Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus for transferring ink to a receiver 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. Air is delivered to isolate ink in the chamber so that a predetermined amount of ink in the chamber can be transferred to a receiver, and the microfluidic pumps are operated for delivering the predetermined amount of ink to each chamber.

Abstract: An imaging member can be prepared by imagewise application of a mixture of a sol precursor in a liquid to a suitable substrate. Application is preferably accomplished by ink jet printing. Upon removal of the liquid, such as by drying, an insoluble, crosslinked polymeric sol-gel matrix is formed that will accept a lithographic printing ink. The resulting imaging member can be used for lithographic printing.

Abstract: A graphic arts printing apparatus includes a delivery channel for hydrophobic liquid; a source of pressurized hydrophobic liquid communicating with the delivery channel; a nozzle bore which opens into the delivery channel to establish a continuous flow of hydrophobic liquid in a stream; and a droplet generator which causes the stream to break up into a plurality of droplets at a position spaced from the stream generator. The droplet generator includes a heater having a selectively-actuated section associated with only a portion of the nozzle bore perimeter, whereby actuation of the heater section produces an asymmetric application of heat to the stream to control the direction of the stream between a print direction and a non-print direction.

Abstract: A direct write lithographic printing plate comprises a support, a melanaphilic layer, a melanophobic layer with a non-ionic crosslinker and a melanophobic layer with an ionic crosslinker.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus including at least one ink reservoir; a moveable front plate of transparent material having a structure including a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array which can be viewed by an observer, each such 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 for viewing; apparatus for moving the front plate to a printing or ink disposal position; and apparatus for transferring the ink from the fill side of the chambers to a receiver when the front plate is in the printing position.

Abstract: A microfluidic printing apparatus for printing ink pixels on a receiver includes at least one ink reservoir and plurality of microchannels each connected to the ink reservoir. The apparatus further includes a plurality of chambers associated with at least one microchannel which includes a resilient material which, in an ink delivery position, permits ink to be delivered from the microchannel to a chamber and in an ink printing position blocks the flow of ink from the microchannel to the chamber and reduces the size of the chamber to expel ink for printing on the receiver.

Abstract: Apparatus having an array of print heads for transmitting energy to a colorant donor element to cause colorant to transfer to produce color filter array patterns in an image-receiving layer of a color filter array includes a structure for locating the colorant donor element and the image-receiving layer a precise sublimation gap G from the image-receiving layer surface; and for maintaining this sublimation gap G to compensate for dimensional variations in the image-receiving layer.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a thermal image in an image receiving layer, includes: adding a reactive plastisizer which is capable of being cross-linked upon the application of radiation to the image receiving layer; transferring the thermal image to the image receiving layer; and applying radiation to the image receiving layer sufficient to cross-link the plastisizer and thereby stabilize the image.

Abstract: A method for transferring colorant from a donor element to a compact disc (CD) includes holding a CD in the focal plane of a focused laser beam with a colorant donor element being positioned in transferable relationship with the CD and focusing a laser beam on the colorant donor element to heat the donor element to a sufficient temperature to transfer colorant to the CD to thereby effect the transfer of colorant from the donor element to the CD.

Abstract: A reusable thermal dye donor element for a dye transfer thermal printer comprising: a base layer; and a donor layer on said base layer, said donor layer having a plurality of wells which preferentially adsorb and desorb dye into said wells.

Abstract: Apparatus for color printing on a moveable receiver includes a re-inkable belt including an ink transfer layer where an ink can be transferred; a structure for causing the moveable receiver to move into proximate contact with the re-inkable belt at a nip position for transferring ink imagewise to the moveable receiver; and an interface capillary spaced from the re-inkable belt and for receiving ink and including pumping structure operating on the ink in the interface capillary for forming a meniscus in such space which engages the re-inkable belt so that ink will be diffused into the ink transfer surface. The apparatus further forms a meniscus when the re-inkable belt passes by the interface capillary to cause ink to diffuse into the ink transfer layer when the ink transfer layer is saturated with ink.

Abstract: A method for transferring colorant from a donor element to a dye receiving layer to form a desired label includes providing an embossed surface on the dye receiving layer having desired spacing to minimize mottling; positioning the embossed surface of the dye receiving layer in the focal plane of a focused laser beam with a colorant donor element being positioned in transferable relationship with the dye receiving element; and focusing a laser beam on the colorant donor element to heat the donor element to a sufficient temperature to transfer colorant to the dye receiving element to thereby effect the transfer of colorant from the donor element to the dye receiving layer.

Abstract: A method of printing human readable information on a CD having a substrate, a record layer over the substrate, and a reflective layer over the record layer includes the steps of providing a colorant donor element in transferable relationship with a surface of the CD over the reflective layer; raster scanning a light beam across the colorant donor element to cause the transfer of human readable colorant pixels onto such surface; and continuously raster scanning the light beam without any non-printing or free fly time during the transfer of such human readable colorant pixels.

Abstract: A method of producing a radiation-induced colorant transfer image on a support, includes the steps of: providing an image-receiving element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer; providing a colorant donor element having a colorant transfer layer on a colorant element support and wherein colorant can be transferred from a transfer surface of the colorant donor element to the image-receiving layer in response to selectively applied radiation; providing a rigid element being configured to provide a surface having peaks and valleys; pressing either the colorant element support surface or the image-receiving support surface against the rigid element so as to cause either the colorant transfer layer surface or the image-receiving surface, respectively, to conformally have peaks and valleys; causing the peaks of the colorant transfer layer or the image-receiving layer to engage either the image-receiving element or the colorant donor element, respectively; and applying radiation to the colora

Abstract: A method of producing a radiation-induced colorant transfer image on a support, includes the steps of: providing an image-receiving element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer; providing a colorant donor element having a colorant transfer layer on a colorant element support and wherein colorant can be transferred from a transfer surface of the colorant donor element to the image-receiving element in response to selectively applied radiation, the colorant element support being configured to provide a surface having peaks and valleys; pressing the colorant element support surface against a rigid element so as to cause the colorant transfer layer surface to conformally have peaks and valleys; causing the peaks of the colorant transfer layer to engage the image-receiving element; and applying radiation to the colorant donor element to cause colorant to transfer in the space between the image-receiving element and the colorant transfer layer surface corresponding to the valleys in the colo

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate is comprised of an anodized aluminum support having thereon an oleophilic image-forming layer comprising an infrared-absorbing agent dispersed in a film-forming cyanoacrylate polymer binder. The plate is imagewise exposed to a focused high-intensity infrared laser beam which removes the oleophilic image-forming layer by thermal ablation to thereby reveal the underlying hydrophilic support surface. The cyanoacrylate polymers provide superior performance due to their combination of low decomposition temperature, good ink receptivity, good adhesion to the support and good wear characteristics.

Abstract: A method of preparing a color filter array element comprising the following steps:a) coating a glass support with a polymeric dye image-receiving layer;b) coating the polymeric dye image-receiving layer with at least one additive primary color dye from a solvent that does not swell or penetrate the polymeric dye image-receiving layer;c) placing a stencil mask of a desired pixel shape in intimate contact with the surface of the polymeric dye image-receiving layer;d) fusing the dye into the polymeric dye image-receiving layer by heating or by using a solvent vapor treatment using a solvent which will swell or penetrate the dye image-receiving layer;e) removing the stencil mask;f) removing all unfused dye with a solvent wash; andg) repeating steps b) to f) twice using different additive primary color dyes.

Abstract: A process for using laser dye-ablative recording element having high blue and ultraviolet contrast comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a blue-absorbing dye, an ultraviolet-absorbing dye and an image dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye layer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose the element, the image dye being substantially transparent in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum and absorbing in the region of from about 450 to about 700 nm and not having substantial absorption at the wavelength of the laser used to expose the element, the element having:a) an optical density of greater than about 2.0 in each of the ultraviolet and blue regions of the spectrum; andb) a sum of optical densities in the red and green regions of the spectrum of at least about 1 and up to about 3.0 as a reprographic photomask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing laser dye ablation printing utilizing a laser diode with improved contrast and uniformity produces exposed film having a minimum optical density (Dmin) of less than 0.11 and exhibiting significant reductions in visible raster lines. Specifically, a laser printing apparatus is provided that includes a mechanism for retaining a film to be exposed, a laser diode source for generating a write beam, and a mechanism for scanning the write beam across the film to generate an image. The intensity of write beam generated by the laser diode source at the film is preferably at least 1.0 mW/square micron. During operation, a film to be exposed is placed in the retaining mechanism and the write beam is scanned across the film to generate an image.

Abstract: This invention relates to an imaging element for reductive laser-imaging comprising a support having thereon an imaging layer comprising:a) a reducible Co(III) ammine complex,b) a source of phthalaldehyde, andc) a reducing agent,the imaging layer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith in the amount of about 0.001 to about 0.5 g/m.sup.2 of element, and wherein the imaging element has a Lewis acid-containing overcoat layer thereon.