An apparatus for separating and orienting conductors from a bundled array into a planar array includes a grooved template and means for fixedly uniting the conductors when disposed in the groove. A cable adapted for connection to a flat ribbon cable connector includes a portion of bundled connectors, and a portion including conductors separated by hand into the grooves on a template and fixedly retained in position by a laminate material connected thereto. The method involving use of the apparatus to produce the product described above is also disclosed and claimed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical wiring products and manufacture thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus for separating and orienting conductors from a bundled array into a planar array, the process of using such apparatus, and the products of such a process.
2. Description of Related Art
Mass termination, insulation displacement connectors have come into increasing commercial prominence because of the significant savings in time and labor they offer compared to stripping and individually terminating each conductor. A form of conductors that has come to be widely used with such connectors is flat cable. Flat cable comprises conductors running parallel and spaced, at least at some point, to match the spacing of terminal elements in the connector. Flat cable also generally comprises a layer of insulation that acts to hold the conductors in place.
A type of flat cable that has become widely used in applications that require insulation displacement contact (IDC) termination as well as mass termination in circuit board requirements is twisted flat ribbon cable. Twisted flat ribbon cable, as is well known to those skilled in the art, includes twisted pairs of wires having straight wire portions where the wires are disposed in a spaced, parallel relationship to allow connection to a connector. Twisted flat ribbon cable is presently manufactured with two inch, untwisted, flat portions every eighteen inches. Thus, as conveniently made and as is readily available, twisted flat ribbon cable can only be mass terminated at eighteen inch increments. Although it is possible to special order twisted flat ribbon cable of a nonstandard length, such special ordering is generally cost prohibitive unless an extremely large volume of nonstandard cable is ordered. Therefore, in all but very unusual situations, twisted pair flat cable is used in eighteen inch length increments.
Needless to say, being forced to use a popular cable in only certain lengths frequently results in waste and needless expense. For example, in a certain situation a twenty four inch length of twisted pair flat ribbon cable may be needed. As the cable may only be terminated in eighteen inch increments, unfortunately however, a thirty-six inch length of cable (i.e., two eighteen inch long portions) must be used. This results in twelve inches of wasted cable per use. In addition to adding unnecessary cost to units, such waste also results in bunching of excess cable (e.g., within a housing) that is unsightly at best, and possible hazardous.
Further with respect to background art relating to the present invention, it should be appreciated that while flat cables, such as twisted flat ribbon cable, offer many advantages with respect to efficiency in termination, they present difficulties during routing. Comparing flat ribbon cable to round cable, for example, the flat ribbon cable has certain dimensions larger than comparable round cables. Such larger dimensions can make flat ribbon cable less susceptible than round cable to routing in certain situations, e.g., through conduits. Additionally, flat ribbon cable is somewhat less flexible than comparable round cable, insofar as it resists bending in non-orthogonal directions.
There are a number of patents including teachings pertinent to the general background of the present invention. These patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,137 to Shatto, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,933 to Folk et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,874 to Lkitenhizer, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,891 to Biegon et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,253 to Gonia. Each of these patents is discussed briefly below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,137 to Shatto, Jr. is directed to an apparatus for locating wires in a predetermined co-planar relationship to each other. Shatto, Jr. shows a template plate with a plurality of wire-receiving recesses 26, FIG. 1, and a roller 44 for pressing a plurality of wires 2, FIG. 2, in a predetermined spaced apart, co-planar relationship.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,933 to Folk et al. is directed to a method for positioning leading portions of individual wires of a plurality of wires in spaced-apart relationships with respect to each other and a template utilized in accomplishing the same. Folk et al. shows a planar groove template 12, FIG. 1, used with a compressive force applying roller element 24, for positioning the leading portion L of a plurality of wires W in a spaced-apart relationship in preparation for the application of an electrical connecting device using a suitable applicator mechanism A.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,874 to Litehizer, Jr. is directed to a hand-held tool for wire insertion. Litenhizer, Jr. shows a tooth indexing cartridge 100, FIG. 1, used with a tool assembly for inserting a plurality of conductors in a connector having a plurality of terminals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,891 to Biegon et al. is directed to a mass terminable flat cable and cable assembly incorporating the cable. Biegon et al. show a cable section 70, FIG. 7, comprised of a plurality of loose twisted pairs of conductors 26A. At section 68, FIG. 4, the plurality of conductors 26A are held in regularly-spaced, parallel relationship by a carrier film 24A by means of the attachment layer 44A being fused with conductor jackets.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,253 to Gonia is directed to a method of making a multiconductor cable assembly. Gonia shows individual insulated conductors 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, FIG. 4, bound in a compact profile in an intermediate portion 14, FIG 1, and also at an end portion 18 in which the individual insulated conductors are not secured together. The conductors 22, 24, 26, 38 and 39, FIG. 1, are also shown arranged and bonded together in a side by side contiguous relationship along a portion of their mutual lengths at portion 12. The conductors are bonded together using a jig 42, FIG. 5.
In addition to the above-identified and described patents, there are a multitude of other patents and teaching relating to round and flat cables, apparatus for making such cables, and the processes used by the various apparatus in making such cables. Notwithstanding the voluminous teachings of the prior art, there is nowhere disclosed or suggested a simple, relatively inexpensive apparatus for quickly and easily producing wire perfectly suitable for any individual IDC mass termination application. This is a shortcoming and deficiency of the prior art. Further, related shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art relate to the absence of cables manufactured by such a simple, relatively inexpensive apparatus and to the absence of teachings of a process effected by such an apparatus.

Apparatus for modifying cables and products thereof


A method of inputting text is provided in which a first portion of an input string is received from a user, the first portion of the input string including at least one keystroke representing a wildcard character of the input string. A second portion of the input string is then received, with the second portion including one or more keystrokes all representing non-wildcard characters of the input string.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Small computing devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDA's) are used with an ever increasing frequency. The computing power of these devices has allowed them to be used to access and browse the internet as well as store contact information, review and edit text documents, and perform other tasks. Additionally, it has become very popular to send and receive text messages with mobile devices. For example, The Short Message Service (SMS) for mobile phones has been a tremendous success in the text messaging roadmap. As a result, these devices provide many applications in which text entry is required. Unfortunately, such text entry on mobile devices can be cumbersome because they lack a standard full-sized keyboard.
Currently, there are two common ways to achieve text input using numeric key pads found on most mobile phones, a multiple-tap approach, and a single-tap approach. With the multiple-tap approach, a user presses a numeric key a number of times to enter the desired letter, where most of the numeric keys are mapped to three or four letters of the alphabet. For example, the 2 key is usually mapped to the letters A, B, and C. If the user presses the two key once, the letter A is entered. If the user presses the two key twice, the letter B is entered, and if the user presses the two key three times, the letter C is entered. Pauses between entry of successive letters of a word are sometimes necessary, so that the device knows when to advance the cursor to the next letter-entry position. For example, suppose a user wished to search for "MSN", entering the text for the search using a cell phone or other device with a telephone style keypad. Using the multiple-tap approach, the user might press the 6 key to enter the letter M, pause, press the 7 key four times to enter the letter S, pause again, then press the 6 key twice to enter the letter N. As mentioned, the pauses are frequently necessary for disambiguation. Other keys that are present on numeric keypads, such as the pound ("#") and asterisk ("*") keys, among other keys, are typically mapped to remaining symbols in the language, or to switch between numbers, upper-case, and lower-case letters.
While the multiple-tap approach is usable in that users can enter any word using only the numeric keys, it can be disadvantageous for quick and intuitive text entry. Typing an input string such as "MSN" that only requires three key presses on a standard keyboard, one for each letter, could require seven key presses on numeric keys using the multiple-tap approach. As compared to using a standard keyboard, using numeric keys with the multiple-tap approach to achieve text entry means that the user presses many keys even for short messages.
Another approach to text entry using numeric keys is the single-tap-dictionary approach. Under the single-tap approach, the user presses the numeric key associated with the desired letter once, even though the numeric key may be mapped to three or four different letters. When the user enters a number sequence for a word, the device attempts to discern the word that the user intended to enter, based on the number sequence. Each number sequence is mapped to a common word that corresponds to the sequence. For example, the number sequence 43556 can potentially correspond to any five-letter word having a first letter G, H, or I, since the 4 key is usually mapped to these letters. Similarly, the sequence potentially corresponds to any five-letter word having a second letter D, E, or F, a third and fourth letter selected from the letters J, K, and L, and a fifth letter M, N, or O, since the 3, 5, and 6 keys are usually mapped to these respective letters. However, because the most common five-letter word corresponding to the number sequence 43556 is the word "hello" in one example, the single-tap approach may always enter this word when the user presses the 4, 3, 5, 5, and 6 keys in succession to input this number sequence.
The single-tap approach can have advantages over the multiple-tap approach, but can also present new disadvantages. Advantageously, the single-tap approach helps to ensure that the user only has to press the same number of keys as the number of letters in a desired word. For example, the multiple-tap approach requires the user to press the 2 key six times to enter the word "cab". Conversely, the single-tap approach potentially only requires the user to press the 2 key three times to enter this word, assuming that the number sequence 222 is mapped to the word "cab." Therefore, the single-tap approach can be more key-efficient than the multiple-tap approach for text entry using numeric keys. It can also be almost as key-efficient as using a standard keyboard that has a single key for each letter.
The single-tap approach can be disadvantageous relative to the multiple-tap approach in that the word mapped to a given number sequence may not be the word the user intended to enter by inputting the sequence. For example, the numeric key sequence 7333 corresponds to both the words "seed" and "reed." Because only one word is mapped to each numeric key sequence, the word "seed" may be entered when the user keys in the numeric key sequence 7333, whereas the user may have intended to enter the word "reed." The single-tap approach is especially useful where there is only one unique word for a given numeric key sequence, or, if there are a number of words for a given sequence, when the user wishes to input the most common word associated with the sequence. Where the word mapped by the single-tap approach is not the intended word, text entry may revert back to the multiple-tap approach or to an error-correction mode. Ultimate text entry of the intended word may then require more keystrokes than if the user had started with the multiple-tap approach.

Using language models to expand wildcards


A method for constructing a triangular mesh surface of a point cloud includes constructing triangles according to point cloud data, determining seed triangles from the constructed triangles. The method further includes selecting triangles that share a side with a determined seed triangle from the constructed triangle, determining a specific triangle having the biggest dihedral angle with the determined seed triangle and the biggest angle opposing the shared side of the determined seed triangle. The method also includes repairing holes formed by the specific triangles if the all specific triangles have been determined, adjusting a normal vector of each specific triangle, and outputting a triangular mesh surface constructed by the adjusted triangle.

1. Field of the disclosure
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to point cloud processing, and more particularly to a system and method for constructing a triangular mesh surface of a point cloud.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a mesh of a point cloud of an object can be triangular, quadrangular or polygonal, among which a triangular mesh approximate (both locally and globally) the object with the highest-accuracy. Delaunay is a technique to construct a triangular mesh surface of the point cloud. Even though Delaunay discloses how to construct the triangular mesh surface, however it needs to perform many calculations. As a result, it is difficult, complex and time-consuming to offer a solution to overcome the above problem.

System and method for constructing triangular mesh surface of point cloud

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A plasma processing system is provided that includes a chamber having a lower electrode coupled to a substrate support and an upper electrode coupled to ground. The plasma processing system having a plasma processing volume that is defined between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. A direct current (DC) to direct current (DC) converter is provided to receive at an input a DC voltage input and supply at an output an amplified DC voltage signal that includes a radio frequency (RF) component. The DC voltage input follows a pulsing pattern that is digitally programmable. The output of the DC to DC convertor is connected to the lower electrode of the chamber. A controller is interfaced with the DC to DC converter to set the pulsing pattern. In one example, the DC to DC converter uses one of a bipolar or non-bipolar DC voltage supply and a RF generator is driven by a DC voltage supply. The RF generator is configured to produce a frequency ripple that defines the RF component.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to plasma processing systems, and in particular, to plasma processing systems that utilize direct current (DC) pulsing as the power source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plasma has long been employed to process substrates (e. g., semiconductor wafers, flat panels, etc.) to form electronic products (e.g., integrated circuits, flat panel displays, etc.). Semiconductor wafers are typically placed in an etch chamber with a photoresist mask layer to selectively etch the underlying materials. The etching process removes the underlying materials (metals and/or dielectrics) not covered by the photoresist. The etching process, along with other processing operations, is repeated many times for each semiconductor wafer until the end product circuits or devices are formed.
Typically, a plasma etching tool is used to perform the etching process. A plasma etching tool is defined by a chamber that includes a substrate support and a plasma volume over the substrate support. Radio frequency (RF) power is commonly provided to one or more electrodes of the chamber. The electrode configuration can take on various forms, depending on the etch process. Commonly, plasma etching tools used to etch dielectric materials are referred to as capacitive coupled plasma (CCP) tools, and plasma etching tools used to etch conductive materials are referred to as inductive coupled plasma (ICP) tools. No matter the type of tool, both the CCP tools and ICP tools require at least one RF power supply. A RF power supply is typically configured to generate RF signals that are propagated to an electrode of the plasma etching tool via a match circuit and transmission line.
As the demand for higher aspect ratio etching and smaller sizes continues to increase, processing engineers have discovered certain benefits from pulsing the RF power supplied to the electrode of the plasma etching tool. Although pulsing of the RF power supply has shown improvement in the resulting process, pulsing RF power supplies does add complexity and cost. By way of example, pulsing RF power requires precise control of the pulsing sequence, timing, voltage levels, reflection, etc., and such control needs to be continually monitored. Additionally, supplying RF power via a match circuit and transmission line requires the implementation of significant hardware, e.g., such as large discrete capacitors and inductors, and sophisticated transmission lines that include a RF return path.
It is in this context that embodiments arise.


A compound of the chemical formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2, X is NH and O, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are H, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12) alkyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12)alkenyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12)alkynyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12)acyl, (C.sub.6 -C.sub.12)aryl or (C.sub.7 -C.sub.21)alkylaryl, salts thereof and a composition thereof. In vivo and in vitro methods of inhibiting the growth of a virus relying on the effect of the above compound. In vitro and in vivo methods of inhibiting the growth of the HIV-1 virus comprising administering a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein n is 1 or 2, X is NH or O, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently of one another H, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12)alkyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12)alkenyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12)alkynyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12)acyl, (C.sub.6 -C.sub.12)aryl or (C.sub.7 -C.sub.21)alkylaryl, R.sup.3 is C.dbd.N or COR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of H, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12) alkyl, alenyl or alkynyl, HO, NH.sub.2 and (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12) alkoxy, and R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of (C.sub.1 -C.sub.12) alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl and (C.sub.2 -C.sub.12) acyl, and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, for a period of time effective to attain the desired result to a subject or to cell suspensions infected with the virus.

Gossypol is a polyphenolic triterpene derivative having the chemical formula ##STR3## wherein b and c are tautomers of the aldehyde a. Gossypol exists primarily as the aldehyde form in nonpolar solvents and is represented as such throughout the specification and claims. Gossypol is found in certain types of cotton plants and is the main toxic material found therein. As such, it has limited the use of cottonseed meal as a source of dietary protein for monogastric animals including man. Gossypol, however, exhibits a number of useful biological properties which render it of interest for medical purposes.
Gossypol was studied for its effects on infertility and as a vaginal spermicide in China because of the discovery that the use of cotton-seed oil in cooking induced infertility in men (National Coordinating Groups on Male Fertility, Chinese Med. J. 4(6): 417-428 (1978)). This feature was used to attempt to produce a male contraceptive using gossypol as the active agent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,298) as well as a vaginal spermicide (U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,341). Similar properties have been attributed to the compound hemigossypol. (Manmade, et al., Experiencia 39: 1276 (1983).
Gossypol has also been shown to have antiviral properties, being capable of inactivating parainfluenza type 3 and herpes simplex viruses (Dorsett et al., J. Pharm. Sci. 64: 1073 (1975)). Antiparasitic activity has also been found to be associated with gossypol.
Growth of both Trypanosoma cruzi (Montamat et al., Science 218: 288 (1982)) and Plasmodium falcicarum (Heidrich et al., IRCS Med. Sci 11: 304 (1983)) are inhibited by gossypol. Any practical applications of these properties have been prevented though by the toxicity and unpleasant side effects produced by gossypol.
A considerable body of research suggests that the toxicity of this compound may be related to reactions of the aldehyde groups in the molecule. The removal of its aldehyde groups, however, may lead to a reduction in toxicity as well as biological activity. It is thus difficult to predict whether any gossypol molecule without the aldehydes will exhibit activity similar to the natural molecule. It is also substantially unpredictable as to what, if any, substituent groups might be used as appropriate replacements for the aldehyde groups which might mimic the biological activity of the original compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,568 by the present inventors discloses a series of gossypol derivatives having activities similar to those of the parent compound, although lacking free aldehyde moieties. These compounds were shown to be useful in the treatment of malaria and some viral diseases, such as those caused by herpes simplex virus.
The natural product gossypol and known gossypol derivatives were found to exhibit antiviral activities against herpes simplex virus type II (Radloff, R. J. et al, Pharmacological Res. Comm. 18: 1063-1073 (1986)). This, as well as other reports of antiviral properties of gossypol, suggest that the antiviral activities of gossypol and derivatives result from the effects of these drugs on the viral envelope. This conclusion is based upon the observation that these known drugs do not inhibit the replication of naked viruses. In addition, these known drugs are active against both RNA and DNA enveloped viruses.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal disease that results from infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Gallo, R. C., et al, Science 220: 865-867 (1983)); Barre-Sinoussi, F. et al, Science 220: 868-871 (1983)). At present, the only approved drug for use against HIV infections is 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine) (Fischl, M. A., et al, New Eng. J. Med. 317: 185-191 (1987)). Its hematologic toxicity limits, and in some cases precludes, the use of AZT in many HIV-infected patients (Richman, D. D. et al, New Eng. J. Med. 317, 192-197 (1987)). Moreover, it has been recently reported that the HIV virus may develop resistance to AZT after prolonged exposure (Larder, B. A., et al, Science 243: 1731-1734 (1989)) AZT is an inhibitor of the enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT), a key viral enzyme. It is believed that AZT exerts its effect on HIV by interfering with the RT enzyme.
In view of the AZT toxicity and also the resistance shown by patients to AZT, there is a critical need for new antiviral drugs directed against HIV, particularly for new drugs that do not share the same mechanism as AZT.

Gossylic iminolactones and gossylic lactones and their anti-viral activities


A head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle includes a casing means including at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle, at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section, a first rear view means for displaying an area of the motor vehicle, and a second rear view means for displaying a second area of the motor vehicle, where the second rear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and the second rear view means includes a combined, single-piece component, and where the lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating.

1. Field
The following description relates to a head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicle. For example, the head section has casing means comprising at least one housing section and a lid section arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away from a driving direction of the motor vehicle, at least one electronic unit arranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section, a first rear view means for displaying a first side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction, and a second rear view means for displaying a second side or rear area of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction.
2. Description of Related Art
Mirrors or rear view means, such as those including a camera pod, are typically exposed to the outside environment when used as a side view mirror secured to the outside of a vehicle and when used inside a vehicle as an internal rear view mirror. Rear view means are typically made up of many components which require a number of different assembly parts and are complicated and expensive to manufacture. In addition, when exposed to the outside environment, rear view means are subject to dirt or debris entering within the assembly. In addition, while a rear view means may include improved protection from the outside environment such rear view means fail to provide a full and expansive field of view including a wide angle view as may be desired by a driver for viewing the driver's blind spot.


A fastener is disclosed including a threaded male fastener and a shear bushing for coupling thin walled structures together. The shear bushing having an internal through opening and a shear ring constructed to project across an interface of adjacent walls is operable for absorbing shear loads transmitted into the fastener from a fastened structure. The male fastener includes a threaded portion extending through the shear ring for engaging a threaded female receiver.

Threaded fasteners connect and hold separate structures together in a variety of ways. Fasteners are designed to carry a tension load along their longitudinal length to prevent separation of the structures. Sometimes loading on the fastened structures includes a large shear force in addition to normal separating forces. It has been found that fasteners in certain applications are not well suited to carry large shear loads. The present invention overcomes this and other problems associated with some prior art fasteners.

Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.


The present disclosure provides a data storage device that includes multi-level memory cells. The data storage device may include circuitry configured to write data to the multi-level memory cell. The write circuitry may include compliance circuitry configured to implement continuously tunable switching. The write circuitry may be configured to select a compliance mode for the switching, the compliance mode being selected from the group comprising current compliance and voltage compliance.

A multi-level cell (MLC) is a memory element that can be used to store more than a single bit of information (here single bit means two distinctive logic states, termed '0' and '1' states, in a binary system). A resistive memory device, such as memristor, is one type of memory element that can be used as a multi-level cell. A memristor is a two-terminal electrical element whose resistance can be switched by applying electric signals (voltage or current) beyond certain threshold levels. The bit value stored to the memristor may correspond to a range of resistance values of the memristor. The memristor can be set to a specific bit value by controlling the maximum level of current applied to the memristor during a switching event, thereby controlling the final state of resistance developed in the memristor. During a subsequent read of the memristor, a read voltage is applied to the memristor and the resulting current indicates the bit value that was previously stored to the element. The read voltage is small enough so that a resistive switching is not incurred by the read operation.
In a resistive multi-level cell, such as a multi-level memristor, there is usually no suitable technique for finely controlling the off-state resistance. Thus, the bit value is typically represented by two or more on-states and a single off state. The accessible on-state resistance range is limited. For example, the final on-state resistances may be less than approximately 10 kohm. Meanwhile, the single off-state may be represented by a range of resistances that spread much broader than the distribution of on-state resistances. Additionally, the switching of the cells is typically not continuously tunable. In other words, changing the memristor's bit value is often accomplished in a two-step process, wherein the memristor is first driven to the off state and then driven to a new on-state corresponding to the desired bit value.

Multi-level memory cell with continuously tunable switching

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In a base material with a single-crystal silicon carbide film according to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of recessed portions is formed on the surface of a silicon substrate, an insulating film including silicon oxide is formed across the surface of the silicon substrate including the inner surfaces of the recessed portions, the top surfaces of side wall portions of recessed portions of the insulating film form flat surfaces, a single-crystal silicon carbide film is joined on the flat surfaces, and the recessed portions below the single-crystal silicon carbide film form holes.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a base material with a single-crystal silicon carbide film having a single-crystal silicon carbide film which is a wide bandgap semiconductor material formed on a silicon substrate or on a single-crystal silicon film formed on a substrate, a method of producing a single-crystal silicon carbide film, and a method of producing a base material with a single-crystal silicon carbide film, and, particularly to a base material with a single-crystal silicon carbide film having a cubic silicon carbide thin film formed on a silicon substrate, a method of producing a single-crystal silicon carbide film in which a cubic silicon carbide thin film is formed on a silicon substrate, and a method of producing a base material with a single-crystal silicon carbide film.
2. Related Art
Due to having large aperture, high quality, and a low price, single-crystal silicon has been used as a substrate for growing the single crystals of many materials.
Among the materials, cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) which is a wide bandgap semiconductor material with a wide bandgap of 2.2 eV (300 K) is expected to be a semiconductor material for next generation low-loss power devices and, particularly, is considered extremely useful from the standpoint of the possibility of single crystal growth (heteroepitaxy) on a low-cost silicon substrate.
Incidentally, since the lattice constant of cubic silicon carbide is 4.359 angstroms and is thus about 20% smaller than the lattice constant of cubic silicon (5.4307 angstroms), it is likely that many voids or misfit dislocations will occur in epitaxially grown cubic silicon carbide, and thus it is difficult to grow high-grade cubic silicon carbide.
Therefore, as a method of alleviating the difference in the lattice constant (lattice mismatch) between a silicon substrate and cubic silicon carbide, a method using a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) structure is suggested (JP-A-2003-224248).
In this method, an SOI substrate having a buried insulator (I layer) composed of a surface silicon layer (Si layer) with a predetermined thickness and silicon oxide is placed in a heating furnace, and the atmospheric temperature in the heating furnace is elevated while a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and a hydrocarbon-based gas is supplied to the heating furnace, thereby modifying the surface silicon layer on the SOI substrate to a single-crystal silicon carbide film. In this method, since all of the thin surface silicon layer is carbonized, and thus the produced single-crystal silicon carbide film is physically separated from the single-crystal silicon substrate and comes into contact with the buried insulator (I layer) that is liable to soften, it is possible to alleviate lattice mismatch-induced stress and also to form a single-crystal silicon carbide film for which crystal defects are suppressed.
However, in the above method using the SOI structure in the related art, it is necessary to make the film thickness as thin as about 10 nm or less in order to carbonize all of the surface silicon layer, but it is difficult to form a surface silicon layer having such a film thickness on the buried insulating layer, and thus there is a problem in that it is not easy to manufacture a substrate having such an SOI structure that is excellent in terms of uniformity.
In addition, the single-crystal silicon carbide film is not in contact with the single-crystal silicon substrate, but is still in contact with the buried insulating layer made of silicon oxide, and therefore there are problems in that silicon oxide has difficulty in sufficiently softening in the vicinity of 1100° C. which is the temperature at which the single-crystal silicon carbide film grows, and it is not possible to sufficiently develop the effect of stress alleviation.
As such, there has been demand for a single-crystal silicon carbide film and a method of producing a single-crystal silicon carbide film, in which the influence of stress induced by lattice mismatch on the single-crystal silicon carbide film is reduced in order to grow a sufficiently high-grade single-crystal silicon carbide film during epitaxy.

Base material with single-crystal silicon carbide film, method of producing single-crystal silicon carbide film, and method of producing base material with single-crystal silicon carbide film


A sealing ring for controlling gas leakage through the annular space between two rotating concentric members; for example engine shafts. The sealing ring 20 has a generally trapezoidal cross section and an overlapping scarf joint. The sealing ring improves sealing by providing continuous lines of contact at edges between inner and outer coaxial shaft members.

The present invention relates to sealing rings, and in particular sealing rings in gas turbine engines.
It is common in gas turbine engine rotor assemblies to find annular gaps disposed between co-axial rotatable members. In use, many of these gaps require sealing in order to prevent leakage of high pressure gases into low pressure regions.
In gas turbine engines, it is known to use piston type sealing rings located in circumferential grooves machined in the surface of the inner shaft member to control such leakage. Conventional sealing rings having a rectangular toroidal section and an overlapping scarf joint, the plane of which is disposed parallel to the radial surfaces of the ring, have however, in sealing arrangements of this type, proved to perform less than satisfactory. During operation, that is under the influence of rotational loading, the sealing ring expands outwardly, eventually being restrained by the internal surface of the outer member, resulting in a leakage path being created through the expanded scarf joint.
Additional leakage can also occur with this conventional type of sealing ring unless a costly zero axial clearance fit is maintained between the ring and the groove.


Push-button switches and components thereof, including push-button switch button covers, as well as methods of making the same and gaming machines having such push-button switches, are provided. The push-button switches are low profile and configured for aperture-free mounting, and the button covers are configured to convey information and have improved characteristics.

Wagering gaming machines such as slot machines and video poker machines generally include one or more player input devices such as push-buttons. The configuration of these buttons is very important. First, they are very visible to players and thus the aesthetic design or appearance of the buttons is very important. Second, these buttons may see tremendous duty cycles over their lifetime and must thus be very durable and reliable. For example, aside from simply functioning to receive and transmit a player's input, the buttons must be able to withstand electric shocks, drink spills and the like. Also, the "feel" of the button is very important to players. Buttons which do not provide feedback to the player of an input can be frustrating to players, but buttons which are hard to push are also undesirable.
Existing buttons have various drawbacks relating to these and other issues. As examples, many push-buttons utilize button covers or caps which are made of plastic. These plastic buttons can crack and wear and often have an undesirable "feel" to them (such as by feeling flimsy, hollow or the like).
An object of the invention is to provide an improved push-button, such as for use with wagering type gaming machines.


The invention relates to a wiring harness (10) for an airbag module of a vehicle occupant safety system, particularly for a driver's airbag module, having a connector (11) for connecting to a pyrotechnic igniter of the airbag module, at least one module connecting cable (12) connected to the connector (11) for connecting the connector (11) to a vehicle wiring harness, and at least one actuator unit (13) having a pyrotechnic actuator (17) and an actuator connecting cable (14) which is formed integrally with the actuator unit (13) and is connected to the connector (11). The invention further relates to an airbag module, vehicle cabling and a vehicle occupant safety system having a wiring harness of this kind and to a method of production.

The invention relates to a wiring harness for an airbag module of a vehicle occupant safety system comprising the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to an airbag module, vehicle cabling and a vehicle occupant safety system having a wiring harness of this type. Finally, the invention deals with a method of production and a method of connecting an actuator to a vehicle wiring harness.
Up-to-date vehicles include a complex vehicle occupant safety system which comprises, inter alia, gas bag modules, so-called airbag modules. The airbag module usually comprises an inflator having a pyrotechnic igniter. The inflator is electrically connected to control components inside the vehicle. Concretely speaking, the pyrotechnic igniter is triggered by means of an electric pulse which is transmitted to the inflator via the appropriate control electronics.
In addition to airbag modules, the vehicle occupant safety system may include pyrotechnic actuators which may fulfil different functions. For example, pyrotechnic actuators are used for influencing the inflating behavior of an airbag. The airbag may include internal tethers which are cut where needed so as to provide a larger airbag volume or to enable the shape of the airbag to be adapted in due time. Said pyrotechnic actuators are also referred to as tether activation units.
The pyrotechnic actuators are likewise electrically coupled to the control electronics of the vehicle and receive an appropriate electric control pulse for releasing. The incorporation of a pyrotechnic actuator in the vehicle cabling is usually effectuated by a plug connection between the pyrotechnic actuator and a vehicle wiring harness. As an alternative, it is known from practice to electrically couple the pyrotechnic actuator to the associated airbag module by a plug connection. In pyrotechnic actuators which are assigned to a driver's airbag module, the pyrotechnic actuator is usually connected to the vehicle-side release control by a plug connection between the steering wheel wiring harness and the pyrotechnic actuator.
During vehicle assembly, this connection of the pyrotechnic actuator to the vehicle wiring harness entails increased assembly expenditure. On the one hand, during assembly the airbag module must be electrically connected to the vehicle wiring harness, such as the steering wheel wiring harness. Moreover, another electric connection has to be made between the pyrotechnic actuator and the vehicle wiring harness or the airbag module.

Wiring harness for an airbag module of a vehicle occupant safety system, airbag module, vehicle cabling and vehicle occupant safety system having a wiring harness of this kind and a method of production


In an evaporation source, a separable heater is used when an organic thin film is formed on a substrate in order to realize full-colors so that it is possible to correspond to crucibles of various capacities. The evaporation source comprises a crucible in which an organic material which is an organic thin film material is accommodated, and the crucible includes a heating unit and at least one spray nozzle for spraying the organic material onto a substrate. In the heating unit, a heater divided into at least two parts is provided on the external surface of the crucible at uniform intervals, and the heaters are separately disposed with respect to each other, but are connected to each other by connecting members. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform an additional design whenever the capacity of the crucible is changed, it is not necessary to exchange the evaporation source, and it is possible to reduce cost and to improve repairing ability.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an evaporation source and, more particularly, to an evaporation source in which a separable heater is used when an organic thin film is formed on a substrate in order to realize full-colors so that it is possible to correspond to crucibles of various capacities, and so that it is not necessary to perform an additional design whenever the capacity of the crucible is changed.
2. Related Art
An organic light emitting display is an emissive display in which electrons and holes injected into an emission layer through a cathode and an anode are re-combined with each other to form exitons so that light of a specific wavelength is generated by energy from the formed exitons. The organic light emitting display can be driven by a low voltage, is thin and light, and has a wide view angle and high response speed.
A physical vapor deposition (PVD) method, such as a vacuum deposition method, an ion plating method, a sputtering method, and a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method by gas reaction, are commonly used for forming the thin film on the substrate of the organic light emitting display.
Among the above methods, in the vacuum deposition method by which the thin film is most commonly formed, an evaporation source is provided under the thin film, and a film forming substrate is provided on the thin film so as to form the thin film. The structure of the apparatus for depositing the thin film using the vacuum deposition method will be schematically described. A vacuum air discharging system connected to a vacuum chamber is provided. After maintaining the interior of the vacuum chamber in a vacuous state using the vacuum air discharging system, an organic material which is an organic thin film material is evaporated from the evaporation source provided under the vacuum chamber so as to include at least one organic thin film material.
In the evaporation source having the above-described structure, since the heating unit is integrally provided in accordance with the capacity of the crucible, it is necessary to additionally manufacture the heating unit in accordance with the capacity of the crucible so that the cost is increased.


The stick metering device of the present invention is mountable beneath a stick conveyor, and includes an upstream gate and a downstream gate. The downstream gate is generally parallel to and spaced apart a first distance from the upstream gate. The upstream gate cooperates with a first actuator for vertical actuation of the upstream gate between an upstream elevated position and an upstream lowered position. The downstream gate cooperates with a second actuator for vertical actuation of the downstream gate between a downstream elevated position and a downstream lowered position. When in the upstream and downstream elevated positions, respectively, the upstream and downstream gates intersect a stick flow path so as to interrupt a downstream flow of sticks along the stick flow path on the stick conveyor.

Previously automatic stick conveyors incorporated a stick un-loading area. The sticks were un-loaded onto a chain conveyor by a transportable stick bunk. The stick bunk was typically placed by a forklift on to the top of a hoist raised above the stick conveyor. The hoist was then lowered and the sticks set down onto the chain conveyor. Once the bunk was lowered completely below the conveyor, the conveyor began to move the sticks to an unscrambler. The unscrambler separated the sticks into a mat of adjacent sticks lying on their sides. The mat was then translated to a stick allocator. The allocator separated and allocated the sticks for timed and sequenced delivery to an automatic stick placer.
In this form of prior art system, the sticks often arrived bunched up at the unscrambler and needed to be manually prodded and straightened for even delivery to the allocator by the stick unscrambler.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a stick metering apparatus wherein the delivery of sticks is automatically controlled on the stick transfer for even delivery of sticks to the stick unscrambler.
It is another object of the invention to produce a stick transfer metering apparatus that can be retrofitted to existing stick transferring systems.


An infant seat plate for hinge securement adjacent a rear wall of a shopping cart is provided for blocking the leg holes in the rear wall of the shopping cart, and for positioning over a wire seat frame which is positionable against the leg holes in the rear basket area of the shopping cart. The seat plate has a hinge connecting edge and is biased by a spring element against the rear wall to obstruct the leg holes. The improvement in the seat plate resides in a releasable retention member being secured to the seat plate for retention engagement of the seat plate with the wire seat frame when positioned thereover in a position of use to arrest the seat plate over the seat frame. As soon as the rear gate of the shopping cart is displaced on its lower hinge against the rear wall, it releases the retention member and the seat plate is urged automatically against the rear wall.

The present invention is an improvement of my baby seat plate as disclosed in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,970 issued Sep. 18, 1984 and entitled "Resiliently biased seat panel for a seat frame of a push-cart." That patent discloses an infant seat plate which has a spring element which biases the seat plate against the leg holes of a rear wall of a shopping cart whereby the seat plate is automatically in a position against the rear wall to obstruct leg holes provided therein, whereby merchandise placed on the baby seat frame adjacent the rear wall does not fall through the leg holes. Biasing the seat plate against these leg holes provides various advantages as clearly described in that patent.
The present invention is an improvement of that seat plate wherein I provide a means to retain the seat plate against the seat frame, when the frame is in a position of use, to permit a person to use both hands for placing a child on the seat frame with the plate in position. In other words, the person does not have to hold the seat plate in position with one hand while placing the child in the seating compartment. Furthermore, it is necessary that when the carts are nested these seat plates return automatically to their position against the rear wall to obstruct the leg holes so that if the shopping cart is utilized with the baby seat compartment free of an infant, the shopper can safely place articles over the seat frame of the baby seat compartment with the leg holes being obstructed by the seat plate. With most shopping carts, not employing my seat plate as described in my above-referred-to patent, in most instances the seat plate lies over the seat frame with the leg holes being unobstructed, and this causes articles to fall through the leg holes and break often causing injury to people pushing the cart immediately in the area of the leg holes.


Vertical devices and methods of forming the same are provided. One example method of forming a vertical device can include forming a trench in a semiconductor structure, and partially filling the trench with an insulator material. A dielectric material is formed over the insulator material. The dielectric material is modified into a modified dielectric material having an etch rate greater than an etch rate of the insulator material. The modified dielectric material is removed from the trench via a wet etch.

Memory devices can be provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory, including random-access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), resistive memory, thyristor RAM (T-RAM), and flash memory, among others.
Fabrication of the different types of memory can include using shallow trench isolation (STI) to electrically isolate conductive semiconductor regions, e.g., lines, pillars, from each other. Fabrication, e.g., patterning and etching processes, then continue to form devices such as transistors, thyristors, and/or capacitors associated with particular memory types and/or components thereof.
Some vertical devices, such as transistors and/or thyristors can be formed having one or more gate structures. However, forming a gate structure adjacent a vertical device can be challenging. For example, it can be difficult to form a vertical gate at a desired height within an STI without causing undesirable effects such as unwanted and/or unintentional removal of hard mask material associated with the fabrication process and/or field oxide, for instance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A camera includes a flange back adjusting mechanism in which the operation of the flange back adjusting mechanism is not obstructed, and the flange back adjustment is easily performed. A flange back adjusting mechanism which moves and adjusts a CCD in the direction of the optical axis can be operated by an operation section which protrudes to the outside of a case portion through an operation window. The operation window is opened in a side wall face of a camera chassis separating rearward from a lens mount portion along the direction of the optical axis and on a peripheral wall of a case portion of the camera chassis.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a conventional art example of a camera with a flange back adjusting mechanism which is used as, for example, a television camera or a video camera.
The illustrated camera with a flange back adjusting mechanism is disclosed in JP-B-7-8021, and includes: a camera chassis 5 having a lens mount portion 3 to which a lens is to be mounted and a case portion 4 which is rearward continuous to the lens mount portion 3; a device holder 9 which is supported by the camera chassis 5 so as to be movable in the vicinity of the imaging position of the lens mounted to the lens mount portion 3 and along the optical axis 7 of the lens; a CCD (charge-coupled device) 11 serving as a solid state imaging device which is held on the optical axis of the lens by the device holder 9 and which converts an incident optical signal into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal; and a flange back adjusting mechanism 13 which moves and adjusts the position of the device holder 9 in the direction of the optical axis of the lens.
In this example, the lens mount portion 3 is formed separately from the case portion 4. The lens mount portion 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes a front escutcheon 3a which is formed integrally with the periphery of the mount portion. Four corners of the escutcheon 3a are fastened to a front face of the case portion 4 by screw members 15, whereby the mount is coupled and fixed to the case portion 4.
The device holder 9 has a rectangular recess 9a into which the CCD 11 is fitted. The periphery of the CCD 11 which is fitted into the recess 9a is pressed by a device pressing plate 17 which is screwed to a front face of the device holder 9 in order to attain a state where the CCD is fixed to the device holder 9.
The device holder 9 is fixed to a chassis attaching bracket 19 by screw members 18. The bracket 19 is supported so as to be movable in the direction of the optical axis of the lens between a front wall 4a of the case portion 4 and the lens mount portion 3. The bracket 19 is urged toward the lens mount portion 3 by springs 21 which are inserted in a compressed state between the bracket and the front wall 4a of the case portion 4.
In the flange back adjusting mechanism 13, a stopper portion 23a which butts against a front end portion of the bracket 19 that is urged by the springs 21 in order to perform positioning of the bracket 19 in the direction of the optical axis, and a cam portion 23b which gives a displacement of the lens in the direction of the optical axis are disposed on a cam ring 23 which is fitted onto an outer periphery of the lens mount portion 3.
The cam ring 23 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the lens mount portion 3 in such a manner that the ring is rotatable and movable along the direction of the optical axis of the lens.
The cam portion 23b is an inclined face which is formed on an inner peripheral face of the cam ring 23 so as to, from the side of the bracket 19, butt against protrusions 25 disposed on the outer periphery of the lens mount portion 3. When the cam ring 23 is rotated to change the contact positions between the protrusions 25 and the cam portion 23b, the cam ring 23 is moved on the lens mount portion 3 in the direction of the optical axis of the lens, and the bracket 19 which is driven by the cam ring 23 is displaced to adjust the position of the device holder 9 in the direction of the optical axis.
In the thus configured camera 1, dispersion of the flange back distance is performed by checking an image on a polymeter which receives an output of the CCD 11. In the case where dispersion of the flange back causes the CCD 11 to be deviated from the imaging position of the lens, the flange back is adjusted while observing a screen of the polymeter.

Camera with flange back adjusting mechanism

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides an image forming process including the steps of: forming a latent image; developing the latent image with a toner to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving body; and fixing the toner image to the receiving body, wherein the step of fixing is carried out using a fixing device including a heat-fixing roller, an endless belt, and a pressure member to allow the endless belt to travel around the heat-fixing roller at a given angle such that a nip is produced through which a recording sheet passes, with the pressure member being pressed to distort the heat-resistant elastic layer in the heat-fixing roller, and wherein the toner for developing the electrostatic latent image satisfies predetermined requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming process in which an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic recording process or a similar process is developed with a developer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods of making image data visible through an electrostatic latent image, such as electrophotography, are currently used in various fields. In electrophotography, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photoreceptor through charging and exposing steps, and the latent image is developed with a developer containing a toner, followed by transferring and fixing steps to make the developed image visible.
The developers used for the development can be divided into two-component developers composed of a toner and a carrier, and single-component developers only made of a magnetic toner or a non-magnetic toner. In order to prepare toner particles for producing a developer, a kneading and pulverizing process is ordinarily used in which a thermoplastic resin is melted and kneaded with a pigment, a charging modifier and a releasing agent such as wax, and the resultant mixture is cooled, pulverized into fine particles and then classified. To the toner particles produced by the kneading and pulverizing process are added, at the surfaces thereof, inorganic or organic fine particles, as necessary, for improving fluidity and cleanability.
The shape of the toner particles produced by the conventional kneading and pulverizing process is irregular and the surface composition thereof is not uniform. The shape and the surface composition of the toner particles vary depending on pulverability of the materials used and conditions of a pulverizing step. It is difficult to control the shape and the surface composition of the toner particles. Particularly if a material that is easily pulverizable is used to produce the toner particles, there are problems in that the particles produced are too minute or have altered shapes owing to a mechanical force such as a shear force generated in a developing device.
When a two-component developer is used, the above described incidences cause the finely-pulverized toner particles to firmly adhere to a carrier, whereby chargeability of the developer is accelerated to deteriorate. When a single-component developer is used, the above-described incidences provide a broader distribution in particle size. Therefore, toners become likely to scatter or developability is lowered due to a change in the shape of the toner particles, whereby image quality is frequently deteriorated.
In a case where the shape of the toner particles is irregular, the fluidity of the toner is insufficient even if an auxiliary for fluidizing toners is added to the toner. Consequently, while the toner is used, there arise problems in that, owing to a mechanical force such as a shear force, minute particles of the auxiliary fall into cavities of the toner particles, whereby the fluidity of the toner decreases with the passage of time, and developability, transferability and cleanability are impaired. If such a toner is the toner collected once or twice after cleaning and then returned to a developing device to be re-used, the quality of the image formed with the toner is further deteriorated. In order to prevent such incidences from occurring, it is conceivable to increase the amount of the auxiliary to be added. In this case, however, problems arise in that black spots may appear on the photoreceptor and the auxiliary may be scattered.
If a releasing agent such as wax is added inside the toner particle, the releasing agent frequently appears at the surface of the produced toner particles depending on the combination of a releasing agent and a thermoplastic resin. Particularly in the case where a resin that has elasticity due to a high molecular weight component and hence is slightly difficult to pulverize is combined with a brittle wax such as polyethylene, polyethylene frequently appears at the surface of the produced toner. The thus produced toner has poor releasing performance at the time of fixing and poor cleanability of non-transferred toner present on a photoreceptor. However, polyethylene appearing at the particle surface is released from the surface by a shear force generated in a developing device. As a result, polyethylene is easily transferred to a developing roll, a photoreceptor, a carrier and the like. Contamination caused by transferring degrades reliability as a developer.
Under these circumstances, attempts have been made in recent years to solve the above-described problems by controlling the shape and the surface composition of toner particles, and methods of producing toners in a wet manner have been intensely studied. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 63-282749 and 6-250439 propose an emulsion polymerization aggregating process in which a dispersion of resin particles is prepared by emulsion polymerization while another dispersion is prepared in which a colorant is dispersed in an aqueous medium (solvent). Thereafter, the two solutions are mixed and heated to form aggregated particles whose particle size corresponds to a toner particle size, followed by further raising the temperature to effect coalescence of the aggregated particles, to finally produce a toner.
In recent years, high image quality has been increasingly demanded. Particularly in forming color images, trends are currently toward toner particles having a smaller and uniform size in order to achieve detail depiction. Generally, if a toner having a broad particle size distribution is used to form an image, toner particles belonging to a region of finer sizes in the distribution seriously cause contamination at a developing roll, a charging roll, a charging blade, a photoreceptor and a carrier, and also cause troublesome toner scattering. Accordingly, it is difficult to simultaneously achieve high image quality and high reliability. Further, the toner having a broad particle size distribution cannot yield high reliability in a system that has a cleaning function or a toner re-cycling function.
The toner having a finer particle size is likely to produce troubles particularly in a transferring step, to thus degrade high image quality. This is presumably attributed to the fact that an adhesive force of a toner to a photoreceptor, for example, a non-electrostatically adhesive force such as van der Waals force increases. In order to solve such a problem, it is necessary to adequately control an adhesive force between a toner and a photoreceptor, for example, by controlling the shape and the surface state of the toner particles.
As described above, it is very difficult to produce a toner having a very small and uniform particle size by employing a conventional kneading and pulverizing process. In principle, the smaller the particle size, the more the shape is distorted. Hence, it is impossible to avoid the above-described incidences from occurring in a transferring step. From the foregoing, an emulsion polymerization aggregating process has intensely been studied among wet toner-producing processes, since the process makes it possible to readily produce a toner having a very small and uniform particle size.
However, if toner particles are produced by employing an emulsion polymerization aggregating process, reaction usually progresses toward a goal, by applying heat, to make toner particles having irregular shapes to have a more smooth and spherical shape, that is, to make the particles to have a smaller surface area. Therefore, in principle, as the toner particles have a smaller particle size, the spherical degree thereof is higher (the surface area thereof is smaller); while as the toner particles have a larger particle size, the irregular degree of the shape is higher (the surface area thereof is larger). Moreover, in order to achieve all performances including transferability, transferring efficiency, cleanability and durability required of a toner, it is necessary to design the toner optimally.
For the above-described purpose, for example, JP-A No. 61-279864 proposes a potato-shaped toner in which toner shape coefficients SF1 and SF2 are specified within a range of 120 to 180 and within a range of 110 to 130, respectively, in which SF1 (an index representing toner distortion={[(maximum length)2/(projected area)]xc3x97(xcfx80/4)xc3x97100} and SF2 (an index representing surface roughness)={[(circumferential length)2/(projected area)]xc3x97(xc2xcxcfx80)xc3x97100}. However, when the thus obtained toner is used for oil-less fixing, a problem associated with fixing stability arises, whereby offset phenomena occasionally arise when a large number of sheets are copied.
The particle size distribution of a toner may mainly be affected by rupture of the toner by a mechanical force. Further, if a toner has an initial broad particle size distribution, granular selectivity during development, scattering during transfer and cleanability are adversely affected. In addition, if a toner has a broad particle size distribution, contamination frequently occur at a developing roll, a charging roll and a charging blade during development when a single-component developer is used.
In order to control variation in the shape of toner particles, it is necessary to narrow a distribution at both sides of a small particle size region and a large particle size region. Toner particles can be compared with each other with respect to a particle size distribution, using indexes designated as GSD each for a volume average and a number average. The volume average GSD (GSDv) and the number average GSD (GSDp) can be used as an index representing a proportion at a large particle size and as an index representing a proportion at a small particle size, respectively. It is particularly preferable to use GSDp-under as an index representing a proportion at a small particle size.
In view of developability and/or transferability, toner particles belonging to a small particle size have a strong adhesive force, as have been already known. Therefore, it is difficult to electrostatically control such particles, and such particles are likely to remain on a carrier when a two-component developer is used. If a mechanical force is repeatedly applied, carrier contamination is caused to promote carrier deterioration. Since toner particles having a small particle size have a strong adhesive force, developing efficiency decreases thus leading to defective image quality. In transferring step, among the whole toner particles developed, the particles belonging to a smaller size region are difficult in being transferred onto a photoreceptor. As a result, transferring efficiency decreases, whereby the amount of toner waste increases and image quality degrades.
On the other hand, the toner particles belonging to a large particle size region, although having a weak adhesive force, are likely to produce an uneven gap in transferring step or easily being scattered to a non-image area. Thus, the particles are largely associated with a decrease in image quality. Furthermore, as the particles are likely to scatter at the time of development, a decrease in reliability due to contamination inside the device is liable to occur. In a case where the toner shape is made close to a sphere to achieve high transferring efficiency, the aforementioned incidences become even more pronounced.
Toners undergo various stresses in the process of electrophotography. In order to obtain stable toner performances, it is necessary to control not only the shape and the particle size of a toner but also to hinder a releasing agent from appearing at the surface of the toner.
In general, when a kneading and pulverizing process is employed, an exposure ratio of the releasing agent at the toner surface is as high as 40%. Although such a high ratio favorably affects fixing performances such as prevention of offset phenomena from occurring at high temperatures, it is difficult to maintain charging properties over a long period of time, or it is apt to undesirably produce a black spot by adhesion of the releasing agent to a carrier or a photoreceptor. If the ratio is small, there arise problems mainly associated with decreased reliability of fixing performances, such as occurrence of offset phenomena at high temperatures or the lowered fixed image strength at low temperatures.
Usually, in order to fix to a receiving body an unfixed toner image which has been formed using the above-described toner, a heat-fixing method is widely used, in which a toner is melted by heating to cause thermal fusion.
As the heat-fixing method, heat-fixing is widely employed in which a recording medium having formed thereon an unfixed toner image is passed through two rollers, one being a heat-fixing roller having a built-in heating source and the other being a pressure roller capable of pressing a passing material against a counter roller, to thereby fuse and fix the toner onto the recording medium.
In the above-described heat-fixing, however, the heat-fixing roller must be coated with an elastic layer having a relatively large thickness or the elastic layer must be coated with a releasing layer in order to obtain high image quality or high fixing performances. Since it takes a long time for the heat-fixing roller to warm up, heat-fixing is not preferable from the viewpoint of saving energy.
The present invention was devised to overcome the above-described problems of prior art toners.
1. An object of the invention is to provide an image forming process which has excellent properties such as chargeability, developability, transferability, fixing properties, and particularly cleanability, satisfies high image quality, high reliability and sufficient maintaining ability, and makes it possible to stably perform instant-on fixing.
2. Another object of the invention is to provide an image forming process with which it is possible to produce a high quality image having excellent light transmission and colorability.
The means to attain the above-described objects are as follows.
A first aspect of the invention is an image forming process comprising the steps of: forming a latent image on a surface of an electrostatic latent image-bearing body; developing the latent image with a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving body; and fixing the toner image to the receiving body, wherein the step of fixing is carried out using a fixing device comprising a heat-fixing roller in which a heat-resistant elastic layer is provided on a cylindrical core metal and the resultant surface thereof is further provided with a heat-resistant resin layer, an endless belt, and a pressure member arranged inside the endless belt to allow the endless belt to travel around the heat-fixing roller at a given angle such that a nip is produced through which a recording sheet (the receiving body) passes, with the pressure member being pressed via the endless belt against the heat-fixing roller at the nip to thereby distort the heat-resistant elastic layer in the heat-fixing roller, and the toner for developing the electrostatic latent image satisfies the requirements of: a) a shape coefficient SF1 ranges from 125 to 140 and a shape coefficient SF2 ranges from 105 to 130, wherein SF1=(xcfx80/4)xc3x97(L2/A)xc3x97100 and SF2=(xc2xcxcfx80)xc3x97(I2/A)xc3x97100, in which L represents a maximum length, I represents a circumferential length and A represents a projected area of toner particles; b) an exposure ratio of a releasing agent at the surface of the toner particles determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) ranges from 11 to 40%; and c) a melting point of the releasing agent contained at 8 to 20% by mass in the toner, measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, ranges from 70 to 130xc2x0 C., and the size of the releasing agent determined at a cross section of the toner particle observed with a transmission electron microscope ranges from 150 to 1500 nm.
That is, by providing the heat-resistant elastic layer of the heat-fixing roller with the heat-resistant resin layer as the releasing layer and distorting the heat-fixing roller, high image quality can be achieved without using a releasing agent such as silicone oil while maintaining a high releasing property. The releasing property of the heat-resistant resin does not deteriorate easily, and it is possible to maintain the releasing property over a long period of time. Since the endless belt is wound around the heat-fixing roller to produce a nip, a larger nip can be obtained with merely a low load applied as compared to a nip obtained in a fixing method using a pair of rollers. Thus, stiffness of the core metal of the fixing roller can be decreased, and additionally the heat-resistant elastic layer of the heat-fixing roller may be thinned. Thus, instant-start ability can be improved. Since a load applied to a nip can be reduced, the wear of a heat-resistant resin layer can be considerably decreased.
If the shape coefficient SF1 of the toner exceeds 140, the fluidity of the toner decreases, whereby transferability of the toner is adversely affected from an initial stage. If the shape coefficient SF1 is below 125, insufficient cleaning may occur to cause contamination of the apparatus or a decrease in reliability. If the shape coefficient SF2 is below 105, insufficient cleaning may occur, which easily causes contamination of the apparatus or a decrease in reliability. If the shape coefficient SF2 exceeds 130, the fluidity of the toner is likely to decrease.
The shape coefficient of the toner is obtained as follows. The toner is sprayed onto a slide glass, and then an image is observed with an optical microscope and information of the image is sent through a video camera to a Luzex image analyzer. The maximum length and the projected area of each of over 1,000 toner particles are measured, and the obtained values are substituted for the variables in the above-described equations. The average values thereof are used as the shape coefficient.
If the ratio of the releasing agent appearing (exposed) at the toner surface is below 11%, the fixing performance is not affected at an initial stage, however, the maintaining ability may occasionally be affected over a long period of time. If the fixing device deteriorates, offset phenomena at high temperatures and fixed-image strength at low temperatures may sometimes be affected. On the other hand, if the ratio is over 40%, the fixing performance is not affected but filming may occur in the carrier, a developing roller and a photoreceptor. Moreover, such a phenomenon easily occurs where an externally added additive for imparting fluidity to the toner penetrates the toner. The surface exposure ratio can be determined, using a measuring instrument such as an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) manufactured by JEOL. Ltd. which is capable of distinguishing the peaks obtained from the resin, the pigment and the wax.
The addition amount of the above-described releasing agent preferably ranges from 8 to 20% by mass. If the amount is smaller than this range, sufficient releasing property cannot be obtained, leading to insufficient releasing. If the amount is larger than the above-described range, light transmission after fixing the toner to the resin sheet is affected, thus impairing resin sheet adaptability and initial chargeability of the toner.
Furthermore, the size of the releasing agent at a cross section of the toner particles observed with a transmission electron microscope preferably ranges from 150 to 1500 nm. If the size of the releasing agent is smaller than this range, the releasing agent does not act well, thus failing to produce a sufficient releasing property. If the size is larger than the above-described range, light transmission after fixing the toner to the resin sheet is affected, thus impairing resin sheet adaptability.
The releasing agent preferably has a melting point, whose main maximum peak measured according to ASTMD 3418-8 lies within a range of 70 to 130xc2x0 C. If the peak occurs below 70xc2x0 C., offset phenomena easily take place at the time of fixing the toner. If the peak occurs over 130xc2x0 C., fixing temperature becomes high so that the surface of the fixed image cannot become smooth, to thus impair gloss. The main maximum peak is measured using, for example, DSC-7 manufactured by PerkinElmer Japan Co., Ltd. For temperature correction at a temperature sensing portion of the device, the melting points of indium and zinc are used. For calorie correction, the heat of fusion of indium is used. Measurements are conducted using a pan made of aluminum for a sample while a blank pan for a control, at a temperature-elevating rate of to 10xc2x0 C./minute.
According to the present invention having a characteristic feature of combining the above-described fixing device and the specified toner to form an image, instant-on fixing can be satisfactorily achieved and additionally high image quality can be maintained on a large number of sheets. Furthermore, according to the invention, an image excellent in light transmission and colorability can be obtained.
A second aspect of the invention is an image forming process in which the thickness of a heat-resistant elastic layer ranges from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.
In the invention, the thickness of a heat-resistant elastic layer preferably ranges from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. When the elastic layer having a lower heat conductivity than metals is thick, conduction of heat is slow even if the inside of the layer is heated. Therefore, a thick layer may prevent the high-speed operation of a fixing device. In the invention, the duration for the fixing device to be heated to 180xc2x0 C. is desirably 60 seconds or less. If the duration for the temperature of the device to reach 180xc2x0 C. is over 60 seconds, instant-start ability is poor and advantages of the toner used in the invention cannot sufficiently provided.
In the invention, the heat-resistant resin layer is desirably made of a fluorine-containing resin. The fluorine-containing resin has an excellent releasing property which does not easily deteriorate with the passing of time. Hence, the fluorine-containing resin renders the life span of the fixing device longer. Examples of the fluorine-containing resin include polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cPTFExe2x80x9d), perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cPFAxe2x80x9d), tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene copolymer (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cFEPxe2x80x9d).
In the invention, the thickness of a heat-resistant resin layer in the heat fixing roller preferably ranges from 10 to 50 xcexcm. By making the heat-resistant resin layer thin, the heat-resistant elastic layer is effectively distorted at the nip, to thus improve the releasing property.
A third aspect of the invention is an image forming process in which the distortion is expressed by the magnitude of a nip width of 3 to 12 mm of the elastic layer in the heat-fixing roller.
In the invention, a pressure pad is used as the pressure member, and a nip width between a heat fixing roller and an endless belt, which is produced with a pressure pad, desirably ranges from 3 to 12 mm. If a pressure pad is used as the pressure member, the device can be made small-sized. If the nip width is smaller than the above-described range, sufficient heat and pressure cannot be applied to the receiving body so that sufficient fixing performance may not be obtained. If the nip width is larger than the above-described range, the endurance of the heat fixing roller or the traveling ability of the receiving body is undesirably impaired.
In the invention, it is preferable that a nip pressure generated when the pressure pad presses the heat-fixing roller is locally increased in the vicinity of the outlet of a nip. If the distortion of the fixing roller is enlarged locally in the vicinity of the outlet of a nip, a higher releasing property can be obtained with a smaller distortion as compared with the case of generating distortion over an entire nip as obtained by a fixing method using a pair of rollers. Accordingly, wrinkles can be prevented from being generated even when a thin heat-resistant resin layer is formed on the surface of a heat-fixing roller. Further peeling of the heat-resistant elastic layer from the releasing layer made of the heat-resistant resin does not easily occur, to thereby maintain a high releasing performance and reliability over a long period of time. Moreover, since the distortion magnitude is small, the heat-resistant elastic layer in the fixing roller can be thinned. Since this fact contributes to reduce the heat capacity of a fixing roller, instant-start ability can be further improved and power consumption can also be reduced. Since the heat-resistant elastic layer having a low thermal conductivity can be made thin, heat resistance between an inner face and an outer face of the fixing roller can be decreased so that the heat response may be facilitated. Thus, a swift fixation can be attained. Since the distortion magnitude is small, the wear of a heat-resistant resin can be reduced.
In the invention, the total pressing force exerted by the pressure pad is desirably 60 kg or less. If the pressing force is high, wrinkles may be generated when a thin heat-resistant resin layer is provided on the surface of the heat-fixing roller. As a result, the endurance of the heat-fixing roller significantly decreases. Further, the heat-resistant elastic layer may undesirably be peeled from the releasing layer made of the heat-resistant resin and hence the heat-resistant resin may easily be worn. Thus, the releasing performance cannot be maintained over a long period of time, to thereby degrade reliability. Moreover, the heat-resistant elastic layer of the fixing roller cannot be thinned, failing to readily achieve instant-start ability.
A fourth aspect of the invention is an image forming process in which the toner further satisfies the requirements of: d) an average volume particle size distribution index GSDvxe2x89xa61.25, wherein GSDv=(D84v/D16v)xc2xd, in which D84v is a particle size value at which accumulated volume from the side of a smaller particle size in the volume particle size distribution accounts for 84% and D16v is a particle size value at which accumulated volume from the side of a smaller particle size in the volume particle size distribution accounts for 16%; e) an average number particle size distribution index GSDpxe2x89xa61.25, wherein GSDp=(D84p/D16p)xc2xd, in which D84p is a particle size value at which accumulated number from the side of a smaller particle size in the number particle size distribution accounts for 84% and D16p is a particle size value at which accumulated number from the side of a smaller particle size in the number particle size distribution accounts for 16%; f) a small particle size side number particle size distribution index GSDp-underxe2x89xa61.27, wherein GSDp-under=(D50p/D16p), in which D50p is a particle size value at which accumulated number from the side of a smaller particle size in the number particle size distribution accounts for 50% and D16p is a particle size value at which accumulated number from the side of a smaller particle size in the number particle size distribution accounts for 16%; and g) inclusion of minute particles made of two or more kinds of silicon compounds, each having a central particle size of 5 to 30 nm and 30 to 100 nm, at 0.5 to 10% by mass.
If the average volume particle size distribution index GSDv is more than 1.25, both sharpness and resolution of images deteriorate. If the average number particle size distribution index GSDp is more than 1.25, transferability decreases from an initial stage to thereby degrade image quality. Specifically, if the small particle size side number particle size distribution index GSDp-under is more than 1.27, the proportion of small particle size toner particles becomes high, whereby the initial performance and reliability are significantly affected. In other words, as has been already known, since toner particles having a small size have a strong adhesive force, it is difficult to electrostatically control such particles, whereby such particles are likely to remain on a carrier if a two-component developer is used. When a mechanical force is repeatedly applied to the toners, carrier contamination frequently occurs to promote carrier deterioration. Since the small particle size toner particles have a strong adhesive force, developing efficiency also decreases, thus leading to defective images. In the transferring step, it is difficult to transfer small particle size particles, among the toner particles developed, onto a photoreceptor, resulting in a decrease in transferability, whereby the amount of toner waste increases and image quality degrades.
If the average volume particle size D50v is less than 3 xcexcm, cleanability becomes insufficient to thereby impair developability. If the size D50v is more than 7 xcexcm, the resolution of images easily deteriorates.
Examples of the minute particles of silicon compound include silica, hydrophobic silica, colloidal silica, cation surface-treated colloidal silica and anion surface-treated colloidal silica. These inorganic minute particles have undergone dispersing treatment beforehand in the presence of an ionic surfactant using an ultrasonic dispersing machine. Colloidal silica is preferably used since it does not need to undergo such a dispersing treatment.
If the addition amount of the silicon compound minute particles is less than 0.5% by mass, a sufficient toughness cannot be obtained when the toner is melted. Thus, the releasing property in an oil-less fixation cannot be improved and oil-less releasing property may be damaged since coarse dispersibility of the minute particles in the toner causes increased viscosity when the toner is melted, to thus impair spinning ability. If the addition amount is more than 10% by mass, a sufficient toughness can be obtained but the fluidity of the toner when melted decreases significantly to thereby impair gloss of images.
In the invention, the process preferably comprises steps of admixing a dispersion containing at least resin fine particles having a particle size of at least 1 xcexcm or less, with a dispersion of colorant particles, a dispersion of a releasing agent and a dispersion of inorganic minute particles, to prepare a dispersion of aggregated particles of resin fine particles and colorant particles, and thereafter heating the thus prepared dispersion to a temperature above the glass transition point of the resin fine particles to cause fusion or coalescence. In the aggregating step, at least one polymerized metal salt is used.
A fifth aspect of the invention is an image forming process in which the developing step is performed using a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image comprising a carrier and a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image.
A sixth aspect of the invention is an image forming process in which a toner is produced by a process comprising steps of admixing a dispersion containing at least resin fine particles having a particle size of 1 xcexcm or less, with a dispersion of colorant particles and a dispersion of a releasing agent to prepare a dispersion of aggregated particles, and thereafter heating the thus prepared dispersion to a temperature above the glass transition point of the resin fine particles.


A device for increasing the solids content of an image formed from liquid developer comprising a belt which is comprised of an absorption material containing small pores to absorb dispersant from a dispersant laden image and a pair of rollers bearing the belt wherein the belt on one of the rollers contacts a dispersant laden image bearing portion of an image carrying member such as a photoreceptor drum or an intermediate sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device and method for removing toner dispersant from an image formed from a liquid developer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical electrostatographic printing machine (such as a photocopier, laser printer, facsimile machine or the like) employs an imaging member that is exposed to an image to be printed. Exposure of the imaging member records an electrostatic latent image on it corresponding to the informational areas contained within the image to be printed. The latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith. The developed image recorded on the photoconductive member is transferred to a support material such as paper, either directly or via an intermediate transport member. The developed image on the support material is generally subjected to heat and/or pressure to permanently fuse it thereto.
Two types of developer materials are typically employed in electrostatographic printing machines. One type of developer material is known as dry developer material and comprises toner particles or carrier granules having toner particles adhering triboelectrically thereto. Another type of developer material is a liquid material comprising a liquid carrier or dispersant having toner particles dispersed therein.
When using a liquid developer material, excess liquid carrier such as Isopar (a non-polar decane solvent) frequently adheres to the photoconductive member and is transferred to the transport member (if any) and support material. This liquid carrier later evaporates into the air. Usually about 0.5 grams of liquid carrier is absorbed by the copy paper and carried out in each copy.
As the image is fused to the paper by heating the toner above its melting point and allowing it to flow into the pores of the paper, the heat required to fuse the image vaporizes a large percentage of the liquid carrier. It is desirable to remove the liquid carrier from the support material to minimize image show through and to prevent problems associated with it emerging from support material later. Additionally, increasing the solids content of an image before transferring greatly improves the ability of the toner particles to form a high resolution image on the transport member and thus on the support material.
The amount of dispersant in the toned image can be limited by a metering system. The most common metering technique is the reverse roll.
Reverse roll doctoring and corona doctoring reduce the amount of liquid carried out by the copy sheet from about 0.5 grams to about 0.12 grams per copy. Reverse roll doctoring provides superior background clean-up by having sufficient shear force to remove all the liquid carrier except the liquid carrier electrostatically bonded to the toner particles. However, very close spacing is required to do an effective job. It is particularly difficult to maintain this close spacing over large dimensions in applications such as color proofing masters and other graphic arts.
An air knife can also remove excess liquid carrier. However, the toner particles adhering to the latent image may also be removed, thereby disturbing the image.
Various other techniques have been devised for removing excess liquid carrier from an imaging member.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,533 (Smith et al.) discloses a squeegee roller system for removing excess developer liquid from the developer-image-bearing photoconductive surface of a drum or the like. The squeegee roller has a covering of a predetermined hardness which is biased with a predetermined force against the moving surface carrying a developed image to cause excess developer to flow into a receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,683 (Knieser) discloses a liquid developer cleaning means which includes a foam-backed belt having a working surface pattern of ridges and grooves. The foam-backed belt is mounted on two guide rolls rotatable about a shaft and positioned such that the movable belt advances during operation in a direction of an axis upon which a drum having an image surface thereon rotates. The purpose of the belt is to clean any residual developer after the toner laden image has been transferred from the drum.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,115 (Magome et al.) discloses a wet developing method which includes the use of an elastic roller for collecting excess developing liquid and thereby effecting further development of an electrostatic image at the development station. The elastic roller is comprised of a shaft formed of a rigid material, an elastic foam member surrounding the shaft, and a netting which is supported around the foam member. The elastic roller may be in the shape of a belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,391 (Saito et al.) discloses a liquid development process which includes a transfer step, and a cleaning step for cleaning a surface of a latent image carrying member. An elastic rotary member may be used to clean the latent image carrying member. The elastic rotary member is made of an electroconductive rigid core member, an electroconductive porous elastic member capable of retaining a liquid therein and provided around the core member, and a liquid-permeable insulating flexible member surrounding an outer periphery of the elastic member. The elastic rotary member is maintained in pressure contact with the latent image carrying member. The liquid absorbed may be squeezed out through the meshes of the elastic member when the elastic member is compressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,902 (Soma et al.) discloses an image forming process which utilizes an elastic roller or belt which squeezes out liquid developer and then absorbs excess liquid developer. The elastic roller or belt is used to apply developer to a latent image and absorb excessive liquid developer. Part of the roller or belt is kept in a liquid developer reservoir.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,733 (Kurotori et al.) an image fixing unit for a wet-type electrophotographic copying machine comprises a blotter roller which absorbs a carrier liquid component, such as Isopar, contained in a developer deposited imagewise by an image-transfer charger on a transfer sheet. The blotter roller is comprised of a porous material such as a non-woven fabric or cotton and an elastic material such as silicone rubber. The transfer sheet is transported into an image fixing unit wherein a pressure-application roller is in contact with a heat-application roller, such that a toner image formed on the transfer sheet is thermally fixed thereto, while the transfer sheet passes through a nip between the heat-application roller and the pressure-application roller. The blotter roller is in contact with a back-up roller with a predetermined pressure. A cleaning brush roller may be used to clean the blotter roller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,964 (Landa et al.) discloses an apparatus for image transfer which comprises an intermediate transfer member and a squeegee for removing excess liquid from the toner image prior to transferring an image. The intermediate transfer member is operative for receiving the toner image therefrom and for transferring the toner image to a receiving substrate. Transfer of the image to the intermediate transfer member is aided by providing electrification of the intermediate transfer member to a voltage having the same bias as that of the charge particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,039 (Landa et al) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a deformable polyurethane roller, which may be a squeegee roller or blotting roller which is biased by a potential having a sign the same as the sign of the charged toner particles in a liquid developer. The bias on the polyurethane roller is such that it prevents streaking, smearing, tailing or distortion of the developed electrostatic image and removes much of the liquid carrier of the liquid developer from the surface of the photoconductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,742 (Landa) discloses a cleaning system for a liquid developer electrostatographic copier comprising a roller formed with a resilient material, such as a closed-cell elastomer, having externally exposed, internally isolated surface cells. During an operation, the excess liquid on an imaging surface is absorbed by the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller is then compressed to squeeze out liquid from the roller, leaving the roller dry.
Each of these methods and devices have certain limitations. Some of the devices such as that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,683 clean up the residual developer only after the toner laden image has been transferred from the drum. Some of the other methods and devices discussed above serve to collect and distribute excess developing fluid over the electrostatic image, and do not remove excess and unwanted developing liquid. Other systems use rollers to absorb excess developer liquid from the developer image bearing photoconductive surface of the drum.