Importance

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Abstract

A printing system forms a first electrostatic latent image on a dielectric member and tones the image with a first toner. The toned image is then consolidated on the dielectric member, and one or more additional toners are applied to form a multiply-toned image which is then fused and transferred to a sheet. At intermediate stages of forming the multiply-toned image, the previously applied toner is melted and cooled to consolidate it. A dielectric belt with a fast thermal response time allows the multicolor image to be efficiently formed on the belt and all colors transferred to a paper sheet which is fed once through the machine. The belt may receive latent images from a photosensitive imaging drum of conventional type, or may itself be a photosensitive belt which directly receives an optical image. Preferably, however, the electrostatic latent images are deposited on the belt by one or more electronically controlled printhead arrays. By charge coding the latent image, one printhead operating in a bipolar mode may deposit a single image which is toned with four colors. Images may also be consolidated directly on a latent imaging drum.

First Claim