Abstract: A wide area printer is capable of printing large images on non-typical surfaces such as pavement, grass, or soil. The printer is a wheeled device that is capable of multiple configurations including a plurality of drop nozzle arrays and a plurality of spray nozzle arrays. Each nozzle is independently addressable. Alternately, a group of nozzles may be addressed simultaneously. Each array of nozzles contains a carrier and a colorant. The colorant may be pre-mixed in the carrier, or may be mixed in-situ.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a carrier for mounting a first printhead and a second printhead. A first ink reservoir is coupled in fluid communication with the first printhead, and contains a chromatic dye-based ink. A second ink reservoir is coupled in fluid communication with the second printhead, and contains a chromatic pigment-based ink.

Abstract: An ink system comprising a first ink containing a flocculating dye in an aqueous solution and a second ink containing a dispersant-pigment complex in an aqueous solution reduces bleed between the two inks when they are applied side by side.

Abstract: Aqueous inks containing 1,2-alkyl of from C4 to C10 diols, specifically 1,2-hexanediol or 1,2-pentanediol are employed in jet inks. Two such inks of different colors applied side-by-side to paper do not bleed and therefore give excellent image definition. The diols are not flammable, odorous or highly volatile.

Abstract: A water-soluble dye for a color subtractive, lightfast, wide spectrum ink as follows: ##STR1## wherein: X is ##STR2## R.sub.1 is: an aliphatic radical having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; the radical ##STR3## in which R.sub.2 is --H, -lower alkyl of 1 to 4 C atoms, -lower alkoxy, -halogen, --NO.sub.2 --CN, --CO.sub.2 H;R.sub.3 is --H, -lower alkyl having 1 to 4 C atoms, -halogen, --CO.sub.2 H;M is H, Li, Na, K, --N(R.sub.4).sub.4 in which R.sub.4 is H, ##STR4## in which R.sub.5 is --H, -lower alkyl, and.sub.n is 1 to 4; and in which one of the --SO.sub.3 M groups on the amino-naphthol radical is positioned meta or para --SO.sub.3 M is meta to the --OH.and the dye in a water and glycol vehicle. A dye set of this dye, Direct Blue 199, and Direct Yellow 132 provides a full color spectrum of bright, lightfast colors.

Abstract: A printer ribbon having nigrosine dye with hydroxide counter ion, preferably at 23% by weight, in an oleic acid vehicle to form an ink saturating a fabric. The ribbon has the long life of a dye-only fabric ribbon and is effective for both correspondence and bar code applications.

Abstract: A cartridge ribbon (2) for impact printing containing an endless ribbon (4) initially carrying ink having dye as its only coloring matter. The initial dye is in heavy enough quantity to permit infrared readability of bar codes printed by the ribbon. Re-inking reservoir (16) transfers ink through drive gear (10) only to the track (28) which is impacted during printing. The ink in the reservoir is colored with carbon black. Bar code functioning is maintained by the carbon black added by re-inking. This limited presence of carbon black does not hamper ribbon feed unacceptably, while a ribbon with a full carbon-black ink would not feed well.