Abstract: Cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris from orifices in an ink jet print head orifice plate includes a structure defining a cleaning cavity for receiving cleaning liquid; a roller partially submerged in the cleaning liquid. The roller is rotated so that cleaning liquid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller; and relative movement is provided between the orifice plate and the structure so that the orifice plate is positioned adjacent to the cleaning cavity with the rotating roller spaced a distance from the orifice plate so that there is turbulence of the cleaning liquid and such turbulence causes the cleaning fluid to engage the orifice plate and remove debris from the orifice plate and orifice nozzles.

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. The fluid-receiving layer must form a contact angle of at least 20.degree. with the applied fluid. After removal of the non-imaged areas, the resulting imaging member can be used for lithographic printing.

Abstract: A liquid crystal dispersion display including an opaque first conductive layer including developed silver crystals and having a plurality of first openings for transmission of light; a water permeable coated layer having dispersed liquid crystals in a binder over the opaque first conductive layer; an opaque second conductive layer including developed silver crystals coated over and coextensive with portions of the opaque first conductive layer and formed with second openings which are offset from the first openings; and a structure for changing the electrical potential between the first and second conductive layers so as to effect a change in the dispersed liquid crystals which in a first state causes light which passes through the first openings to be absorbed by the second conductive layer and in a second state which causes light to be scattered and passed out through the second openings in the display.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus including 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; 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; and a structure for controlling the starting times of the microfluidic pumps and the time of separation of the receiver from the ink chambers so that the correct amount of ink is delivered from each chamber to each pixel on the receiver.

Abstract: A microfluidic display apparatus responsive to an image file for displaying a plurality of colored pixel, having at least one color for each pixel includes at least one fluid display chamber for displaying a color; a microchannel connected to the display chamber and including a first colored fluid which, when such fluid is moved to the display chamber, displays the first color as a pixel and a second colored fluid which, when moved to the display chamber, displays the second color as a pixel; and microfluidic pumps for each microchannel. A computer controls the microfluidic pumps in response to a particular pixel of the image file for selectively controlling the flow of fluid to the chamber for selectively displaying either the first or second colors or a fraction of each color thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for replenishing dye from a re-inkable belt after such apparatus has transferred dye to form an image in response to image signals on a moveable receiver includes a re-inkable belt moveable along an endless path and having a plurality of separated ink patches each one being adapted to receive and transfer a different colorant and a re-inking turret having a plurality of rollers each one of has different transferable colorant and corresponds to a particular ink patch. The receiver is moved into proximate contact with the ink patches at a nip position.

Abstract: Printing apparatus for radiation thermal transfer of colorant from a donor to a receiver, including a flash tube for emitting high intensity radiation; a polarizer for receiving high intensity radiation from the flash tube and polarizing such radiation; and liquid crystal cells disposed to receive polarized radiation from the polarizer. Electrodes modulate the liquid crystal cells so that they change the polarization of the radiation passing through them. A second polarizer receives radiation from the liquid crystal cells and is arranged to pass different intensities of radiation depending on their polarization. The colorant donor and the receiver are positioned in colorant transfer relationship with the second polarizer at a colorant transfer position so that radiation which passes through the second polarizer illuminates the colorant donor so that colorant is transferred to the receiver.

Abstract: A lithographic imaging member has a support having thereon a melanophobic silicone copolymer layer and a contiguous surface melanophilic layer composed of an inorganic or organic polymeric matrix. Either or both layers includes a photothermal conversion material capable of converting irradiation, such as IR radiation, to heat in exposed regions. The imaging member can include in one or more layers a material capable of promoting adhesion across the interface of the contiguous layers. This imaging member can be digitally imaged, for example using a laser, and used for printing without wet processing.

Abstract: A printing plate processor for processing a printing plate having a substrate, a hydrophilic layer over the substrate and a processable ink-receiving layer over the hydrophilic layer includes a structure for receiving processing fluid and a roller partially submerged in the processing fluid. The roller is rotated so that processing fluid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller, and the printing plate is moved into a processing region with the rotating roller but spaced from the roller a distance selected so that the turbulence of the processing fluid engaging the ink-receiving layer causes portions of the ink-receiving layer to be removed by the processing fluid carried on the roller.

Abstract: A printer for transferring colorant from a donor web to a receiver web, includes a rotatable platen roller and a printhead having an energy transfer portion engaging the donor web and pressing the donor web into engagement with the receiver web and the receiver web into the surface of the rotatable platen roller to form a nip so that as the rotatable platen rotates, both the receiver web and the donor web are translated. Applied energy to the printhead is transferred from the energy transfer portion of the printhead to the donor web to transfer colorant to the receiver web at the nip. The movement of the receiver web is sensed for controlling the rotation of the rotatable platen roller and energy application.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate made by coating a support web with a coextensive hydrophilic layer of a crosslinked polymeric matrix containing a member of the group consisting of colloids of beryllium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, gadolinium, germanium, arsenic, indium, tin, antimony, tellurium, lead, bismuth and the transition metal oxides, along with a photothermal conversion material capable of accepting ink when exposed to high intensity radiation.

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 printing apparatus provides an electrical signal representing the orientation of the printing apparatus; and control circuit responsive to the electrical signal and for controlling the microfluidic pumps for causing an array of pixels to be printed when the microfluidic pumps supply ink through the microchannels to the chambers so that the correct amount of ink is delivered into each chamber.

Abstract: A method of making a porous, hydrophilic layer with a high surface energy on a substrate for a printing plate, ink jet receiver or the like by the steps of grinding an inorganic gel containing a liquid to provide a fine coatable dispersion of inorganic gel, coating the dispersion of inorganic gel onto the substrate, and heating the dispersion coating to provide the porous hydrophilic layer.

Abstract: A flexographic imaging element comprises a support having thereon a relief imaging layer and a multi-level writeable mask layer. This mask layer is capable of multi-level communication with the underlying relief imaging layer so that the resulting image has continuous tone densities corresponding to the information written on the mask layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for thermal color printing on a moveable receiver including a re-inkable web having at least one colorant; the moveable receiver being in contact with the re-inkable web at a nip position. The apparatus heats the moveable receiver at a position proximate to the nip of the re-inkable web and the moveable receiver so that the moveable receiver maintains sufficient heat to cause colorant to transfer from the re-inkable web to the moveable receiver. Colorant is applied to the re-inkable web after the re-inkable web has delivered colorant to the moveable receiver.

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 and pumping the inks through capillary microchannels by microfluidic pumps. The method further includes mixing the correct amount of colorless ink with the cyan, magenta, or yellow inks to produce mixtures of ink having a desired correct hue and tone scale; and transferring the pixels of the ink mixtures to the reflective receiver to form colored pixels on the receiver comprising a support, a layer formed over the support of an ink impermeable material and cavities defined in a surface of the ink impermeable layer and an ink absorbing material disposed in the cavities for absorbing a determinable amount of ink until saturated such that ink is not conveyed to adjacent cavities.

Abstract: A method for presenting a microfluidic displayed image of a plurality of pixels including providing at least one reservoir containing a meltable ink having a colorant; providing an array of ink delivery chambers from which hot-melted ink is delivered to form a display; and heating the meltable ink and delivering such meltable ink to the ink delivery chambers to form a display image.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus includes at least one ink reservoir; a moveable plate having a plurality of delivery chambers in an array each for forming an ink pixel, and a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a delivery chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink to particular delivery chambers. The moveable plate moves between different positions for permitting the delivery chambers for sequentially delivering ink from an associated microchannel into its associated delivery chamber to control the amount of ink delivered to each delivery chamber; and a computer for controlling the microfluidic pumps and the movement of the moveable shutter plate for causing the correct amount of ink to be conveyed into each delivery chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing system for delivering ink to a receive including at least one ink reservoir, a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers from an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel for delivery to the receiver, and a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to the chambers. The printing system further includes 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 system is responsive to the flow of the ink through the chambers to determine the amount of ink being delivered to a receiver through the chambers, and further controls the microfluidic pumps to prevent the further flow of ink to the receiver.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus for printing ink pixels on a receiver including at least one ink reservoir; a moveable plate having a plurality of delivery chambers in an array each for forming an ink pixel, and a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a delivery chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink to particular delivery chambers.