Abstract: An ink composition and application method are described which enable the printing of high-resolution images on a variety of substrates (especially plastics.) The composition basically includes an ultra-violet curable adhesive in combination with a selected dye pigment and one or more solvents. The composition is preferably applied using a thermal ink jet delivery system. After application, the composition is exposed to ultra-violet light, resulting in the formation of a permanent image. The materials and methods of the invention are capable of producing a high-resolution image without causing damage to the substrates.

Abstract: Print heads are formed with spaced subheads having nozzles such that all of the lines or pixel rows on a print medium such as a sheet of paper are printed by scanning of the print head along the face of the sheet. The head structures include three subheads, each having nozzles for printing one or more adjacent lines with the subheads being spaced the same number of lines apart as the number of lines each prints; and three subheads spaced the equivalent of seven lines apart, each subhead having three nozzles spaced at the equivalent of alternate lines. The heads are advanced between scans by an equivalent number of lines generally equal to the number of nozzles in the head, whereby all print lines are addressed only once. Apparatus for printing includes the use of pointers in registers to keep track of head structure and location on a print medium for calculating print addresses. A partial page memory is used which wraps around to the beginning from the end.

Abstract: An optical printing apparatus is provided for use in color printing systems wherein an image is projected by a fiber-optic faceplate CRT onto an imaging sheet which contains a layer of pressure rupturable capsules, each capsule encapsulating a photoreactive composition and a chromogenic material. The image is focused on a display screen of the fiber-optic faceplate CRT and transmitted through a plurality of optical fibers in parallel so that the image can be sharply focused on the imaging sheet. A scanning technique permits multiple exposures of the imaging sheet and results in the development of a color image having distinct color gradations.

Abstract: An uncomplicated system for exposing a recording medium by scanning the medium with laser light to form a clear, uniformly dense recording pattern without interference.

Abstract: A modular thermal print head and method of fabricating same including a first member having at least one surface on which is arranged an array of electrodes, and a second member mounted in spaced relationship to the first member and having at least one surface on which is disposed a single conductor element. A thermal printing element having an array of electrically resistive members terminated at one end by conductor pads arranged in an array, and proximate a second end to a common conductive member is provided. The thermal printing element is disposed between the first and second members with its array of conductor pads in contact with the array of electrodes on the first member, and its common conductive member in contact with the single conductor element on the second member. Selected portions of the thermal printing element may be energized to produce thermal printing energy.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by using a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristics change on application of a plurality of kinds of energy thereto. The apparatus comprises: a conveyor for conveying the transfer recording medium; a recording section disposed along an advancing route of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveyor and having energy applicators for selectively applying the plurality of kinds of energy to the transfer recording medium; a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section onto the recording medium; and a contacting member disposed between the recording section and the transfer section in such a manner as to be brought into contact with the transfer recording medium. Members constituting the advancing route of the transfer recording medium are formed separably from a main body of the unit.

Abstract: A position in which an image of a second document is inserted into an image of a first document is designated by operating an operation panel. A scanner unit reads the image of the first document and a printing unit prints the read image of the first document on paper. That area of the first document image to be printed by the printing unit in which the image of the second document is inserted is masked. Paper on which the first docment image has been printed and an ink ribbon are set back to a position at which the printing operation for the first document image is started before the second document image is printed. The scanner unit reads the second document image and the printing unit prints the second document image read on a designated area of the paper on which the first document image has been printed by using ink of that portion of the ink ribbon which has not been used for printing the first document image.

Abstract: A continuous motion imaging system having a focusing mechanism for linescan imaging. Carriage apparatus connected to a continuous motion device moves a platen which holds the imaging media. A flexure connection between the carriage and the platen, coupled with a precise rail and bearing structure, provides for precision focus at the linescan position over the axis between the bearings.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus having a scanning head employing at least one ink jet with a variable volume chamber which includes an ink droplet ejecting orifice, and a transducer, having a length mode resonant frequency, adapted to expand and contract along an axis of elongation in response to an electric field substantially transverse to the axis of elongation for ejection of droplets on demand from the ink droplet ejecting orifice is acoustically microstreamed by exciting the transducers during non-printing periods to eliminate start-up problems and to maintain pigments or other particles in dispersion within the ink.

Abstract: For an ink-jet printer, an indication of the quantity of ink remaining gives the user useful information about when to replace a disposable printhead or ink cartridge. The invention disclosed herein provides a means for computing remaining ink and for sensing a true low-ink and out-of-ink condition. Ink is supplied to a printhead (24) by an elastic bladder (16) which is periodically refilled from an ink bag (14). The bladder is designed to collapse in a repeatable manner as ink is consumed. A sensor probe (100), which moves along the bladder's collapse axis, dimples the bladder prior to printing to initialize the collapse mode. The probe position along the axis is measured when its sensitive tip (102) touches the bladder. The difference between bladder positions before and after refill is used in an algorithm to compute the bladder's volumetric change. This is the ink consumed on each print cycle, and gives the quantity of ink remaining when subtracted from an initial value.

Abstract: A method for testing body components of pulsed droplet deposition apparatus comprises applying a variable frequency voltage to the electrodes of each of a number of selected channel wall elements. The resulting impedance variations are used to determine the natural frequencies of the selected wall elements which, in turn, are used to determine whether the compliance ratios of the selected wall elements and the droplet liquid to be used therewith lies within a desired range of values.

Abstract: A method for avoiding drop charge switching errors in continuous ink jet printing of the kind using stimulation to regulate ink drop break-off of a linear array of ink streams. The method includes the steps of: controlling ink drop stimulation so that the phase distribution of drop break-off along the length of the ink stream array remains stable in time and charging stimulated drop streams in at least two different groups during at least two different address periods which are offset in phase so that all drop streams are addressed during a drop break-off condition.

Abstract: A method and system for reproducing facimile images or other images in a dot matrix format wherein the normal printhead line resolution is not the same as the image line resolution. Two embodiments are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a commercially available printhead having two columns of dot forming elements is used. The printhead is slanted so as to change the effective spacing of the dot forming elements, and the dots making up the image are formed by the two columns alternately so as to increase the speed of operation. In the second embodiment disclosed, each of the scan lines of the image is comprised of dots formed by three dot forming elements. Each picture element is printed by two of the three dot forming elements and no two adjacent picture elements are printed by the same group of two.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus is disclosed an ink capable of changing its adhesiveness corresponding to the polarity of a voltage applied thereto is provided. The ink is used for image formation by means of an image-forming apparatus with at least a pair of electroconductive members. The residual ink left between the pair of electroconductive members is removed by; and applying a voltage to the residual ink so as to reduce the adhesiveness of the ink disposed on one of the pair of electroconductive members, thereby to remove the ink from the electroconductive member and transfer it to another electroconductive member.

Abstract: A method for driving a liquid-jet recorder having electric heaters for forming flying liquid droplets by jetting a liquid is characterized by applying no voltage to the electrodes of each electric heater for the moments the heater is not driven during the operation of the recorder.

Abstract: A program installed in the microcontroller of an ink jet printer functions as a timer, to keep track of how much time has elapsed since the ink jet cartridge last printed. After a certain amount of time (such as one hour) has elapsed with no printing, the program directs all the nozzles of the cartridge to each print about twenty ink dots. This periodic priming of the nozzles during idle periods prevents viscous ink plugs from building up in and clogging the nozzles.

Abstract: A liquid composition for ink jet printing is provided which comprises a reactive disperse dye dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous liquid medium. An ink jet printing method is also provided which includes imparting the above-mentioned liquid composition onto a cloth according to an ink jet system and fixing of the dye on the cloth.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a uniform heat flux dryer system and method of an ink jet printer, including a 180.degree. contoured paper transport path for transferring paper from an input paper supply tray to an output paper collection tray. During this transfer, the paper receives a uniform heat flux from an infrared bulb which is located at the axis of symmetry for the paper transport path, and reflectors are positioned on each side of the infrared bulb to maximize heat transmission from the bulb to the paper during the ink drying process. Advantageously, the input and output paper trays may be vertically aligned on one side of the printer to facilitate loading and unloading of the paper.

Abstract: A construction of thermal print head is disclosed in which a common support includes a plurality of substrates on which selectively heatable print elements of a plurality of print heads are carried. The substrates are arranged in spaced parallel relation such as to permit deposition of conductors and insulation layers on a face of the substrates. Print element selection and drive circuits may be mounted on the substrates and a printed circuit multi-conductor ribbon cable provides connections to the print heads. The print heads print serially on an item and may be operated to print different portions of a print impression in the same color with one print ribbon or may print differently colored portions with different colored ribbons. The thermal print head may be used for printing a franking impression in a postage franking meter.

Abstract: A head tending apparatus for an ink jet printing system with at least one ink jet is disclosed. The apparatus includes a solvent supply system for spraying solvent on the faces of the ink jets and in the jet openings. The apparatus also has a brush for scrubbing the ink jet faces during and immediately after the spraying process. The solvent loosens and dissolves any solid matter that may have formed on the jet faces or in the jet openings and also deprimes any ink remaining in the jets when the printer is shut down; the brush cleans the loosened matter off the jet faces. If the printer has a rotating image insert assembly with the ink jets thereon, the brush and a solvent jet are mounted to a shell adjacent the ink jets. The brush includes a bristle-free section that is normally adjacent the image insert assembly and spaced away therefrom when the head tending appartaus is deactivated; this prevents the apparatus from interfering with the normal operation of the printer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate for a liquid jet recording head comprises forming an upper layer with a bulging portion on a thermal energy generating member on a support, and etching the upper layer to remove the bulging portion and form a protective layer on the support and energy generating member. An ink jet recording head is formed by connecting the support and a grooved member.

Abstract: Quality of printed images as produced by an ink-jet printer (10) is improved by staggering applications of ink dots (30) to pixel locations (36) such that overlapping ink dots are printed on successive passes of a printhead (16) and such that swaths (38) are partially printed on overlapping passes of the printhead. Quality of multi-colored or multi-shaded images is further improved by grouping pixels (36) into super pixels (42), and applying various combinations of colored ink dots to the various pixels within each super pixel in a staggered sequence.

Abstract: An operation method on an ink jet recording apparatus, comprises the steps of: moving a recording head to a position at which the recording head faces to a cap, causing the recording head to discharge ink from an ink discharge port thereof into the cap after each lapse of a predetermined time period or each lapse of a printing operation period for a predetermined numbers of lines; and idle-discharging the ink collected in the cap when the removing operation of a recording medium is performed succeedingly to the discharge, or when the period longer than said printing operation period has been lapsed while the recording head stays at the position.

Abstract: A driving method for an ink jet recording head, causes liquid emission not intended for recording by energizing driving elements provided respectively corresponding to plural nozzles and provided for generating energy for liquid emission. The driving elements are energized in succession starting from the driving element corresponding to the upper-most nozzle toward the one corresponding to the lower-most nozzle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved thermal ink jet print head with an amorphous diffusion barrier that inhibits corrosion associated with ink. The head has a silicon substrate, a silicon dioxide insulating layer, a tantalum aluminum alloy (TaAl) resistive layer, and two separated gold conductive regions formed over the resistive layer. Ink is drawn into a channel bounded above by an orifice plate and below by the TaAl exposed between the two separated gold regions. The ink is superheated and expelled as fine droplets through the orifice plate. The invention minimizes corrosion by placing a thin corrosion-resistant layer of amorphous metallic alloy over the conductive layer, thereby improving durability of the print head.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method where the heat emitting body is always maintained at a temperature higher than the ink vaporization temperature and where ink is transported onto the heat emitting body only at the time of printing. The printing speed of the ink-jet printer realized is controlled not by the heat response speed of the heat emitting body but by the speed at which ink can be moved.Further, the ink-jet recording method can control the rate at which ink is ejected onto the recording paper by controlling the rate at which ink is transported onto the heat emitting body. Therefore, the intensity of printing can be controlled.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording system comprising applying droplets of water-based inks of a yellow ink, a magenta ink, a cyan ink and a black ink onto a recording medium comprising a substrate paper having a surface layer comprising a pigment and a fibrous substance of the substrate paper which are present in a mixed state, and said recording medium having a Stockigt sizing degree ranging from 0 to 15 seconds, to carry out recording, wherein;at least an ink with a dye concentration ranging from 2.5 to 4.5% by weight is used as said black ink; andthe recording is carried out in a maximum ink-adhering quantity ranging from 14 nl/mm.sup.2 to 20 nl/mm.sup.2 and in a maximum print-overlap number ranging from 2 to 2.5, is provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recording method which performs recording by attaching liquid droplets of a recording liquid onto a recording medium, wherein recording is performed by elevating the temperature of the recording liquid having the viscosity of 2 centipoise or higher and the surface tension of 40 dyne/cm or higher at 25.degree. C. to form recording liquid droplets having the viscosity less than 2 centipoise.

Abstract: A thermal printer for recording an image on a thermosensitive recording sheet has a thermal head for recording an image on the thermosensitive recording sheet, the thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements, and a controller for controlling the heat generation of the thermal head standing by while being in contact with the thermosensitive recording sheet during non-recording, so as to generate heat at a low temperature whereat image recording is not effected on the thermosensitive recording sheet, so as to dry the thermosesnsitive recording sheet. The thermal head generates heat during recording in conformity with image information to effect image recording on the thermosensitive recording sheet.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head is provided with a discharge port for discharging liquid therethrough, a liquid path communicating with the discharge port, an energy generating member provided in the liquid path and generating energy for discharging the liquid, and a discharge amount control disposed on the liquid path on the side opposite to the discharge port with respect to the energy generating member and having a magnetic force generating member and magnetic fluid.

Abstract: An ink jet printer (60) prints dots (30) of colorant at pixel locations using a printing strategy that reduces the visual impact of improperly operating or inoperable nozzles (18), by using multiple nozzles (18) per pixel location or per pixel row. In one approach, used either for single color or multicolor images, multiple droplets of colorant of the same color are deposited upon a single pixel location from two different nozzles (18). In another approach, used primarily for multicolor images, different pixels of a single pixel row are printed using droplets of a single color from different nozzles (18).

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a heat-sensitive recording material which has on both sides of a transparent support member a plurality of transparent heat-sensitive color developing layers that develop respective colors in different hues from each other. The image recording apparatus includes a reversing device for turning the heat-sensitive recording material upside down, after the transparent heat-sensitive color developing layer on one side has been heated to develop the color. Accordingly, color development for both sides of the heat-sensitive recording material can be automatically performed.An image recording method for recording an image by a recording head on a heat-sensitive recording material which has two sorts of dye layers on one side and one sort of dye layer on the other side.

Abstract: A digital data imaging system in which the duration of each exposure pulse of a laser beam is directly locked to the speed of movement of the film. Thus the area of the film exposed during each pixel is independent of the speed of rotation of the drum. If the drum speed decreases, the exposure time is automatically increased. The rotating drum is provided with a conventional rotary encoder that produces a fixed number of signal pulses per revolution. These primary pulses are multiplied by conventional phase-locked loop technology to produce a large number of clock pulses. The duration of each clock pulse represents a fixed increment of movement of the surface of the drum that is independent of the rotational speed of the drum. These clock pulses control the timing and on-off ratio of the laser exposure pulses.

Abstract: An ink jet pen includes an ink reservoir for containing ink and a catchbasin coupled to the reservoir by an orifice for containing ink displaced from the reservoir by environmental conditions. Also coupling the reservoir and catchbasin is an ink return mechanism that permits substantially all of the ink that may be displaced to the catchbasin to be returned to the reservoir regardless of the pen's orientation.

Abstract: A read-only optical recording disc comprising a substrate, a metal reflective layer and an overlying protective layer, at least one of the substrate and the protective layer being light-transmissive, is marked by means of a pulsed scanning laser beam which transmits light in a patterned array through a transparent layer of the medium and indelibly marks the reflective layer of the medium without disrupting the surface continuity of the substrate and protective layer.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for forming a color picture, which can provide sufficiently satisfactory picture quality and which can be made practicable in terms of cost and reliability utilizes colorants having a plurality of different densities with respect to at least one color among yellow, magenta and cyan provided to form a color picture. Assuming that the number of densities of each color of yellow, magenta and cyan is respectively N.sub.Y, N.sub.M and N.sub.C, the magnitude relation among them is set to be N.sub.M, N.sub.C >N.sub.Y.

Abstract: A process for applying an ink-jet printing ink comprising the steps of:(a) preparing an aqueous Newtonian dispersion containing acidic or neutral carbon black or pigments and a surfactant;(b) removing all aggregates larger than 5 microns; and(c) ink-jet printing said dispersion onto a receptor substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a recording unit for performing the image recording on a recording medium by jetting liquid, a fan for generating a suction airflow in an recording surface forming portion which abuts against the recording medium in said recording unit by utilizing the force of the fan, a member arranged near a suction port of the airflow for collecting fine liquid droplets and an absorbing member arranged in the suction port for absorbing the collected fine droplets.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recorder having an ink jet record head including an orifice to discharge ink, comprising: a gas jet unit for jetting gas to remove nonused ink discharged from the orifice; and a liquid receptor means for accommodating the removed nonused ink.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transparency suitable for electrographic and xerographic imaging comprised of a polymeric substrate with a toner receptive coating on one surface thereof comprised of blends selected from the group consisting of: poly(ethylene oxide) and carboxymethyl cellulose; poly(ethylene oxide), carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose; poly(ethylene oxide) and vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer; poly(chloroprene) and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene); poly(caprolactone) and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene); poly(vinyl isobutylether) and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene); poly(caprolactone) and poly(p-isopropyl .alpha.-methylstyrene); blends of poly(1,4-butylene adipate) and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene); chlorinated poly(propylene) and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene); chlorinated poly(ethylene) and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene); and chlorinated rubber and poly(.alpha.-methylstyrene). Also disclosed are transparencies with first and second coating layers.

Abstract: An improvement of an information recording medium comprising a disc-shaped resin substrate having an inner-side non-recording zone and an outer-side non-recording zone, a laser-sensitive recording layer, and a flexible resin film (for protection of the recording layer, having protruded and depressed portions on at least the surface facing the recording layer is disclosed. The improvement comprises joining the substrate and the flexible resin to each other on the inner-side and outer-side non-recording zones through fusion by ultrasonic welding or thermal welding in such manner that at least one joining of the flexible resin film to the substrate on the outer-side non-recording zone and the inner-side non-recording zone is effected through a fused portion in the form of a discontinuous ring.

Abstract: A printer driving circuit for a printer having a printer head which is mounted to scan perpendicularly to a direction in which a sheet to be printed upon is fed, the printer head including a plurality of dot printing units arranged on the head so that the units are spaced from one another by respective separation distances in the direction of head scanning, the printer driving circuit includes: a detector for detecting the position of the head; a picture memory for storing print data associated with at least one scan by the printer head at addresses corresponding to printed pixel locations on the sheet; a position generator coupled with the detector for generating information related to respective positions of the printing units on the sheet; a read out device coupled with the detector for reading out the pixel data stored in the picture memory at addresses corresponding to the positions of the printing units relative to the sheet; a timing generator coupled with the position generator for generating a plural

Abstract: This specification discloses a liquid injection recording head in which a support member provided with an energy generating member for generating energy utilized to discharge liquid and form flying droplets is flexible.

Abstract: In an optical recording medium, for an audio-video or ROM compact disc comprising a pitted translucent base material and a layer (9) of a corrosion resistant metal or combination of metals from the groups 4N, 5N, 7N or 8N of the periodic table of elements is disclosed. For example NiCr can Be Applied onto the surface having the pits (7), thereby providing good adhesion, reflecting light and providing printable surface and not requiring any further coating such as a protective lacquer. Also, in the event that a gold-colored glossy layer is necessary, a CuBe layer can be sputtered onto the substrate (8).

Abstract: An ink jet recording method comprises using inks of two or more colors including yellow and forming a mixed color portion containing yellow on a recording medium by use of a plurality of inks with different dye concentrations for at least one color, wherein the yellow ink is attached onto the recording medium always prior to attachment of other inks thereonto.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method is performed by using the drop-on-demand technique, such that when the volume of ink ejected from one orifice by one ejecting signal is defined as V (.mu.m.sup.3) and the calculated diameter d (.mu.m) of ink droplet is defined by the following formula (1):d=2(3V/4.pi.).sup.1/3 (1)and the average velocity of ink droplet flying from the orifice to distance of 0.5 mm is defined as v (m/sec), which comprises imparting an ink droplet to a recording medium which is subjected to sizing and has fibers exposed on the surface to be recorded under the conditions which satisfy the following formulae (2) and (3) at the same time:20.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.90 (2)6<v.ltoreq.15 (3)to perform recording, the ink having a surface tension of 35 through 70 dyne/cm at 25.degree. C. and a viscosity of 1.5 through 3.5 cp at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead is improved by a specific heating element structure and method of manufacture. The heating elements each have a resistive layer, a high temperature deposited plasma or pyrolytic silicon nitride thereover of predetermined thickness to electrically isolate a subsequently formed cavitational stress protecting layer of tantalum thereon. The pyrolytic silicon nitride permits wet chemical or dry plasma etching delineation of the tantalum without deleterious impact on the silicon nitride, while the delineated tantalum can serve as mask for the wet etch delineation of the silicon nitride. Because of the high deposition temperatures, the aluminum electrodes are patterned and passivated last. Such a construction lowers the manufacturing cost and concurrently provides a more durable printhead.

Abstract: A paper transport mechanism for grasping paper between a pressure roller and a drive shaft. The pressure roller moves from a retracted position to a force applying position and is supported by a housing which includes a depending underlying support carriage cantilevered from the housing and oriented to oppose the downwardly extending force of the pressure roller. Damping within the housing offsets vibrations generated between the drive shaft and the pressure roller.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a discharge port surface of an ink jet recording apparatus includes wiping the surface using a blade having a certain contact area with the surface and rubbing the surface using a rubbing member having a larger contact area with the surface than the blade. The wiping and rubbing operations are performed independently of each other so that their different purposes can be better accomplished. For example, since rubbing the surface need not be done as often as wiping, they can both be performed at optimum intervals. The rubbing member can be removably mounted to a replacement ink cartridge so that the rubbing member can be conveniently replaced at the same time as the cartridge.

Abstract: An ultraviolet (UV) laser image recorder, consisting of an argon laser operating in the ultraviolet, with frequency doubling, records on a processless electron recording medium (PERM) and can develop either red or blue coloration in PERM.