Claims
- 1. A method for generating an image product comprising the steps of:
generating an image on a carrier sheet; applying an adhesive over said carrier sheet with said image; joining said carrier sheet with said image and with said adhesive with a substrate; and removing said carrier sheet with excess adhesive from said substrate, leaving said substrate with said image adhered thereto, thereby generating an image product.
- 2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising an intermediate step of:
applying pressure to ensure attachment of said image with said adhesive onto said substrate prior to removing said carrier sheet with excess adhesive from said substrate and said image.
- 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said image is reverse printed onto said carrier sheet.
- 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive has preference for said carrier sheet rather than said substrate.
- 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive has preference for said carrier sheet rather than said substrate.
- 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein a bond between said image and said adhesive is stronger than a bond between said image and said carrier sheet.
- 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein a bond between said adhesive and said substrate is stronger than a bond between said image and said carrier sheet.
- 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein a bond between said carrier sheet and said adhesive is stronger than a bond between said adhesive and said substrate.
- 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein a bond between said image and said adhesive is stronger than a bond between said image and said carrier sheet, a bond between said adhesive and said substrate is stronger than a bond between said image and said carrier sheet, and a bond between said carrier sheet and said adhesive is stronger than a bond between said adhesive and said substrate.
- 10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said film image is printed onto said carrier sheet using a laser printer.
- 11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said film image is printed onto said carrier sheet using a thermal printer.
- 12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said film image is printed onto said carrier sheet using an inkjet printer.
- 13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said film image is printed onto said carrier sheet using a silk screening process.
- 14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said image is a film image.
- 15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said film image is a durable film.
- 16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said durable film comprises powder paint.
- 17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said durable film comprises pigmented resin.
- 18. The method according to claim 15 wherein said durable film comprises UV curable ink.
- 19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a subsequent step of:
curing said substrate with said image to ensure attachment of said image with said adhesive to said substrate.
- 20. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of:
fusing said image onto said substrate.
- 21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said step of fusing is performed by UV fusing.
- 22. The method according to claim 20 wherein said step of fusing is performed by heat fusing.
- 23. The method according to claim 20 wherein said step of fusing is performed by combination of UV and heat fusing.
- 24. The method according to claim 20 wherein said step of fusing is performed by infrared fusing.
- 25. A developer for use in an apparatus for generating an image comprising:
powder paint for being digitally applied onto a substrate forming an image.
- 26. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said image is a film image.
- 27. The developer according to claim 26 wherein said film image is a durable film image.
- 28. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said image is printed onto a final substrate.
- 29. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said image is printed onto an intermediate substrate for subsequent transfer.
- 30. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said powder paint is used in an electrostatic printer.
- 31. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said powder paint is used in an electrographic printer.
- 32. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said powder paint comprises a resin and pigment.
- 33. The developer according to claim 25 wherein said powder paint comprises resin and pigment and is outdoor durable and UV stable.
- 34. A developer for use in an apparatus for generating a film image comprising:
dual component developer with one of the components being powder paint.
- 35. The developer according to claim 34 wherein said image is printed onto a final substrate.
- 36. The developer according to claim 34 wherein said image is printed onto an intermediate substrate for subsequent transfer.
- 37. The developer according to claim 34 wherein said powder paint is used in an electrostatic printer.
- 38. The developer according to claim 34 wherein said powder paint is used in an electrographic printer.
- 39. The developer according to claim 34 wherein said powder paint is used in an electrophotographic printer.
- 40. An apparatus for digitally generating an image comprising:
a photoconductor moving in a photoconductor direction; a first corona assembly disposed in proximity to said photoconductor to provide said photoconductor with a photoconductor charge; a light source assembly disposed downstream of said first corona assembly for selectively discharging said photoconductor to digitally generate a latent image on said photoconductor; a developer assembly disposed downstream of said light source assembly, said developer assembly including a plurality of cartridges for developing said latent image to result in formation of an image and for digitally applying at least one of selected from the group of adhesive and clear coat; and a transfer mechanism for transferring said image from said photoconductor onto a substrate.
- 41. The apparatus according to claim 40 further comprising a fuser to fuse said image.
- 42. The apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said image becomes durable image after being fused.
- 43. An apparatus for digitally generating an image comprising:
a photoconductor moving in a photoconductor direction; a first corona assembly disposed in proximity to said photoconductor to provide said photoconductor with a photoconductor charge; a light source assembly disposed downstream of said first corona assembly for selectively discharging said photoconductor to digitally generate a latent image on said photoconductor; a developer assembly disposed downstream of said light source assembly for developing said latent image to result in formation of an image; and a cartridge for storing and applying adhesive.
- 44. The apparatus according to claim 43 further comprising:
a transfer mechanism for transferring said image from said photoconductor onto a substrate.
- 45. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said adhesive is applied selectively.
- 46. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said adhesive is applied digitally.
- 47. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said adhesive is applied globally onto a substrate.
- 48. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said adhesive includes a colorant.
- 49. The apparatus according to claim 43 further comprising an additional cartridge for storing and applying a protective coating over said image.
- 50. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein additional layers are digitally applied onto said image.
- 51. An apparatus for digitally generating an image comprising:
a photoconductor moving in a photoconductor direction; a first corona assembly disposed in proximity to said photoconductor to provide said photoconductor with a photoconductor charge; a light source assembly disposed downstream of said first corona assembly for selectively discharging said photoconductor to digitally generate a latent image on said photoconductor; a developer assembly disposed downstream of said light source assembly for developing said latent image to result in formation of an image; and a controller for selectively controlling voltages.
- 52. The apparatus according to claim 51 wherein said controller varies voltage for varying thickness of said image.
- 53. The apparatus according to claim 51 wherein said controller varies voltage to accommodate different materials.
- 54. The apparatus according to claim 51 wherein a predetermined voltage difference is established between a developer roller disposed within said developer assembly and an image portion of said latent image.
- 55. The apparatus according to claim 54 wherein said voltage difference is set to be approximately 1500 volts.
- 56. The apparatus according to claim 51 wherein a predetermined voltage difference is established between a developer roller disposed within said developer assembly and a background portion of said latent image.
- 57. The apparatus according to claim 56 wherein said voltage difference is set to be approximately 300 volts.
- 58. The apparatus according to claim 51 further comprising:
a developer roller disposed within said developer assembly.
- 59. The apparatus according to claim 58 wherein said latent image comprises a background portion and an image portion.
- 60. The apparatus according to claim 59 wherein a first predetermined voltage difference is established between said developer roller and said image portion of said latent image and a second predetermined voltage difference is established between said developer roller and said background portion of said latent image.
- 61. The apparatus according to claim 60 wherein said first predetermined voltage difference is set to be approximately 1500 volts and said second predetermined voltage difference is set to be approximately 300 volts.
- 62. The apparatus according to claim 51 further comprising:
a fuser assembly to generate a film image.
- 63. The apparatus according to claim 51 further comprising:
a transfer mechanism for transferring said image from said photoconductor onto a substrate.
- 64. An apparatus for digitally generating an image comprising:
a photoconductor moving in a photoconductor direction; a first corona assembly disposed in proximity to said photoconductor to provide said photoconductor with a photoconductor charge; a light source assembly disposed downstream of said first corona assembly for selectively discharging said photoconductor to digitally generate a latent image on said photoconductor; a developer subsystem disposed downstream of said light source assembly, said developer subsystem including a developer for developing said latent image to result in formation of an image.
- 65. The apparatus according to claim 64 further comprising a fuser assembly to cure said image to result in a film image.
- 66. The apparatus according to claim 65 wherein said fuser is a non contact fuser.
- 67. The apparatus according to claim 65 wherein said fuser does not deposit oil.
- 68. The apparatus according to claim 64 further comprising:
a transfer mechanism for transferring said image from said photoconductor onto a substrate.
- 69. The apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a second corona disposed substantially adjacent to said substrate for generating a second corona potential field to effect the transfer of said image onto said substrate.
- 70. The apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said transfer mechanism comprises:
an intermediate transfer belt for allowing said image be transferred from said photoconductor onto said intermediate transfer belt for subsequent transfer onto said substrate.
- 71. The apparatus according to claim 64 further comprising a cleaner assembly disposed substantially adjacent to said photoconductor for cleaning said photoconductor for a subsequent operation.
- 72. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said photoconductor is a drum rotating in said photoconductor direction.
- 73. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said photoconductor is a belt moving in said photoconductor direction.
- 74. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said first corona assembly comprises:
a first corona wire held at first corona wire voltage and generating ions that bombard said photoconductor; a first corona screen disposed between said first corona wire and said photoconductor for controlling amount of charge that builds on said photoconductor; and a first corona cage held at ground for housing said first corona wire.
- 75. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said photoconductor includes a photoconductor surface adapted to be charged by said first corona assembly and adapted to be selectively discharged by said light source assembly to result in said latent image.
- 76. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said light source assembly comprises a laser digitally controlled by a controller to selectively discharge said photoconductor.
- 77. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said light source assembly includes an LED controlled by digital modulation to selectively discharge said photoconductor.
- 78. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said developer subsystem comprises:
a cartridge for housing said developer; a developer roller disposed within said cartridge in close proximity to said photoconductor for delivering such developer towards said photoconductor; and a least one mixer disposed within said cartridge for mixing said developer within said cartridge.
- 79. The apparatus according to claim 78 wherein said developer is powder toner.
- 80. The apparatus according to claim 78 wherein said developer roller rotates in a direction opposite from said photoconductor direction.
- 81. The apparatus according to claim 78 wherein said developer is a dual component developer and wherein said developer roller includes at least one magnet.
- 82. The apparatus according to claim 81 wherein said dual component developer comprises:
a plurality of image particles; and a plurality of carrier particles.
- 83. The apparatus according to claim 82 wherein said image particles are powder toner.
- 84. The apparatus according to claim 82 wherein said image particles are powder paint.
- 85. The apparatus according to claim 82 wherein said carrier particles are ferrite particles coated with a polymer.
- 86. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said developer is powder paint.
- 87. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein said image becomes a film image upon curing.
- 88. The apparatus according to claim 87 wherein said film image is durable.
- 89. The apparatus according to claim 64 further comprising:
a controller for allowing variable control over the voltages.
- 90. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said controller allows variable control over the voltages to vary thickness of said image.
- 91. The apparatus according to claim 89 wherein said controller defines a first voltage difference and a second voltage difference with said first voltage difference being defined between a developer roller disposed in said developer subsystem and image background and said second voltage difference being defined between background image and said photoconductor.
- 92. The apparatus according to claim 64 wherein developer subsystem includes a plurality of developer cartridges.
- 93. The apparatus according to claim 92 wherein at least one of said plurality of developer cartridges includes powder paint.
- 94. The apparatus according to claim 92 wherein at least one of said plurality of developer cartridges includes powder toner.
- 95. The apparatus according to claim 92 wherein at least one of said plurality of developer cartridges includes clear coat.
- 96. The apparatus according to claim 92 wherein at least one of said plurality of developer cartridges includes adhesive.
- 97. A method for making a sign comprising the steps of:
generating an image for a sign; and printing a powder image onto a transfer sheet to form an electrostatically charged powder image thereon.
- 98. The method according to claim 97 further comprising a step of:
transferring said powder image from said transfer sheet onto a sign substrate such that said transfer sheet is maintained at approximately ground and said sign substrate is maintained at a predetermined voltage.
- 99. The method according to claim 98 wherein said transfer is an electrostatic transfer.
- 100. The method according to claim 97 further comprising a step of:
curing said sign substrate at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time.
- 101. The method according to claim 97 wherein said powder image is powder paint image.
- 102. The method according to claim 97 wherein said powder image is powder toner image.
- 103. The method according to claim 97 wherein said image is reversed printed onto said transfer sheet.
- 104. The method according to claim 97 wherein said transfer sheet is fabricated from polyvinylflouride material.
- 105. The method according to claim 97 wherein said image is unfused prior to transfer.
- 106. The method according to claim 97 wherein said powder image is cured after being electrostatically transferred.
- 107. The method according to claim 97 wherein said image is heat cured.
- 108. The method according to claim 97 wherein said image is cured by UV light application.
- 109. The method according to claim 97 wherein said image is cured by combination of heat and UV light.
- 110. A method for making a sign comprising the steps of:
generating an image for a sign; and printing a powder image onto a sign substrate to form an electrostatically charged powder image thereon.
- 111. The method according to claim 110 further comprising a step of:
curing said sign substrate at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time.
- 112. The method according to claim 110 wherein said powder image is powder paint image.
- 113. The method according to claim 110 wherein said powder image is powder toner image.
- 114. An apparatus for generating a powder image comprising:
a photoconductor moving in a photoconductor direction; a first corona assembly disposed in proximity to said photoconductor to provide said photoconductor with a photoconductor charge; a light source assembly disposed downstream of said first corona assembly for selectively discharging said photoconductor to digitally generate a latent image on said photoconductor; and a developer assembly disposed downstream of said light source assembly, said developer assembly generating charged powder image that retains electrostatic charge for subsequent transfer.
- 115. The apparatus according to claim 114 wherein said powder image is cured after being electrostatically transferred.
- 116. The apparatus according to claim 115 wherein said image is heat cured.
- 117. The apparatus according to claim 115 wherein said image is cured by UV light application.
- 118. The apparatus according to claim 115 wherein said image is cured by combination of heat and UV light.
- 119. The apparatus according to claim 114 wherein said powder image is powder paint image.
- 120. The apparatus according to claim 114 wherein said powder image is powder toner image.
- 121. The apparatus according to claim 114 further comprising:
a support disposed in proximity to a backside of a transfer sheet, wherein said support is held at a predetermined voltage for subsequent transfer of said powder image.
- 122. The apparatus according to claim 121 wherein said predetermined voltage is approximately ground.
- 123. The apparatus according to claim 114 wherein a sign substrate is held at a predetermined voltage to allow transfer of said powder image from said transfer sheet onto said sign substrate.
- 124. The apparatus according to claim 123 wherein said predetermined voltage is approximately negative two thousand volts.
- 125. The apparatus according to claim 114 wherein said powder image is initially transferred onto a transfer sheet and subsequently transferred from said transfer sheet onto a sign substrate.
- 126. The apparatus according to claim 125 wherein said transfer sheet is fabricated from a polyvinylflouride material.
- 127. The apparatus according to claim 114 wherein said powder image is transferred onto a sign substrate.
- 128. A substrate for accepting a generated image that is subsequently transferred onto a final substrate comprising:
a polyvinylfloride material sheet for accepting an image to be placed thereon and subsequently allowing transfer of said image onto a final substrate.
- 129. The substrate according to claim 128 wherein said image is powder image.
- 130. An apparatus for generating an image comprising:
means for applying at least one colorant onto a substrate coated with an adhesive layer to generate an image atop of said adhesive layer; and means for removing excess adhesive from said substrate to result in said image being disposed atop of said substrate with said adhesive layer being disposed therebetween.
- 131. The apparatus according to claim 130 further comprising:
means for curing said image.
- 132. The apparatus according to claim 130 further comprising:
means for fusing said image.
- 133. The apparatus according to claim 132 wherein said means for fusing is a non contact fuser.
- 134. The apparatus according to claim 130 wherein said means for applying at least one colorant is an inkjet system.
- 135. The apparatus according to claim 130 wherein said means for applying at least one colorant is an electrophotographic system.
- 136. The apparatus according to claim 130 wherein said means for applying at least one colorant is an electrostatic system.
- 137. The apparatus according to claim 130 wherein said means for applying at least one colorant is a thermal transfer system.
- 138. The apparatus according to claim 130 wherein said means for removing said excess adhesive is a system bringing a consumable sheet into contact with said substrate to remove said excess adhesive upon separation of said consumable sheet with said substrate leaving said image disposed atop of said substrate with said adhesive layer sandwiched therebetween.
- 139. The apparatus according to claim 138 wherein said means for removing said excess adhesive comprises:
a supply roll for dispensing said consumable sheet; and a take up roll for taking up said consumable sheet with said excess adhesive disposed thereon.
- 140. The apparatus according to claim 139 further comprising:
a pressure roller disposed between said supply roll and said take up roll and substantially adjacent to said consumable sheet to apply pressure thereto to promote bonding between said consumable sheet and said excess adhesive.
- 141. The apparatus according to claim 138 wherein said consumable sheet material is foil.
- 142. The apparatus according to claim 138 wherein said consumable sheet functions as a protective sheet and is removed from said carrier sheet at a later time.
- 143. The apparatus according to claim 130 further comprising:
means for printing with predetermined background color over an entire image to remove excess adhesives to define an image background perimeter to allow subsequent printing over some portion of said image background perimeter with at least one color to generate a multi-color image.
- 144. The apparatus according to claim 130 further comprising:
means for printing with predetermined background color over an entire image to remove excess adhesives to define an image background perimeter to allow subsequent printing over some portion of said image background perimeter with at least one half-tone color to generate a half-tone image.
- 145. A method for generating a film image comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate with an adhesive layer; printing an image onto said substrate with said adhesive layer such that said image is disposed atop of said adhesive layer; and removing excess adhesive from said substrate such that said film image remains on said substrate with said adhesive layer sandwiched therebetween.
- 146. The method according to claim 145 wherein said image is printed on a laser printer.
- 147. The method according to claim 145 wherein powder paint is used to print said image.
- 148. The method according to claim 145 wherein said image is printed on an ink jet printer.
- 149. The method according to claim 148 wherein UV cure ink is used to print said image.
- 150. The method according to claim 145 wherein said image is printed on a thermal transfer printer having an ink foil.
- 151. The method according to claim 150 wherein said excess adhesive is removed with said ink foil.
- 152. The method according to claim 151 wherein said excess adhesive adheres to said ink foil.
- 153. The method according to claim 145 wherein said step of printing further comprises the steps of:
printing with predetermined background color over an entire image to remove excess adhesives to define an image background perimeter; and printing over some portion of said image background perimeter with at least one color to generate a multi-color image.
- 154. The method according to claim 145 wherein said step of printing further comprises the steps of:
printing with predetermined background color over an entire image to remove excess adhesives to define an image background perimeter; and printing over some portion of said image background perimeter with at least one half-tone color to generate a half-tone image.
- 155. The apparatus according to claim 46 wherein said adhesive is applied digitally over said image.
- 156. The apparatus according to claim 46 wherein said adhesive is applied digitally over a substrate.
- 157. The apparatus according to claim 48 wherein said colorant includes dye.
- 158. The apparatus according to claim 48 wherein said colorant includes pigment.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application claims priority from and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/354,982 filed Feb. 8, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60354982 |
Feb 2002 |
US |