Abstract: Curable, phase-change compositions and inks used for printing three-dimensional objects including a curable monomer, a photoinitiator, a wax and a gellant, where the composition of the cured formulation has a room temperature modulus of from about 0.01 to about 5 Gpa. The curable monomer includes acrylic monomer, polybutadiene adducted with maleic anhydride, aliphatic urethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, 3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, or acryloxypropyl t-structured siloxane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are amide gellant compositions with aromatic end-caps consisting of a blend of oligomers (dimer, trimer, tetramer and pentamer) that may be optimized to stable gelling viscosity and controlled showthrough of printed inks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a compound of the formula wherein R1 and R1?, R2 and R2?, and R3 are as defined herein, said process comprising (I) reacting a diacid of the formula HOOC—R2—COOH with a diamine of the formula H2N—R3—NH2 to form an acid-terminated oligoamide intermediate of the formula HOOC—R2—CONH—R3—HNCO—R2?—COOH; and (II) reacting the acid-terminated oligoamide intermediate with a monoalcohol of the formula R1—OH in the presence of a tin or organic titanate catalyst, in the absence of a coupling agent, and in the absence of a solvent to form the product. Also disclosed is a composition prepared by the process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ester-terminated polyamide gellant compounds end-caped with isosorbide and UV curable ink compositions containing them.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ester-terminated polyimide gellant compounds end-caped with isosorbide and UV curable ink compositions containing them.

Abstract: Curable phase change inks contain an ink vehicle, a pigment and a dispersant. A base ink set is of colored phase change inks that utilize the same dispersant, and also desirably contain the same amount of the dispersant. This allows the different color curable phase change inks to be mixed together while avoiding incompatibilities between each other, resulting in custom colors and a reliable expanded color gamut for the base ink set. Also, a method of forming images with the custom color curable phase change inks is disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of ink jets that eject drops of substantially clear ink onto print media. One of the print media and the substantially clear ink has a fluorescent characteristic and the other of the print media and the substantially clear ink is substantially non-fluorescent. The imaging device includes a fluorescence sensor that illuminates the print media and detects a fluorescence intensity of light received from the print media alone and from the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media. A controller modifies an operating parameter of the imaging device with reference to ink drop masses identified with reference to the detected fluorescent intensities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising a colorant, an initiator, and a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising at least one radically curable monomer compound and a compound of the formula wherein R1 and R1? are the same, and wherein R1 and R1? are each an aromatic group; and wherein R2 and R2? and R3 each, independently of the others, are alkylene groups, arylene groups, arylalkylene groups, or alkylarylene groups; or wherein, in embodiments, R1 and R1? can be the same or different, and wherein R1 and R1? each, independently of the other is an alkyl group having a least one ethylenic unsaturation, an arylalkyl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, an alkylaryl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, or an aromatic group, provided that at least one of R1 and R1? is an aromatic group; and provided that neither of R1 or R1? is a photoinitiator group. Also disclosed herein is a method of printing with the phase change ink.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for digital printing of Braille or other raised printing. In some embodiments, ink is printed directly from a print head onto a substrate, rather than onto a transfer drum that is later printed onto a substrate. In some embodiments, a plurality of layers of a curable, phase-change ink are printed onto the substrate, wherein pauses of a predetermined time are included in between of layers to enable the curable, phase-change ink to set up into a given shape and height. In some embodiments, temperatures of printing components are lowered from those used for traditional printing, so as to enable the curable phase change ink to set up into a given shape and height. In some embodiments, spacing of components are altered from those used for traditional printing, so as to enable the curable phase change ink to set up into a given shape and height.

Abstract: Curable solid ink compositions, which include a curable wax having a melting point under 40° C. as part of the ink vehicle, and are suitable for ink jet printing in applications that require high and/or variable levels of gloss. In particular, there is provided a novel high gloss, ultraviolet (UV) curable, phase change ink composition that includes a colorant and an ink vehicle that further includes a gellant, a reactive diluent, a photoinitiator package, and a curable acrylate wax.

Abstract: Curable solid inks and low shrinkage curable solid inks which are solid at room temperature and molten at an elevated temperature at which the molten ink is applied to a substrate. In particular, the solid inks of the present embodiments retain the advantages of handling, safety, and print quality usually associated with conventional solid phase change inks but provide additional breakthrough performance characteristics such as enhanced robustness, lower jetting temperature, and ultra-low shrinkage upon crystallization, which allow the inks to be used as novel materials in inkjet-based Braille and raised print applications.

Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to curable solid inks, such as radiation-curable solid inks, and their use in forming images, such as through transfuse printing. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to radiation-curable solid inks, such as ultraviolet-light-curable phase-change inks, that comprise curable and non-curable waxes.

Abstract: Urea-urethane gellant compositions and methods of preparing the urea-urethane gellant compositions. The method includes adding an isocyanate, an alcohol or a diamine, and a solvent to a reaction vessel; stirring the reaction vessel at either ambient or elevated temperature; isolating an intermediate product from the reaction vessel; and converting the intermediate product to the organic gellant. The urea-urethane gellants are prepared in a manner to control the molecular weight and control the formation of dimers and trimers. The gellants may be used in curable gel inks.

Abstract: A pigment dispersion includes a pigment and a dispersant, wherein an as formed curable phase change ink having the pigment dispersion added thereto, when filtered using a 1 micron filter at a temperature of 85° C., has a slope of ?5 g/s and a T2/T1 of ?1.6, wherein T2 represents a time to filter the last 25 g of a 100 g sample of the phase change ink through the 1 micron filter at 85° C., while T1 represents the time it takes to filter the first 25 g of the 100 g sample of the phase change ink through the 1 micron filter at 85° C.

Abstract: Release layers, and particularly low surface tension aqueous solutions, such as fountain solutions, which function as release layers. These release layers are integrated into copying and printing machines, such as xerographic machines, multifunctional devices, color systems, and the like, wherein the release layers are specifically incorporated onto a hydrophilic roll material for contact leveling of UV curable gel inks.

Abstract: A light-cyan radiation-curable gel ink including at least one curable monomer, at least one organic gellant, at least one photoinitiator, and a colorant. The colorant includes a cyan colorant, a hue-adjusting colorant that absorbs light having a wavelength of from about 500 to about 600 nm, and an optional shade-adjusting colorant that absorbs light having a wavelength of from about 400 to about 500 nm.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises a structured organic film (SOF) comprising a plurality of segments, a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework. Methods for preparing a coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises a SOF are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises a structured organic film (SOF) comprising a plurality of segments, a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework. Methods for preparing a coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises a SOF are also disclosed.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of ink jets that eject drops of substantially clear ink onto print media. One of the print media and the substantially clear ink has a fluorescent characteristic and the other of the print media and the substantially clear ink is substantially non-fluorescent. The imaging device includes a fluorescence sensor that illuminates the print media and detects a fluorescence intensity of light received from the print media alone and from the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media. A controller modifies an operating parameter of the imaging device with reference to ink drop masses identified with reference to the detected fluorescent intensities.

Abstract: Methods for leveling phase change gel inks are disclosed. More particularly, the methods employ ultrasound irradiation to level the phase change gel inks in a non-contact manner. Phase change gel inks are relatively new inks characterized by being a gel-like consistency at room temperature and a low viscosity liquid at an elevated temperature for jetting on a substrate. Due to these unique properties, conventional methods of leveling gel inks have failed. Also disclosed are systems which implement the methods described herein.