Abstract: An ink jet receiver which provides variable dot sizes, comprising a substrate, an ink-receiving layer disposed over the substrate, and a removable ink delivery layer which, in response to a droplet of ink, absorbs a portion of the ink and delivers another portion of the ink to the ink receiving layer so that a dot is formed in the ink-receiving layer.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus includes at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber. The apparatus detects the ink fluid level in the chambers and for producing a signal, and controls the microfluidic pumps for delivering the correct amount of ink delivered into each chamber and responsive to the ink level signal for causing the pumps to terminate the delivery of ink.

Abstract: A direct write lithographic printing plate includes a base layer; a metal light absorbing layer provided over the base layer; and a melanophobic layer provided over the metal absorbing layer and selected to have a thickness which minimizes reflection of light from the metal layer so that light which passes through a selected portion of the melanophobic layer and into the metal light absorbing layer, is absorbed by such metal layer to provide a heat source which causes the removal, at the selected portion, of the melanophobic layer.

Abstract: A display for presenting selected images to a viewer, including a transparent substrate; a transparent, electrically conductive coating formed over the transparent substrate; a light modulating layer formed over the transparent, electrically conductive layer; and a patterned conductive layer formed over the light modulating layer which provides viewable and conductive images, the light modulating layer being effective in two conditions, in a first condition to prevent the viewing of the viewable and conductive images and in a second condition to permit the viewing of the viewable and conductive images.

Abstract: A cleaning fluid for use with an inkjet printer having orifices for injecting ink, the surface of the orifices at the injection point being formed by a predetermined material includes a liquid for cleaning the surface of the orifices, such liquid including a di or trihydroxysilane which acts as a biocide, surfactant, and humectant.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor element is made by coating a support web, with a thermal insulating layer, and then overcoating with a coextensive ink repellent layer. The coextensive ink repellant layer comprises a crosslinked polymeric matrix containing a colloid of an oxide or a hydroxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of beryllium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, gadolinium, germanium, arsenic, indium, tin, antimony, tellurium, lead, bismuth, a transition metal and combinations thereof. A photothermal conversion material is present in the ink repellent layer, in a stratum located between the thermal insulating layer and the ink repellent layer, or in both the ink repellent layer and the stratum. The ink repellant layer contains less than 5% hydrocarbon groups by weight.

Abstract: Apparatus for color printing on a re-inkable belt, the re-inkable belt being moveable along an endless path and trained about a transport roller and including an ink transfer layer where an ink can be transferred to a moveable receiver and the moveable receiver moves into ink transfer relationship with the re-inkable belt at a nip position for transferring ink imagewise from the re-inkable belt to the receiver. The depleted ink is replenished and the re-inkable belt is arranged so that ink will be diffused into the ink transfer surface, and tension is adjustedly applied at two spaced locations to the transport roller and including two spaced steering actuators which, when actuated, apply tension to opposite positions on the transport roller, a sensor for determining the position of the re-inkable belt, and a computer coupled to the sensor for selectively actuating the steering actuators so as to apply tension to the transport roller which compensates for lateral distortion of the re-inkable belt.

Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate, can be prepared using a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having a positively charged moiety, and optionally a photothermal conversion material. The heat-sensitive polymer has recurring units containing an N-alkylated aromatic heterocyclic group or an organoonium group that reacts to provide increased oleophilicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus, the heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides an imaging means without wet processing.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink jet printing apparatus for printing proof images and then producing at least one lithographic printing plate in response to an input image includes a computer adapted to receive the input digital image and a plurality of ink reservoirs for providing inks of different colors for printing proof images and at least one lithographic ink reservoir for producing a lithographic printing plate. First print heads coupled to a proof image receiver and responsive to the computer for transferring particular inks onto the proof image receiver for producing proof images; and a second print head responsive to the computer for transferring lithographic ink from the lithographic ink reservoir to form an image pattern on the lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: A precursor element for making a lithographic printing plate is composed of a support, an ink receptive thermal conversion inner layer and a sol-gel, ink repellent outer layer. The outer sol-gel layer containes crosslinked colloids derived from certain metal oxides or hydroxides. The plates produced from the ellements are long-running plates that require no post-imaging processing.

Abstract: A method for microfluidic printing continuous tone color pixels on a reflective receiver by using cyan, magenta, and yellow inks including supplying a fourth, colorless ink along with the cyan, magenta, and yellow inks needed for color printing; pumping the inks through capillary microchannels by microfluidic pumps; mixing the correct amount of colorless ink with the cyan, magenta, or yellow inks to produce both the correct hue and tone scale for each colored pixel; and transferring the colored pixels of mixed ink to the reflective receiver to form colored pixels on the receiver.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate comprising exposing a support, a melonophilic layer and a melonophobic layer, the latter containing crosslinked colloids to a laser beam having an intensity greater than 0.1 mW/.mu..sup.2 for a time sufficient to give a total exposure of about 200 milliJoules/cm.sup.2 or greater. Good printing steps and long running plates are produced.

Abstract: A display apparatus responsive to an image file for displaying a plurality of pixels including a plurality of ink display chambers; ink channels for delivering melted inks to each ink display chamber; and first heater elements for melting solid ink which is to be delivered through the ink channels to the display chambers. The apparatus further includes second heater elements for melting solid ink in the display channels after an image has been displayed; and a computer for controlling the first heater elements for causing solid ink melted by the first heater elements to be delivered to the display chambers where it solidifies to form a display of an image and for controlling the second heater elements for melting solid ink in the chambers to discard ink in the display chambers whereby the display apparatus is conditioned to form a new display image.

Abstract: An improved lithographic printing plate made by coating a support web with a coextensive ink receptive photothermal conversion layer and then overcoating with a ink repellent layer comprising a crosslinked polymeric matrix containing a colloid of an oxide or a hydroxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of beryllium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, gadolinium, germanium, arsenic, indium, tin, antimony, tellurium, lead, bismuth, a transition metal and combinations thereof, along with a photothermal conversion material.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus includes plurality of ink reservoirs containing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, respectively and a plurality of ink mixing chambers each for applying a dot of mixed ink to a receiver and a plurality of microchannels connecting each of the reservoirs to a mixing chamber. The apparatus further includes a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying a particular ink into a particular mixing chamber and microvalves associated with each channel and moveable between two positions for blocking and permitting the flow of ink from the associated microchannel into its associated mixing chamber to regulate the ink flow into the ink mixing chambers, and controlling the microfluidic pumps and microvalves for causing the correct amount of colored ink to be conveyed into each mixing chamber.

Abstract: An ink for use in an inkjet printer having nozzles for ejecting ink droplets includes a colorant, a hydroxysilane having at least two hydroxy groups, and a liquid carrier for the colorant and the silane.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus comprising at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber. The apparatus provides relative movement between the microchannels and the structure so that the arrays can be effective in two positions; a blocking position for preventing the flow of ink from the microchannel to the chamber, and a printing position for aligning the chambers with the microchannels for permitting the flow of ink from microchannels into associated chambers to regulate the ink flow into the chambers.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing on a moveable receiver images corresponding to a digital image includes a re-inkable belt which includes a polymer support layer and an ink transfer layer having a plurality of colored patches provided over the polymer support layer wherein ink can be transferred to and from the ink transfer layer, the polymer support layer including heating elements disposed in the colored patches in the re-inkable belt which, when a potential is applied to them, heats their corresponding patch the ink transferable layer to facilitate ink transfer. The apparatus selectively applies potential to the heating elements in the re-inkable belt at an image transfer system and causes the moveable receiver to move into proximate contact with the re-inkable belt at an image transfer position.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus responsive to an image file for printing a plurality of pixels on a display is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of ink delivery chambers; ink channels for delivering ink to each ink delivery chamber; and heater elements associated with particular delivery chambers and effective for causing the transfer of heat to inks in such chambers for regulating ink flow from the ink delivery chambers to the display. The apparatus further includes a circuit for controlling the heater elements for regulating the ink flow in response to the code values of the image file.

Abstract: An imaging member can be prepared by imagewise application of a fluid onto a water-soluble fluid-receiving layer coated on a hydrophilic support. Application is preferably accomplished by ink jet printing. The fluid is dried or cured to form an oleophilic image on the fluid-receiving layer. After removal of the non-imaged areas, the resulting imaging member can be used for lithographic printing. The fluid-receiving layer is designed to protect the resulting imaging member from fingerprints or other handling defects.