Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an actinic ray curable inkjet ink which, in an inkjet printing method, is capable of having both high pinning characteristics and high ejection characteristics. In order to achieve the above purpose, this actinic ray curable inkjet ink includes an actinic ray curable compound, ketone wax, and ester wax, and reversibly goes through a sol-gel phase transition depending on the temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing nanocomposite material comprising a nanocomposite-ink factory and inkjet printer. The nanocomposite-ink factory producing nanocomposite-ink and the inkjet printer receiving the nanocomposite-ink. The inkjet printer having a printhead and a positioning mechanism. The printhead having one or more nozzles to dispense nanocomposite-ink droplets.

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 phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, a photochromic material and optionally, a colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. The novel phase change ink formulation allows the ink to change color when exposed to UV light, reversibly and multiple times, providing an ink suitable for use in security applications.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition comprising an ink vehicle; an optional dispersant; and a modified naturally-derived colorant comprising a naturally-derived colorant that is modified with an aliphatic quaternary ammonium salt, an aromatic quaternary ammonium salt, or a mixture or combination thereof. The modified naturally-derived colorant is compatible with phase change ink vehicles.

Abstract: A solid ink stick identification system enables accurate and efficient identification of solid ink sticks in a solid ink imaging device. The solid ink identification system includes an actuator configured to move one of an optical source and an optical sensor between a plurality of predetermined positions. The optical source emits light toward a face of the ink stick, and the optical sensor generates signals corresponding to an amount of reflected light received. A controller identifies features on the solid ink stick based on the signals as the one of the optical source and optical sensor is moved between the plurality of predetermined positions.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method according to an aspect of this invention includes discharging an ink composition containing a metallic pigment to a recording medium using a recording head, and then recording a metallic image in a recording region of the recording medium, in which particles of the metallic pigment have a plate shape and have a coating layer on the surface, the average particle diameter in the ink composition is 0.5 ?m or more and 2 ?m or less, the total film thickness including the coating layer is 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and the average number of the laminated metallic pigment particles in the metallic image is 3 or more and 30 or less.

Abstract: Provided are an actinic energy radiation curable ink, which can achieve a high fineness and natural glossiness when recording is carried out onto a non-absorptive recording medium such as a film or a laminated paper or a slightly absorptive recording medium such as a coated paper; and an actinic energy radiation curable inkjet recording method. This actinic energy radiation curable ink, which is to be used in inkjet recording, is characterized by: said actinic energy radiation curable ink undergoing reversible sol/gel phase transition depending on temperature; said actinic energy radiation curable ink containing from 1% or more by mass to less than 10% by mass of a gelling agent; and, at temperature Tm (° C.) that is separately defined, the storage elastic modulus (G?) of the actinic energy radiation curable ink being from 0.1 or more Pa to less than 1000 Pa and the storage elastic modulus (G?) being smaller than the loss elastic modulus (G?) thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inkjet recording apparatus 100 capable of performing recording continuously on both surfaces of a web 1, including a plurality of recording heads H1 to H8 disposed on a substrate, driers 5a and 5b for drying the web 1 recorded by the recording heads H1 to H8, and guide rollers A1 to A8, B1 to B8, and G1 to G8 for guiding the web 1, in which a traveling path of the web 1 is switchable so that the web 1 passes between any selected adjacent ones of the recording heads H1 to H8, the recording head upstream of the position where the web passes performs recording on one surface 1a of the web 1, and the recording head downstream of the position where the web 1 passes performs recording on the other surface 1b of the web 1, and an inkjet recording method using the same.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous amide compound, a crystalline compound; an optional synergist; an optional dispersant; and an optional colorant; wherein the amorphous amide compound is of the formula wherein R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylaryl group, an arylalkyl group, and combinations thereof, or wherein the amorphous amide compound is of the formula wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, an arylene group, an alkylarylene group, an arylalkylene group, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An ink jettable underprint composition includes a reversible polymer material, which can reversibly transition between a liquid state and a solid state by reversible cycloaddition reactions, wherein upon cooling, the reversible polymer material transitions from a liquid state to a solid state by reversible cycloaddition reactions within a time period of less than about 10 seconds.

Abstract: An ink jettable overprint composition includes a reversible polymer material, which can reversibly transition between a liquid state and a solid state by reversible cycloaddition reactions, wherein upon cooling, the reversible polymer material transitions from a liquid state to a solid state by reversible cycloaddition reactions within a time period of less than about 10 seconds.

Abstract: Among other things, ink is jetted onto a substrate, the ink includes (a) a pigment and (b) a wax, and the jetted ink on the substrate is heated to fire the pigment on the substrate.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including an ink vehicle; an optional colorant; and ethylene vinyl acetate in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight based on the total weight of the phase change ink composition.

Abstract: A method of printing an image to a substrate includes applying an aqueous inkjet ink onto an intermediate receiving member using an inkjet printhead, optionally spreading the ink onto the intermediate receiving member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, wherein the ink includes a curable oligomer. A method of printing an image to a substrate includes applying an aqueous inkjet ink onto an intermediate receiving member using an inkjet printhead, optionally spreading the ink onto the intermediate receiving member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, wherein making the ink includes forming an aqueous mixture by adding a mixture of oligomers and a surfactant to a reactor containing a mixture of a humectant and an aqueous vehicle, heating and stirring the aqueous mixture, and homogenizing the aqueous mixture, forming the ink.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including an amorphous compound; a crystalline compound; an optional synergist; an optional dispersant; and a white colorant having a volume average particle size of from about 25 nanometers to less than 200 nanometers.

Abstract: A main frame supports a printer head. A first movable frame supports a platen and a first paper feeding roller, and is pivotally connected to one end of the main frame via a first pivot shaft to permit itself to be opened or closed relative to the main frame. A second movable frame supports a second paper feeding roller, and is pivotally connected to the other end of the main frame via a second pivot shaft to permit itself to be opened or closed relative to the main frame. When the first movable frame and the second movable frame are closed relative to the main frame, the printer head is opposite to the platen to form a printing position; and the first paper feeding roller is tangent to the second paper feeding roller.

Abstract: A pressure roller for a media processing device has enhanced temperature uniformity and resists temperature increases when subjected to elevated temperatures, enabling greater dimensional stability of the pressure roller in fluctuating temperatures. The pressure roller includes a hollow cylindrical member, an elastomeric layer, and an endbell on each end of the hollow cylindrical member. A chamber is defined by an inner wall of the hollow cylindrical member and the endbells in which a volume of fluid is contained to absorb heat from the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting body, a thermally conductive member, and a heat radiation member. The substrate has a first face and a second face which is a face opposite to the first face. The light emitting body is held on a side of the first face of the substrate and emits light. The thermally conductive member is provided so as to be in contact with the second face of the substrate and contains a high thermal conductive material. The heat radiation member is provided so as to be in contact with the thermally conductive member and radiates heat conducted from the substrate through the thermally conductive member.

Abstract: A solid ink stick transport system has been developed that differentiates between ink sticks inserted into a single insertion port of an inkjet printer. The system includes a solid ink support platform that moves between a position exposed outside of a printer housing to receive solid ink sticks and a position within the housing. The support includes a sensor that enables a controller to identify the solid ink stick before transporting the solid ink stick to an appropriate feed channel.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead module having an ink leakage detector to detect a leaked phase change ink. The ink leakage detector includes a plurality of resistance temperature detectors or resistive thermal devices to detect the leaked phase change ink. A horizontally mounted overdriven thermistor can also be used to detect leaked ink.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a phase change ink composition including at least a first semi-crystalline material having a high amorphous content; and at least a second semi-crystalline material having a high crystalline content, such that the phase change ink has a viscosity ranging from about 0.1 cps to about 15 cps at a temperature ranging from about 60° C. to about 145° C. and the phase change ink composition has excellent robustness when forming images or printing on a printing substrate.

Abstract: A solid ink stick configuration efficiently provides functional features for use of the ink stick in a phase change ink printer without adversely impacting the volumetric content of the ink stick and its appearance.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, a fluorescent material and optionally, a non-fluorescent colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. The novel phase change ink formulation allows the ink to change color when exposed to UV light, reversibly and multiple times, providing an ink suitable for use in security applications.

Abstract: A solid ink stick configuration efficiently provides functional features for use of the ink stick in a phase change ink printer without adversely impacting the volumetric content of the ink stick and its appearance.

Abstract: A printed matter production process including ejecting droplets of an actinic ray curable inkjet ink in a heated state through a head to supply the droplets onto a recording medium, thereby forming an image, the actinic ray curable inkjet ink including a polymerizable compound, a photopolymerization initiator and a gelling agent, having a viscosity of from 60 to 200 mPasecond at 25° C. and at a shear rate of 1000/second and showing a phase transition at a temperature of not lower than 25° C., characterized in that the actinic ray curable inkjet ink includes a bifunctional polymerizable compound with a molecular weight of not lower than 400 and with a viscosity at 25° C. of not more than 100 mPasecond in an amount of not less than 75 % by mass of the total amount of the polymerizable compound.

Abstract: A solid ink stick enables identification of the ink stick in a variety of different orientations, while preventing the ink stick from being inserted into an ink loader in an orientation in which the ink stick cannot be identified. The ink stick includes two polygon end surfaces opposite one another. Each edge of the end surfaces has a first and a second identifier, which are identical to one another to enable the ink stick to be inserted into an ink loader without regard to the orientation of the edges.

Abstract: A container for storing phase-change ink includes a housing that is comprised primarily of a thermally insulating material and an inductive heater element positioned within the housing. The inductive heater element is formed in a manner that increases the surface area of the heater and enables frozen ink in the vicinity of a reservoir outlet to melt quickly to enable printing operations.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition comprising an ink vehicle; an optional dispersant; and a modified naturally-derived colorant comprising a naturally-derived colorant that is modified with an aliphatic quaternary ammonium salt, an aromatic quaternary ammonium salt, or a mixture or combination thereof. The modified naturally-derived colorant is compatible with phase change ink vehicles.

Abstract: A solid ink composition suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In particular, the solid ink composition comprises a crystalline compound, an amorphous compound, and an inorganic nucleating agent, which provides for a robust and fast printing ink.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatus and method for supplying uninterrupted flow of solid-ink pellets to an image-forming device. The apparatus includes a container for retaining solid-ink pellets, and a selectably-inflatable bladder disposed within the container. Further, the apparatus includes a tube communicating the bladder with a pressure supply.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including a pigment; a carrier; a dispersant; and a copper phthalocyanine synergist having a carboxylic acid group thereon.

Abstract: Curable solid inks and low shrinkage curable solid inks which are solid at room temperature and molten at an elevated temperature at which the molten ink is applied to a substrate. In particular, the solid inks of the present embodiments retain the advantages of handling, safety, and print quality usually associated with conventional solid phase change inks but provide additional breakthrough performance characteristics such as enhanced curing and robustness, lower jetting temperature, and ultra-low shrinkage upon crystallization, which allow the inks to be used as novel materials in inkjet-based print applications.

Abstract: A printing process identifies conditions for operating an image receiving member to transfer a plurality of ink images from the image receiving member to a plurality of media sheets between applications of release agent to the image receiving member. The printing process transfers a first ink image from the image receiving member to a first media sheet, identifies a size of a second ink image, and forms the second ink image entirely within a portion of the surface of the image receiving member that carried the first ink image. The printing process enables printing with acceptable quality while reducing the consumption of release agent and wear on components in the printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition including: (a) a phase change ink carrier which has at least one curable monomer, oligomer, or prepolymer; (b) an initiator; (c) an infrared-absorbing taggant; and (d) an optional colorant, the ink being curable upon exposure to radiation, the ink absorbing radiation in the infrared region.

Abstract: A phase change magnetic ink and process for preparing same including comprising a phase change ink carrier; an optional colorant; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; an optional antioxidant; and a polymer coated magnetic nanoparticle comprising a magnetic core and a polymeric shell disposed thereover.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including a pigment; a carrier; a dispersant; and a synergist, (a) wherein, for a given sample of the synergist, about 80 to about 100 percent of the sample has a volume average particle diameter of about 50 to about 200 nanometers; (b) wherein the synergist has a surface area of about 30 to about 100 m2/gram; and (c) wherein the synergist has a density of above about 0.6 to about 2 grams/cm3.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including a pigment; a carrier; a dispersant; and a copper phthalocyanine synergist having a carboxylic acid group thereon.

Abstract: A solid ink printer is configured to learn the identity of solid ink sticks for printer operation. The solid ink printer includes a feed channel having an insertion opening configured to receive solid ink sticks, a sensor positioned near the insertion opening of the feed channel and configured to obtain solid ink stick type data from a solid ink stick inserted into the insertion opening of the feed channel, and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive the solid ink stick type data, the controller being configured to store the solid ink stick type data in a memory in response to an initialization signal and to operate the solid ink printer with reference to the solid ink stick type data stored in the memory by the controller.

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: A phase change magnetic ink including a phase change ink carrier; an optional colorant; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; an optional antioxidant; and a carbon coated magnetic nanoparticle comprising a magnetic core and a carbon shell disposed thereover.

Abstract: A phase change magnetic ink including a phase change ink carrier; an optional colorant; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; an optional antioxidant; and a surfactant coated magnetic nanoparticle having a magnetic core and a shell disposed thereover.

Abstract: A solid ink stick delivery apparatus uses a rotating member mounted within a plurality of hollow sleeves to transport solid ink sticks to a melting device. The interior surface of the hollow sleeves are configured with a surface that frictionally engages the rotating member, but enables the member to slip past the interior surface when the hollow sleeve is stopped from proceeding along the length of the member.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition includes a carrier; an optional colorant; and a lignosulfonate compound of the formula wherein R is hydrogen or and wherein the cationic counterion+ is a nitrogen-alkyl cationic counterion, a nitrogen-aryl cationic counterion, a nitrogen-alkylaryl cationic counterion, or a nitrogen arylalkyl cationic counterion; and wherein the cationic counterion contains at least eight carbon atoms.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for maintaining flowability of solid-ink pellets when delivering solid-ink pellets from a container to an image-forming apparatus. The apparatus includes an extraction tube inserted into the container and connected to a vacuum source. Suction from the vacuum source impels pellets into the extraction tube through an extraction inlet, but pellet agglomerations may clog the system. Such a clog produces an immediate pressure spike within the extraction tube, an event detected by the clog detector. An actuator, responsive to the clog detector, drives an agitating structure that breaks up agglomerations and restores smooth pellet flow. Alternative embodiments can include devices having only the clog detector or the agitating structure. Alternative implementations of the agitating structure provide means for accomplishing pellet break up. The accompanying method detects the occurrence of a clog and responds by operating the agitating structure to break up agglomerations.

Abstract: A multi-channel image is printed on a web receiver by a plurality of printing modules. The receiver is entrained around a take-up roll on a movable transport. During printing, the transport moves past the printing modules while the take-up roll holds the receiver in position with respect to the transport, and then the transport comes to a stop and the take-up roll draws the receiver across the transport. A cutter downstream of the take-up roll cuts off the printed portion of the web receiver to provide a printed sheet.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including a wax; an optional dispersant; an optional synergist; and a naturally-derived colorant wherein the naturally-derived colorant is a colorant derived from a plant, a colorant derived from an insect, or a mixture or combination thereof.

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: A curable phase change ink composition that includes an ink vehicle including at least one isosorbide monomer having at least one functional group. Also described is an ink printing device that includes a curable phase change ink composition for printing onto a substrate, an ink jetting device, and a curing device providing radiation that cures the curable phase change ink composition. The curable phase change ink composition of the ink printing device includes an ink vehicle including at least one isosorbide monomer having at least one functional group.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatus and method for maintaining the flowability of solid-ink pellets in a system for delivering the pellets to an image-forming device. The apparatus includes a container storing the solid-ink pellets, and an extraction assembly for extracting the solid-ink pellets. The extraction assembly includes a tubular housing, extending from the bottom portion of the container, and an auger member rotatably placed within the tubular housing. The tubular housing receives the solid-ink pellets from the container and the auger member rotates to break up the obstructions to pellet flow.