US3566786A

US3566786A - Image producing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3566786A
Application number: US804956A
Authority: US
Inventors: Helmut Kaufer; Erich Burger; Hans-Peter Huber
Original assignee: HELMUT TAUFER
Current assignee: HELMUT TAUFER
Priority date: 1965-01-29
Filing date: 1969-03-06
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02

Abstract

A copy of an image is produced by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material in a device which comprises a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and formed with an inner cavity. Along the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall are formed a plurality of closely spaced grooves extending in longitudinal direction of the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall is rotatable about its axis and a feeding arrangement is provided for introducing magnetizable pulverulent material such as a magnetic ink into the grooves at a portion of the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall which is upstream of the top portion of the rotating wall. Means are provided for passing concurrent with the rotation of the cylindrical wall an image-carrying sheet along the top portion thereof and for passing a carrier sheet for the image to be formed along the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall, so that when the cylindrical wall serves as a printing cylinder the carrier sheet passes the cylinder in a printing plane and contacts the cylinder along a printing line formed by the lowermost portion of the cylinder. A heating arrange ment is so located as to heat the image-carrying sheet in the area of contact of the same with the outer surface of the cylindrical wall so that the magnetizable material in the grooves located in this area of contact will be selectively heated according to a pattern corresponding to the image, thereby forming in the magnetizable material in the grooves a selective pattern of predetermined magnetic permeability corresponding to the image. A source of magnetic force is located in the cavity of the cylinder adjacent to the portion of the cylindrical wall which passes from the area of contact with the image towards the printing line, and serves for holding in the grooves only the portions of the magnetic pulverulent material which forms the selective pattern of predetermined permeability, whereas the other portions of the pulverulent material are allowed to fall off the cylinder. The source of magnetic force is so arranged that the magnetic force will terminate adjacent but spaced from the radial plane of the cylindrical wall passing through the printing line, whereby at the printing line the pulverulent material forming the selective pattern will no longer be subjected to magnetic force and will drop from the grooves onto the carrier sheet forming thereon a copy of the image.

Description

United States Patent Germany [21 Appl. No. 804,956 [22] Filed Mar. 6, 1969 Division of Ser. No. 428,964, Jan. 29, 1965, Patent No. 3,472,695.

[45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [32] Priority Feb. 6, 1964 [3 3] Germany [54] IMAGE PRODUCING APPARATUS 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 101/150, 346/74,1l7/l7.5,101/468,101/132,101/471, 118/637 [51] Int. Cl B41m 1/10, B41f 9/00 [50] Field of Search 346/74; 117/17.5;l01/(ESD),150, 132,468,471; 118/637 4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,126,492 3/1964 Swoboda 346/74X 3,250,636 5/1966 Wilferth l17/17.5 3,279,367 10/1966 Brown 346/74X 3,301,948 1/1967 Todt 346/74X 3,343,174 9/1967 Kornei l 346/74 3,364,496 l/l968 Greiner et a1 346/74 3,472,695 10/1969 Kaufer et al. 117/17.5X 3,496,304 2/1970 Nelson 346/74X Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Attorney Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A copy of an image is produced by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material in a device which comprises a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and formed with an inner cavity. Along the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall are formed a plurality of closely spaced grooves extending in longitudinal direction of the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall is rotatable about its axis and a feeding arrangement is provided for introducing magnetizable pulverulent material such as a magnetic ink into the grooves at a portion of the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall which is upstream of the top portion of the rotating wall. Means are provided for passing concurrent with the rotation of the cylindrical wall an imagecarrying sheet along the top portion thereof and for passing a carrier sheet for the image to be formed along the bottom portion of the cylindrical wall, so that when the cylindrical wall serves as a printing cylinder the carrier sheet passes the cylinder in a printing plane and contacts the cylinder along a printing line formed by the lowermost portion of the cylinder. A heating arrange ment is so located as to heat the image-carrying sheet in the area of contact of the same with the outer surface of the cylindrical wall so that the magnetizable material in the grooves located in this area of contact will be selectively heated according to a pattern corresponding to the image, thereby forming in the magnetizable material in the grooves a selective pattern of predetermined magnetic permeability corresponding to the image. A source of magnetic force is located in the cavity of the cylinder adjacent to the portion of the cylindrical wall which passes from the area of contact with the image towards the printing line, and serves for holding in the grooves only the portions of the magnetic pulverulent material which forms the selective pattern of predetermined permeability, whereas the other portions of the pulverulent material are allowed to fall off the cylinder. The source of magnetic force is so arranged that the magnetic force will terminate adjacent but spaced from the radial plane of the cylindrical wall passing through the printing line, whereby at the printing line the pulverulent material forming the selective pattern will no longer be subjected to magnetic force and will drop from the grooves onto the carrier sheet forming thereon a copy of the image.

Ptented March 2,1971 3,566,786

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 U6 QQN Q2 Q2 QM v Q Qm h u Ekm OEMQ fi 88 DQQN 2 QQDM l oobv a INVENTOR.

HELMUT KAUFER ERICH BURGER HANS-PETER HUBER 4 mm Kim-1,

Patented March 2,1971 3,566,786

4 Sheets-Sheet, 3 I

3 QAQYQM'E 2 a on cm a e M:

fNNNNN Figs IN VEN TOR.

HELMUT KAUFER y ERICH BURGER HANS-PETER HUBER Patenfed March 2, 1971 3,566,786

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 N I 4b 4 g\\// 61 ms mm g. 7/ J F' INVENTOR.

HELMUT KAUFER y ERICH BURGER HANS-PETER HUBER Patented March 2, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR.

HELMUT KAUFER ERICH BURGER By HANS-PETER HUBER AYN/(l/ ff/rrln IMAGE PRODUCINGAPPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 428,964, filed Jan. 29, 1965, now Pat. No. 3,472,645, and entitled Method and Apparatus for Forming an Image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming an image and, more particularly, the present invention is concerned. with forming a visible image with the help of a magnetizable material, by heating the magnetizable material in a pattern corresponding to the image to be formed and by utilizing the-variation of a magnetic property of the magnetizable material as a function of the temperature for producing a latent magnet image.

Several methods have been proposed for making latent magnet images visible and for magnetically. transferring the same onto a suitable image carrier. Such magnet printing processes are easy to carry out because the printing process itself as well as the possibly required cleaning steps can be carried out with the help of suitable magnetic fields without direct contact, whereby the intensity of the magnet fields can be easily controlled. When a graduated latent magnet image has been produced or is available, it is even possible to produce halftone prints thereof.

However, up to now, these advantages were connected with the disadvantage that the latent magnet image could be produced only in a relatively involved and difficult manner. According to the known methods, for instance, the latent magnetic image is produced by pointwise magnetizing a permanently magnetizable layer, whereby the energizing current of the electromagnet is controlled through a photocell amplifier which scans an image which is to be reproduced. In another device which may be used for rapid printout in connection with electronic data processing apparatus, a matrix which'is formed of small magnet coils is activated corresponding to the image so as to form a magnetic replica thereof. Another method of the prior art proposes the forming of'a magnetic printing form by application of a highly permeable material in accordance with the pattern of the image to be produced.

Whenever in the present specification and claims reference is made to permeability, this is to denote magnetic permeability.

It has also been attempted toproduce a latent magnetic image by heating a portion of a premagnetized layer of magnetic material, which portion corresponds to the image which is to be reproduced, above the Curie point of the material. Thereby, however, the useful range of temperatures is extremely limited by the coercive forces. Even when using the most favorable magnetic material which presently is available for this process, such-as ferromagnetic chromium oxides, it will be found that for Curie points in the temperature range which is suitable for the forming of an image or an image copy by application of heat, the coercive force drops to the lower limit of the value which is suitable for magnetic image formation and copying. Even at the upper limit of the temperature range which is suitable for the heat copying method, the coercive forces which can be brought to play suffice only forthe selective attraction of very easily movable pigment particles which are located at a very small distance from the magnetic layer.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will overcome the above discussed difficulties and disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for forming an image or an image copy by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material, which device may be operated in a simple and economical manner.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION A device for forming a copy of an image by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material is proposed according to thepresent invention, which device comprises a cylindrical wall having a.

substantially horizontal axis, defining an inner cavity and formed at its outer surface with a plurality of closely spaced cal wall an image-carrying sheet along the top portion-0f the;

same, and a carrier sheet for the image to be formed along the. bottom portion of the cylindrical wall sothat when the cylindrical wall serves as a printing cylinder, the carrier sheet passes the cylinder in a printing plane and contacts the cylinder along a printing line formed by the lowermost portion of the cylinder, heating means for heating said image carrying,

sheet in the area of contact of the same with the outer surface of the cylinder so that the magnetizable material in the grooves located in the area of contact will be selectively heated according to a pattern corresponding to the image thereby forming in the magnetizable material in the grooves a selective pattern of predetermined magnetic permeability corresponding to the image, magnetic means located in the cavity of the cylindrical wall adjacent the portion of the cylindrical wall passing from the area towards the printing line for holding in the grooves only the portion of the magnetic pulverulent material forming the selective pattern of predetermined permeability while allowing the other portions of the pulverulent material to fall of the cylindrical wall, the magnetic means terminating adjacent to but spaced from the radial plane of the cylindrical wall passing through said printing line, whereby at" the printing line said pulverulent material forming the selective pattern will no longer be subjected to the magnetic force of the magnetic means and will drop from the grooves onto said carrier sheet forming thereon a copy of the image.

Preferably, the cylindrical wall is formed of translucent material of low heat conductivity and the grooves are so shaped as to define a scoop wheel-shaped configuration at the outer periphery of the .cylindrical wall.

The heating means'maybe located outside the cylindrical wall or within the inner cavity defined by the cylindrical wall. The magnetic means preferably include. a curved, permanently magnetic plate located inwardly of and closely adjacent to the portion of the cylindrical wall which passes from the heating means to the printing line and, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the-device also includes fixing means for fixing the. image-forming pulverulent material to the carrier sheet. If the pulverulent material includes a low melting component, the fixing means will preferably include second heating means for melting the low-melting component on the carriersheet and thereby fixing the image-forming pulverulent material to the carrier sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows the permeability curves of several materials. which are suitable for producing a transitory, latent magnetic.

image, as a function of the temperature;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic arrangement for the forming of a transitory, latent magnetic image in an intermediate layer;

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement wherein the transitory, latent" magnetic image is produced in a carrier layer for'the image forming magnetic material (ink);

FIG. 4 shows the forming of a transitory, latent image in a magnetizable ink layer;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of the forming of a latent magnetic image in a permanently magnetizable layer by means of an intermediate layer of temperature-dependent permeability which is inserted as a variable, magnetic resistance into the magnetizing or demagnetizing field;

FIG. 6 shows a raster or screen of highly coercive and temperature-dependent permeable, magnetizable material arranged in a magnetic field;

,FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the forming of a copy by using a permanently magnetizable magnetic ink;

.FIG. 8 illustrates schematically the use of a magnetizable sieve for applying a soft magnetic ink;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates theuse of a permanently magnetizable ink carrier layer; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational cross-sectional view through a magnetic copying device wherein on a transfer cylinder a magnetic pulverulent image is formed which may then be transferred to any desired backing sheet. A

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention encompasses in a device for forming a copy of an image by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material, in combination, means for forming a surface of magnetizable material, the permeability of which depends upon the heating of the material, means for selectively heating the surface according to a predetermined pattern so as to form within the surface a selective pattern of surface portions within a predetermined range of permeability corresponding to the selective patternof heating of the surface, and means for forming from the selective pattern of surface portions within the predetermined permeability a permanent reproduction having the same pattern.

Thus, according to the present invention, the magnetic image is produced with the help of variations of the permeability as a function of the temperature. A transitory, latent magnetic image is formed which is suitable for use in magnetic duplication processes as wellas for carrying out a very effective printing process. For this purpose magnetizable materials are available in all temperature ranges including also the range of elevated temperatures directly adjacent to ambient or normal room temperature. Thereby, the permeability may drop within a range of a few degrees centigrade from a four digit value to that of a completely nonmagnetic material. Consequently, by utilizing relatively small heat differences, it is possible to selectively use external magnetic fields of any desired strength. Since the temperature dependent change of the permeability is reversible, it is possible to store the materials which are used for a certain specific manner of carrying out the method of the present invention even at temperatures which are above the working temperature of the respective method.

A permanent latent magnetic image with, forpractical purposes, any desired strength of permanent magnetic force can be produced in any range of working temperature provided that, as further proposed according to the present invention, a layer of temperature-dependent variable permeability is introduced as a variable magnetic resistance in a magnetizing or demagnetizing field which penetrates a permanently magnetizable layer. The magnetic record may then be fixed in a highly coercive magnetic material which may possess a Curie point which is considerably higher than the working temperature of the method, in other'words, the magnetic record may then form a latent image in practically any presently known hard or permanently magnetic material. The layer of temperature-depending variable permeability which controls the intensity of the recorded signal need not by itself possess any permanent magnetizability. Such materials are available in all desired temperature ranges.

Since the distribution laws which are valid for electric resistances arranged in parallel are also applicable for the magnetic resistance of two adjacent portions of a layer which is permeated by a magnetic field, the magnetic fluxes through two adjacent portions or points of a layer which is located in an initially homogeneous magnetic field will behave inversely to their local permeability number. Since further the materials which are available for this method possess four digit permeability values which upon heating to above the Curie temperature will drop to the value 1 of a nonmagnetic material, it is possible in this manner to achieve very strong differences in the magnetization of the permanent magnetizable material which is located in the same or any identical magnetic flux. Depending on whether a permanent field or an alternating field with decreasing amplitude is present, it is also possible to produce either a positive or negative image.

Very thin and easily heatable layers and a particularly low influence of constant magnetic resistance portions are obtained by exposing a network formed of permanently magnetizable materials of low permeability and materials of high, temperature-dependent variable permeability to a magnetizing or demagnetizing field. 1

The present invention may be carried out by utilizing the increase in the permeability which is connected with an increase in the temperature particularly of a ferrite or a mixed ferrite, or'the steep drop of the permeability particularly of such materials in the vicinity of the Curie point for producing variations of magnetization according to the image. Particularly the last-mentioned effect is suitable for carrying out a method which works very reliably and gives a great contrast, because in this area of the permeability curve, i.e., in the vicinity of the Curie point, a temperature rise of a'few-degrees centigrade will convert the magnetizable material from its condition of maximum permeability into a completely nonmagnetic condition of maximum permeability into a completely nonmagnetic condition.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, it is possible to produce a graduated latent magnetic image by utilizing the progressive decrease of the permeability, particularly of a metallic magnetic'alloy, for instance an iron-nickel alloy. When a graduated magnetic image which is obtained by means of a gradual increase or decrease of the permeability coacts, for instance with a powder dispersion or emulsion ink layer in which the magnetizable pigment particles are slowed down dependent on the printing speed, then a magnetic halftone print is obtained. Depending on whether the increase or decrease of the permeability is used, either a negative or a positive copy of the original image is obtained.

Basically, the heat image which is required for producing the latent magnetic image can be. applied in any desired manner, for instance by impressing for a short period of time a heated die. However, for quick conversion of an original image which, for instance, is drawn or imprinted on'paper, into a latent magnetic image, preferably, the heat image which is required for producing the latent magnetic image is produced by an image controlled heat radiation. The known methods for producing a heat image provide the utilization of reflected as well as of transmitted radiation. With both methods, i.e. with reflected as well as with transmitted radiation, depending on the type of heat contact with the original image, and depending on the length of radiation, positive or negative heat images may be produced. Further more, it is also possible to apply the heat image by an optical copying system which may be based on projection through a transparency, or

also on projection of light reflected from an opaque image. In each of these reversible radiation methods, it is thus possible to adjust the entire copying method so as to obtain the most desirable positive or negative effect with respect to the prevailing magnetic or copying condition.

In connection with the present magnetic copying method, particularly favorable conditions are achieved according to a further embodiment of the present invention by contacting an original image with a layer of magnetizable material which is interrupted by a translucent screen or raster, whereby the image-forming portions of the original image possess an ability point steeply dropping permeability characteristics, which heat image comprises portions formed at a temperature closely below the temperature at which the permeability reaches its maximum, as well as portions formed at a temperature which is above the Curie point.

When using transitory, latent magnetic images, according to a further characteristic or embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement can be made that a transitory or temporary, latent magnetic image is produced in an intermediate layer which is arranged between an external magnetic pole and the backing for the image which is to be produced. The image-producing material will then be attracted under the influence of a homogeneous magnetic field only at the portions of the backing sheet at which the heat image which has been formed in the intermediate layer has left a sufficient degree of permeability. Since, as described above, the permeability can be changed by one to a thousand or can be brought from a four digit value to the value of a nonmagnetic material, it is possible with this arrangement to achieve without difficulties a clearly different actuation of the printing or image-forming and the nonprinting or nonimage-forming portions.

Particularly advantageous structural conditions are met when the latent magnetic image is formed in a magnetizable carrier layer for the copy of the image which is to be formed or in a magnetically controlled sieve for the image-forming material. The image-forming material or magnetic ink will then be retained at the portions of the carrier layer in which the homogeneous magnetic field which acts on the magnetic ink and on the carrier layer can produce large induced magnetic forces due to the still high permeability at these portions. This is preferably the case when the permeability of the carrier layer is considerably greater than the permeability of the magnetic ink and when the induction-causing magnetic pole does not directly contact the magnetic ink. The printing magnetic ink is particularly firmly retained when it has to pass a regionally strongly magnetically controllable sieve, somewhat comparable with the silk screen process.

The simplest arrangement and at the same time the most immediate control of the attraction of the magnetic ink by the heat image, without any conversion loss is obtained when the latent magnetic image is produced in the image-forming or copy-forming material, for instance in alayer of magnetizable powder or in a magnetic ink layer. Here again, in the homogeneous magnetic field only those particles of magnetic material will be attracted which still possess a sufficiently high degree of permeability. Thereby, negative or positive images may be produced by having the image formed either by the ink or magnetic powder portion which is thus transferred from the original layer thereof, or by the ink or magnetic powder portion of lower permeability which has not been removed from the layer and which may subsequently be fixed to its original support in suitable manner known in the art.

The term homogeneous magnetic field as used hereinabove is not meant to denote a field which shows no gradation but is to denote primarily a field which is homogeneous at its origin, in other words, which at its origin does not include portions of varying strength, for instance corresponding to an image. It is entirely possible to produce a magnetic field which originates from two immediately adjacent magnetic poles and which is of diminishing strength in the direction towards the image-forming layer, in other words, a magnetic field which in the strict sense of the words would have to be considered an inhomogeneous magnetic field, and to shift the same by means of an intermediate or carrier layer of variable permeability in parts into the image-forming layer.

The effect of the arrangement according to the present invention can be further increased if the latent magnetic image is produced in a plurality of adjacent layers of magnetizable material which possess complementary magnetic properties.

Thus, for instance, a magnetic image may be produced in a carrier for the magnetic ink as well as in the magnetic ink itself. If in such case the permeability of the magnetic ink has characteristics opposite to that of the carrier, then, at the heated portions, an intensified transfer of the magnetic ink onto the carrier sheet for the copy which is to be produced, or by reversal of the characteristics, an increased adherence of the not or less heated portions of the magnetic ink at their original support will be accomplished. The same holds also true for the combination of magnetic ink and intermediate layer with identical characteristics, and intermediate layer and support also with identical characteristics, as well as basically also for the combination of three layers, although in the latter case the exact application of the heat image becomes somewhat more difficult.

By utilizing the permanent latent magnetic image, it is possible to produce the same according to a further embodiment in the present invention also in the image-forming material. For instance, it is possible in a very simple manner by using an intermediate layer of variable permeability to accomplish a permanent magnetization of the magnetic ink corresponding to the image which is to be reproduced. The transfer of a thus prepared ink onto a carrier sheet can be achieved by the simple expedient of placing underneath a highly permeable material, for instance a soft-iron plate.

A particularly effective separation of the printing and the nonprinting portions of the magnetic ink, i.e. of the imageforming portions of the magnetic ink from the remainder of the layer of magnetic ink can be achieved under utilization of the permanent latent magnetic image by using a permanently magnetizable sieve for the image-forming material such as a magnetic ink or magnetizable powder, which, for instance under interposition of a variably permeable intermediate layer which has been magnetized or demagnetized in a pattern corresponding to the image which is to be reproduced.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the image-forming material may be applied onto a permanently magnetizable carrier layer which contains the latent magnetic image, which carrier layer has been premagnetized or demagnetized under interposition of a variably permeable intermediate layer. It is possible to operate with the smooth surface of a thus produced printing form in a manner somewhat similar to the conventional litho printing. Due to the fact that the inking in, as well as the printing and the cleaning is carried out without direct contact, this method can be carried out in a muchsimpler manner than litho printing and the useful lifespan of the printing form is considerably prolonged.

Such permanently magnetizable carrier layer containing the latent magnetic image is particularly suitable for attaching to a printing cylinder, whereby the printing form may be applied and extinguished in the printing machine. This possibility may be utilized in a particularly advantageous manner in connection with the partial printing according to the so-called system printing which is described for instance in U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,032.

It is also possible to form on a foil a layer which may be magnetized corresponding to an image and to attach the foil with the magnetizable layer thereon onto a printing machine which may be provided with special magnetic ink supply and cleaning devices. Furthermore, such foil of synthetic material or paper on which an image has been formed by application of a magnetic pigment or magnetic ink may serve not only as printing form but also as a copy of the original image by suitably fixing the image-forming magnetic pigment or ink thereon.

Several methods are known for making the latent magnetic image visible. Preferably, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the latent magnetic image is made visible by means of a magnetizable powder with the individual particles thereof coated with a material which will melt at a temperature abovethe working temperature required for the forming of the magnetic image. In this case, the fixing of the image formed of the magnetizable powder on a carrier sheet can be carried out in a very simple manner by heating above the working temperature to the melting temperature of the coating, whereby this melting temperature may be sufficiently high so that the magnetizable powder having such coating may be stored in the vicinity of room heating devices such as radiators or the like without endangering the storability of the coated powder. This method is particularly suitable for magnetic duplication processes.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in a magnetic printing method, the latent magnetic image is to be made visible by means of a magnetic printing ink wherein in a known manner a proportion of magnetic pigment which is as high as possible is bound in a binder which will be taken up by paper. The large magnetic forces which can be controlled according to the present invention permit application of the magnetic dye onto a carrier sheet without direct contact between the magnetic dye layer and the carrier sheet. Due to the absorbability of the binder in the carrier sheet, the printed sheets may be immediately stacked so that the magnetic printing process can be carried out with the same speed as conventional printing processes. 7

According to the present invention,'a device for carrying out the method of the invention preferably should include at least a motor driven transporting roller, a source of heat radiation and an elongated magnetic bar such as is used for instance for extinguishing recordings on magnetic tapes. A particularly simple duplicating device is obtained by providing a hollow cylinder which preferably carries at its outer surface a translucent screen or a plurality of closely adjacent grooves and which is contacted by a sheet carrying the original image, as well as by a backing sheet for the copy which is to be produced. The cylinder serves as carrier for the image-form-' ing magnetizable material, which is deposited in the grooves. Furthermore, a permanent magnet is provided which holds the portions of the magnetic powder, which serve for forming the image, in the grooves while the cylinder surface rotates downwardly, so that the nonimage-forming portions of the pulverulent material will fall off the cylinder surface. The magnet is arranged so as to act on the magnetizable powder between a heating area in which the same is heated corresponding to the image which is to be copied, and a transfer area or printing line in which the cylinder surface is preferably located directly above the backing sheet for the copy whichis to be produced.

Furthermore, in a simple device according to the present invention for producing undistorted, authentic copies, an endless resilient carrier band is provided which on its outer surface is formed with translucent grooves and which passes through a bath of magnetic ink and a heating zone, whereby the outer surface of the band serves as carrier for the magnetic ink which represents the image-forming material. Immediately following the heating zone, in the direction of movement of the endless band, a permanent magnet is provided which will draw the image-forming portions of the magnetic ink onto a carrier sheet which passes in the vicinity but out of contact with the endless band.

A device which permits the printing of a large number of copies as well as the printing of single copies or system copies includes, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, a cylinder which carries a permanently magnetizable carrier layer for the image-forming material and around which a device for applying the heat image, a magnetizing or demagnetizing device, a supply device for magnetic ink, a paper transporting device, a counter roller and a cleaning device are arranged. Preferably, there are also provided a pattern carriage for carrying the original image which is to be copies or printed and which carriage will move with a speed corresponding to the circumferential speed of the cylinder, furthermore a mirror which can be interposed into the path of the heat rays which form the heat image, as well as a thermostatically controlled heating device for maintaining a cylinder temperature which is slightly below the working temperature of the method. The ink supplying device, preferably, will include an ink container having a permanently magnetized outlet opening or screen opening, the magnetic forces of which will permit the flowing out of the magnetizable ink only under the combined influence of the gravity acting on the magnetic ink and the magnetic force of the ink carrier layer.

The strong permanent magnetic image which which can be produced according to the present invention can be used in a particularly advantageous manner for carrying out magnetic printing by applying to a carrier layer which is permanently magnetized in accordance with the image to be reproduced, a magnetizable material forming on the carrier layer a relief corresponding to the magnetic image, and the raised portions of which can be inked with conventional relief printing ink. Preferably, the surface of the carrier layer is provided with grooves or the like, in order to prevent a dislocation of the relief image during the printing process.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1, the mixed ferrites Ni Zn ,Ee o Ni ln Fe fl, and Mn, ,zn,, ,e,o, are taken from, treatise ,Ferrite by Dr. .1. Smit, Dr. H. P. P. J. Wijn, Philips technische Bibliothek 1962 The first two mentioned materials belong to a system of materials within which the temperature-dependent properties of the materials can be continuously changed as a function of the proportion of Ni or Zn. 1500 N 4" is the trade name of a ferrite which is obtainable from the firm Sienens and Halske AG for use in high frequency cores. Thermoperm" is the trade name of an iron-nickel alloy which is available for temperature compensation in magnetic loops and produced by the firm Krupp.

If the ambient room temperature is indicated by A, the temperature at which the permeabilityreaches its maximum by D and the temperature at which the permeability of the material drops to the value 1 of a nonmagnetic material, which temperature is substantially identical with the Curie temperature, is indicated by C, it will be seen that heating of the materials from A to BlB4 will cause an approximately linear rise of the permeability by a factor of about 1.5 in each case, which upon suitable arrangement of the magnetic field and the retarding forces in the binder containing the magnetic pigments may be used for producing a magnetic image. In the case of heating Thermoperms for A to C5, a permeability curve is found which drops by the factor with substantially linear gradation, which, for instance, is suitable for producing magnetic halftone prints.

Particularly favorable conditions are obtained when the temperature difference between B and C is used for forming the magnetic image. Thereby heating by less than 5C. will cause a sudden change in the degree of permeability by a factor of 1,000. With devices operating in this range of permeability change, it is not necessary to take particular care with respect to the adjustment between the magnetic fields and the retarding forces of the magnetic pigment. If the pigment itself consists of a material which within the working temperature range of the method possesses a suddenly changing permeability, then the pigment will be attracted at the temperature B by very weak magnetic fields, while upon exceeding temperature C, the pigment cannot be moved even by the strongest magnetic fields because it has become completely nonmagnetic.

In this manner, it is possible with the help of relatively low degrees of heating to control magnetic fields which are capable of achieving the desired effect with a very high degree of certainty. Therefore, the required heating can be carried out in such a manner that the temperature-dependent layer is generally heated by a thermostaticallycontrolled heat source to the temperature B which preferably is slightly above the maximum possible temperature of the surrounding area. For producing the latent magnetic image it is then only necessary to carry out an additional heating of the image-forming portions by less than 5C. These small temperature differences can be applied even with the help bf copying systems for transparencies as well as those which project light reflected from an opaque image, although particularly the latter are of relatively low efficiency.

When a strong heat source is available, it is not necessary to carefully control the same, since for producing a difference in the permeability by the factor 1,000, it suffices if part of the layer is heated to any temperature between A and B while other portions of the layer are heated to a temperature above -C which may be higher than temperature C to any desired extent, provided that the temperature does not reach the point at which the original image or for instance the paper backing sheet thereof will be yellowed. 7

It is known from the pertinent literature that in addition to the materials illustrated in FIG. 1 there exist a great number of other materials which are suitable for carrying out the process of the present invention. Thus, cobalt-mixed ferrites are known with a steeper rise and a shallower drop of the permeability curve, as well as magnetic metal alloys with Curie points which may be chosen as desired. Furthermore, it was found experimentally that the temperature curves of materials which were not produced for the purpose of having specific Curie points, very frequently represent the average values of a mixture from which by means of magnetic separation after heating to specific temperatures, groups of material with a correspondingly smaller variation of the temperature dependency can be obtained.

According to FIG. 2 a temperature dependent, permeable layer 1 is arranged as a magnetic resistance in the field of a magnet pole 4 which attracts the magnetic ink particles 2 onto a backing sheet 3 which may consists, for instance, of paper. In this case, the backing sheet or support 5 for the ink is formed of a magnetically neutral material.

In order to stress what is to be essentially shown in this and the following schematic representations, the details of the application of the heat image and of the fixing of the copy are not illustrated therein. In FIGS. 2-9, heating is shown by wavy arrow, induced magnetism by small arrows and permanent magnetism by N or S, whereby the opposite pole or magnetic conductor which is generally required for producing the magnetic field, has not been illustrated. A small minus sign indicates that at this point either the permeability has disappeared or, in the case of the permanent magnetic image, no magnetization has been produced. In accordance with these symbols, FIG. 2 shows that at the portions of the intermediate layer which are not touched by the heat rays, due to the there still present permeability, magnetism is induced which is transmitted to the permeable magnetic ink particles which thereby, at those portions, are attracted to the carrier layer.

According to FIG. 3, the permeable ink particles 2 are firmly held at such portions of a highly permeable support which possesses within the working range of the method a strongly varying permeability, at which the high permeability and the magnetism which is induced in this layer by magnetic pole 4 has not disappeared due to heating, or at least has not dropped below the value presented by the ink.

According to FIG. 4, magnetic ink 2 possesses a preferably high permeability and in any event a permeability which within the working temperature range of the method is clearly temperature dependent. By means of an external magnetic pole 4 a sufficient magnetism is induced into the dye particles which have not been heated above a predetermined temperature, which magnetism suffices for attraction of these dye particles onto carrying sheet 3.

According to FIG. 5, a layer 1 having a temperature-dependent variable permeability is located in the magnetizing or demagnetizing field of external magnetic pole 4 which affects a permanently magnetizable layer 7. For the purpose of magnetization, pole N may be formed either by a strong permanent magnet or by a direct current coil. For demagnetization, the same coil is fed with alternating current. The carrier layer 7 is then moved jointly with intermediate layer 1 past pole 4. Intermediate layer 1, previous thereto has been heated in accordance with the image which is to be printed or copied, whereby each portion of permanent magnetic layer 7 passes through the tapered or decreasing alternating field which is required for demagnetization.

FIG. 6 shows a thin screen or raster 9 which may be formed on a magnetically neutral or generally constant permeable support 8 by a conventional printing process. Raster 9 consists of highly coercive portions 9a aand temperature dependent permeable portions 9b. If this raster consists for instance of magnetic pigments such as the one known as Bayer $11 which is used for producing magnetic recording tape and which has a coercive force of 800 oerstedt and a permeability of the magnitude of 10, and of the mixed ferrite Mn .,Zn ,F e 0, which has a maximum permeability of about 2,000, then at temperature B according to FIG. 1, the by far largest portion of the lines of magnetic force 4a will pass through ferrite 9b. However, at temperature C2 at which the permeability of the ferrite has dropped to the value 1, the lines of magnetic force 4b will be passed to a large extent through the raster portions 9a which consist of Bayer S1 1 which now possess the higher permeability and will give to these raster portions a permanent magnetization or, when an alternating field with decreasing amplitude is applied, will extinguish the previously present premagnetization.

According to FIG. 7, a magnetizable ink layer 10 is applied to a magnetically neutral support 5. Ink layer 10- has been magnetized according to one of the methods described further above in conformance with an image so as to form a magnetic image. The permanently magnetic ink portions caused by in duction magnetization of a highly permeable layer 11 located behind the support for the image copy to be produced, and the magnetized image forming ink portions are attracted in this manner to the support 3.

According to FIG. 8, a magnetic ink 2 is applied to a support 3 with interposition of a magnetized sieve which carries a latent magnetic image. At the magnetized portions of the sieve, the preferably highly permeable ink particles cannot pass the sieve and thus a magnetic screen print is produced. This effect can also be obtained with a magnetically controlled sieve which is formed of a material of temperature-dependent permeability.

FIG. 9 shows a foil 13 to which ink has been applied by conventional means, for instance an applicator roller which does not contact foil 13, by applying magnetic whiskers or the like so that the dye is applied onlyat the image forming magnetized portions of foil 3. The magnetization has been carried out in a known manner with varying polarity in order to achieve a better contrast or a sharper delineation of the magnetic fields. The printing from a thus inked foil can be carried out in an offset manner, if desired also with interposition of a transfer cylinder.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 19 denotes the housing of a simple office copying device. In this housing is arranged a translucent cylinder 20 formed of glass or synthetic material. At its surface, cylinder 20 carries a fine screen or raster 20a which consists of groove shaped indentations which may be formed for instance by etching. As shown in more detail at A and B indentations 20a preferably are of scoop wheel cross section so that on the one hand, they will be capable of carrying along magnetic powder 22 when passing funnel 21 and, on the other hand, will be capable of throwing off the portion of the powder which by heating has become nonmagnetic and which is not needed for forming the image, immediately after passing through heating zone a. The application of the powder can, if necessary, also be assisted by the proper application of magnetic fields.

Heating can be carried out in reflex process by means of a heat source 18 located in the interior of cylinder 20, or by means of transmitted radiation, utilizing an external heat source 18d. The powder which is to be heated is located in the immediate vicinity of the original image 23 so that a sharply defined heat image will be formed. Due to the fact that any powder which might extend outwardly of the raster indentations is raked off by means of rubber rake 26, contamination of original image 23 cannot take place.

Immediately following heating zones a a magnetic field is arranged which covers the entire zone b along which the portions of the powder which have been converted by the application of heat are to be thrown off. This magnetic field may be formed, for instance, by a permanent magnet plate 24 located inside cylinder 20. By means of this magnetic field, the portions of the powder which have remained below the conversion temperature and which correspond to the black portions of original image 23 will be held on the surface of cylinder 20. Since glass and synthetic materials are very poor heat conductors, a harmful heat conduction in the short transfer period is not to be expected It is also impossible that during this short period of time heat flow can take place within the magnetic powder which is located in the small raster indentations. Thus, the sharpness of the image is limited by the dimensions of the very small raster grooves and the even smaller particle size of the pigment which is chosen as small as possible.

The portion of the magnetic powder which during application of the heat image has become nonmagnetic as well as nonmagnetic binder constituents or the like which would interfere with the forming of the copy or the image, will drop under the influence of gravity into collecting vessel 22a. This dropping can be supported, if necessary by mechanical, pneumatic or electrostatic forces. The powder image which remains on cylinder 20 will drop upon reaching the end of the inner magnetic field or or permanent magnet plate 24, under the influence of gravity, onto the support sheet 27 which contacts the lowermost portion of cylinder 20 along a printing line. Copy sheet 27, for instance, may be a regular paper sheet. Since the circumferential speed of cylinder 20 is equal to the forward speed of copy sheet 27 the transfer of the magnetic powder takes place without distortion of the image. The exact transfer can be supported if desired by properly arranged magnetic fields.

The fixing of the image formed by the magnetic powder on copy sheet 27 can be accomplished for instance with a spray lacquer, or by means of an adhesive layer which has been previously applied to copy sheet 27 or the like. According to the presently described example, the individual particles of the magnetic powder which have a Curie point of about 50 C. are coated with a synthetic material which will melt at a temperature of about ll C. A source of radiant heat 28 serves for heating the powder image on carrier sheet 27 to such temperature of 100-l 10 C. so that the powder image will be molten onto carrier sheet 27. For the movement of the original image carrying sheet 23 and of copy sheet 27 guiding rollers 29 are provided which preferably are rotated by means of a joint adjustable motor and which simultaneously are coupled with an interposed suitable transmission to rotating cylinder 20.

In cases where the magnetic powder is to serve directly and without admixtures as the image forming material, for instance in accordance with FIGS. 4 and 10, the powder which possesses the magnetic properties according to FIG. 1 should be ground as fine as possible in order to have a good adherence to the carrier sheet, for instance a paper surface on which the image is to be printed. Very fine grain sizes of the magnetic powder are obtained by wet grinding for between about and 40 hours of precominuted ferrite particles. It may be pointed out that the term mixed ferrite" as used herein does not denote a mixture of several ferrites, but a ferrite which contrary to a simple ferrite contains in addition to iron not only one metal oxide but several metal oxides, for instance like the nickel-zinc and manganese-zinc ferrite according to FIG. 1.

In order to produce a magnetic powder which may be adhere'd to the copy sheet by heating, as for instance described in connection with FIG. 10, the following method may be followed:

Twentyfive parts by weight of colophony are stirred in liquid condition with 100 parts by weight of a ferrite powder such as Ni Zn Fe 0 shown in FIG. 1, and 1 part by weight of channel black or lamp black. After cooling, the mass is ground and screened. A deep black magnetic ink powder is obtained wherein the individual particles are covered by a coating which softens at C. and melts at C. and thereby draws the pigment particles into the surface of the carrier sheet.

It is possible to produce a magnetic printing ink which is suitable for use in the apparatus of the present invention from the conventional materials of an offset printing ink. Thereby, the magnetic pigment is bound generally in varnishlike binders containing resinous and oily constituents. Upon contacting the copy sheet, the constituents of the binder separate into their component parts. The mineral oil constituent of the printing ink is immediately absorbed by the fiber structure, the fillers or the coating of the thus-printed paper. The resinous constituents are thereby transformed into an immediately nonsmearable gelatinous form and adhere well to the paper, Known varnish combinations which quickly penetrate the paper are polymerized linseed oil and a resinous oil produced from mineral oil, or mineral oil combined with synthetic resins or rubber. I

Such a magnetic printing ink which contains about between 5075 percent by weight of highly permeable magnetic pig ment particles can be transferred in an inhomogeneous magnetic field which has a maximum field strength of about 500 oerstedt across an air gap of between about 0.5 and 1 mm. formed between two rollers. The field strength required for such transfer across an air gap will be reduced, in known manner, by about the square of any reduction of the width of the air gap. It is possible-to operate with a minimum field strength when transfer roller and printing form are in direct contact with each other so that direct ink transfer, due to such contact, would also be possible at the nonmagnetic portions, if in the manner of offset or flat printing such transfer at the nonmagnetic portions is prevented by moistening of the printing form.

Since the highly permeable magnetic pigments do not always possess sufficient color strength, it is frequently advantageous to add thereto a certain percentage of conventional inorganic or organic pigments, for instance, channel black. This has been done in the example above by the addition of the multilith printing ink which contains such black pigments.

It is, of course, also possible to apply in conventional manner, lacquer to the'pigments in order to prevent undesirable spreading in the paper, and the consistency of the ink can be adjusted to the respective printing process in conventional manner by the addition of appropriate diluting or thickening agents.

A layer of variable magnetic resistance corresponding to layer 1 of FIG. 2 can be obtained by mixing 50 percent of a pourable polyester resin, such as Leguval made by Bayer, with 45 percent by volume of ferrite powder, such as I500 N 4 made by Siemens, and 5 percent by volume of a hardener (peroxide), and by pouring the mixture onto a proper support, for instance a cylinder. A hard layer is formed thereby having a means permeability in cold condition of about p. l5 and in hot condition, i.e above the Curie point of the ferrite powder, of about p. 1.

In the same manner, however by using 50 percent by volume of Bayer S12 powder, it is possible to produce a permanently magnetizable layer corresponding to layer 7 of FIG. 5. The particle size of the powder depends in both cases on the desired degree of optical resolving power of the copy layer. Generally, the particle size may average about 10 microns.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of magnetic image forming devices, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a magnetic image-forming device utilizing the temperature variable permeability of certain materials, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

We claim:

1. A device for forming a copy of an image by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material, comprising, in combination, a cylindrical wall having a substantially horizontal axis, defining an inner cavity and formed at its outer surface with a plurality of closely spaced grooves extending along the length of the cylindrical wall; means for introducing magnetizable pulverulent material into said grooves at a portionof the outer periphery of said cylindrical wall which is upstream of the top portion of the rotating wall; means for passing concurrent with the rtation of said cylindrical wall an image carrying sheet along the top portion of the same, and a carrier sheet for the image to be formed along the bottom portion of said cylindrical wall so that when said cylindrical wall serves as a printing cylinder, said carrier sheet passes said cylinder in a printing plane and contacts said cylinder along a printing line formed by the lowermost portion of said cylinder; heating means for heating said image carrying sheet in the area of contact of the same with the outer surface of said cylinder so that said magnetizable material in the grooves located in said area of contact will be selectively heated according to a pattern corresponding to said image thereby forming in said magnetizable material in said grooves a selective pattern of predetermined magnetic permeability corresponding to said image; magnetic means located .in the cavity of said cylindrical wall adjacent the portion of the cylindrical wall passing from said area towards said printing line for holding in said grooves only the portions of said magnetic pulverulent material forming said selective pattern of predetermined permeability while allowing the other portions of said pulverulent material to fall off said cylindrical wall, said magnetic means terminating adjacent to but spaced from the radial plane of said cylindrical wall passing through said printing line, whereby at said printing line said pulverulent material forming said selective pattern will no longer be subjected to the magnetic force of said magnetic means and will drop from said grooves onto said carrier sheet forming thereon a copy of said image.

2. A device as defined in claim I, wherein said cylindrical wall is formed of translucent material.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said cylindrical wall is formed of glass.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said cylindrical wall is formed of synthetic material of low heat conductivity.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said grooves define a scoop-wheel-shaped configuration at the outer periphery of said cylindrical wall.

6. A device as defined in claim I, wherein said heating means is located outside said cylindrical wall.

7. A device as defined in claim I, wherein said heating means is located within said inner cavity by said cylindrical wall.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said magnetic means includes a curved permanently magnetic plate located inwardly of and closely adjacent to the portion of the cylindrical wall passing from said heating means towards said printing line.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, and including fixing means for fixing the image-forming pulverulent material to said carrier sheet.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said pulverulent material includes a low melting component and said fixing means includes second heating means for melting said component and thereby fixing the pulverulent material to said carrier sheet.

Patent No. ,786 Dated March 2 1971 lnventofls) Helmut Kaufer et 1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert [73] Assignee AGFA Aktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen, Germany Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent -'QRM PC4050 [10-69) USCOMM-DC l0!

Claims

1. A device for forming a copy of an image by utilizing the temperature dependency of the magnetic permeability of a magnetizable material, comprising, in combination, a cylindrical wall having a substantially horizontal axis, defining an inner cavity and formed at its outer surface with a plurality of closely spaced grooves extending along the length of the cylindrical wall; means for introducing magnetizable pulverulent material into said grooves at a portion of the outer periphery of said cylindrical wall which is upstream of the top portion of the rotating wall; means for passing concurrent with the rotation of said cylindrical wall an image carrying sheet along the top portion of the same, and a carrier sheet for the image to be formed along the bottom portion of said cylindrical wall so that when said cylindrical wall serves as a printing cylinder, said carrier sheet passes said cylinder in a printing plane and contacts said cylinder along a printing line formed by the lowermost portion of said cylinder; heating means for heating said image carrying sheet in the area of contact of the same with the outer surface of said cylinder so that said magnetizable material in the grooves located in said area of contact will be selectively heated according to a pattern corresponding to said image thereby forming in Said magnetizable material in said grooves a selective pattern of predetermined magnetic permeability corresponding to said image; magnetic means located in the cavity of said cylindrical wall adjacent the portion of the cylindrical wall passing from said area towards said printing line for holding in said grooves only the portions of said magnetic pulverulent material forming said selective pattern of predetermined permeability while allowing the other portions of said pulverulent material to fall off said cylindrical wall, said magnetic means terminating adjacent to but spaced from the radial plane of said cylindrical wall passing through said printing line, whereby at said printing line said pulverulent material forming said selective pattern will no longer be subjected to the magnetic force of said magnetic means and will drop from said grooves onto said carrier sheet forming thereon a copy of said image.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical wall is formed of translucent material.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means is located outside said cylindrical wall.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means is located within said inner cavity by said cylindrical wall.