Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling vapor handling in printing. In certain implementations, for example, one or more volatiles emitted during an ink-based printing process may be condensed into one or more liquids. The one or more liquids may be directed into absorbent materials such that the combined liquids and absorbent materials form a substance that qualifies as a solid, as determined by a given solid definition or regulatory standard. In certain (alternative but non-exhaustive) implementations, the volatiles emitted during printing may include water and oil, with the oil vapor being condensed into a liquid and added to the absorbent materials while the water vapor is being forwarded under the force of, e.g., negative air pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling vapor handling in printing. In certain implementations, for example, one or more volatiles emitted during an ink-based printing process may be condensed into one or more liquids. The one or more liquids may be directed into absorbent materials such that the combined liquids and absorbent materials form a substance that qualifies as a solid, as determined by a given solid definition or regulatory standard. In certain (alternative but non-exhaustive) implementations, the volatiles emitted during printing may include water and oil, with the oil vapor being condensed into a liquid and added to the absorbent materials while the water vapor is being forwarded under the force of, e.g., negative air pressure.

Abstract: In a four pen ink jet printer comprising cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks, a clear liquid is applied to printed ink on a print medium via a fifth pen, thereby fixing the colorants, which in turn improves the durability of the printed ink. The clear fixer fluid comprises at least one organic acid and, optionally, a salt of at least one polymeric acid.

Abstract: A system for printing images with improved waterfastness, and methods for printing an image having improved waterfastness are disclosed. The system comprises a first pen containing an ink composition, wherein the ink composition comprises effective amounts of an anionic dye, a polyamine, and an ink vehicle; a second pen containing an acidic fixer composition, wherein the acidic fixer composition comprises an effective amount of an acid and an ink-vehicle. The first pen and the second pen are configured to print the ink composition and the acidic fixer composition, respectively, onto a substrate such that the ink composition and the acidic fixer composition are in contact on the substrate. The amount of acid fixer utilized can be sufficient to protonate substantially all of the polyamines while not protonating the anionic dye, though a lesser or greater amount can also be used with success.

Abstract: In a four pen ink jet printer comprising cyan, yellow, magenta, and black inks, a clear liquid is applied to printed ink on a print medium via a fifth pen, thereby fixing. the colorants, which in turn improves the durability of the printed ink. The clear fixer fluid comprises at least one organic acid and, optionally, a salt of at least one polymeric acid.

Abstract: A process is provided that allows the production of multi-layer coatings in which one or more topcoats can be applied to a porous basecoat to produce a uniform and defect-free coating layer. Specifically, a process is provided in which a liquid is applied to the basecoat prior to topcoating such that the air in the basecoat is removed prior to topcoating. This process can occur in-line with a simple apparatus described herein. An added benefit of this method is that it also allows the possibility of adding functionality or performing chemistry to a basecoat after the basecoat is dried and before the topcoat is applied in a single process. For example, the wetting fluid may contain, but is not limited to, surfactants, pH modifiers, polymers, crosslinkers, pigments, and/or dye stabilizers.

Abstract: A process is provided that allows the production of multi-layer coatings in which one or more topcoats can be applied to a porous basecoat to produce a uniform and defect-free coating layer. Specifically, a process is provided in which a liquid is applied to the basecoat prior to topcoating such that the air in the basecoat is removed prior to topcoating. This process can occur in-line with a simple apparatus described herein. An added benefit of this method is that it also allows the possibility of adding functionality or performing chemistry to a basecoat after the basecoat is dried and before the topcoat is applied in a single process. For example, the wetting fluid may contain, but is not limited to, surfactants, pH modifiers, polymers, crosslinkers, pigments, and/or dye stabilizers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to aqueous based ink compositions for ink jet printing on offset media and offset ink comprising various combinations of nonionic surfactants. Such formulations include effective amounts of an ink colorant and a nonionic surfactant having an HLB value from about 4 to 14. Optionally, additional nonionic surfactants, solvents, and binders can be added. In another formulation, an effective amount of an ink colorant, at least two nonionic surfactants, each being present at from about 0.01% to 10% by weight (preferably 0.01% to 2% by weight) and an effective amount of at least one binder (such as an acrylate binder) is disclosed.

Abstract: It is found that by wetting coated media, such as film-based media (e.g., Mylar film) and resin-coated papers (e.g., photobase paper), with a dilute polymer solution or colloidal silica or colloidal alumina dispersion with small particle size, the dot size increases compared to the current default dot size when printed with pigment-based inks in a Hewlett-Packard CP-2500 or CP-3500 printer. No previous efforts are known to increase the dot size on coated porous media printed with pigment inks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for developing a lithographic plate on a printing press without the requirement of bath processing, the printing press equipped with means for delivering ink and aqueous fountain solutions to the plate, the preferred plate having in order (a) a substrate; and (b) a photoresist photohardenable upon imagewise exposure to actinic radiation, the photoresist comprising (i) a macromolecular organic binder; (ii) a photopolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group capable of forming a high polymer by chain-propagated polymerization, (iii) a polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation, and (iv) a disperse hydrophilic microgel. According to a product aspect, the present invention also provides a lithographic plate, configured as indicated, with the further combination therewith of an on-press removable polymeric overcoat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the on-press development and printing of images. The method generally comprises the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor element comprising a lithographic hydrophilic printing plate substrate, a photohardenable photoresist, and a layer of polymeric protective overcoat; imagewise exposing the precursor element to actinic radiation through said photoresist and overcoat layer sufficiently to photoharden the photoresist in exposed regions and provide a latent image in said photoresist layer; placing the precursor element onto a lithographic printing press; and running the press, whereby printing fluid effects removal of the overcoat and development of said latent image. In particular modes of practices, the method utilizes an overcoat having incorporated therein a water or fountain soluble or dispersible crystalline compound. The overcoat can be used as an oxygen barrier and/or to provide a non-tacky surface on the printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a quenching overcoat useful for application onto a lithographic printing plate, the overcoat having incorporated therein a water or fountain soluble or dispersible crystalline compound. The overcoat may be used as an oxygen barrier and/or to provide a non-tacky surface on the printing plate. By the incorporation of the crystalline compound, on-press removability of the overcoat is facilitated.