Eastman-kodak Company

Xactiv, Inc.

Robert E Zeman

Donald Saul Rimai

Thomas Nathaniel Tombs

David R Jackson

Bijay S Saha

Alec N Mutz

William B Vreeland

Kevin M Johnson

Peter J Mason

Dan A Hays

John W May

Michael T Regan

James A Mason

Roger Stanley Kerr

Dinesh Tyagi

Muhammed Aslam

Rodney Ray Bucks

Thomas K Hilbert

Edward T Miskinis

David Daniel Putnam

Jinquan Xu

Feraydoon S Jamzadeh

Fereidoon S Jamzadeh

James Raymond Flick

Donna A DiPrima

Patricia A Dwyer

Maria Cristina Barbosa DeJesus

Benjamin E Rimai

James G Popowich

Bijy S Saha

An apparatus for fabricating a 3D object. The apparatus may be comprised of a charged powder transferring system, a first charged powder layer generating device, a second charged powder layer generating device, a powder layer consolidation station, and an object build platform. In operation of the apparatus, a portion of a powder transferring surface of the flexible web traverses a directional change member during cyclic motion, and exceeds a radius of curvature defining a delamination threshold between the powder transferring surface and a first fused slice of the object. The apparatus may include an oven operable to fuse a stack of delaminated fused slices on a support substrate into a fused stack comprising fused second powder material and fused first powder material forming at least a portion of the object. A method of fabricating a 3D object is also disclosed.

Electrophotographic additive manufacturing process

A method of fabricating an object, comprising depositing a first layer of first object material on a support substrate electrode; applying a conductive agent material onto the first layer; depositing a first layer of charged powder on an intermediate substrate; conveying the first layer of charged powder on the intermediate substrate proximate to the first layer of first object material; and applying a transferring electric field to cause transfer of the first layer of charged powder from the intermediate substrate onto the first layer on the support substrate electrode, to form a first powder layer on the first layer on the support substrate electrode. Multiple powder layers may be deposited on the first layer. The method may be further comprised of fusing the powder layer(s) to form a first fused layer on the support substrate electrode. A related object fabrication apparatus is also disclosed.

Fabrication of 3D objects via electrostatic powder deposition

A catcher includes a housing and a drop contact structure. The housing defines a liquid removal conduit. The drop contact structure includes a moveable surface that delivers collected liquid drops to the liquid removal conduit of the housing.

Rotating coanda catcher

Method and apparatus for printing an image-wise ink pattern on a receiver. A primary imaging member includes a series of substantially equal-sized cells located over the substrate surface thereof. The primary imaging member has an electrically conductive layer. An ink jet printhead selectively ejects drops of ink into the primary imaging member cells in a desired image-wise ink pattern. The image-wise ink on the primary imaging member is fractionated to separate the liquid in the ink. A receiver is transported into operative association with the primary imaging member, and a transfer mechanism applies a pressure between the receiver and the primary imaging member, and establishes an electrostatic field to transfer the image-wise ink pattern to the receiver.

Method and apparatus for ink jet printing on patterned substrate

In an apparatus for printing images on a moving primary imaging member by jetting ink, containing a fluid and marking particles, in an image-wise fashion onto the primary imaging member, a device for concentrating the ink prior to transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member. The ink concentrating device includes a fractionating unit for separating fluid of the ink from the marking particles. The fractionating unit is located a predetermined spaced distance from the primary image bearing member. An electrostatic field is established between the primary image bearing member and the fractionating unit for concentrating the marking particles in the liquid of the ink.

Concentrating a liquid ink jet ink to transfer to a receiver member

A high speed digital printing apparatus having an imaging member, an ink jet head capable of image-wise jetting ink onto the imaging member, a mechanism for fractionating such image-wise ink on the imaging member to remove liquid therefrom, an intermediate transfer member onto which such image-wise ink is transferred from the imaging member, and a transfer member forming a nip with the intermediate transfer member for transferring a liquid-depleted image-wise ink to a receiver. An ink suitable for use in the printing press apparatus is formed by dispersing an ink concentrate with a suitable solvent.

Digital printing apparatus for producing prints at high speed

An ink jet device selectively ejects droplets of non-marking liquid ink into cells of a printing member in a desired latent negative image pattern. Certain cells of the printing member are filled with pigmented ink to create a desired image. An electrical bias is applied for fractionating pigment in the pigmented ink from liquid and transferring an image-wise pigmented ink pattern from the printing member to a receiving member, leaving behind a substantial portion of liquid. The receiver can be an intermediate member whereby the image-wise ink pattern is transferred from the intermediate member to a final receiver, while such receiver is in operative association with said intermediate member.

Ink jet printing using a combination of non-marking and marking inks

A printing apparatus having an imaging member having an external surface and a series of substantially equal sized cells located over such surface. The printing apparatus includes an ink jet device for selectively ejecting droplets of ink, having marking particles and liquid, into the cells of said imaging member in a desired image-wise ink pattern, a mechanism for filling the cells of said imaging member with a dielectric fluid after said ink jet device ejects droplets of ink into said cells, and transfer mechanism including a device for fractionating the marking particles in the ink from the liquid and transferring the image-wise marking particle pattern to a receiver member.

Producing an ink jet image having high density and gray scale

Method of providing an image on a receiver, so that the image has reduced graininess. The method comprises providing a print head having a plurality of segments. A first one of the segments is capable of applying a spreading agent onto the receiver at specified locations. The spreading agent disperses (i.e., migrates) only over a predetermined area of the receiver. The remaining segments are capable of applying ink to the receiver after the spreading agent is applied to the receiver. The ink overlays the spreading agent. As the ink overlays the spreading agent, the ink is dispersed therein by action of the spreading agent. In this manner, graininess, which otherwise appears in a conventionally generated ink jet image, is reduced while sharpness of the image is maintained.

Ink jet printer method of providing an image on a receiver so that the image has reduced graininess

A method and apparatus for forming a desired image on a receiver are disclosed. The method comprises transferring marking toner particles from an intermediate transfer member to a receiver in the presence of an electric field which urges the marking toner particles toward the receiver. When transferring the marking toner particles to the intermediate transfer member, the surface of the intermediate transfer member contacts non-marking toner particles in some areas which receive marking toner particles. The intermediate transfer member comprises a blanket layer having a Young's modulus of about 10.sup.8 Newtons/m.sup.2 or less.

Apparatus and method of toner transfer using non-marking toner

This invention provides a method and an apparatus of imparting various gloss levels to toner images. The method comprises the steps of:

Method and apparatus for controlling gloss for toner images

A mechanism for facilitating removal of a receiver member from intimate contact with an intermediate image transfer member of a reproduction apparatus having a primary image forming member, an intermediate image transfer member including a compliant outer surface, and a mechanism for electrostatically transferring a marking particle image formed on the primary image forming member from the primary image forming member to the intermediate image transfer member and, thereafter, to a receiver member brought into intimate contact with the intermediate image transfer member. The removal facilitating mechanism includes a member, downstream of the transfer means, in substantial pressure contact with the intermediate image transfer member to compress the outer surface of the intermediate image transfer member, and pinch a receiver member off the intermediate image transfer member.

Mechanism for facilitating removal of receiver member from an

A transfer member includes separately addressable electrodes separated from the surface of the member by a compliant layer. Preferably, the member is an intermediate transfer member having a thin, hard outer layer usable to receive toner images from an image member and to transfer them to a receiving sheet.

Compliant transfer member having multiple parallel electrodes and method

This invention provides a roller mask for use as part of a transfer roller in an electrostatographic machine consisting of a dimensionally stable base, polymeric material adhered to the base, and means for mounting the base onto a roller core.

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Webster, NY, United States of America

Robert E Zeman