The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 28, 1990
Hidetsugu Shimura, Suwa, JP;
Hajime Kurihara, Suwa, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for replenishing depleted portions of an ink layer of an ink sheet formed with a conductive ink layer disposed on an insulating layer from which ink has been transferred, without unintentionally supplying ink to undepleted portions of the ink layer are provided. Electrically conductive replacement ink is charged and supplied onto an intermediate transfer roller having a dielectric layer disposed on an electrically conductive layer. Charge is supplied to the insulating layer side of the ink sheet and replacement ink on the intermediate roller contacting the ink sheet at depleted regions of the ink sheet is transferred from the intermediate roller to the depleted portions by electrostatic attraction and not to undepleted portions. The method and apparatus are adaptable for multi-color ink sheets and can be employed in connection with a printer or image forming device.