis R Kamp

William Mey

Kevin E Yousey

Bruce J Rubin

Donald Saul Rimai

Douglas E Bugner

Peter G Evans

Charles D DeBoer

Arun Chowdry

James Raymond Flick

Yee S Ng

Thomas Nathaniel Tombs

Muhammed Aslam

Domenic Santilli

Francisco Luiz Ziegelmuller

Robert David Bobo

Jerry Eugene Livadas

Anne E Bohan

Lawrence E Contois

Stacy M Munechika

Vito A DePalma

Kent A Randall

William K Goebel

Sven Sonnenberg

Lawrence C Steele

James D Walling

Kenneth E Rook

George G Fulmer

Lawrence W Fisher

Robin A Dispenza

Ronald T Speziale

William May

A method for calibrating a printer including a light-emitting diode (LED) printhead for non-uniformity on an image plane. The LED recording elements are arranged in a plurality of arrays. A plurality of characteristics () associated with each recording element are measured and from the measured characteristics a plurality of parameters () associated with each recording element is determined. Adjustment factors for a plurality of parameters are combined mathematically to determine an adjusted power density () for each recording element on the image plane. Correction factors () are then assigned to each recording element to correct for the adjusted power density (). The correction factors () are stored in a memory () associated with the LED printhead.

Exposure-energy-density and dynamic effect based uniformity correction for LED printheads

A reproduction apparatus utilizing clear marking particles in the development of an image, the clear marking particles being laid down so as to prevent offset upon fusing of an image to a receiver member. The reproduction apparatus is disclosed as including a dielectric member adapted to have latent images formed thereon. A development station, is provided including a plurality of developer units respectively containing marking particles of different colors, at least one developer unit containing black marking particles and another developer unit containing clear marking particles. The development station selectively develops latent images with marking particles from the developer units respectively. A transfer station serves to transfer developed marking particle images to a receiver member, and a fuser assembly fuses a marking particle image on a receiver member. The developing station is controlled such that the developer unit for applying clear marking particles is selectively activated to apply clear marking particles to a receiver member, the clear marking particles uniformly decreasing toward the edges of the receiver member.

Application of clear marking particles to images where the marking

A clear protective overcoat is provided to an image formed in a silver halide photographic element. The overcoat is formed by electrostatically applying a uniform distribution of clear toner to an imaged photographic element and then fusing the toner to form an overcoat. The toner can be applied only in a limited area of the element.

Protective overcoats for silver halide photographic elements

A bleachable composition, including an acid photogenerator and a near-infrared radiation-absorbing dye or pigment, is utilized in a method of migration imaging to prevent unwanted absorptions. This composition can be incorporated either in the thermoplastic imaging surface layer of the imaging element, in the marking particles applied to the element, or both. Alternatively, the components of the bleachable composition can be separated with one in the thermoplastic imaging surface layer and the other in the marking particles. After the imaging element is marked and exposed with near-infrared radiation, the bleachable composition caused exposed portions of the imaging element to be bleached. If further bleaching is needed, the element can subsequently be exposed with near-ultraviolet radiation. A migration imaging method, which does not employ the bleachable composition of the present invention, wherein marking particles are magnetically attracted to the imaging element, is also provided.

Migration imaging, optionally with dyes or pigments to effect bleaching

A bleachable composition, including an acid photogenerator and a near-infrared radiation-absorbing dye or pigment, is utilized in a method of migration imaging to prevent unwanted absorptions. This composition can be incorporated either in the thermoplastic imaging surface layer of the imaging element, in the marking particles applied to the element, or both. Alternatively, the components of the bleachable composition can be separated with one in the thermoplastic imaging surface layer and the other in the marking particles. After the imaging element is marked and exposed with near-infrared radiation, the bleachable composition causes exposed portions of the imaging element to be bleached. If further bleaching is needed, the element can subsequently be exposed with near-ultraviolet radiation.

Migration imaging with dyes or pigments to effect bleaching

A toner image is transferred from an image member to a receiving sheet through first and second intermediate members. The first intermediate member is optimized for transfer from the photoconductor and has greater affinity for the toner than does the second intermediate member, which is optimized for transfer to the receiving sheet. This three transfer system provides transfer improvement over two transfer systems.

Image forming method utilizing intermediate transfer

First and second toner images are created on a primary image member. The first toner image is transferred to an intermediate image member and then transferred back to the primary image member to combine the two images. Preferably, the intermediate image member is a light roller that is inarticulatable and maintained in contact with the primary image member which is preferably an endless belt with sufficient wrap to drive the intermediate image member with low pressure in the contact nip. Cleaning is effected by transferring residual toner back to an empty portion of the primary image member from where it may be cleaned off by a primary image member cleaning station. Intrack registration of the images is maintained by adjusting the time between flashes in creating the two images.

Method and apparatus for forming combined toner images

A migration imaging system using a laser-addressable thermoplastic imaging member 10. The imaging member 10 comprises a supporting section 15 and a thermoplastic imaging surface layer 14. A charged, uniform layer of marking particles 24 is deposited on the imaging surface layer 14. An imagewise-modulated laser beam 24 transforms selected volumes of the imaging surface layer 14 in an imagewise pattern to a permeable state. Charged marking particles 42 that overlay a transformed volume then migrate into the imaging surface layer 14, due to an electrostatic attraction to the imaging member 10, so as to be retained. Unaddressed marking particles 56 are cleaned away by particle removing device 20B comprised of a magnetic brush utilizing hard magnetic carrier particles. The imaging member 10, or solely the imaging surface layer 14, may be transferred and bonded to a receiver member such as a drum for use as an exposure mask in a xeroprinting process, or to a receiver sheet 64 to provide a hard copy reproduction. This migration imaging system provides an inexpensive method and apparatus for imaging which generates relatively little waste products.

Migration imaging system

Method and apparatus for producing a hardcopy reproduction of image information. A uniform layer of toner particles is applied to a surface. A receiver sheet with a thermoplastic outer layer is placed over the layer of toner particles, the thermoplastic layer contacting the layer of toner particles. An electrostatic attraction is established between the layer of toner particles and the receiver sheet. The thermoplastic layer is imagewise exposed to heat to selectively soften the thermoplastic layer, allowing the toner particles opposite the softened thermoplastic to migrate into the layer. The receiver sheet is then removed from the surface, taking with it the migrated particles in an imagewise pattern.

Method and apparatus for reproducing image information

Image forming apparatus includes a cleaning device for cleaning toner from a surface. Magnetic particulate cleaning material is moved through a cleaning zone by a rotating magnetic core. The particulate cleaning material moves on a surface which is extended generally in an upstream direction with respect to movement of the surface being cleaned. The extension increases the effectiveness of the cleaning without increasing pickup of the cleaning material by the surface. An alternative cleaning device includes a magnetic shunt between a rotating core and a shell in which magnetic particulate cleaning material is driven by rotation of the core. The shunt interrupts the magnetic field of the core to increase the effectiveness of the cleaning without adversely affecting its softness.

Cleaning device using magnetic particulate cleaning material

A uniform layer of charged toner particles is deposited onto a photoconductive layer of an imaging member. The toner particles are imagewise heated to imagewise tack selected ones of the particles to the photoconductive layer. The photoconductive layer is uniformly exposed to actinic radiation to discharge the toner particles while the layer is subjected to a gentle cleaning process which removes the nontacked toner particles.

Method for producing images

An image forming apparatus includes both a toner applying station and a toner cleaning station. The toner applying and toner cleaning stations adjoin each other. Each of the stations includes an elongated element which is to be closely spaced to an image surface. A toner removing roller is positioned between the toner cleaning station and the toner applying station and removes toner from particulate cleaning material in the toner cleaning station and supplies it to the toner applying station to conveniently recycle toner. The toner cleaning station includes a rotating magnetic core which moves hard magnetized carrier around a shell providing a soft cleaning brush.

Image forming apparatus in which toner is recycled between toner

The present invention is used in an image-recording apparatus wherein a substantially uniform layer of triboelectrically charged thermoplastic toner particles is deposited onto an imaging member. The toner particles are imagewise heated such that the heated toner particles are thermally tacked to the imaging member. The imaging member is then contacted with a mass of magnetic carrier particles to attract nonheated toner particles to the carrier particles, thereby removing nonheated toner particles from the imaging member and ladening the carrier particles with the removed toner particles. In accordance with the invention, upon using the carrier particles to attract and remove toner from the imaging member, the toner-laden carrier particles are mixed with a supply of carrier particles in which the average number of toner particles per carrier particle is lower than that of said toner-laden carrier particles. This produces a mixture of carrier particles in which the average amount of toner attracted to each carrier particle is substantially lower than that of the toner-laden carrier particles. This mixture is then subjected to a detoning step in which essentially all of the toner on each carrier particle is removed prior to the carrier particles being contacted to the imaging member again.

Recording apparatus with magnetic brush removal of non-tacked toner

A xeroprinting master includes a fixed insulative toner image on an electrophotographic element of the type exhibiting charge injection at an interface between a charge injection electrode and a charge transport layer. In xeroprinting use the master is charged to a polarity opposite that which is injectable. The charge is neutralized by charges injected from the electrode which migrate to the charged surface. Charge retained on the fixed toner image can be toned. The master can be made by positively charging it to a polarity the same as that which is injectable, imagewise exposing it and toning and fixing.

Xeroprinting method, master and method of making

The present invention relates to a photoelectrographic element having a conductive layer in electrical contact with an acid photogenerating layer which is free of photopolymerizable materials and contains an electrically insulating binder and acid photogenerator. A dye which absorbs near-infrared radiation is included in the photoelectrographic element so that the element, when used in electrostatic copying, can be exposed with near-infrared radiation. A method for forming images with this element is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Spencerport, NY, United States of America

Dennis R Kamp