Abstract: A method of printing with phase change ink on an ink jet printer that contains ink dots in an imaged area by placing clear or the lightest level of color ink drops in non-imaged areas adjacent the ink drops in the imaged area is disclosed. The method reduces dot gain in phase change ink drops when the image is fused. The method is especially useful for grey scale printing applications in direct or offset printing.

Abstract: A process motor (82) provides bidirectional motive force to a printer (50) drive train (80) that selectively engages with multiple self-homing printing functions. A print head (52) is tiltable to a maintenance position and a transfer roller (64) is loadable against a transfer drum (54) by respective missing tooth gear (96, 160) latching mechanisms. A print media pick roller (122) and transfer drum maintaining devices (70, 72) are actuated by spring-wrap clutches (114, 236) that are protected from reverse rotation by a one-way clutch (106). Print media transport rollers (140, 142) are selectively engaged with the one-way clutch by an electro-mechanical clutch (128). A picked and transported print medium (56) receives an ink image from the transfer drum and is stripped therefrom by stripper fingers (66) and directed into media exit rollers (212, 220) for delivery to a media output tray (68).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for applying an intermediate transfer surface, in the form of a liquid layer, on a support surface that may be used in a phase change ink printing system. The apparatus includes an applicator assembly with a leak-free valving system for distributing the liquid layer onto the support surface to produce the intermediate transfer surface and a means for metering the liquid layer uniformly on the support surface. The applicator assembly has a wick contact surface for removing foreign matter from and delivering the liquid onto the support surface. An improved liquid dispensing system is provided to provide the liquid to the wick which becomes saturated and, when brought into contact with the rotatable support surface of a transfer drum, applies the liquid in a layer to the support surface to form a liquid intermediate transfer surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for applying an intermediate transfer surface, in the form of a liquid layer, on a support surface as may be used in a phase change ink printing system. The apparatus includes an applicator assembly for distributing the liquid layer onto the support surface to produce the intermediate transfer surface and an apparatus for metering the liquid layer uniformly on the support surface. The applicator assembly has a contact medium for removing foreign matter from and delivering the liquid onto the support surface. Preferably the contact medium is a liquid impregnated web that is periodically incremented to present a clean web surface in contact with the support surface. The metering apparatus is a hydrodynamic blade that uniformly distributes the liquid intermediate transfer layer over the support surface.

Abstract: A ferroelectric relaxor ceramic actuator material, such as lead magnesium niobate ("PMN"), has high electromechanical conversion efficiency, exhibits wide operating and manufacturing temperature ranges, does not require permanent polarization, and provides useful mechanical activity with reduced electrical drive voltages. A PMN actuator (66) may be bonded to an actuator diaphragm (64) with a high temperature soldering or brazing process. PMN material also has a diffuse Curie point range in which the dielectric constant (40), "d" coefficient (32), and dielectric loss (42) characteristics all rise to a peak and then fall as the temperature increases. A phase-change ink-jet print head (50) employs a PMN actuator that is compounded with lead titanate ("PT") to increase the temperature (T.sub.M) at which the peak dielectric constant occurs.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing an image transparency entails the application of an intermediate transfer surface of a layer of sacrificial liquid to a supporting surface and the deposition of a phase change ink onto the liquid layer. The inked image is then contact transferred to an optically transmissive final receiving substrate, such as a plastic transparency.

Abstract: Resins and waxes made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including alcohols and/or amines, with an isocyanate are disclosed. The order of addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles can tailor the distribution of di-urethane, mixed urethane/urea, and/or di-urea molecules in the final resin product. The isocyanate-derived resin and wax materials are useful as ingredients as phase change ink carrier compositions used to make phase change ink jet inks.

Abstract: An improved solid ink stick melt plate design is provided for a solid ink color printer which reliability melts solid ink sticks on demand fed from an ink stick loading bin to ink stick melt plates. The melt plates guide the molten ink into individual color ink reservoirs in the printer print head. The improved melt plate design employs a positive temperature coefficient resistor to prevent the melt plate temperature from becoming too high when not in contact with an ink stick.

Abstract: Resins and waxes made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including alcohols and/or amines, with an isocyanate are disclosed. The order of addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles can tailor the distribution of di-urethane, mixed urethane/urea, and/or di-urea molecules in the final resin product. The isocyanate-derived resin and wax materials are useful as ingredients as phase change ink carrier compositions used to make phase change ink jet inks.

Abstract: An ink jet print head (10) has a supply channel (14, 24, 52) connecting an ink source with an upper manifold (60U) and a lower manifold (60L). Each manifold has a tapered structure. From each manifold multiple inlet channels (36, 34, 44, 54) each lead to a respective pressure chamber (28) from which an outlet channel (40, 38, 46, 56, 62, 76, 82) leads to nozzles (88) from which droplets of liquid ink are expelled as a result of the action of a pressure transducer on the pressure chamber. Each manifold is separated from the supply channel by a baffle structure (92) that includes three baffles (94) formed by alternating plates (64, 78) having an open manifold with plates (58, 72) having a blocked manifold. The baffle structure reduces jetting nonuniformity by damping pressure displacement waves in the ink caused by the expulsion of ink droplets. The baffle structure also promotes effective heat transfer from the print head to ink being drawn in to the print head from the ink source.

Abstract: Isocyanate-derived colored resins made by reacting an alcohol and/or amine, an isocyanate and a nucleophilic molecule containing a chromogen are disclosed. The isocyanate-derived colored resins are useful as colorant materials in phase change ink compositions.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer that prints using an interlace ratio of higher than 2:1. The print head has an internozzle spacing of N, while the interlace ratio n:1 is selected so that n is an integer divisor of N+2 or N+4 or is equal to N+1. Multiple interlaced images can be "stitched" together by printing a first interlaced image, moving the print head and printing a second interlaced image such that the head of the second image overlaps with the tail of the first interlaced image.

Abstract: Gray scale ink jet printing method and apparatus produce a high quality image having varying color intensities. This is achieved by mixing a colored phase change ink with varying amounts of a clear phase change ink base, thereby producing multiple gray scale levels of each color. The mixing either can be performed prior to placement of the phase change ink in the printer, or can be performed within the printer to produce different levels of color intensity during the printing process.

Abstract: An improved fusing apparatus for fixing or fusing images on print media is disclosed wherein a relatively small pressure applying surface, such as the surface of a rotatable pressure wheel, is lubricated with a lubricating medium such as silicone oil, and engages the printed image to apply pressure and fuse the image to the image receiving substrate. The fusing apparatus is mounted for reciprocal back and forth movement across the printed image on the image receiving substrate or medium to fuse the image into the substrate and flatten or smooth the upper exposed surface of the ink image. The pressure wheel is passed in multiple overlapping passes over the printed image to uniformly fuse the image into the media.

Abstract: Resins and waxes made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including alcohols and/or amines, with an isocyanate are disclosed. The order of addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles can tailor the distribution of di-urethane, mixed urethane/urea, and/or di-urea molecules in the final resin product. The isocyanate-derived resin and wax materials are useful as ingredients as phase change ink carrier compositions used to make phase change ink jet inks.

Abstract: An ink-jet apparatus (10) and method provides high-resolution, high-speed printing by providing a transducer drive waveform (160) having a spectral energy distribution (170) that concentrates energy (172) around a frequency associated with a dominant (Helmholtz) ink drop ejection mode and that suppresses energy (174) at resonant frequencies associated with ink inlet (18) and ink outlet structures (24, 26, 28, 14) of the ink-jet head. Spectral energy distribution principles used to shape the transducer drive waveform can be used to enhance the jetting performance of many conventional ink-jet heads.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer that prints using an interlace ratio of higher than 2:1. The print head has an internozzle spacing of N, while the interlace ratio n:1 is selected so that n is an integer divisor of N+2 or N+4 or is equal to N+1. Multiple interlaced images can be "stitched" together by printing a first interlaced image, moving the print head and printing a second interlaced image such that the head of the second image overlaps with the tail of the first interlaced image.

Abstract: A solid ink stick feed system for use in a color printer is disclosed that utilizes a plurality of ink stick feed receptacles in an ink stick feed bin of predetermined shapes corresponding to the plurality of shapes of the ink sticks such that an incorrectly matched ink stick shape or incorrectly oriented ink stick is retained in a raised position to indicate to the printer operator that the ink stick should be removed and to facilitate grasping and removing such ink stick.

Abstract: A computer printer having a frame contained within a housing, a media transport and printing mechanism attached to the frame within the housing is provided with at least one debris shield positioned above the printing mechanism to protect it from falling debris. The at least one debris shield may be positioned below an air flow path generated by printer ventilation, and the printer may employ a transfer surface on which an image is generated prior to transfer to a media sheet, and above which the debris shield is positioned. Stripper fingers strip the media sheet from the transfer surface and webs between the stripper fingers form an air flow barrier to prevent debris transmission through gaps between the fingers.

Abstract: A method of printing an image onto a substrate includes the steps of determining a difference in intended color intensity between a first pixel and a second pixel; adjusting the intended color intensity of the second pixel based on the determined difference; and depositing a colorant onto the substrate at the first pixel and at the second pixel at the adjusted intended intensity, so as to enhance the appearance of the image on the substrate. The current system has particular utility in enhancing the appearance of fine images such as one pixel wide, vertical and diagonal lines in a printing system which utilizes printhead heating elements that are larger in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction.