Abstract: An optical information medium comprises an optically transparent substrate and a protective layer formed on the substrate for protecting a record portion so that information which is optically readable by means of a laser beam can be recorded. A hydrophilic film is formed at a side opposite to a side through which reproduction light of the optically transparent substrate is passed. The film has a hydrophilic surface on which an aqueous printing ink is fixable. Printing is possible on the hydrophilic surface by use of an ink jet printer. A method for printing on the hydrophilic surface is also described.

Abstract: A recording medium transporting apparatus is shown including a rowel spur. The rowel spur is designed to control the amount of ink adhering to the rowel spur, thus preventing image quality problems associated with slippage between the rowel spur and the recording medium and smudging of ink that is not adhered to the recording medium, as well as maintaining good transporting of the recording medium. The recording medium transporting apparatus transports a sheet shaped recording medium by using a rowel spur. Each tooth of the rowel spur is formed with a plate-like radially inner portion having a substantially constant thickness in a direction parallel to the central axis of the rowel spur, and a wedge-shaped radially outer portion. The wedge-shaped portion includes at least one slanted axial face that intersects a side of the tooth facing in the direction parallel to the central axis.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet print head having ink passage ways formed in a radiation cured resin layer which is attached to a substrate. The passageways are connected in fluid flow communication to an ink discharging outlet provided by an orifice plate. In order to form the passage ways in the resin layer, a resin composition is exposed to a radiation source in a predetermined pattern to cure certain regions of resin layer while other regions which provide the passage ways remain uncured. The uncured regions are removed from the resin layer leaving the desired passage ways. The resin composition to be used for forming the radiation curable layers is a resin composition comprising: a first multifunctional epoxy compound; a second multifunctional compound; a photoinitiator; and a non-photoreactive solvent.

Abstract: A water-repellent film includes a fluorocarbon resin and a surface active agent. The surface acting agent serves as an antistatic agent. The water-repellent films is applied to a nozzle plate substrate by spray coating. Nozzles are then formed by drilling with a laser beam emitted from an excimer laser device. At this time, although the nozzle plate substrate and the antistatic film are processed at the same time, the laser drilling is smoothly performed without any trouble because the antistatic agent of the water-repellant film is a surface active agent. Thereafter, the nozzle plate substrate is attached, via an adhesive, to an actuator member in which ink paths are formed. Since the antistatic agent is mixed in the water-repellent film, the antistatic effect does not deteriorate due to wiping the nozzle surface to remove ink dust and the like from the nozzle surface.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes an electroviscous fluid chamber provided at a part of a sidewall of an ink chamber, and having electroviscous fluid sealed therein, an elastic film provided between the ink chamber and the electroviscous fluid chamber for transmitting pressure between the ink chamber and the electroviscous fluid chamber, a pair of electrodes provided at a part of a sidewall of the electroviscous fluid chamber corresponding to the ink chamber for applying an electric field to the electroviscous fluid, a pressure generation device for discharging ink from the ink chamber, and a control device for controlling ink discharge by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes to alter the viscosity of the electroviscous fluid in response to record information.

Abstract: A nozzle plate for ink jet cartridges which are manufactured from a relatively thin film of material, such as, for example, polyimide, polyarylene ether, or composite of a number of materials deposited on a rigid substrate, such as a silicon wafer, and photolithographically processed from the rigid substrate to produce a large quantity of interconnected nozzle plates which may be removed as a sheet of interconnected nozzle plates for ease of handling. The nozzle plates are aligned and bonded to the nozzle bearing front faces of the cartridges.

Abstract: A track seal assembly adapted to seal a track joint includes a track link and a first ceramic seal member. The track seal assembly further includes a first spring member positioned between the track link and the first ceramic seal member. Additionally, the track seal assembly includes a bushing having an end face. The track seal assembly also includes a second ceramic seal member secured to the end face of the bushing, wherein the first ceramic seal member contacts the second ceramic seal member so as to form a seal interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink unit for use in an ink jet recording which can provide color images with high water resistance, no print bleeding, and an excellent color reproduction of shades, together with rub resistance, and also can render color images on ordinary paper clearly and stably, and an ink jet recording method using the ink unit, wherein the ink, unit which has a black ink and a color ink, comprises pigments, a polymeric dispersant, and water, wherein a black ink contains a black pigment and a first polymeric dispersant including a COOH group or the salt thereof (acrylic acid salts, methacrylic acid salts, and the like) and a color ink contains a chromatic pigment and a second polymeric dispersant including a SO.sub.3 H group or the salt thereof (vinyl sulfonic acid salts, naphthalene sulfonic acid salts, and styrenesulfonic acid salts).

Abstract: A printhead structure for direct electrostatic printing having a back electrode and a particle supplying unit. The particle supplying unit conveys charged particles to a particle source positioned adjacent to the back electrode. A flexible control unit interposed between the back electrode and the particle supplying unit converts a stream of electronic signals, defining image information, into a pattern of electrostatic fields that within a predetermined print area of the print head structure selectively permit or restrict the transport of said charged particles from the particle source toward the back electrode. The flexible control unit is positioned and maintained in a spaced relation to the particle source. The flexible control unit is aligned with the particle source and the distance between a surface of the flexible control unit and the particle source is adjustable.

Abstract: A variable optical density print system and method for continuous variation of the optical density among successive droplets expelled from the same nozzle, the print system comprising a fluid channel connected to a basis fluid supply and a fluid channel connected to a colorant concentrate fluid supply. Each fluid channel is in fluid communication with a single ink firing chamber. Appropriate amounts of basis fluid and colorant concentrate fluid are delivered to the firing chamber by briefly opening a microvalve positioned within each fluid channel. The fluids mix in the firing chamber and are then ejected as a single ink droplet which possesses a desired optical density.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method is disclosed, which comprises the step of jetting a water-based ink on a recording sheet, the recording sheet comprising a support and provided thereon, an ink receiving layer containing a binder, an anionic fluorine-containing surfactant and a cationic fluorine-containing surfactant, wherein the content ratio of the anionic fluorine-containing surfactant to the cationic fluorine-containing surfactant is 1:10 to 10:1 in terms of mole ratio.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus using an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium arranged in a recording area includes a device for feeding the recording medium. The feeding device is arranged along the recording area and is provided with a mechanism to provide an irregular configuration of the recording medium in the direction intersecting the feeding direction thereof. This minimizes each individual cockling that may take place due to the permeation of ink into the recording medium when images are recorded thereon by the ink jet recording apparatus, and also, orientates the cockling downward reliably in order to prevent the recording medium from being in contact with the recording head to obtain a good quality of recorded images.

Abstract: An improved print-cartridge carriage for ink-jet printers. It contains: (a) a carriage frame having a first recess, a second recess, a pair of spaced L-shaped, and a bearing allowing the carriage frame to be horizontally movable; (b) a gripping spring disposed in the first recess; (c) a pair of spring loaded buttons disposed in the second recess, each of spring loaded buttons has a first bevel surface; and (d) a gripping member having two symmetrically lateral second bevel surfaces. Each of the second bevel surfaces is slidably and respectively engageable with one of the first bevel surface such that the gripping member can be moved relating to the spring loaded buttons and be lifted upwardly when the spring loaded buttons are pressed inwardly.

Abstract: A print head for ink-jet printing. The print head includes an orifice plate with a layer of metal bonded thereto, an ink barrier layer, and an adhesion promoter located between the metal layer and the barrier. The adhesion promoter bonds the metal layer to the barrier layer. Adhesion promoters include organosilane, polyacrylic acid, or polymethylacrylic acid. In a process for making a print head, an adhesion promoter is applied to the orifice plate and the orifice plate, the barrier layer, and the adhesion promoter are bonded together by applying pressure and heat.

Abstract: A process of forming an overcoat on a printed image to provide improved stability comprising:a) applying an image layer on a substrate using a liquid ink to form an imaged element;b) either charging the imaged element to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of the element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind the element;c) applying colorless, charged particles to the element which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the image layer; andd) heat-fusing the particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of the image layer.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet print head with an orifice plate for defining numerous of orifice apertures and numerous strain relief elements. Each strain relief element is a closed slit between abutting and separable portions of the plate, such that a stress applied to the plate across the strain relief element will tend to open the slot, or cause the edges to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate, or otherwise provide a thin cross section that deforms more easily, thereby limiting strain in other portions of the plate.

Abstract: A method and assembly varies the image density of ink from a plurality of ink jet nozzles to provide substantially uniform ink density. Electronically and automatically the electrical power consumption of an ink jet device having an electrical heater is measured (typically by measuring the current draw), and in response to that measurement, if necessary, pulse or voltage supplied to the heater or heaters of each of the ink jet devices is automatically adjusted. More electrical power is supplied if greater image density is required for a particular ink jet device, and less electrical power if lower image density is desired. During typical operation all pulse widths are reset to default settings, the signal received is calibrated, a pattern generator is signalled to provided test data, the present peak electrical current consumed by each nozzle heater is sampled, and the pulse width for each nozzle heater is set based upon the current sample.

Abstract: A track seal assembly adapted to seal a track joint includes a track link and a first ceramic seal member. The track seal further includes a first elastomeric member positioned between the track link and the first ceramic seal member. The track seal further includes a bushing having an end face. The track seal also includes a second ceramic seal member secured to the end face of the bushing, wherein (1) the first ceramic seal member contacts the second ceramic seal member so as to form a seal interface, (2) the end face of the bushing has a counter bore defined therein, and (3) the second ceramic seal member is positioned within the counter bore of the bushing.

Abstract: Nozzles in an ink jet printhead nozzle plate are laser formed into the nozzle plate at a spacing differing from that of the corresponding ink heating elements by a function of the thermal expansion characteristics whereby heating of the nozzle plate to activate a heat set adhesive for securing the nozzle plate to the heating element substrate expands the nozzle plate thereby aligning the nozzle axes with the corresponding heating elements.

Abstract: A apparatus for removing air from an ink-jet print cartridge by collecting the air in a predetermined area and drawing off the air from the air collection area using a conduit. The conduit is mounted within the housing of the ink jet print cartridge wherein a plenum is coupled with the air collection area.