Abstract: Using an intermediate transfer body onto which a conductive recording liquid containing water that is ejected by heads is provided; and a potential applying unit which applies a potential which can electrolyze the water within the conductive recording liquid which is ejected from the heads and which temporarily bridges between the heads and the intermediate transfer body, the potential applying unit applies a potential between the intermediate transfer body and electrodes which are in contact with the recording liquid in supplying units which supply the recording liquid to the heads.

Abstract: An ink-jet transfer system is disclosed, as well as a transfer printed product which is highly wash-resistant, colour-fast and environment-friendly, and a process for producing the same and its use in a printing process by means of the disclosed ink-jet transfer system. The disclosed ink-jet transfer system has a substrate, a hot-melt layer applied on the substrate and at least one ink-absorbing layer which comprises a mixture of a highly porous pigment and a binder. The molecules of the pigment and if required of the binder and hot-melt layer can form chemical bonds with the dyeing molecules of the ink.

Abstract: Inkjet printers are provided, in one aspect, an inkjet printer has an inkjet print engine that prints an image by jetting drops of hydrophilic liquid to form an inkjet image on a surface of at least one of a semi-absorbent recording medium or a non-absorbent recording medium; a transport system to transport the printed surface to a toner printer having a toner print engine to generate a liquid management toner image with toner particles that are at least in part hydrophilic and to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium where an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink will be present on the recording medium. A control system causes the inkjet printer to generate the inkjet image on the surface and causes the toner printer to generate a liquid management toner image that provides toner particles to manage an unabsorbed volume of the liquid.

Abstract: An ink set for ink jet recording is provided, the ink set including a first ink containing first resin particles and not substantially containing a colorant; and a second ink containing titanium oxide particles and containing the first resin particles in an amount less than 6 weight %, the second ink being ejected substantially at the same time as ejection of the first ink.

Abstract: An inkjet offset printer includes a heated drum assembly having a hollow drum with an internal surface defining an internal cavity and a heater located in the internal cavity. The heater includes a reflector having a seal, and at least one heating element configured to generate heat and disposed between the reflector and the internal surface of the drum. The seal contacts the internal surface of the hollow drum to confine the generated heat within a space defined by the reflector and the internal surface of the drum.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first part of nozzles that ejects at least one of brilliant ink and white ink to a medium, a second part of nozzles that ejects color ink to the medium, and a control unit that forms a first image by the first part of nozzles and forms a second image on the first image by the second part of nozzles, and deforms, when a part of an edge of the first image and a part of an edge of the second image are overlapped before forming the image on the medium, at least one of the first image and the second image so that a portion of the overlapped edge in the second image is positioned outside a portion of the overlapped edge in the first image.

Abstract: Printing methods are provided. In one method, printing an inkjet image using a liquid hydrophilic inkjet ink onto a surface of a semi-absorbent recording medium generating a toner image having toner particles arranged conforming to the inkjet image and transferring the toner image onto the recording medium where an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink is present on the recording medium. The toner particles manage unabsorbed volumes of the inkjet ink to protect the recording medium from image artifacts that can be created by an unabsorbed volume of the inkjet ink on the surface without a liquid management toner image.

Abstract: The transfer inkjet printer device includes an intermediate transfer body including an intermediate transfer surface capable of moving along a rotation route; an inkjet head used to discharge ink including toner particles onto the intermediate transfer surface at a first area in the rotation route in a state where the toner particles are charged, so as to form an intermediate image composed of an ink layer on the intermediate transfer surface; a pressure device used to press the ink layer of the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer surface, onto a surface of a recording medium at a second area in the rotation route; and an electric field application device used to electrophorese the charged toner particles in the ink layer of the intermediate image toward the recording medium at the second area.

Abstract: An aqueous inkjet printer is provided with a surface energy applicator that is positioned to treat the surface of a blanket immediately prior to a printhead ejecting ink onto the blanket. Modifying the surface energy of blanket with the electric field and charged particles produced by the applicator affects the adhesion of the ink to blanket. This adhesion changes from the impact of the ink on the blanket until the ink image is transferred to media. The surface energy applicator is operated during each print cycle to alter the surface energy of the blanket for each ink image formed on the blanket.

Abstract: A method of producing a deinkable print on an image-bearing member includes transferring a toner image onto the image-bearing member to form a continuous or discontinuous toner image layer, wherein toner in the toner image is soluble in a hydrophobic or oliophilic organic solvent. An ink image corresponding to the toner image is printed onto the toner image on the image-bearing member, the ink including colorant in a hydrophilic carrier fluid, so that the colorant is disposed over the toner image layer. The toner image and ink image are fixed to the receiver. The image-bearing member has an unprinted reflection density and has a deinked reflection density at most 0.15 above the unprinted reflection density.

Abstract: A rotary pad printing system comprises a compressible pad wheel (105), one or more inkjet or other image applicator heads (400), optional treatment stations (500), a shaft encoder (535), a control unit (540), and an image source (565). The image applicator heads apply an image to the wheel and the treatment stations can supply treatments such as heat, gas, light, overcoats, and undercoats. The image is then transferred to a receiving surface (532). An optional cleaning station (510) cleans the rotary pad prior to application of the next or a continuous image. Each image can be different and can be applied to a moving surface. Since the rotary pad can continuously receive updated image information, the area printed can range from a single pixel to an image of indefinite length. In an alternative embodiment, a domed pad is used. In another alternative embodiment, a flexible belt (1000) is used instead of a rotary wheel. In another alternative embodiment, a segmented pad (2205) is used.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recorder, a conveyer, a holder, a stopper, an urging member, a light source, and a light controller. The recorder records an image on a recording medium at a recording position. The conveyer conveys a recording medium through the recording position and outputs the recording medium along an output direction. The holder holds a recording medium output by the conveyer. The stopper is disposed downstream of the holder along the output direction and contacts an end of a recording medium when the recording medium is output and the stopper is in a first position. The stopper moves between the first position and a second position, in which an end of the stopper is farther to the holder. The urging member urges the stopper to move to the first position from the second position. The light controller controls the light source to illuminate the stopper.

Abstract: An intermediate image transfer member for indirect printing contains a layer containing a structured organic film (SOF). The SOF contains a plurality of segments including at least a first segment type and a plurality of linkers comprising at least a first linker type, arranged as a covalent organic framework (COF), where at least the first segment type optionally contains fluorine.

Abstract: An aqueous latex ink includes a polymer latex having a particle size of less than about 100 nm. A method of making an aqueous latex ink includes emulsifying a polymer without the use of a surfactant to prepare a latex having a particle size of less than 100 nm. A method of printing an image on a substrate includes applying an aqueous latex ink to an intermediate receiving member using an inkjet printhead, spreading the ink onto the intermediate receiving member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, wherein the ink comprises a latex having a particle size of less than about 100 nm.

Abstract: A crosslinked siloxane composition contains the polymerization product of a mixture containing from about 2 to about 12 alkoxysilane precursor materials, where at least one of the alkoxysilane precursor materials is a hydrophilic alkoxysilane precursor material, and at least one of the alkoxysilane precursor materials is a hydrophobic alkoxysilane precursor material. A method of printing an image to a substrate involves applying an inkjet ink to an intermediate transfer member using an inkjet printhead, spreading the ink onto the transfer member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, where the intermediate transfer member comprises a crosslinked siloxane composition containing the polymerization product of a mixture comprising from about 2 to about 12 alkoxysilane precursor materials, where at least one of the precursor materials is hydrophilic and at least one is hydrophobic.

Abstract: A method of printing an image to a substrate includes applying an aqueous inkjet ink onto an intermediate receiving member using an inkjet printhead, optionally spreading the ink onto the intermediate receiving member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, wherein the ink includes a curable oligomer. A method of printing an image to a substrate includes applying an aqueous inkjet ink onto an intermediate receiving member using an inkjet printhead, optionally spreading the ink onto the intermediate receiving member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, wherein making the ink includes forming an aqueous mixture by adding a mixture of oligomers and a surfactant to a reactor containing a mixture of a humectant and an aqueous vehicle, heating and stirring the aqueous mixture, and homogenizing the aqueous mixture, forming the ink.

Abstract: There is provided an intermediate transfer body for transfer inkjet printing methods in which an image is formed by selectively applying image-forming ink using an inkjet device to the intermediate transfer body and then transferred from the intermediate transfer body to a recording medium to form a transferred image. The intermediate transfer body satisfies the relation E1<E2, where E1 is the compressive elastic modulus of the intermediate transfer body [Pa] measured in the direction parallel to that of the pressure generated during the compression process for image transfer, and E2 is the compressive elastic modulus of the intermediate transfer body [Pa] measured in the direction perpendicular to that of the pressure generated during the compression process for image transfer and parallel to that of conveyance of the recording medium. There is also provided a transfer inkjet printing apparatus having such an intermediate transfer body.

Abstract: A layer forming device forms a layer of liquid absorbing particles on a surface of a layer of a hardenable solution capable of being hardened in response to a given stimulus so that the liquid absorbing particles absorb liquid drops supplied to the surface of the layer of the hardenable solution.

Abstract: An inkjet offset printer includes an image receiving drum assembly having a hollow drum with an external surface and an internal surface defining an internal cavity. A heating and a cooling system located in the internal cavity provides distributed heating and cooling to the internal surface of the drum. Heating and cooling can be provided to individual regions of the internal drum surface to maintain a substantially uniform external drum surface temperature.

Abstract: An aqueous inkjet printer is configured to evaluate and adjust multiple components within the printer with reference to image data of the surface of a rotating member obtained at different times during a single print cycle. The print cycle can be performed in a multiple pass manner to enable a single optical sensor to be used for generation of the image data. Alternatively, the print cycle can be performed in a single revolution of the rotating member and multiple optical sensors positioned about the rotating member to generate the image data.

Abstract: In a system having an inkjet printer and a toner printer, the ink jet printer forms an ink jet image and the toner printer forms a toner image conforming to the inkjet image and transfers the toner image onto the inkjet image. Colorant in the ink is electrostatically attracted to the toner. The toner is fixed. After fixing the colorant attracted to the toner is bound to the toner so that removal of the toner from the receiver also removes any colorant attached to the toner from the receiver.

Abstract: A release agent applicator displaying decreased and consistent surface resistivity, and a method of making same. The release agent applicator includes an foam delivery surface having an ionic layer such that the surface resistivity of the delivery surface is reduced, thereby decreasing the chances of static charge accumulation on the roller that may interfere with high quality printing.

Abstract: A UV curable gel ink leveling method for digital direct-to-substrate UV curable gel ink printing includes jetting UV curable gel ink directly onto a substrate, irradiating the gel ink to increase a viscosity of the gel ink, adding sacrificial release fluid to a hydrophilic contact roll, and leveling the ink at a leveling nip formed by the contact roll and a pressure roll. The pressure roll comprises an elastomeric material and a surface that is hydrophobic.

Abstract: An ink supply device includes a reservoir; an ink carrying rotary member; a supply rotary member that rotates and supplies ink to the ink carrying rotary member while a part thereof is immersed in the ink in the reservoir; a regulation member that faces an outer peripheral surface of the supply rotary member, the regulation member regulating an amount of ink on the outer peripheral surface of the supply rotary member at a position outside of the reservoir; and a blocking member that extends from below to above a liquid surface of the ink in the reservoir at a position between a landing position and the supply rotary member, the landing position being a position at which ink that has been scraped off by the regulation member lands on the liquid surface, the blocking member blocking movement of the ink from the landing position to the supply rotary member.

Abstract: Printing methods are provided. In one method an inkjet image is printed using an ink having a colorant with an electrical charge of a first polarity dispersed in a hydrophilic liquid carrier fluid with an electrical charge of a second polarity that is the opposite polarity of the first polarity. A colorant attracting toner image conforming to the inkjet image is generated using toner particles of the second polarity. The colorant attracting toner image is transferred in registration with an unabsorbed volume of the ink jet image on the receiver. The difference in polarity between the toner particles and the colorant attracts the colorant and the toner particles. The toner particles are fixed to the receiver. After fixing colorant attracted to the toner particles is bound to the toner particles so that removal of the toner from the receiver also removes any colorant attached to the toner from the receiver.

Abstract: Described herein is a transfer member for use in aqueous ink jet printer. The transfer member includes an elastomeric material. The surface layer of the transfer member has been subjected to an energy treatment selected from the group including corona discharge, oxygen plasma discharge and electron beam discharge such that the surface layer possesses an aqueous ink contact angle of from about 25° to about 40°. The transfer member has a Shore A durometer of from about 20 to about 70. The ink jet printer is also described.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle capable of ejecting inductive ink including water, a first intermediate transfer body having a conductive surface on which an ink image is to be formed by temporarily forming a liquid-column bridge between the conductive surface and the nozzle, the liquid-column bridge being made of the inductive ink, a voltage application unit applying a voltage between the inductive ink and the conductive surface so that water included in the liquid-column bridge is electrolyzed, and a transfer unit transferring an ink image formed on the first intermediate transfer body to a recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a principal substance applies the principal substance onto a surface and deposits drops of a gating agent onto a first portion of the principal substance applied to the first surface. The depositing of each drop of gating agent is individually controlled. A second portion of the principal substance not covered by the gating agent is transferred from the first surface to a second surface. A printing system adapted to transfer principal substance from a first surface to a second surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: Hard imaging methods and devices are described. In at least some examples, a method includes ejecting a plurality of droplets of a liquid marking agent corresponding to the image to be formed, wherein the droplets of the liquid marking agent individually comprise a plurality of ink particles. The droplets are received upon a transfer member, and after the receiving, at least the ink particles are transferred from the transfer member to media to form a hard version of the image using the media.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a print on a recording medium includes a printhead providing drops of hydrophilic liquid. A hydrophobic drop-retention layer of an intermediate member receives the drops in cells including ion donors, forming a liquid pattern corresponding to image data. The ion donor in liquid-containing cells dissolves into ions. A transport member brings the recording medium into contact with the liquid pattern on the intermediate member. A voltage source applies a bias across the recording medium in contact with the liquid pattern to move ions to form a charge pattern corresponding to the liquid pattern on the recording medium. A development station applies charged dry ink to the recording medium bearing the charge pattern, so that a dry ink image corresponding to the image data is formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A printing process identifies conditions for operating an image receiving member to transfer a plurality of ink images from the image receiving member to a plurality of media sheets between applications of release agent to the image receiving member. The printing process transfers a first ink image from the image receiving member to a first media sheet, identifies a size of a second ink image, and forms the second ink image entirely within a portion of the surface of the image receiving member that carried the first ink image. The printing process enables printing with acceptable quality while reducing the consumption of release agent and wear on components in the printer.

Abstract: An inkjet ink and an intermediate transfer medium for inkjet printing are disclosed herein. During inkjet printing, the inkjet ink forms ink drops having a contact angle (?) of less than or equal to 50° on the intermediate transfer medium, where the contact angle (?) reduces or substantially eliminates coalescence of adjacent ink drops. The contact angle (?) may be obtained by controlling a property of the inkjet ink and/or a property of the surface of the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a transfer unit configured to transfer recording agent onto a transfer sheet to print input data; an acquisition unit configured to acquire, when the transfer unit transfers and when it is detected that processing is to be performed due to which time is extended that is taken from ending processing on the transfer sheet to starting the processing on a following transfer sheet, the time generated due to performance of the detected processing; a generation unit configured to generate, when the acquired time is longer than a previously set time, a patch pattern on the transfer sheet; and a correction unit configured to correct output image density using the generated patch pattern.

Abstract: A sublimation transfer ink to be discharged by an ink jet process contains water, a sublimation dye, and a trehalose-based compound. The amount of the trehalose-based compound in the sublimation transfer ink is preferably in the range of 3% by mass to 20% by mass, both inclusive.

Abstract: A polymer composition includes a first polymer layer containing a base polymer matrix, and a second polymer layer grafted onto the first layer. The second polymer layer contains a stimulus-responsive polymer, and the surface free energy of the stimulus-responsive polymer is adjustable from a first surface free energy state to a second surface free energy state when heated to a critical activation temperature. A method of preparing a polymer composition includes providing a first polymer layer containing a base polymer, and grafting a second polymer layer containing a stimulus-responsive layer onto the first layer. A method of printing an image involves applying an ink onto an intermediate transfer member containing a first polymer layer containing a base polymer matrix and a second polymer layer containing a stimulus-responsive polymer grafted onto the first layer, spreading the ink, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate.

Abstract: A printer having an imaging drum rotatable around its longitudinal axis, receives a pattern of ink corresponding to an image to be printed. A transfix roller rotates around its longitudinal axis, and is selectively held against the imaging drum by a transfix force, the interface of the imaging drum and the transfix roll forms a transfix nip. An image is formed on the substrate passed through the transfix nip by the marking ink on the imaging drum. A motor drives the imaging drum through a power train with a speed and direction controlled by a motor drive unit. A substrate sensor detects the substrate at the transfix nip, and outputs a signal to the motor drive. The motor drive varies the torque applied to the imaging drum in response to the signal, to maintain a constant rotational speed of the imaging drum.

Abstract: A polymer composition contains a stimulus-responsive polymer dispersed in a base polymer matrix. The surface free energy of the stimulus-responsive polymer may be reversibly adjustable from a first surface free energy state to a second surface free energy state when heated to a predetermined critical activation temperature. A method of preparing a polymer composition comprises dispersing a stimulus-responsive polymer in a base polymer matrix. A method of printing an image to a substrate comprises applying an aqueous inkjet ink onto an intermediate transfer member using an inkjet printhead, spreading the ink onto the intermediate transfer member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, where the intermediate transfer member contains a stimulus-responsive polymer dispersed in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: A transfer type inkjet recording method uses an aggregation liquid, in which the aggregation liquid contains a polyurethane resin having an amino group and the polyurethane resin has a number average molecular weight of 10,000 or more and 1,000,000 or lower and an amine value of 0.5 mmol/g or more and 3.0 mmol/g or lower.

Abstract: A radiation curable paste ink composition including at least one curable wax that is curable by free radical polymerization; at least one curable liquid component that is a liquid at a temperature of from about 20 to about 25° C., present in an amount of less than about 20 percent by weight based upon the total weight of the curable paste ink composition; optionally, at least one non-curable wax; at least one free-radical photoinitiator or photoinitiating moiety; at least one curable gellant; and optionally, a colorant; wherein the components form a curable ink composition that is a paste at a first temperature, wherein the first temperature is from about 20 to about 25° C.; and wherein the components form a liquid composition at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than about 40° C.

Abstract: A process including disposing at least one phase separation ink in an imagewise fashion onto a final image receiving substrate to form an ink image, wherein disposing is at a first temperature at which the at least one phase separation ink is in a molten, unseparated state; cooling the ink image to a second temperature sufficient to initiate crystallization of at least one component of the at least one phase separation ink, wherein at the second temperature the at least one phase separation ink comprises a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase; wherein the amorphous phase of the at least one phase separation ink substantially penetrates into the final image receiving substrate; and wherein the crystalline phase of the at least one phase separation ink substantially remains on the surface of the final image receiving substrate; applying pressure to the ink image on the final image receiving substrate; and allowing the ink to complete crystallization.

Abstract: A method implemented in an imaging device senses the remaining life of a drum maintenance system in the imaging device. The method includes detecting a buoyant member, which is pivotably coupled to a proboscis extending from an end cap of a reservoir in a reservoir of the DMU, reaching a predetermined position in the reservoir and then updating an estimate of the remaining release agent in the reservoir with reference to a total media area and total inked area.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a conveyance unit conveying a recording medium; inkjet recording heads jetting ink droplets onto a recording medium surface while scanning in a recording direction intersecting a conveyance direction; a first image converter converting image data, which have been inputted, into ink data based on the color of ink; a second image converter converting the ink data into dot data on the basis of which each inkjet recording head jets the ink droplets; a drying unit disposed on a conveyance direction downstream side of the inkjet recording heads and drying the ink droplets while moving in a drying direction differing from the conveyance direction; and a drying unit movement controller deciding and controlling a moving speed of the drying unit on the basis of at least one of the inputted image data, the ink data, or the dot data.

Abstract: A leveling and spreading system has been developed that enables the speed and position of the web to be determined from a sensor on a first roller. In a duplex print process, the first roller also reduces a temperature of the media web and an ink image printed in the first side print operation to within a first predetermined temperature range. A second roller modulates the temperature of the media web and ink ejected onto the media web immediately before the web enters the leveling and spreading system to within a second predetermined temperature range to enable uniformity of the ink and web temperatures for spreading the ink in a nip formed with a third roller.

Abstract: A particle dispersion supply apparatus includes a roller, an ejection device and a particle dispersion permeation member. The roller rotates in a prescribed direction and touches an image formation face of a recording medium being conveyed by a conveyance body. The ejection device is disposed to oppose the roller at a roller rotation direction upstream side relative to the position at which the roller touches the image formation face of the recording medium, and ejects a particle dispersion in which numerous particles are dispersed in a liquid. The particle dispersion permeation member is disposed so as to be interposed between the ejection device and the roller and so as to contact the roller. The particle dispersion permeation member retains the particle dispersion and the particle dispersion can permeate therethrough.

Abstract: A printer includes a release agent detector that responds to release agent contacting the detector by generating a signal. The signal is processed by a controller to alter operation of the printer.

Abstract: Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include an imaging member configured to receive a layer of dampening fluid, and configured to absorb light energy emitted by a laser imager; and a transfer member configured to receive ink, the transfer member and the imaging member forming a dampening fluid image loading nip. Systems include a dampening fluid metering system configured to form a uniform layer of dampening fluid onto a surface of the imaging member, and a laser imager, the laser imager configured to expose a layer of dampening fluid on the imaging member to a laser beam for selectively evaporating portions of the dampening fluid layer to form a dampening fluid image. Systems may include the transfer member being configured to receive a dampening fluid image from a surface of the imaging member at the dampening fluid image loading nip.

Abstract: A method for performing duplex printing with improved throughput has been developed. The method includes forming an image of a back side of a first duplex page and an image of a front side of a second duplex page on an image receiving member. Two recording media sheets are serially passed through a nip to transfer the image of the first duplex page back side to a bare side of a recording media sheet that also bears the image of the front side of the first duplex page on an obverse side and to transfer the image of the second duplex page to a bare side of a recording media sheet that has not been previously printed.

Abstract: An inkjet offset printer includes at least one printhead to eject ink on a release agent applied to an image receiving member for subsequent transfer of the ink to the surface of a recording media. The release agent is applied to the image receiving member by at least two release agent applicators. The release agent can be selectively applied to process sheets of recording media of different sizes to improve print quality. Selective application of release agent to the image receiving member prevents release agent from migrating to a transfix roll, and subsequently to the back side of the media which affects the image quality.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting an electrostatic field in a print zone of an inkjet printer. The printer includes an electrostatic tacking device to hold a sheet of recording media to a transport belt moving through the print zone for imaging with one or more inkjet printheads. A sensor determines the electrostatic field before the print zone and adjusts the electrostatic field with a corotron disposed after the tacking device and before the print zone. Reduction of the electrostatic field in the print zone can reduce imaging errors resulting from electrostatic fields.

Abstract: A transfer lamination method uses a transfer lamination device including a transfer ribbon comprising a transfer film on a carrier web, a print unit comprising a print head, and a transfer unit configured to transfer a film section of the transfer film to a substrate. In the method, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction past the print unit and the transfer unit. Tension is generated in the transfer ribbon using the print head while processing the transfer ribbon using the transfer unit.