Electrophotographic imaging method

Abstract

An electrophotographic camera is disclosed. The camera employs a novel photoconductive plate, the composition of which is disclosed together with the method of making same. In the camera, a photo image to be recorded is focused thrugh an optically transparent substrate and transparent electrode onto the back surface of a photoconductive layer. The charge-retentive surface of an electrographic recording paper is disposed adjacent the photoconductive layer and the conductive backing of the paper is connected to an electrode for impressing a charge transfer potential across the photoconductor layer and the charge-retentive layer of the paper. When the potential is impressed across the photoconductor, electrons liberated in the photoconductor by the photon image to be recorded are transferred to the charge-retentive surface of the recording paper to form a charge image of the object to be recorded. The charge image is subsequently developed by applying charged toner particles to the image for developing same. The photoconductive layer comprises a substantially continuous layer of electrically interconnected crystals of active photoconductive material coated and bound together with a lead sealing glass interstitially disposed of the electrically interconnected crystals. The resultant photoconductive layer has improved strength and resistance to abrasion while producing acceptable photographic images. The photoconductive layer is produced by heating a stratum including particles of lead sealing glass together with particles of photoconductive material in the presence of a molten solvent and proportions of one or more activators.