Photoelectrosolographic imaging method utilizing powder particles

Claim 2

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of developing a migration image comprises softening said softenable material by contacting the powder particles with a partial liquid solvent for said softenable material.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of developing the migration image comprises contacting said powder particles with a vaporous partial solvent for said softenable material.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of developing a migration image comprises contacting said powder particles with a liquid solvent for said softenable material whereby imagewise portions of the particulate migration marking material migrate through the softenable material to the substrate and the softenable material and unmigrated particulate migration marking material is removed by said liquid solvent.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step comprising providing a latent electrical image on the layer of powder particles comprises electrically charging the layer of powder particles in an imagewise configuration.

Claim 6

The method of claim 6 wherein imagewise electrically charging the layer of powder particles comprises electrically charging the powder particles through a stencil having cut-outs in imagewise configuration.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said particulate marking material comprises electrically photosensitive material.

Claim 8

The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing a latent electrical image on the layer of powder particles comprises uniformly electrically charging the layer of powder particles and imagewise exposing the layer of powder particles with an imagewise pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 9

The method of claim 9 wherein the particulate migration marking material exposed to activating electromagnetic radiation migrates to the substrate.

Claim 10

The method of claim 9 wherein the powder particles are photoconductive and the layer of powder particles is substantially discharged in the areas exposed with activating electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein said softenable material comprises photoconductive material.

Claim 12

The method of claim 12 wherein said particulate migration marking material comprises electrically photosensitive material.

Claim 13

The method of claim 12 wherein the step of providing a latent electrical image on the layer of powder particles comprises uniformly electrically charging the layer of powder particles and imagewise exposing said layer with an imagewise pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 additionally comprising providing a layer of substantially electrically insulating softenable material capable of having its resistance to migration of saiD particulate migration marking material decreased sufficiently to allow migration of said marking material through said softenable layer toward said substrate, said softenable layer located between the layer of powder particles and the substrate, and the developing step comprising decreasing the resistance to migration of the particulate migration marking material through the layer of sofenable material as well as the softenable material which comprises the powder particles at least sufficient to allow migration of the particulate migration marking material through the layer of softenable material as well as the softenable material which comprises the powder particles.

Claim 15

The method of claim 15 wherein said layer of substantially electrically insulating softenable material is of a thickness in the range of about 1/2 micron to about 16 microns.

Claim 16

The method of claim 1 wherein said powder particles are of average diameter in the range of about 0.5 micron to about 30 microns.

Claim 17

The method of claim 17 wherein said powder particles are of average diameter in the range of about 1 micron to about 10 microns.

Claim 18

The method of claim 8 wherein said particulate migration marking material is of average particle size in the range of about 0.02 micron to about 2 microns.

Claim 19

The method of claim 19 wherein said particulate migration marking material is of average particle size in the range of about 0.03 micron to about 0.5 microns.

Claim 20

The method of claim 1 additionally comprising after the developing step, the step of increasing the resistance of the softenable material to migration of the particulate migration marking material thereby fixing the migrated image.