Abstract: Isocyanate-derived colored resins made by reacting an alcohol and/or amine, an isocyanate and a nucleophilic molecule containing a chromogen are disclosed. The isocyanate-derived colored resins are useful as colorant materials in phase change ink compositions.

Abstract: Resins and waxes made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including alcohols and/or amines, with an isocyanate are disclosed. The order of addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles can tailor the distribution of di-urethane, mixed urethane/urea, and/or di-urea molecules in the final resin product. The isocyanate-derived resin and wax materials are useful as ingredients as phase change ink carrier compositions used to make phase change ink jet inks.

Abstract: Reactive ink compositions of the present invention utilize at least two reactive components, a base ink component and a curing component, that are applied to a receiving substrate separately. The base ink component includes an ink carrier, a compatible colorant, and a cross-linkable constituent, and the curing component is a cross-linking agent. Upon exposure of the base ink component to the curing component, at least a portion of the ink is cross-linked to provide a printed image that is durable and abrasion-resistant.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition is disclosed wherein the ink composition utilizes polymeric dyes in combination with a selected phase change ink carrier composition.

Abstract: An aqueous phase change ink contains a water dispersible sulphonated polyester gloss agent and a selected concentration of hyperthermogelling component that causes the ink to gel when its temperature is increased to its thermo-inversion point or when the concentration of the hyperthermogelling component is increased by evaporation, or substrate absorption, of water from the ink. The ink may be jetted directly onto a heated and/or absorptive substrate or jetted onto a cooler and/or hydrophobic surface before being transferred to the substrate. The thermo-inversion point is preferably about ambient temperature, and the preferred hyperthermogelling component is a nonionic surfactant, such as an ethylene oxide propylene oxide block copolymer surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention preferably employs a phase change ink composition that includes a combination of different dye types such as an anthraquinone dye and a xanthene dye, which is most preferably a rhodamine dye. While each dye type is insufficiently soluble with respect to favored carrier compositions to preserve color saturation in reduced ink quantity prints, the dye type combination permits increased dye loading and maintains print quality. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a favored carrier composition is adjusted to promote the colored form of a preferred rhodamine dye (C.I. Solvent Red 49) and mixed with a preferred anthraquinone dye (C.I. Solvent Red 172) whose concentration is kept below a critical level to prevent post printed blooming. The resulting preferred phase change ink compositions provide a magenta phase change ink with enhanced light fastness and color saturation, as well as good compatibility with preferred existing subtractive primary color phase change inks.

Abstract: A printer having a paper printing mode and a transparency printing mode detects a leading edge portion of an image-receiving sheet. Based on detection of an opaque leading edge portion of a transparent sheet, the paper printing mode is disabled and a sheet size having boundaries is selected. The printer deposits ink on the transparent sheet within the boundaries of the selected sheet size.

Abstract: A method and the apparatus for employing the method are disclosed whereby an intermediate transfer surface of a layer of sacrificial liquid is applied to a supporting surface and a phase change ink is deposited on the liquid layer. The inked image is then contact transferred to a final receiving substrate.

Abstract: Reactive ink compositions of the present invention utilize at least two reactive components, a base ink component and a curing component, that are applied to a receiving substrate separately. The base ink component includes an ink carrier, a compatible colorant, and a cross-linkable constituent, and the curing component is a cross-linking agent. Upon exposure of the base ink component to the curing component, at least a portion of the ink is cross-linked to provide a printed image that is durable and abrasion-resistant.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition is indirectly applied to a substrate by raising the temperature of the phase change ink composition to form a liquid phase change ink composition, applying droplets of the phase change ink composition in a liquid phase to a liquid intermediate transfer surface on a solid support in a pattern using a device such as an ink jet printhead, solidifying the phase change ink composition on the liquid intermediate transfer surface, transferring the phase change ink composition from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to the substrate, and fixing the phase change ink composition to the substrate. The phase change ink composition is malleable when the ink is transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the substrate and is ductile after the ink has been transferred to the substrate and cooled to ambient temperature to preclude the ink from crumbling and cracking.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing printed substrates having a phase change ink layer of non-uniform thickness are disclosed. Application of a combination of heat and pressure reorients the printed ink layer to provide a layer having a substantially uniform thickness and flat surface conformation, at least in the area of each discrete color. A release surface (55) is positioned adjacent the printed ink layer during processing. A resilient contact surface (56) is also provided to facilitate reorientation of the printed ink layer. Mechanical buffing of the processed, printed substrate improves image quality. Application of a light transmissive, protective coating that overlays the printed ink layer also improves image quality.

Abstract: An ink jet print head cleaning and maintenance system has a purge chamber for applying a vacuum to a nozzle orifice surface. A specialized baffle diverts ink entering the purge chamber away a vent port through which the vacuum is drawn. An elongated wipe engages and wipes the orifice surface and is preferably moved at an extremely slow rate across the surface to enhance the wiping operation. An air knife directs a narrow stream of air across a portion of the nozzle orifice surface with air from the air stream being scanned across the surface for cleaning purposes. A specialized drip edge is positioned beneath the orifice surface for directing drops of ink away from the ink jet print head, the drops of ink being generated during the cleaning procedures. A mechanically simple cam mechanism coupled to a rotatable drum of the printer may be used to shift the maintenance system against the nozzle orifice surface for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: A method for producing a light-transmissive printed substrate is provided. The substrate is printed with a predetermined pattern of a light-transmissive phase change ink which initially transmits light in a non-rectilinear path. When the pattern of solidified phase change ink is subsequently reoriented to form an ink layer of substantially uniform thickness, a printed image layer is formed which will transmit light in a substantially rectilinear path and is suitable for overhead projection.In some instances the adhesion between the ink image layer and the substrate is not as high as is desired. This problem can result in delamination of the ink from the film under certain conditions. In order to overcome this problem, an intermediate optically clear adhesion promoting layer is introduced between the light-transmissive phase change ink and the base substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing a light-transmissive printed substrate is provided. The substrate is printed with a predetermined pattern of a light-transmissive phase change ink which initially transmits light in a non-rectilinear path. When the pattern of solidified phase change ink is subsequently reoriented to form an ink layer of substantially uniform thickness, a printed image layer is formed which will transmit light in a substantially rectilinear path and is suitable for overhead projection.In some instances the adhesion between the ink image layer and the substrate is not as high as is desired. This problem can result in delamination of the ink from the film under certain conditions. In order to overcome this problem, an intermediate optically clear adhesion promoting layer is introduced between the light-transmissive phase change ink and the base substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing a light-transmissive phase change ink printed substrate is described which comprises providing a substrate, and then printing on at least one surface of the substrate a predetermined pattern of a light-transmissive phase change ink which initially transmits light in a non-rectilinear path. The pattern of solidified phase change ink is then reoriented to form an ink layer of substantially uniform thickness. This ink layer will, in turn, produce an image which then will transmit light in a substantially rectilinear path.In one aspect of the invention, the substrate is light transmissive, and the reoriented printed substrate exhibits a high degree of lightness and chroma, and transmits light in a substantially rectilinear path. In this way, the reoriented printed substrate can be used in a projection device to project an image containing clear, saturated colors.

Abstract: A phase change ink carrier composition is combined with a compatible colorant to form a phase change ink composition of this invention. A thin film of substantially uniform thickness of that phase change ink carrier composition, and the ink produced therefrom, has a high degree of lightness and chroma. The thin films of a substantially uniform thickness of the ink composition are also rectilinearly light transmissive. The carrier composition is preferably a fatty amide-containing compound.

Abstract: A color image copying system (10) includes a light modulator (12) that receives incident light rays emanating from a source (14) of light. The light modulator comprises a light dispersing apparatus (54) that disperses different wavelengths of the incident light rays to different locations on a focal surface (60). A filter mask (68) aligned with the focal surface transmits preselected wavelengths of the ultraviolet light and blocks light of all other wavelengths. Each of a set of light valves (86, 88, 90) receives a different wavelength of light transmitted by the filter mask and intensity modulates it in accordance with image pixel information provided by an information source (16). An optical focusing apparatus (56) focuses the intensity-modulated wavelengths of light to a relatively small location (20) on an image focal surface (22) which is aligned with a light-sensitive medium (24).

Abstract: A recording material, comprising a hydrophobic substrate material with a polymeric coating, has excellent receptivity for inks that do not normally wet hydrophobic substrates. The substrate material is coated with a mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and a compatible matrix-forming polymer. The matrix-forming polymer is a material, such as gelatin or polyvinyl alcohol, that is swellable by water and insoluble at room temperature but soluble at elevated temperatures. A transparent base sheet, such as cellulose acetate or polyethylene terephthalate, can be coated with the mixture of polymers to provide a sheet material which can be used in ink jet printers and in pen-type graphics recorders, operating at normal speeds, to record large color-filled areas without puddling, running, or wetness and with high color density and excellent resolution.