Abstract: A liquid ink imaging member having a top outer imaging surface is provided for receiving image forming ink droplets from a printhead. The liquid ink imaging member includes (a) a substrate member; (b) at least one elastomeric layer formed over the substrate member and including the top outer imaging surface; and (c) a surface texture formed into the top outer imaging surface and comprising asperities spaced apart at most from about one-half to about one pixel spot size for providing contact angle hysteresis to pin image forming ink droplets received thereon, thereby preventing ink droplet drawback, and resulting in quality images.

Abstract: A polyimide film substrate pre-heater assembly is provided for pre-heating substrates in an image producing machine and includes (a) plural rollers including a drive roller; (b) a substrate path defining and heating assembly for defining a portion of substrate path; and (c) a belt assembly including a polyimide film belt forming a loop. The loop forms a substrate transport nip against the substrate path defining and heating assembly. The polyimide film belt includes a polyimide film support layer, a puzzle cut seam having inter-fitting teeth and receptacle members, and a fluoroelastomeric overcoat layer for filling and strengthening the puzzle cut seam, thereby preventing the inter-fitting teeth and receptacle members thereof from popping up when the loop is driven over relatively small diameter rollers.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a hybrid composition of an elastomer having a silicone material covalently bonded to a backbone of the elastomer, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a silicone material and Q-resin, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a nano-size filler having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 250 nanometers, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a latex fluoroelastomer, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a haloelastomer having pendant chains covalently bonded to a backbone of the haloelastomer, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: A process for providing a layer on a marking member by dissolving a fluoroelastomer; adding and reacting a nano-size zinc oxide and a crosslinking agent, to form a resulting homogeneous fluoroelastomer dispersion, wherein the nano-size zinc oxide has a particle size of from about 1 to about 250 nanometers; and subsequently providing at least one layer of the homogeneous fluoroelastomer dispersion to the marking member.

Abstract: A phase change ink image producing machine including (a) a control subsystem for controlling operation of all subsystems and components of the image producing machine; (b) melting apparatus for melting solid phase change ink into melted molten liquid ink; (c) a printhead system located for receiving said melted molten liquid ink, said printhead system being connected to said control subsystem for ejecting droplets of melted molten liquid ink onto an imaging member to form an image and a liquid ink imaging member having a top outer imaging surface for receiving image forming ink droplets from a printhead.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a mica-type silicate material, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging surface field reconditioning method and apparatus are provided for reconditioning, in the field, a marking material control pattern on an imaging surface of in an image producing machine.

Abstract: A phase change ink image producing machine including (a) a control subsystem for controlling operation of all subsystems and components of the image producing machine; (b) melting apparatus for melting solid phase change ink into melted molten liquid ink; (c) a printhead system located for receiving said melted molten liquid ink, said printhead system being connected to said control subsystem for ejecting droplets of melted molten liquid ink onto an imaging member to form an image and a liquid ink imaging member having a top outer imaging surface for receiving image forming ink droplets from a printhead.

Abstract: A process including: dispersing a first liquid developer concentrate comprising a resin, a colorant, and a liquid developer reconstitution compound, in a carrier liquid, into additional carrier liquid to form a second liquid developer; depositing the second liquid developer onto a liquid receiver member to form a developer cake; developing an image with the developer cake; reclaiming undeveloped developer cake from the cake bearing liquid receiver member; and redispersing the reclaimed undeveloped developer cake in the second developer liquid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring a developed image from an image bearing member to a receiver substrate in a Contact Electrostatic Printing (CEP) system may be provided according to the present invention. The developed image is formed of a development material having a mixture of carrier fluid and pigmented polymeric particles, the composition of such mixture being selected for its characteristic behavior at an elevated temperature for transitioning to a substantially single phase. The method includes the steps of developing an image onto an image bearer using the aforementioned development material; concentrating the developed image; heating the developed image to a temperature at which the polymeric particles and the carrier fluid achieve a substantially single phase condition, so as to form a transferable image; and transferring the transferable image to a receiver substrate such as a paper sheet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transferring a developed image from an image bearing member to a receiver substrate in a Contact Electrostatic Printing (CEP) system may be provided according to the present invention. The developed image is formed of a development material having a mixture of carrier fluid and pigmented polymeric particles, the composition of such mixture being selected for its characteristic behavior at an elevated temperature for transitioning to a substantially single phase. The method includes the steps of developing an image onto an image bearer using the aforementioned development material; concentrating the developed image; heating the developed image to a temperature at which the polymeric particles and the carrier fluid achieve a substantially single phase condition, so as to form a transferable image; and transferring the transferable image to a receiver substrate such as a paper sheet.

Abstract: An imaging surface field reconditioning method and apparatus are provided for reconditioning, in the field, a marking material control pattern on an imaging surface of in an image producing machine.

Abstract: A liquid ink imaging member having a top outer imaging surface is provided for receiving image forming ink droplets from a printhead. The liquid ink imaging member includes (a) a substrate member; (b) at least one elastomeric layer formed over the substrate member and including the top outer imaging surface; and (c) a surface texture formed into the top outer imaging surface and comprising asperities spaced apart at most from about one-half to about one pixel spot size for providing contact angle hysteresis to pin image forming ink droplets received thereon, thereby preventing ink droplet drawback, and resulting in quality images.

Abstract: A polyimide film substrate pre-heater assembly is provided for pre-heating substrates in an image producing machine and includes (a) plural rollers including a drive roller; (b) a substrate path defining and heating assembly for defining a portion of substrate path; and (c) a belt assembly including a polyimide film belt forming a loop. The loop forms a substrate transport nip against the substrate path defining and heating assembly. The polyimide film belt includes a polyimide film support layer, a puzzle cut seam having inter-fitting teeth and receptacle members, and a fluoroelastomeric overcoat layer for filling and strengthening the puzzle cut seam, thereby preventing the inter-fitting teeth and receptacle members thereof from popping up when the loop is driven over relatively small diameter rollers.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus having a coated imaging member for use with phase-change inks, has a substrate, an optional intermediate layer, and thereover an outer coating with a nano-size filler having an average particle size of from about 1 to about 250 nanometers, and an optional heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

Abstract: A process for providing a layer on a marking member by dissolving a fluoroelastomer; adding and reacting a nano-size zinc oxide and a crosslinking agent, to form a resulting homogeneous fluoroelastomer dispersion, wherein the nano-size zinc oxide has a particle size of from about 1 to about 250 nanometers; and subsequently providing at least one layer of the homogeneous fluoroelastomer dispersion to the marking member.