Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus of the invention includes (1) a precoater for applying a coat of a pretreatment, (2) an ejector for ejecting the ink, (3) an overcoater for at least depositing a posttreatment on the ink, (4) a recorder recording print modes corresponding to the types of recording medium, (5) a selector for selecting one of the print modes from the recorder based on the type of the recording medium, and (6) a drive controller for controlling the operation of the precoater, the ejector, and the overcoater based on the selection result.

Abstract: On ink jet recorded matter comprising an ink jet recording medium having a substrate and an ink receiving layer formed thereon containing porous inorganic particles and an image formed with a pigment ink on the ink receiving layer, a protective layer covering the image is formed by thermally transferring a transfer layer from a heat-resistant carrier onto the image. The ink jet recording medium comprises a substrate and an ink receiving layer formed on one side of the substrate, wherein an ink jet recorded image and a protective layer covering the image are to be formed on the surface of the ink receiving layer, said side of the substrate, before the formation of the ink receiving layer, having a Bekk's surface smoothness of 200 seconds or higher and the surface of the ink receiving layer having a Bekk's surface smoothness of 60 seconds or higher.

Abstract: An overcoating device can transport a plurality of recorded materials in parallel with spacing and includes a transfer sheet supply unit for supplying a transfer sheet having a transferred layer having a width capable of covering the recorded materials on a support onto the recorded materials, a heating and pressing unit made up of a pair of pressing members, and a stripping unit for stripping the support. When the recorded materials and the transfer sheet pass through the heating and pressing unit, the portion of the transferred layer corresponding to the spacing does not come in contact with the pressing member.

Abstract: On ink jet recorded matter comprising an ink jet recording medium having a substrate and an ink receiving layer formed thereon containing porous inorganic particles and an image formed with a pigment ink on the ink receiving layer, a protective layer covering the image is formed by thermally transferring a transfer layer from a heat-resistant carrier onto the image. The ink jet recording medium comprises a substrate and an ink receiving layer formed on one side of the substrate, wherein an ink jet recorded image and a protective layer covering the image are to be formed on the surface of the ink receiving layer, said side of the substrate, before the formation of the ink receiving layer, having a Bekk's surface smoothness of 200 seconds or higher and the surface of the ink receiving layer having a Bekk's surface smoothness of 60 seconds or higher.

Abstract: Ink jet recorded matter comprising a recording medium having a substrate and an ink receiving layer containing porous inorganic particles, an image formed of a pigment ink on the ink receiving layer, and a protective layer covering the image, the protective layer being formed by thermally transferring a transfer layer from a heat-resistant carrier onto the image. A process for producing the recorded matter, and a thermal transfer sheet, a thermal transfer apparatus and an ink jet recording apparatus for use in the production process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transfer printing apparatus in which a recording image is written by ink drops ejected from an ink jet recording head onto a transfer drum. The ejected ink includes a dispersion medium and coloring material. The apparatus includes a dispersion absorbing member which absorbs the dispersion medium of the ink from the drum without removing the coloring material and which does not contact the transfer medium. The absorption is provided by an absorbing material, by a blower which provides suction, or a combination of both.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink sheet including a heat resistant support film, a first fusible ink layer disposed on the support film, an interlayer which will support the first ink layer in uniform layer condition during thermal printing and will still separate cleanly from the non-printed portion on the first ink layer and a second fusible ink layer on the interlayer. Several embodiments of the interlayer will maintain the first ink layer in uniform layer condition during thermal printing. The interlayer can be formed of: a material with a low melting point whose viscosity does not decrease substantially when its temperature is increased; a thin film of thermosetting resin; and a layer of material formed of minute grains or domains smaller than a pixel which will form a pixel sized layer support during thermal printing.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus having application means for applying thermal energy to a recording portion of thermoplastic magnetic ink and generation means for simultaneously generating magnetic attraction force in the ink is provided. The recording portion of the ink is transferred to a transfer medium by the magnetic attraction force while the application of thermal energy is controlled. The ink and the transfer medium do not come into contact with each other in a non-recording portion of the ink. An ink medium having a support layer and a thermoplastic magnetic ink layer for use with the imprinting apparatus of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A transfer medium for use in a printing apparatus wherein a magnetic ink layer containing magnetic particles is heat-melted and transferred to a material to be printed. The magnetic ink layer contains magnetic particles different from each other in size, which enables printing to be conducted with an excellent quality.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink medium including a heat resistant support layer having an ink layer thereon and an ink transfer layer or film on the ink layer is provided. Printing is performed by applying thermal energy to selected portions of the thermal transfer ink medium in accordance with image signals. The ink transfer layer and selected portions of the ink layer are transferred to a transfer medium by selective activation of the ink layer. By providing the ink transfer layer, the ink is maintained as a cohesive body and transfer is not affected by the surface roughness of the transfer medium.

Abstract: A transfer medium for use in a printing apparatus wherein a magnetic ink layer containing magnetic particles is heat-melted and transferred to a material to be printed. The magnetic ink layer (12) contains magnetic particles (121) and (122) different from each other in size, which enables printing to be conducted with excellent quality.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device including a plurality of optical shutters is provided. The optical device includes a first glass substrate having N common electrodes disposed thereon and a second glass substrate having N signal electrodes disposed thereon, the glass substrates spaced apart and opposed to each other so that the electrodes are crossed. A liquid crystal material including a nematic liquid cyrstal having dielectric anisotropy which becomes 0 at a crossing frequency (fC) of 100 KHz or below at atmospheric temperatures including an optically active material encapsulated between the glass substrates. Polarizing plates are disposed on the outside of the liquid crystal panel and the device is driven in a N time-sharing mode by applying the driving signals to the common electrode and the signal electrodes. The optical device is particularly well suited for use in an optical printer in view of the rapid response times.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus having application means for applying thermal energy to a recording portion of thermoplastic magnetic ink and generation means for simultaneously generating magnetic attraction force in the ink is provided. The recording portion of the ink is transferred to a transfer medium by the magnetic attraction force while the application of thermal energy is controlled. The ink and the transfer medium do not come into contact with each other in a non-recording portion of the ink. An ink medium having a support layer and a thermoplastic magnetic ink layer for use with the imprinting apparatus of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink medium including a heat resistant support layer having an ink layer thereon and an ink transfer layer or film on the ink layer is provided. Printing is performed by applying thermal energy to selected portions of the thermal transfer ink medium in accordance with image signals. The ink transfer layer and selected portions of the ink layer are transferred to a transfer medium by selective activation of the ink layer. By providing the ink transfer layer, the ink is maintained as a cohesive body and transfer is not affected by the surface roughness of the transfer medium.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus having application means for applying thermal energy to a recording portion of thermoplastic magnetic ink and generation means for simultaneously generating magnetic attraction force in the ink is provided. The recording portion of the ink is transferred to a transfer medium by the magnetic attraction force while the application of thermal energy is controlled. The ink and the transfer medium do not come into contact with each other in a non-recording portion of the ink. An ink medium having a support layer and a thermoplastic magnetic ink layer for use with the imprinting apparatus of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A thermal transfer magnetic ink, ink sheet and method of printing with the magnetic ink and apparatus which will print high quality images and characters. The heat-fusible magnetic ink transfer sheet includes a heat-fusible magnetic ink layer disposed on a heat resistant support film. The magnetic ink layer includes minute magnetic particles dispersed in a binder and has a surface tension lower than about 20 dynes/cm when melted. The magnetic properties of the ink combined with the melted ink's surface tension, permit avoiding contact between the ink transfer sheet and the recording medium. A magnetic field pulls the ink melted by a print head off of the support film so that the melted ink flies from the ink transfer sheet to the recording medium.

Abstract: A fusible ink sheet having a top layer of carnauba wax and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer on a color layer is provided. The fusible ink sheet is superior in blocking resistance, capable of transfer with a low level of transfer energy and suitable for full color printing. In other embodiments, the carnauba wax is used in combination with specific montan wax or paraffin wax.

Abstract: An imprinting apparatus having application means for applying thermal energy to a recording portion of thermoplastic magnetic ink and generation means for simultaneously generating magnetic attraction force in the ink is provided. The recording portion of the ink is transferred to a transfer medium by the magnetic attraction force while the application of thermal energy is controlled. The ink and the transfer medium do not come into contact with each other in a non-recording portion of the ink. An ink medium having a support layer and a thermoplastic magnetic ink layer for use with the imprinting apparatus of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing on a transfer medium using an ink medium with a thermoplastic magnetic ink. A thermal head selectively heats and melts the magnetic ink. A magnetic head urges the melted magnetic ink from the ink medium to the transfer medium. Both the thermal head and the magnetic head are positioned on the same side of the transfer medium. The distance between the magnetic head and the platen can be adjusted depending upon the thickness of the transfer medium to maintain a constant speed of ink transfer from the ink medium to the transfer medium. Methods of printing by ejecting the ink from the ink medium onto the transfer paper and for adjusting the distance between the magnetic head and platen to adapt to varying thicknesses of transfer medium are presented.

Abstract: In an electrothermal transfer system which uses a sheet formed by integrally binding at least a resistive layer and an ink layer and effects desired transfer by flowing electric current through the resistive layer thereby causing the resistive layer to generate joulean heat and enabling the ink layer to be partially fused to be transferred, an electrothermal transfer recording sheet has the resistive layer formed by application of a mixture of carbon black with a resin binder. The carbon black used herein is possessed of a DBP oil absorption capacity of not less than 300 ml/100 g. Thus, the carbon black content in the resistive layer can be as small as 5 to 35% by weight, the tight adhesiveness of the resistive layer improved, and the power consumption lowered.