1. A method for forming a relief structure from a photosensitive element having an exterior surface and an interior surface and containing a composition layer capable of being partially liquefied comprising:
supplying a development medium to the exterior surface with a first member;
supporting the photosensitive element on a base member having an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the element is adjacent the exterior surface of the base member; and
wherein the exterior surface of the base member defines a plane that is characterized by a plurality of surface projections from the plane, the exterior surface having a tack between 10 and 40 grams and a texture
having a roughness, Rq, of at least 1 micron when measured over a 250 to 1000 micron length scale.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a layer of a modification material to the base member wherein the layer of material forms the exterior surface having texture.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the layer is resilient or tacky.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the modification material is selected from the group consisting of natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, and elastomers.
8. (canceled)
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the applying of the layer is with a texturing spray gun.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the layer further comprises a roughening component.
11. (canceled)
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the base member is a selected from the group consisting of a drum, a roller, a platform member, a flexible support member, and a planar support.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing a flexible support member between the base member and the element, wherein the flexible support member has a surface which is the exterior surface having texture.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising applying a layer of a modification material to the flexible support member wherein the layer of material forms the exterior surface having texture.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising adding at least one layer to the flexible support member selected from the group consisting of a resilient layer, a tacky layer, a protective layer, a resilient and tacky layer, and combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the flexible support member comprises an aluminum sheet having a layer of silicone rubber on one side and a tacky layer on the silicone rubber layer, and wherein at least the tacky layer has texture.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is at least 1 micron when measured over a 250 to 750 micron length scale.
22. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is at least 5 micron when measured over a 700 to 750 micron length scale.
23. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a layer of an elastomeric material to the base member that forms the exterior surface of the base member and has the texture.
24. (canceled)
25. The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface defines a plane containing a plurality of projections and a plurality of pits that have a height relative to the plane, wherein an average height of the projections and pits is positive.
26. The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface defines a plane containing a plurality of projections and a plurality of pits, each having a height relative to the plane and a deviation from an average surface height, wherein at least 60% of a range of the deviations from the average height are projections above the average surface height.
27. The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface defines a plane containing a plurality of projections such that at least 60% of the surface is covered with projections.
28. The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the exterior surface of the element to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy.
29. The method of claim 1 further comprising contacting the exterior surface of the photosensitive element with a development medium to allow at least a portion of the liquefied material of the composition layer to be absorbed by the development medium.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising separating the photosensitive element from the development medium.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the contacting comprises pressing the photosensitive element and the development medium into contact at a pressure sufficient for at least a portion of the liquefied material of the composition layer to be absorbed by the development medium.
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
34. The method of claim 1 further comprising heating the exterior surface of the element to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy, wherein the heating is selected from the group consisting of
a first heating which applies heat to an exterior surface of the composition layer adjacent where a development medium contacts the layer, the first heating adapted to heat the exterior surface of the layer;
a second heating to heat the first member to a temperature capable of heating the exterior surface of the composition layer while the development medium is contacting the exterior surface of the layer;
a third heating to heat the base member to a temperature capable of heating the exterior surface of the composition layer;
combination of the first heating and the second heating;
combination of the first heating and the third heating;
combination of the second heating and the third heating; and
combination of the first heating, the second heating, and the third heating,
wherein the first heating, the second heating, and the third heating, individually or in the above combinations, is capable of heating the exterior surface of the composition layer sufficiently to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy.
35. A method for forming a relief structure from a photosensitive element having an exterior surface and an interior surface and containing a composition layer capable of being partially liquefied comprising:
supplying a development medium to the exterior surface with a first member;
supporting the photosensitive element on a base member having an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the element is adjacent the exterior surface of the base member; and
wherein the exterior surface of the base member defines a plane that is characterized by a plurality of surface projections from the plane, the exterior surface having a tack between 10 and 40 grams and a texture with a surface roughness, Rq, of at least 3 micron when measured over a 500 to 3000 micron length scale.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is at least 5 micron when measured over a 700 to 3000 micron length scale.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is 3 to 25 micron when measured over a 700 to 3000 micron length scale.
38. The method of claim 35 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is 5 to 15 micron when measured over a 700 to 3000 micron length scale.
39. An apparatus for forming a relief structure from a photosensitive element having an exterior surface and an interior surface and containing a composition layer capable of being partially liquefied comprising:
means for supplying a development medium to the exterior surface with a first member;
a base member for supporting the photosensitive element, wherein the interior surface of the element is adjacent an exterior surface of the base member; and
wherein the exterior surface of the base member defines a plane that is characterized by a plurality of surface projections from the plane, the exterior surface having a tack between 10 and 40 grams and a texture
having a roughness, Rq, of at least 1 micron when measured over a 250 to 1000 micron length scale.
40. (canceled)
41. (canceled)
42. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the base member further comprises a layer of a modification material that forms the exterior surface having texture.
43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the layer is resilient or tacky.
44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the modification material is selected from the group consisting of natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, and elastomers.
45. (canceled)
46. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the layer is applied with a texturing spray gun.
47. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the base member is a selected from the group consisting of a drum, a roller, a platform member, a flexible support member, and a planar support.
48. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising a flexible support member between the base member and the element, wherein the flexible support member has a surface which is the exterior surface having texture.
49. The apparatus of claim 48 further comprising a layer of a modification material on the flexible support member on a side opposite the base member, wherein the layer of material forms the exterior surface having texture.
50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the layer is selected from the group consisting of a resilient layer, a tacky layer, a protective layer, a resilient and tacky layer, and combinations thereof.
51. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the flexible support member comprises an aluminum sheet having a layer of silicone rubber on one side and a tacky layer on the silicone rubber layer, and wherein at least the tacky layer has texture.
52. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is at least 1 micron when measured over a 250 to 750 micron length scale.
53. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the surface roughness, Rq, is at least 5 micron when measured over a 700 to 750 micron length scale.
54. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the exterior surface defines a plane containing a plurality of projections and a plurality of pits that each have a height relative to the plane which determine an average height, wherein the average height of the projections and pits is positive.
55. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the exterior surface defines a plane containing a plurality of projections and a plurality of pits, each having a height relative to the plane and a deviation from an average surface height, wherein at least 60% of a range of the deviations from the average height are projections above the average surface height.
56. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising means for heating the exterior surface of the element to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy.
57. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising means for contacting the exterior surface of the photosensitive element with a development medium to allow at least a portion of the liquefied material of the composition layer to be absorbed by the development medium.
58. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising means for separating the photosensitive element from the development medium.
59. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising means for pressing the photosensitive element and the development medium into contact at a pressure sufficient for at least a portion of the liquefied material of the composition layer to be absorbed by the development medium.
60. (canceled)
61. The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface defines a plane that is characterized by a plurality of surface projections from the plane wherein the exterior surface has a density of projections of at least 0.1 projectionsmm2 that are at least 10 microns in height above the plane.
62. The method of claim 61 wherein the projections have an average area of less than 5 mm2.
63. The method of claim 61 wherein the projections have an average area of 0.05-1 mm2.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An electric generator comprising:
a wheel coupled to an axle of a vehicle, said vehicle including a battery;
a rotator fixedly mounted to said wheel such that said rotator rotates synchronously with the rotation of the wheel, said rotator including a plurality of magnets, each of said magnets defining a magnetic field, and each of said magnets being positioned so that the north pole of one magnet abuts the south pole of an adjacent magnet;
a stator rotatably mounted to said axle, said stator being configured to have a center of gravity that is off-center from said axle for biasing said stator toward a position that is generally stationary relative to said vehicle, said stator defining a radially outer portion; and
a plurality of electric coils mounted to said radially outer portion of said stator for generating electric current when said rotator is moved relative to said stator so that the magnetic field of each magnet passes through said plurality of electric coils, said coils being electrically coupled to each other and to said battery of said vehicle for transmitting electric current generated from said plurality of coils to said battery.
2. The generator of claim 1, wherein said stator extends through an arc of less than 360\xb0.
3. The generator of claim 1, wherein said magnets are positioned between said coils and said axle.
4. The generator of claim 1, wherein said coils are positioned between said magnets and said axle.
5. The generator of claim 1 wherein said stator extends through an arc of 360\xb0.
6. An electric generator comprising:
a wheel coupled to an axle of a vehicle, said vehicle including a battery;
a stator rotatably mounted to said axle, said stator being configured to have a center of gravity that is off-center from said axle for biasing said stator toward a position that is generally stationary relative to said vehicle, said stator defining a radially outer portion;
a plurality of magnets mounted to said radially outer portion of said stator, each of said magnets defining a magnetic field, and each of said magnets being positioned so that the north pole of one magnet abuts the south pole of an adjacent magnet; and
a rotator fixedly mounted to said wheel such that said rotator rotates synchronously with the rotation of the wheel, said rotator including a plurality of electric coils positioned for generating electric current when said rotator is moved relative to said stator so that the magnetic field of each of said plurality of magnets passes through said plurality of electric coils, said coils being electrically coupled to each other and to said battery of said vehicle for transmitting said electric current generated from said plurality of coils to said battery.
7. The generator of claim 6, wherein said stator extends through an arc of less than 360\xb0.
8. The generator of claim 6, wherein said magnets are positioned between said coils and said axle.
9. The generator of claim 6, wherein said coils are positioned between said magnets and said axle.
10. The generator of claim 6 wherein said stator extends through an arc of 360\xb0.