Abstract: A printing or copying system in which ink is transferred from an ink-bearing medium to a printing medium through the use of ultrasonics. The ink-bearing medium may be an ink ribbon, carbon paper or the like which is in contact with a printing medium such as paper. Ultrasonic energy is applied to the ink-bearing medium through transmission fibers, wires or bundles thereof, causing the viscosity of the ink to be reduced due to the ultrasonic vibrations and conversion of the ultrasonic energy into heat such that the ink is transferred to the printing medium. Multi-copy capability is achieved by having alternate layers of carbon paper or the like in contact with the paper.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for making in-situ an energy sensitive surface on a passive support medium from at least two materials which in combination render said surface energy sensitive, comprising means for forming a separate mist of each of said materials and causing said separate mist to simultaneously contact said support media so that said materials controllably mix as they strike said medium. The particular process is utilized in a printing, copying and or recording environment wherein, said energy sensitive surface is formed on-line immediately prior to exposing said surface to an energy source. Said mists may be mixed at the point of contact with said medium or premixed within said mist forming means prior to striking said support medium.

Abstract: A micromist printing arrangement wherein a micromist of ink particles, provided by an ultrasonic nebulizer, is forced through a small nozzle to form an aerosol jet. The micromist ink particles are entrained in the jet and focused to print a narrow width region which is substantially smaller in size than the overall jet diameter and the nozzle opening. Particle size, jet stream velocity and air or other carrier gas viscosity are considered in establishing focusing characteristics of the aerosol jet, which is directed against the paper to wet the same, thereby obtaining dense, well defined print lines. According to a first embodiment, modulation of the aerosol jet is achieved by fluid logic control whereby a vacuum is introduced into the path of the aerosol jet to shunt it from its printing path. In another embodiment, control may be achieved through the use of sonic excitation of turbulence into the aerosol jet.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer solid impurities contaminating recirculating ink are removed by subjecting contaminated ink to ultrasonic energy for forming an aerosol of the ink. The aerosol of ink is entrained in an air stream and carried to impactor means where the ink aerosol is caused to return to a liquid state.

Abstract: Streams of ink droplets are formed of a material which changes from transparent or colorless to a color when subjected to a selected energy source. A print pattern is produced on a movable paper through selectively controlling the droplets to which the selected energy source is applied. The droplets which remain transparent or colorless because of not being exposed to the selected energy source can be deactivated by a second source of energy so that these droplets will not subsequently print.

Abstract: A first mist having at least one material is selectively applied to selected portions of a recording surface to form desired characters or other information thereon. A second mist of a material which reacts with the one material is applied to the recording surface. The reaction of the two materials forms a compound on the selected portions of the recording surface having a sufficient contrast with the recording surface to produce characters or other information on the recording surface. If the one material has an ink applied therewith to the recording surface, the material in the second mist reacts with the one material to enhance the contrast of the ink on the recording surface.

Abstract: Selective or controlled "wetting" of particles to the surface of a substrate or medium is effected by ultrasonically generating a micromist of small nebulized magnetic particles, typically of micron or submicron size. In the absence of a magnetic field, exposure of the surface of the substrate or medium to the micromist fails to produce any "wetting" of the particles to the surface. In the presence of a magnetic field, however, the particles are caused to locally "wet" the surface in accordance with the field pattern. Use of a micromist of magnetic ink particles for printing, typing and copying applications is described.