Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to curable phase change inks, such as radiation-curable phase change inks, and their use in forming images, such as through inkjet printing. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to radiation-curable phase change inks, such as ultraviolet-light-curable phase change inks, that an ink vehicle and at least one crystalline polyester resin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling ink component concentration for optimizing ink for use on specific media types, such as paper or plastic, include an in-line ink delivery system for mixing and delivering ink. The ink delivery system includes a first ink supply, a second ink supply, a mixing chamber or pot, and a print head connected to a print head reservoir. The ink delivery system may be configured to mix ink according to one of stored setpoints or acquired media data for media on which ink is to be printed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of ensuring the erasure of transient documents are disclosed. The systems and methods include an imaging device that sends a transient document with a pre-printed image into an erase cycle to attempt to remove the image from the document. After the erase cycle, a scanner scans the transient document and converts the transient document into a digital image. A processor compares bit depths of individual bits of the digital image to a bit depth threshold. Depending on the comparison and a number of completed erase cycles, the transient document enters an additional erase cycle, completes as sufficiently erased, or is rejected as not sufficiently erased.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for forming images on substrates in printing are provided and may include a first marking station for applying a first ink having a first color to a surface of a substrate, a first partial-curing station downstream from the first marking station, a second marking station downstream from the first partial-curing station for applying a second ink having a second color to the surface of the substrate, a second partial-curing station downstream from the second marking station, a leveling device for applying pressure to the substrate and the partially-cured first ink and second ink to level the first ink and second ink on the surface of the substrate, and a post-leveling curing device for irradiating the as-leveled first ink and second ink on the surface of the substrate to substantially-fully cure the first ink and the second ink.

Abstract: Haptic or tactile features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied at varying positions on a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. A plurality of raised image areas are specified for a group of substrates and raised marks are printed in only one raised image area for each substrate in a manner that is evenly distributed between the raised image areas for the group of substrates. The substrates will present a relatively uniform stack avoiding localized large pile heights when the substrates are stacked. A clear marking material is used to print the raised marks so as not to obscure underlying data printed on the substrate. The clear marking material may include a monomer that may become cross-linked in an exposure process to resist deinking of the substrate. The clear marking material may be mixed with a phosphorescing or fluorescing material as an additional security measure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method apply release fluid to a leveler in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a substrate path, at least one release fluid spray nozzle, and a marking material leveling system having a marking material leveler. The method can include transporting a substrate with marking material along the substrate path. The method can include pulse spraying release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle. The method can include leveling marking material on the substrate using the marking material leveler with release fluid. The method can include determining an adjusted amount of release fluid to spray to the marking material leveling system. The method can include pulse spraying the adjusted amount of release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle.

Abstract: Systems and methods of measuring an amount of show-through in a printed document are disclosed. The systems and methods include an imaging device that scans a back side of the printed document and scans a front side of the printed document with a blank document disposed thereon. The imaging device produces bitmaps related to the scans and calculates bit depths associated with the bitmaps. A difference array is calculated based on the differences between the bitmaps of the back side and front side scans, and the average value and standard deviation of the difference array is calculated. The amount of show-through of the document is measured based on a formula with the calculated average and standard deviation.

Abstract: Curable solid ink compositions, which include a curable wax having a melting point under 40° C. as part of the ink vehicle, and are suitable for ink jet printing in applications that require high and/or variable levels of gloss. In particular, there is provided a novel high gloss, ultraviolet (UV) curable, phase change ink composition that includes a colorant and an ink vehicle that further includes a gellant, a reactive diluent, a photoinitiator package, and a curable acrylate wax.

Abstract: A radiation curable gel ink leveling method for digital direct-to-substrate radiation curable gel ink printing includes depositing radiation curable gel ink directly onto a substrate, irradiating the gel ink to increase a viscosity of the gel ink, adding sacrificial release fluid to a hydrophilic leveling roll surface, the leveling roll surface including metal oxide, and leveling the ink with the leveling roll. UV gel ink printing systems and leveling apparatus include a leveling roll having a metal oxide surface suitable for use with water based release fluids that contain a surfactant and/or polymer.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for forming images on substrates in printing are provided.

Abstract: A radiation curable ink initial line width control system includes a print head that deposits radiation curable ink to form as-deposited ink lines on a substrate. A substrate heating system heats the substrate to heat the ink and spread the ink to increase a line width of the ink. The line width of the ink is increased before the ink is contact-leveled at a contact-leveling nip. The substrate is heated to a temperature that minimizes or avoids showthrough and/or coalescence in a printed image.

Abstract: A dampening fluid delivery apparatus includes a water delivery line, a surfactant delivery line, and a cleaning solution delivery line, each connected to a mixing chamber. An open and closed state and a flow rate of one or more of the delivery lines may be controlled. Delivery lines may be pressurized and fitted with valves. The valves may be controlled using an electrically connected controller. The controller may control the dampening fluid delivery apparatus in accordance with at least one of print mode data and cleaning mode data.

Abstract: Release layers, and particularly low surface tension aqueous solutions, such as fountain solutions, which function as release layers. These release layers are integrated into copying and printing machines, such as xerographic machines, multifunctional devices, color systems, and the like, wherein the release layers are specifically incorporated onto a hydrophilic roll material for contact leveling of UV curable gel inks.

Abstract: A radiation curable gel ink spreading system includes a print head for jetting radiation curable gel ink onto a front side of a substrate, a heated re-flow drum for contacting a back side of the substrate to heat the gel ink and cause the ink to re-flow, and at least one radiation source that irradiates the heated ink to reduce or stop re-flow. A re-flow drum temperature, amount of radiation emission per unit time, radiation source location including a substrate wrap angle with respect to the re-flow drum and/or the radiation source, a distance between a re-flow zone start and the radiation source, and a gap distance between the radiation source and the substrate, and a process speed or substrate translation speed are adjustable for achieving desired spreading characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method apply release fluid to a leveler in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a substrate path, at least one release fluid spray nozzle, and a marking material leveling system having a marking material leveler. The method can include transporting a substrate with marking material along the substrate path. The method can include pulse spraying release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle to apply the release fluid to the marking material leveler. The method can include leveling marking material on the substrate using the marking material leveler with release fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method apply release fluid to a leveler in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a substrate path, at least one release fluid spray nozzle, and a marking material leveling system having a marking material leveler. The method can include transporting a substrate with marking material along the substrate path. The method can include pulse spraying release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle. The method can include leveling marking material on the substrate using the marking material leveler with release fluid. The method can include determining an adjusted amount of release fluid to spray to the marking material leveling system. The method can include pulse spraying the adjusted amount of release fluid to the marking material leveling system using the at least one release fluid spray nozzle.

Abstract: A UV curable gel ink leveling method for digital direct-to-substrate UV curable gel ink printing includes jetting UV curable gel ink directly onto a substrate, irradiating the gel ink to increase a viscosity of the gel ink, adding sacrificial release fluid to a hydrophilic contact roll, and leveling the ink at a leveling nip formed by the contact roll and a pressure roll. The pressure roll comprises an elastomeric material and a surface that is hydrophobic.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for a pen that can include a writing end for writing an image on an erasable medium and an erasing end for locally erasing an image from the erasable medium.

Abstract: A radiation curable gel ink leveling method for digital direct-to-substrate radiation curable gel ink printing includes depositing radiation curable gel ink directly onto a substrate, irradiating the gel ink to increase a viscosity of the gel ink, adding sacrificial release fluid to a hydrophilic leveling roll surface, the leveling roll surface including metal oxide, and leveling the ink with the leveling roll. UV gel ink printing systems and leveling apparatus include a leveling roll having a metal oxide surface suitable for use with water based release fluids that contain a surfactant and/or polymer.

Abstract: A UV curable gel ink spreading method and system includes setting an ink re-flow drum temperature, jetting UV gel ink onto a substrate using a print head, heating a back side of the substrate to cause re-flow using the re-flow drum, and curing the UV gel ink image using a UV source to produce a cured image. At least one of drawback and line spread may be measured in-line to determine whether to modify a drum temperature, a UV source location, and/or a print process speed to optimize drawback and/or line spread. Acceptable or optimized temperatures and/or UV source locations may be saved as a set point that corresponds to a substrate type.