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:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1999
Kensuke Fukae, Boulder, CO (US);
Ichiro Yoshida, Tokyo, JP;
Advanced Color Technology, Inc., Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
A high viscosity, high solid volume liquid ink for use in electrophotographic printing systems. A silicone oil carrier material is combined with toner particles (including pigment, binder polymers and charge control agents) in a ratio of about 45% toner particles to 55% carrier liquid. The resultant ink preferably has a viscosity in the range 30000 to 50000 cs. The high viscosity ink of the present invention is preferably applied to a photoconductor material having a latent charged image thereon and a thin pre-wet material applied thereto. The pre-wet material is preferably a low viscosity silicone oil material. The composite layer of the combined low viscosity pre-wet and high viscosity ink permits the polymerized toner particles to migrate toward the latent charged image on the photoconductor surface. The high viscosity ink of the present invention helps maintain uniform dispersion of the toner particles in the liquid carrier. The high solid volume of the ink enables the transfer of less ink to the imaging components of the printing system and thereby enables higher speed printing of images. The chemical inertness of the silicone oil liquid carrier as compared to other known hydrocarbon based carrier materials causes less damage to the imaging components of the printing system.