Abstract: A toner feeding device and method to supply toner from a toner reservoir to a selected location in the printer such as a toner supply roll. The toner feeding device may contact with a portion of an inner wall of a toner reservoir and may flex and may subsequently recover to convey toner particles.

Abstract: A coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a printing substrate. The coating apparatus has a rotatable first roll and a rotatable second roll, each having a surface energy. The second roll is positioned adjacent to the first roll and defines with the first roll a first nip through which the printing substrate passes A metering device is provided for applying a substantially uniform layer of coating liquid onto the second roll. The second roll in turn transfers the coating liquid to the printing substrate. The surface energy of the second roll is greater than the surface energy of the coating liquid. In one embodiment, the metering device includes a rotatable third roll and a doctor blade contacting the third roll, each having a surface energy. The surface energy of at least a portion of either or both the third roll and doctor blade is less than the surface energy of the coating liquid.

Abstract: A layered intermediate used in inkjet printing contains a release coat formed on a transfer medium in an area where an image has not been printed. The release coat is formed of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or a PVP copolymer and at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol solvents and diol solvents. A viscous coating of PVP or the PVP copolymer is formed on the transfer medium in an area where an image has been printed. A release layer formed from components in the release coat and components in the ink is formed on the viscous coating. A first ink layer is formed on the release layer of flocculated ink. A second ink layer is formed on the first ink layer, of ink that is substantially not flocculated.

Abstract: A star wheel manufacturing process, and a star wheel manufactured thereby, suitable for an ink jet printer. Metal is formed by chemical milling, subtractive etching or the like, into the desired star wheel configuration, including a plurality of radially extending projections having tips. At least a portion of each tip has an electropolished surface. A coating of fluorinated polymer or the like may be applied to at least a portion of the electrolpolished surface on each tip.

Abstract: A coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a printing substrate. The coating apparatus has a rotatable first roll and a rotatable second roll, each having a surface energy. The second roll is positioned adjacent to the first roll and defines with the first roll a first nip through which the printing substrate passes A metering device is provided for applying a substantially uniform layer of coating liquid onto the second roll. The second roll in turn transfers the coating liquid to the printing substrate. The surface energy of the second roll is greater than the surface energy of the coating liquid. In one embodiment, the metering device includes a rotatable third roll and a doctor blade contacting the third roll, each having a surface energy. The surface energy of at least a portion of either or both the third roll and doctor blade is less than the surface energy of the coating liquid.

Abstract: A star wheel manufacturing process, and a star wheel manufactured thereby, suitable for an ink jet printer. Metal is formed by chemical milling, subtractive etching or the like, into the desired star wheel configuration, including a plurality of radially extending projections having tips. At least a portion of each tip has an electropolished surface. A coating of fluorinated polymer or the like may be applied to at least a portion of the electrolpolished surface on each tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink jet printer nozzle plate containing nozzle holes and having a durable non-wettable layer on at least one surface thereof. The nozzle plate includes a polyimide material and the non-wettable layer contains a derivative of an amine-terminated silane compound, the amine-terminated silane compound derivative being covalently bound to the polyimide material of the nozzle plate. The layer also contains a derivative of a polydialkylsiloxane compound having a number average molecular weight ranging from about 400 to about 150,000 and an end group reactive with the amine-terminated silane compound derivative. The polydialkylsiloxane compound derivative is bound to the amine-terminated silane compound derivative by a condensation reaction to provide the durable non-wettable layer on the surface of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: The specification describes a method and composition for treating selected areas of the surface of a polyimide material used to make a nozzle plate for an ink jet printer in order to decrease the surface energy of the polyimide material so ink repellency of the material is increased in the selected areas. The method includes applying a polydialkylsiloxane having reactive end groups to the selected areas of the polyimide material and curing the polydialkylsiloxane on the surface to provide a surface having decreased surface energy. A particularly preferred polydialkylsiloxane is an amine terminated polydialkylsiloxane having a molecular weight ranging from about 500 to about 40,000 number average molecular weight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a reticulated material whereby the dimensional integrity of the material is maintained. The invention includes apparatus for maintaining a length, a width and a height of a reticulated material for use in a ink jet print head during treatment of the material. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a substantially rigid chamber having an interior length, width and height which correspond substantially to the length, width, and height of the reticulated material, structure for retaining the reticulated material within the chamber, structure for introducing a treating solution into chamber, and structure for removing the treating solution from the chamber.