Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Electric or magnetic imagery – e.g. – xerography,... – Post imaging process – finishing – or perfecting composition...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-30
2002-04-23
Goodrow, John (Department: 1753)
Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th
Electric or magnetic imagery, e.g., xerography,...
Post imaging process, finishing, or perfecting composition...
C034S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06376145
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for improving the quality of an image that is developed by a liquid carrier.
More specifically, images developed onto, transferred to, or written on paper and other output substrates by processes using liquid inks are known to leave liquid carrier in addition to small particulates comprising the image on that substrate. This residual fluid left in the image or paper is objectionable for a number of reasons: the carrier fluid is expensive and reuse is desirable; the carrier fluid may lend an objectionable feel or odor to the output print; the carrier fluid may present some level of health hazard. For these reasons it is necessary to remove the fluid, i.e., dry the print. Present methods of drying the fluid include, but are not limited to, evaporation of the fluid by application of a flux of hot air laterally over the surface; application of heat to the surface; removing the fluid via capillary action by contacting a material with small pores that wet easily by the fluid (i.e., blotting); wiping the surface with a low pressure blade, etc. In addition, it is possible to try to remove fluid from the particulate image by applying a pressure gradient across the image and substrate by either blowing or sucking normal to the surface.
These methods typically work well for removing the liquid carrier from the free surface of the image. The degree of success or rapidity of success decreases as the thickness of the particulate image increases. Fluid deep in the image is held by surface tension forces, and moves to the surface slowly, or not at all. This may necessitate lengthy drying processes that are undesirable for rapid process speed or for compact process hardware.
A need currently exits for a method of moving fluid carrier from within the particulate image to the surface, where other processes exist to remove it, as discussed above.
Cross reference is made to the following applications filed concurrently herewith: Ser. No. 09/699,862 entitled “Method For Improving Oil Recovery Using An Ultrasound Technique”, 09/699,871 entitled “A Method For Removing Trapped Impurity Aggregates From A Filter”, 09/699,804 entitled “Method for Dispersing Red And White Blood Cells”, Ser. No. 699,882 entitled “An Ultrasonic Method For Improving Cleaning And Redispersal Of Saturated Particle Aggregates In Processes Using Liquid Inks”, Ser. No. 09/699,939 entitled “Method For Manufacturing Process”, and Ser. No. 09/699,703 entitled “Process and Apparatus for Obtaining Ink Dispersions by Subjecting the Liquid Inks to an Ultrasonic or Sonic Signal”.
Other References
M. A. Biot, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 28, 168 (1956).
M. A. Biot, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 28, 179 (1956).
M. A. Biot, J. Appl. Phys. 33, 1482 (1962).
D. L. Johnson, T. J. Plona, and H. Kojima, J. Appl. Phys. 76(1), 115 (1994).
T. J. Plona, R. D'Angelo, and D. L. Johnson, “Velocity and attenuation of fast, shear, and slow waves in porous media”, in IEEE 1990
Ultrasonics symposium Proceedings,
Vol 3, B. R. McAvoy editor, IEEE, NY. (1991) 1233-1239.
S. Torquato, Appl. Mech. Rev. 44(2), 37 (1991).
J. E. White,
Seimic waves: radiation, transmission, and attenuation,
McGraw-Hill book Company, New York, N.Y., 1965, pg. 70.
J. C. Williams,
The packing of solid particles,
Chapman and Hall, Ltd. London, England 1968, pg. 34.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for drying a porous solid saturated with a fluid including the steps of subjecting the saturate porous image to an ultrasonic signal to release the fluid from the saturated porous image layer; removing the fluid from said saturated porous solid, said subjecting step includes applying a predefined acoustic slow wave frequency based upon the particle sizes in said porous image layer thereby causing the fluid to move from an interior of said porous particulate image to an outer surface of said porous image, where fluid can be removed by conventional image.
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M.A. Biot,Theory of Propagation of Elastic Waves in a Fluid-Saturated Porous Solid, Mar. 1956, 168.
M.A. Biot,Theory of Propagation of Elastic Waves in a Fluid-Saturated Porous Solid, Mar. 1956, 179.
M.A. Biot,Mechanics of Deformation and Acoustic Propagation in Porous Media, Apr. 1962, 1482.
D.L. Johnson, T.J. Plona and H. Kojima,Probing Porous Media with First and Second Sound. II. Acoustic Properties of Water-Saturated Porous Media, Mar. 1994, 115.
T.J. Plona, R. D'Angelo and D.L. Johnson,Velocity and Attentuation of Fast, Shear and Slow Waves in Porous Media, 1991, 1233-1239.
S. Torquato,Random Heterogeneous Media: Microstructure and Improved Bounds on Effective Properties, Feb. 1991, 37.
J.E. White,Seismic Waves: Radiation, Transmission and Attenuation, 1965, 70.
W.A. Gray,The Packing of Solid Particles, 1968, 34.
Bean II Lloyd F.
Goodrow John
Xerox Corporation
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