Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Hsin Hsin Chou

Brian P Teschendorf

James A Baker

Truman Frank Kellie

Robin Edgar Wright

A Kristine Fordahl

Manuel Lozada

Charles W Simpson

Ronald J Moudry

Wu-Shyong Li

William D Edwards

William A Hendrickson

John S Staral

John J Stofko, Jr

William A Tolbert

Stephen J Willett

Richard L Severance

Mark J Hendrickson

Robert E Brenner

Jiayi Zhu

Carol E Hendrickson

Wu Shyong Li

Michael G O'Reilly

Andrew J McClaren

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

Methods of printing with a liquid electrophotographic toner composition prepared within an electrophotgraphic printing apparatus are provided, wherein a polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions is first prepared in a reaction solvent, wherein the reaction solvent comprises less than about 10% aromatic components by weight and has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL. Toner particles are then formulated in the reaction solvent and dried. The dried toner particles are then redispersed in a carrier liquid.

Printing systems and methods for liquid toners comprising dispersed toner particles

Methods of preparing a liquid electrographic toner composition are provided, wherein a polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions is first prepared in a hydrocarbon reaction solvent, wherein the hydrocarbon reaction solvent comprises less than about 10% aromatic components by weight and has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL. Toner particles are then formulated in the hydrocarbon reaction solvent and dried. The dried toner particles are then redispersed in a carrier liquid that is different from the reaction solvent, wherein the carrier liquid comprises less than about 10% aromatic components by weight and has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL, to form a redispersed liquid electrographic toner composition. Preferred carrier liquids are silicone oils. Products and kits are also provided.

Liquid toners comprising toner particles prepared in a solvent other than the carrier liquid

The present invention relates to methods of drying and recovering toner particles from a liquid carrier. The methods are very effective to generate discrete, substantially non-agglomerated dry toner particles in a manner that preserves the particle size and particle distribution of the wet particles. The resultant dried toner particles free-flowing with a relatively narrow particle size distribution. The present invention uses extrusion techniques to coat wet toner particles onto a substrate surface. Because the resultant coating has a relatively large drying surface area per gram of particle incorporated into the coating, drying may occur relatively quickly under moderate temperature and pressure conditions. After drying, the dried toner particles are readily recovered and may then be used in dry or even wet toners for electrophotographic applications.

Extrusion drying process for toner particles useful in electrography

The present invention relates to methods of drying and recovering toner particles from a liquid carrier. The methods are very effective to generate discrete, substantially non-agglomerated dry toner particles in a manner that preserves the particle size and particle distribution of the wet particles. The resultant dried toner particles free-flowing with a relatively narrow particle size distribution. The present invention uses electrical phenomena to help transfer charged toner particles from a liquid carrier onto a substrate surface. In practical effect, the particles are electrically plated onto the surface. Because the resultant coating has a relatively large drying surface area per gram of particle incorporated into the coating, drying may occur relatively quickly under moderate temperature and pressure conditions. After drying, the dried toner particles are readily recovered and may then be used in dry or even wet toners for electrophotographic applications.

Drying process for toner particles useful in electrography

Methods of preparing a liquid electrographic toner composition are provided, wherein a polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions is first prepared in a reaction solvent, wherein the reaction solvent comprises less than about 10% aromatic components by weight and has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL. Toner particles are then formulated in the reaction solvent and dried. The dried toner particles are then redispersed in a carrier liquid that has substantially the same chemical constitution as the reaction solvent to form a redispersed liquid electrographic toner composition. Products and kits are also provided.

Liquid toners comprising amphipathic copolymeric binder that have been prepared, dried and redispersed in the same carrier liquid

A liquid developer imaging system comprising a developing container for receiving a quantity of developing solution, a sensing system for maintaining a predetermined processing level of developing solution within the container, a developer roller connected to a first power supply source that biases the developer roller to a development voltage, and a skiving element for plating the developing solution onto the developer roller and scraping excess developing solution from the developer roller to a predetermined thickness, wherein the skiving element is connected to a second power supply source for biasing the skiving element to a skiving voltage, wherein the skiving voltage is greater than the development voltage.

Liquid toner electrophotographic printing systems and methods

A method measures the conductivity (&#x3c3;) of a liquid or paste electrophotographic toner by providing two parallel plane conductive plates with a uniform separation (d) between the plates to form a space between the plates; filling the space between the plates with liquid or paste electrophotographic toner; applying an alternating current voltage of at least 100V between the plates across the liquid or paste toner; measuring as data the current passing through an external component into the plates; adjusting the data to remove current contributions attributable to impurity ions; sending adjusted data to a processor; and determining the conductivity from the adjusted data.

System and method for measuring charge/mass and liquid toner conductivty contemporaneously

A testing procedure and method is provided for assessing the quality or acceptability of performance of individual liquid ink electrostatic toners on individual receptor surfaces. An approximately standard drop of the individual liquid toner is placed on the receptor to be tested. The drop is pressed onto the receptor and spread on the surface of the receptor (preferably before the drop has had time to partially evaporate or to have the liquid in the drop absorb or naturally spread on the receptor surface) under controlled conditions. The characteristics of the spread drop on the receptor surface are measured, and the characteristics are compared to parameters defining the characteristics expected from a liquid toner that define acceptable performance between toner and receptor. In this manner the relative performance of individual toners on individual receptor surfaces can be evaluated independent of electrostatic effects. This can be important, as the electrostatic effects bring another parameter of performance into evaluation of the compatibility of the toner and receptor and can misdirect research for adjusting their compatibility.

Device and method for screening liquid toners and receptors for use with liquid toners in electrophotography

A photocurable thermally transferable composition containing a multifunctional monomer that is substantially non-liquid at room temperature and a thermoplastic binder is disclosed. The composition is suitable for use in thermal transfer ribbons. After thermal transfer, the compositions are photocured to provide a durable, weatherable image on a graphic article.

Thermally transferable compositions and methods

A method of transferring a high resolution polarizing image from a mass transfer donor element to a receptor element. The transfer can be induced by thermal energy or electromagnetic (optical) energy. In either case, the transferred image will be a high resolution image that exhibits optically anisotropic properties. The polarizing mass transfer donor element comprises a substrate having a polarizing mass transfer layer coated thereon. Optionally, the polarizing mass transfer donor element further comprises a light absorbing material, preferably in the form of a light to heat conversion layer. The polarizing mass transfer donor element can further comprise an adhesive to facilitate transfer of the polarizing mass transfer layer.

Polarizing mass transfer donor element and method of transferring a

A method of making a colloidal metal dispersion that is useful as a toner fluid. The method involves reducing a palladium and/or platinum metal of a metallo-organic palladium and/or platinum metal salt in a dispersing medium that contains a soluble surfactant and a carrier liquid. The palladium and/or platinum metal of the metallo-organic metal salt is reduced in the dispersing medium to form elemental metal particles. The soluble surfactant is present in the dispersing medium in an amount sufficient to charge and stabilize the elemental metal particles as a colloidal metal dispersion.

Method of making a colloidal palladium and/or platinum metal dispersion

A metallic toner fluid composition that contains (A) electrostatically charged, colloidal elemental metal particles dispersed in an electrically nonconductive organic carrier liquid having a dielectric constant less than about 3.5 and a volume resistivity greater than about 10.sup.12 ohm-cm, (B) a soluble surfactant in an amount sufficient to charge and stabilize the colloidal metal dispersion, and (C) an effective amount of organosol particles and/or a soluble polymer that is not a soluble surfactant (B). Also disclosed at a substrate coated with elemental metallic toner fluid particles. The coated substrate can act as a donor substrate for thermal mass transfer of images to a secondary receiving substrate by performing either or both of the following steps, in any order:

Method of making metallic coatings

A metallic toner fluid composition that contains (A) electrostatically charged, colloidal elemental metal particles dispersed in an electrically nonconductive organic carrier liquid having a dielectric constant less than about 3.5 and a volume resistivity greater than about 10.sup.12 ohm-cm, (B) a soluble surfactant in an amount sufficient to charge and stabilize the colloidal metal dispersion, and (C) an effective amount of organosol particles and/or a soluble polymer that is not a soluble surfactant (B). Also disclosed is a substrate coated with elemental metallic toner fluid particles. The coated substrate can act as a donor substrate for thermal mass transfer of images to a secondary receiving substrate by performing either or both of the following steps, in any order:

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Hsin Hsin Chou