The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for non-impact, single-pass printing in which the toner exhibits a selective or "tuned" response to an agent having a preselected characteristic, such as light energy of a particular frequency emitted by a laser, to impart an image to a printing surface or substrate.

An apparatus and method for providing accurate layer registration for multiple layer electronic printing systems discloses a means and a method of reducing the positional scan-to-scan error in a multiple layer electronic printing systems, typically multi-beam laser raster output scanners, in which accurate layer registration is critical. The method comprises determination of a time delay between page sync signal and start-of-scan signal, using this delay to determine delay dependent offset factor called the phase registration parameter, and correctively mapping image data to proper output channels based on the phase registration parameter and the laser number. The phase registration parameter must be determined at the beginning of each scan layer and the offset factors must be re-adjusted based on the new phase delay.

In an optical printing system for printing an image on a recording sheet, adopted as the recording sheet is a sheet coated with microcapsules on one surface thereof. Each microcapsule envelopes a first component which changes color when reacts with a second component. The second component may be coated on the recording sheet or may be coated on a separate developing sheet. The microcapsule further envelopes a third component which varies the mechanical strength of microcapsule when light is projected thereto. An image is formed on the recording sheet by selectively exposing a light thereto in accordance with the image to be printed thereon, and the microcapsules on the recording sheet whose mechanical strength is low are then ruptured by rupturing means. Thereby, the color is developed or the recording sheet on the separate developing sheet by the reaction of the first component with the second component.

A multicolor printer for providing a printout of record data in desired colors by using the three primary colors of cyan, yellow and magenta either singly or by subtractive color mixing for developing a magnetic latent image and/or at least one type of electrostatic latent image formed on a recording drum having a conductive material layer, a magnetizable material layer and an insulating material layer superposed one over another in the indicated order. A multiple magnetic head forms on the magnetizable material layer a magnetic latent image of the record data corresponding to a first primary color, and a multiple stylus forms on the insulating material layer a positively charged electrostatic latent image and/or a negatively charged electrostatic latent image corresponding to a second primary color and/or a third primary color. The magnetic latent image and/or the electrostatic latent image or images are developed in the desired colors by a plurality of developing devices into a developed image of the record data which is printed on a sheet of support material by a transfer-printing roll and the multicolored image printed on the sheet of support material is fixed by fixing roll to provide a printout of the record data in multicolor.

In an optical printing system for printing an image on a recording sheet, adopted as the recording sheet is a sheet coated with microcapsules on one surface thereon. Each microcapsule envelopes a first component which changes color when reacts with a second component. The second component may be coated on the recording sheet or may be coated on a separate developing sheet. The microcapsule further envelopes a third component which varies the mechanical strength of microcapsule when light is projected thereto. An image is formed on the recording sheet by selectively exposing a light thereto in accordance with the image to be printed thereon, and the microcapsules on the recording sheet whose mechanical strength is low are then ruptured by rupturing means. Thereby, the color is developed or the recording sheet on the first component with the second component. The printing operation of the printing system is executed by control means in accordance with a predetermined sequence.