Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Kent E Emerson

Claire A Jalbert

James A Baker

Edward J Woo

Gay L Herman

Truman Frank Kellie

Valdis Mikelsons

Wu-Shyong Li

Gaye K Lehman

Brian P Teschendorf

Russell A Roiko

Kay F Schilli

The invention is an intermediate transfer element for liquid electrophotography comprising a material which is capable of absorbing the carrier liquid in amounts from 5 to 100% by weight based on the weight of the absorbing material, as well as, a system incorporating that element and a method of creating an image using that element.

Intermediate transfer element for liquid electrophotography

Method and apparatus for producing an image on plain paper from image data using a photoreceptor. An image-wise distribution of charges is produced on the photoreceptor corresponding to the image data. A liquid ink having solid charged pigmented particles, the liquid ink having an effective glass transition temperature of less than 25 degrees Celsius is applied to the photoreceptor forming an image-wise distribution of the pigmented particles on the photoreceptor to form the image. The liquid ink has greater than seventy-five percent by volume fraction of solids in the image. A film forming means is positioned against the photoreceptor immediately following the application means to dry the image of the liquid ink to film forming within 0.5 seconds. The image is dried on the photoreceptor. The image is then transferred to an elastomeric transfer roller which forms a first transfer nip under pressure with the photoreceptor. The elastomeric transfer roller is heated to from 50 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the image is transferred to plain paper through a nip formed between a backup roller under pressure with the transfer roller. The release layer of the photoreceptor has a surface energy which is less than a surface energy of the elastomeric transfer roller which in turn is less than a surface energy of the liquid ink which in turn is less than a surface energy of the plain paper.

Method and apparatus having improved image transfer characteristics for

The invention is an apparatus for continuously removing excess carrier liquid from a photoreceptor comprising an image drying means which contacts the photoreceptor, wherein the image drying means has an outer layer which absorbs and desorbs carrier liquid and an inner layer having a Shore A hardness of 10 to 60 which is phobic to the carrier liquid, and a heating means which heats the surface of the image drying means for at least 0.05 seconds to no more than 5.degree. C. below the flashpoint of the carrier liquid, wherein the photoreceptor is moving at a speed of greater than 45 mm/sec. The invention is also the method of removing excess carrier liquid from a photoreceptor comprising contacting the photoreceptor with such a drying element and then heating the drying element to no more than 5.degree. C. below the flashpoint of the carrier liquid for at least 0.05 seconds.

Drying method and apparatus for electrophotography using liquid toners

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South St. Paul, MN, United States of America

Kent E Emerson