Abstract: A printhead for a thermal ink jet printer, preferably a roofshooter type printer, includes at least two arrays of linear spaced apart nozzles and heating elements, each array having a different resolution to produce printed pages at a draft print using a low resolution array, at a letter quality print using a high resolution array, or a combination of both arrays to provide enhanced grey scale reproduction. The high resolution array allows for accurate reproduction at a reduced throughput while the low resolution array allows for moderate reproduction at a higher throughput. Alternatively, the two arrays could be used simultaneously to provide a fast, broad, coarse stroke and a slower, fine detail stroke.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead has an outer, metallic hydrophobic coating on its front face to repel ink. Eliminating the accumulation of ink at the nozzles of the printhead allows an ink droplet to be accurately ejected and ensures the directionality of the ejected ink droplet onto the printing medium. The outer coating is formed of a metal selected from the group of noble metals, including gold, platinum, palladium, silver, rhodium and ruthenium. An adhesion layer is preferably deposited between the front face of the printhead and the outer ink-repellent coating. The metallic coating is preferably applied by electroplating, wet electroless plating, evaporation, sputtering, ion plating, CVD or plasma CVD.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet type printhead is disclosed which comprises a strip-like thin metallic layer formed on a substrate. The layer is configured so as to define a narrow portion which is positioned between broad portions. The narrow portion defines a heating element which is integral with the broad portions which act as electrodes. Electrical heating pulses are supplied to the narrow heater portion via the electrodes. The heater arrangement is durable to thermal stresses generated by a superheating and, accordingly is well suited for spontaneous or homogeneous nucleation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a CRT mounting apparatus for mounting a CRT in a photographic process printer. The apparatus provides a CRT cradle that is precisely aligned with the CRT and fixed to the CRT using glue or other means. Fixed mounting brackets are assembled to a transport assembly within the printer and aligned with the media movement apparatus. When the CRT is installed in a printer, mounting trunnions on the CRT cradle fit precisely into slots in the fixed mounting brackets to provide precise alignment of the CRT to the media.

Abstract: A functional color graphic printer wherein Traveling Cloud Development (T.C.D.) is utilized for developing Ionographically formed color images. The high sensitivity and scavengeless character of the T.C.D. process enables the use of a low voltage imaging system such as ion deposition processes such as CorJet or IBIS or IBIS II to form three or more latent images simultaneously or sequentially on a single dielectric receiver. The charge levels of the elements of the latent images may been varied in order to produce different color intensities for each component of a composite image. Alternatively, the different color intensities can be achieved by changing the electrical biases applied to the traveling cloud developer systems.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprising a plurality of discharge openings for discharging ink, a plurality of liquid passageways for holding ink and a plurality of heat generating members. Each of the heat generating members corresponds to a liquid passageway for providing thermal energy to the ink in the liquid passageway for abruptly forming a bubble for discharging ink from the discharge opening. Each heat generating member has a pair of electrodes for driving the heat generating member individually and the electrodes and corresponding heat generating member form a U-shaped wiring portion. The recording head may be manufactured using a cutting process.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead having an integral silicon filter over the printhead ink inlet is disclosed. The filter is produced by orientation dependent etching during printhead fabrication. The individual printheads are obtained by a sectioning operation which cuts aligned and bonded channel and heater wafers into a plurality of printheads. The channel wafer is orientation dependent etched from one side of a (100) silicon wafer through a patterned etch resistant mask layer to produce the plurality of reservoir recesses, each having a predetermined depth and floor thickness, and a plurailty of sets of parallel ink channel grooves, one set of channel grooves for each reservoir recess. The etch resistant mask layer on both sides of the channel wafer are removed and a second etch resistant mask layer is deposited thereon.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an ink jet recording head uses a flexible blade that is moved forwardly and backwardly in response to the capping operation of the front surface of the recording head and the movement of a carriage, and the front surface of the recording head is wiped by the blade in response to the movement of the carriage. An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording head disposed on a carriage, cap means for covering the front surface of the recording head and a blade for cleaning the front surface of the recording head, characterized by blade moving means for moving the blade forward or backward in the direction of the recording head by movement of the cap means and movement of the carriage.

Abstract: The volume of ink ejected from an ink jet printing apparatus during one cycle of operation for printing a dot upon a recording medium is controlled within that cycle of operation by operating the ink jet apparatus via the application of a pulse train having a periodicity equivalent to the dominant resonant frequency of the ink jet apparatus. An electrical signal in the form of an earlier pulse train is followed by at least one additional electrical signal or pulse having a time delay and an ink jet transducer is selectively gated on or off by the electrical signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a grey level LED printhead or the like to control uniformity of light emissions with a desired criterion such as 2% recording error. A set of possible exposure times is established and from this set a subset of exposure times is assigned to each LED for use in recording the various grey levels. An error is calculated for each LED at each grey level. These errors result from use of available times rather than ideal exposure times. The errors are examined to see if they meet the desired criterion. If the criterion is not met, a new set of possible exposure times is established and the subsequent steps repeated until the criterion is met.

Abstract: Provided is a system for reducing unwanted background writing effects caused by an elevated OFF voltage state on a print head in an electrographic printing system. This system allows for the OFF voltage to be elevated through the use of modulated OFF states. The OFF voltage is pulsed, or modulated, between a required OFF voltage and a voltage less than the required OFF voltage, during an OFF state, thus reducing erroneous background writing events while maintaining image quality. The system provides a modulated voltage source to be used during the OFF state and an additional constant voltage source to be used during a writing state.

Abstract: An optical marking system is disclosed, in which a light beam of a preset wavelength is generated by a light source. An optical system receives the light beam generated by the light source and directs the received light beam in a present direction. A pattern generator includes a pattern forming section and a non-pattern forming section. Further, a control section controls the optical system to effect a first mode, in which the light beam is directed to the pattern forming section of the pattern generator, to form a predetermined pattern and a second mode, in which the light beam is directed to the non-pattern forming section of the pattern generator. The first and second modes are effected in a preset sequence.

Abstract: A dot printer is disclosed for effecting printing by ejecting ink in dots such that under a normal print speed mode, in which the dot density is high, a standard amount of ink is ejected per dot. Under a high print speed mode, or draft mode, in which the dot density is low, a greater amount of ink is ejected per dot.

Abstract: A pen head (14) for a drop-on-demand ink jet pen is disclosed along with its method of manufacture. The pen head utilizes a barrier wall (24) located between a substrate (20) and an orifice plate (22). Ink (17) flows through the pen head in channels defined in the barrier wall. The barrier wall is fabricated in two layers (58,60) from cured, photoimaged resist materials. One layer (58) is a soldermask material; and the other (60), a photolithographic resist material. The two layers together resist chemical attack by the inks and mechanical separation of the orifice plate (22) from the pen head.

Abstract: Color printing characterized by high color density and color contrast is provided by jetting an ink composition composed of an optically clear, phase change base material and a primary subtractive color dye which is soluble in the base material onto the surface of a printing medium to form a multiplicity of closely spaced color dots or spots arranged to define a line or character on the medium. Each dot consists of one or more well defined, optically clear, semitransparent color layers each of which has a different color so that the observed color of each dot is a true subtractive mixture of the colors in the layers. Specific ink compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing printed substrates having a phase change ink layer of non-uniform thickness are disclosed. Application of a combination of heat and pressure reorients the printed ink layer to provide a layer having a substantially uniform thickness and flat surface conformation, at least in the area of each discrete color. A release surface (55) is positioned adjacent the printed ink layer during processing. A resilient contact surface (56) is also provided to facilitate reorientation of the printed ink layer. Mechanical buffing of the processed, printed substrate improves image quality. Application of a light transmissive, protective coating that overlays the printed ink layer also improves image quality.

Abstract: There is described an aqueous ink of the type useful for drop-on-demand printers, that is, comprising more than 40 weight % humectant and a compatible dye. The ink is improved by the addition of from about 0.5 to about 10 weight % of a non-ionic, acetylenic diol surfactant or a dioctyl sulfosuccinate surfactant, effective to provide high quality image properties when printed on plain paper. Without the surfactant, such high quality image is not achieved on the plain paper.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermal ink jet printhead wherein a reusable mandrel consisting of either a metal pattern on an insulating or semiconductive substrate or an insulating pattern on a metal substrate or metal layer is used in the process of electroforming a plurality of metal substrates used for starting a batch fabrication process. Next, thin film layers of insulating, resistive, and conductive materials are formed on the surfaces of the metal substrates to thereby define heater resistors and lead-in conductors for the plurality of thermal ink jet printheads being formed. Then, a barrier layer such as Vacrel is photodefined on the surface of the thin film insulating, resistive, and conductive layers to thereby define a plurality of ink drop ejection chambers surrounding each of the previously formed heater resistors. Next, a plurality of orifice plates are secured, respectively, to the barrier layers in each of the printheads being formed.

Abstract: A heat transfer recording method of transferring the ink of an ink sheet to a recording medium to thereby effect recording of an image on the recording medium is characterized in that the ink sheet is conveyed in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the recording medium and recording of an image is effected on the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium includes a plurality of recording elements, and a control unit for selectively providing energy having a level lower than an actual recording level to adjacent ones of the plurality of recording elements and to successively apply the energy to the same recording element when the energy is applied to the recording elements within waiting time from an end of a recording operation to a start of the next recording operation.

Abstract: The temperature of LED print bars utilized in a printing system are maintained within a specified differential range, with respect to each other. Each print bar has an associated heating and cooling element. The temperature of each print bar is monitored and compared during operation. When a temperature differential greater than a preset tolerance range is detected, either the hotter operating print bar is cooled or the lower operating print bar is heated, or a combination of cooling and heating is applied to the out-of-tolerance print bars. The cooling and/or heating of the print bars is continued until the temperature differential is reduced so as to be within the preselected or predefined range.

Abstract: The ejection of droplets in an ink jet printer is accompanied by the generation of capillary waves that spread out radially from the central region where the drops are ejected. These capillary waves interfere with the ejection of succeeding droplets. In order to suppress these capillary waves, the pressure in the pool of liquid feeding the printer is varied periodically at twice the maximum repetition rate of droplet ejection.

Abstract: In the representative ink supply system described in the specification, continuous circulation of ink in an ink jet head is accomplished by providing two reservoirs connected to each ink jet orifice through corresponding passages so that ink flows continuously from a high-level reservoir past the orifice to a low-level reservoir. The difference between the levels of ink in the reservoirs is maintained relatively constant by inertial pumping during reciprocal motion of the ink jet head or by pressure transfer of ink from one reservoir to the other reservoir. Cross-flow purging of air or debris from the ink jet head is effected by covering the ink jet orifices and applying air pressure to one reservoir to cause ink and any trapped air or debris to flow from the head to the other reservoir. A pump responsive to reciprocal motion of the ink jet head generates a positive air pressure which is applied during purging and a negative air pressure which is applied to a deaerator for removing dissolved air from the ink.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which the franking impression is printed by means of an ink jet print head. Debris from mail items which is liable to be deposited on the nozzles of the print head is removed periodically by a cleaning device operated in gaps between feeding of successive mail items. In the event that a gap does not occur, the feeding means is controlled periodically to cause occurrence of a gap. The ink jet print head may utilize solid ink which is heated to melt it for ejection in drops from the nozzles.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge includes a top plate having an orifice plate in which ejection outlets for permitting ejection of ink are formed and a portion for defining ink passages communicating with the ink ejection outlets, a heater board joined with the top plate to define the ink passage, a thin plate having a connecting region for pressing and fixing the orifice plate to the heater board, and an ink container for containing the ink to be supplied to the ink passages, wherein the thin plate is connected with the orifice plate on at least one of four sides of the orifice plate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing one or more nozzles for an ink jet printhead initially comprises bonding a nozzle plate to the ink ejection end of the printhead. A mask is then secured in contact with the nozzle plate, the mask having a plurality of apertures each defining a respective nozzle exit. Laser radiation applied to the mask exposes the areas defined by the apertures to ablate the plate material between the nozzle exits on the external surface of the plate and corresponding nozzle inlets on the opposite surface of the plate. The assembly comprising the printhead, plate and mask is rocked during the exposure step to increase the area of the nozzle inlet relative to its outlet. Also, prior to the nozzle formation step, one or more ink troughs may be provided for supplying an external source of ink for each nozzle. The ink troughs, which may be formed using laser ablation techniques similar to those used in the formation of the nozzles, facilitate a continuous, positive flow of ink through the nozzles.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein raster scan of a laser beam is carried out to expose the sensitized photoconductor and the gradation is expressed with intensity modulation method, the duration of the light-emitting time for forming a dot is made smaller than the whole period needed for scanning a region assigned for a dot, while the maximum light intensity is changed according to a ratio of the duration of the light-emitting time to the whole period. Further, a plurality of modes each having a duty ratio different from each other may be provided and the maximum light intensity is changed according to the duty ratio so that the mean quantity of light for a dot is equal to each other.

Abstract: A recording method and apparatus for effecting recording on a recording medium includes elements and steps which recognize a recording width over which recording is to be effected and effecting recording on a recording medium at a movement velocity selected in conformity with the recognized recording width by first accelerating a recording unit along the conveyance path of the recording medium, then moving the recording unit along the conveyance path with a uniform velocity and then decelerating the recording unit, and by effecting recording when the recording unit moves at a constant velocity and when the recording unit is accelerating or decelerating.

Abstract: In order to reduce environmental damage by toner refill cartridges constructed as disposable articles, it is proposed, in a developer station which is provided by the manufacturer with a shaft (2) to receive toner refill cartridges, to use said shaft (2) as an additional tank closed off by a lid (3), it being possible to refill said tank via a refill opening (6).

Abstract: Multi-color ink-jet pens having an orifice set associated with each color are primed by an apparatus that avoids mixing of two colors during priming. A resilient seal forms a chamber that encloses the orifice sets. The chamber is connected to a vacuum source to reduce the pressure in the chamber for drawing ink out of the orifices. A set of suction tubes connects to the vacuum source, with each tube terminating within the chamber in closely spaced relation with a corresponding orifice set for drawing excess ink away from the orifice set, thereby preventing the various colors of primed ink from mixing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing including the use of a pyroelectric imaging member in a novel fashion to produce prints having improved resolution. The prints are produced by thermally exposing the pyroelectric imaging member in a localized fashion while neutralizing the surface charge and subsequently cooling the exposed surface of the imaging member to generate a latent electrostatic image thereon. Subsequently, the latent image is developed with charged toner particles, and transferred from the pyroelectric member to a substrate through the use of a second thermal treatment which serves to reverse the polarity of the imaging member and thereby eliminate the electrostatic forces attracting the toner particles to the imaging member. The transferred toner image may be simultaneously or subsequently fixed to the substrate by a thermal or other well known fusing treatment.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by ejecting ink to a recording medium, has a recording head and head driving unit. To effect ejection recovery, the head driving unit drives selected ejection energy generating elements in the recording head so that ink is ejected from orifices which correspond to the selected ejection energy elements. The selected orifices include at least one orifice adjacent to a particular orifice at which ink ejection recovery is performed, but exclude the particular orifice in an arrangement of the plurality of orifices. This ejection recovery technique efficiently removes bubbles from the particular orifice.

Abstract: A color image forming method and apparatus for sequentially forming toner images of a plurality of colors on a photosensitive body so as to form a color toner image. The method and apparatus maintain a substantially constant developing bias so that a first exposure potential of a photosensitive surface and a second exposure potential of the photosensitive surface are substantially equal to one another.

Abstract: An ink comprising an aqueous liquid medium which contains acid carbon black having a volatile content within the range of 3.5 to 8% by weight and a water-soluble resin having a weight average molecular weight within the range of 3,000 to 30,000, wherein the weight ratio of the acid carbon black to the water-soluble resin is within the range of 3:1 to 10:1. The present invention also relates to an ink jet recording method, and ink jet device, an ink cartridge and an ink jet recording apparatus which uses the ink.

Abstract: An ink jet print head cleaning and maintenance system has a purge chamber for applying a vacuum to a nozzle orifice surface. A specialized baffle diverts ink entering the purge chamber away a vent port through which the vacuum is drawn. An elongated wipe engages and wipes the orifice surface and is preferably moved at an extremely slow rate across the surface to enhance the wiping operation. An air knife directs a narrow stream of air across a portion of the nozzle orifice surface with air from the air stream being scanned across the surface for cleaning purposes. A specialized drip edge is positioned beneath the orifice surface for directing drops of ink away from the ink jet print head, the drops of ink being generated during the cleaning procedures. A mechanically simple cam mechanism coupled to a rotatable drum of the printer may be used to shift the maintenance system against the nozzle orifice surface for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: In the particular embodiments of the invention described in the specification, a transparency includes a transparent substrate made of a polyester material, a colored ink pattern disposed on one surface of the transparent substrate in the form of three-dimensional ink spots having curved surfaces, and spots of a colorless ink made of a material which has an index of refraction approximately the same as that of the colored ink spots deposited in overlapping relation to colored ink spots as to reduce the dispersion of light by those ink spots. In one embodiment, the colorless ink spots are located in regions having no colored ink spots and in another embodiment the colorless ink spreads to a greater extent than the colored ink.

Abstract: A demand or impulse ink jet ejects droplets of hot melt ink. The hot melt ink is heated from a solid state to a liquid state in the jet prior to the ejection of droplets on demand. The ink is then cooled on striking the target. The ink may contain a wax.

Abstract: There is disclosed a video printer having a plate-like platen, a pair of paper holders each provided on one end of the platen, a cam with a curved cam surface, a bracket with a cam follower, and a thermal printing head attached to the lower end of the bracket, the head being moved up or down and right or left by the cam follower moving along the curved cam surface.

Abstract: Certain dyes become insoluble under specific and well-defined pH conditions. By forcing a dye to become insoluble on the page, migration of the dye is inhibited, thereby helping to reduce bleed between inks of different colors. The dye is forced out of solution from the ink by contact with another ink having the appropriate pH (either higher or lower than that of the first ink).

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus provided with an ink jet recording head connected to an ink tank and having ink discharge ports and energy generating members for generating ink discharge energy, in which the head pressure of ink at the discharge ports is detected and the driving condition of the energy generating members is regulated according to the detected head pressure, thus achieving stable ink discharge regardless of the change in a head pressure and improving the efficiency of utilization of ink in the ink tank.

Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording method consisting of the steps of bringing a line thermal head into contact with a multiple-use thermal image transfer recording medium with Young's modulus of 1,200 kg/mm.sup.2 or more in both the lengthwise and crosswise directions, which comprises a support and an ink layer formed thereon, with the back side of the support of the recording medium being directed to the thermal head, and applying thermal energy from the line thermal head to at least the same portion of the recording medium, thereby causing an ink component contained in the ink layer at least from the same portion of the recording medium to transfer to an image-receiving medium.

Abstract: Improved methods for reproducing an image are disclosed. Images are created using dots or patterns which are substantially quasiperiodic and thereby eliminate Moire' interference patterns. In multi-color applications, the disclosed methods simplify the color overlay process. Also disclosed are patterns for creating half-tone images which do not exhibit Moire' interference patterns when overlaid. Electronic display apparatus using these patterns are also disclosed.

Abstract: This is an apparatus and associated method for rolling large pieces of a flexible media such as completed plots produced by a plotting pen plotter. The rolling mechanism is placed adjacent an exit of the pen plotter to received ejected media pieces therein. Upon detecting the leading edge of a media piece while in an open position, the mechanism closes to form a guide slot to a cylindrical rolling chamber. The media piece is then urged along the guide slot and into the rolling chamber where it is rolled by a drive roller. Upon detecting the trailing edge of the media piece, the mechanism opens allowing the rolled media piece to fall into a receiving bin. The stationary portion and the rotating portion are formed of a plurality of slats having low contact area edges disposed for media pieces to move along whereby the media pieces move along a low friction path.

Abstract: A process of the present invention forms an image on a recording medium, the surface of the recording medium having a characteristic in which a receding contact angle decreases when the recording medium is heated under a condition in which a solid material is in contact with the surface of the recording medium. The process includes the following steps (a) through (d) of: (a) bringing a solid member into contact with the surface of the recording medium; (b) selectively heating the surface of the recording medium, so that the surface of the recording medium is heated under a condition in which the solid member is in contact with the surface of the recording medium; (c) cooling the recording medium under the condition in which the solid member is in contact with the surface of the recording medium; and (d) separating the solid member from the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: A process of the present invention forms an image on a recording medium, a surface of the recording medium having a characteristic in which a receding contact angle decreases when the recording medium is heated under a condition in which a liquid is in contact with the surface of the recording medium. The process includes following steps of: bringing a liquid into contact with the surface of the recording medium; selectively heating the surface of the recording medium in accordance with image information, whereby an adhesion area having the receding contact angle corresponding to a temperature on the surface of the recording medium heated is formed, as a latent image, on the surface of the recording medium; and adhering a solid ink to the adhesion area so that the latent image formed on the recording medium is developed.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder includes a plurality of recording elements which arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of ejection outlets for ejecting ink in accordance with driving signals, a plurality of ejection passages corresponding to the ejection outlets and connected to a common chamber, a plurality of driving blocks which formed by dividing the recording elements by predetermined number of units in the arrangement order, control elements for each of the driving blocks and for controlling the recording elements associated with each driving block in a simultaneous driving manner, a selection unit for selecting the driving block to be driven in order that at least adjacent driving blocks are not driven in sequence, and a supply unit for supplying driving signals to the driving block selected by the said selecting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for forming images which comprises (a) incorporating into a thermal transfer printing apparatus a multi-use thermal transfer element comprising a substrate upon which is situated a porous sponge layer filled with ink; (b) applying heat imagewise to a portion of the substrate to heat the ink contained in the porous sponge layer, thereby enabling transfer of the ink in imagewise fashion from the porous sponge layer to a receiver sheet in contact with the porous sponge layer; (c) thereafter separating the receiver sheet of step (b) from the transfer element, (d) subsequently contacting the porous layer situated on the portion of the substrate heated in step (b) with a receiver sheet; and (e) thereafter applying heat imagewise to the portion of the substrate previously heated in step (b) to heat the ink contained in the porous sponge layer, thereby enabling transfer of the ink in imagewise fashion from the porous sponge layer to the receiver sheet of step (d).

Abstract: An image forming device and method for an electrophotographic process wherein a digital image forming device forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by beam modulation of digital image data from a computer or the like. The electrostatic latent image is formed in the form of dots by a light-modulated laser beam, and the electrostatic latent image is developed to form an image. A reference wave signal generating circuit is provided for generating a reference wave signal of a predetermined wave form, and a modulating circuit modulates an image density signal with the reference wave signal and outputs a modulated signal. The modulating signal is used to control a laser which emits light modulated in accordance with the modulating signal.

Abstract: A recording method causes recording on a recording material by ejection of ink, wherein after electric power sufficient to eject the ink is supplied to a recording device to effect recording in a predetermined region, electric power insufficient to eject the ink is supplied to the recording device.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium comprises a substrate and a pigment layer. The pigment layer comprises an upper layer and lower layer. The upper layer contains as a major pigment an aluminum oxide having a specific surface area ranging from 90 m.sup.2 /g to 170 m.sup.2 /g. The lower layer contains as a major pigment an aluminum oxide having a specific surface area smaller than the aluminum oxide in the upper layer, an inorganic pigment selected from a carbonate or silicate of calcium, a carbonate or silicate of magnesium, a silicate of aluminum and hydrotalcite having a specific surface are of not more than 150 m.sup.2 /g, or a basic magnesium carbonate having a specific surface area of not more than 150 m.sup.2 /g.