Abstract: A printing apparatus has a transport module with a moving transport belt tht transports strip-like print media past a printhead for printing thereon. The transport module has an entrance region upstream of the printhead, a magazine for the strip-like media located upstream of the entrance region of the transport module, the transport belt also serves as a take-off device to remove the strip-like media from the magazine, the magazine is mounted laterally offset with respect to the transport belt, thereby causing the strip-like media to be captured by the transport belt only in an edge region of the transport belt. The transport belt is wider by the edge region than is precisely needed to transport the strip-like media, in order to print on a remaining region of the strip-like media, which is smaller by the edge region than a total width of said strip-like media.

Abstract: A process for producing a composite material or a precursor thereof includes the steps: (i) printing a support material (A1) with an ink (D) which can be cured by irradiation with light, the support material (A1) (a) being impregnable with a curable resin (B) which after curing is transparent and light-stable, and (b) having a translucency, based on the overall thickness, of 10-95%, preferably 20-90%, more preferably 30-80% for light in the wavelength range of 200-500 nm; (ii) curing the ink (D) by irradiation with light; (iii) impregnating the thus-treated support material (A1) with a curable resin (B) which after curing is transparent and light-stable, and optionally combining the support material (A1) with at least one further support material (A2); and (iv) curing the curable resin (B) simultaneously with or after step (iii); and also relates to the material obtainable by this process.

Abstract: A transferred medium is provided. In one exemplary embodiment a transferred medium includes a projection part projected in a transferring direction of the transferred medium from a front end part of the medium such that the projection part traverses the front end part of the medium. The thickness of a part of the projection part can be configured to be greater than the thickness of the front end part, the width of the projection part in a direction perpendicular to the transferring direction can be narrower than the width of the front part in that same direction, and the urging force by the urging member can act on the projection part and the front end part during transfer of the transferred medium. A recording apparatus system that includes a transferred medium is also provided, as are other embodiments of a transferred medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that receives a supply of an image receiving medium and includes a platen arranged to feed the image receiving medium selectively in one of a forward and reverse direction. A print head arranged to print an image on the image receiving medium while the medium is fed in the forward direction and an arcuate guide portion partially encasing the platen and movable relative to the surface of the platen. The guide portion having an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the print head to permit a supply of image receiving medium to be received and an operative position wherein the guide portion is moved to be proximate to the print head whereby the guide portion in the operative position restricts movement of the image receiving medium in a direction perpendicular to the forward and reverse direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of printing an image on an object, such as a door facing or a door. An object having an exterior surface is provided. A first image component is printed on the exterior surface. A first transparent coat is applied on the exterior surface so as to cover the first image component. A second image component is printed on the first transparent coat. Optionally, a second transparent coat is applied to the first transparent coat and second image component so as to cover the first and second image components. The resulting object, such as a door, having the printed image thereon is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inkjet medium having a support mainly containing a cellulose pulp, and a coat layer containing a pigment and an adhesive, the coat layer formed on at least one surface of the support, wherein the pigment in the coat layer as an outermost layer contains at least light calcium carbonate, kaolin and gel type silica, and has an average oil absorption of 70 ml/100 g to 120 ml/100 g.

Abstract: The liquid ejection device includes a head having nozzles for ejecting a liquid, a first liquid-receiving section having a sloped face for receiving liquid ejected from the nozzles when flushing is carried out by the head, and a second liquid-receiving section for receiving and holding liquid that has dripped from the sloped face. The liquid ejected from the nozzles through flushing can flow away, and therefore printing defects caused by accumulation of the liquid can be prevented.

Abstract: A printing system has a print mechanism to dispense a curable ink onto print media, a texture roller having a textured surface arranged to transfer a texture through a film to the curable ink on the media resulting in textured ink, and a curing mechanism to cure the textured ink. A printing system has a print head to dispense a curable ink onto print media, a film arranged adjacent a side of the media upon which the ink is dispensed, a texture roller arranged on a side of the film opposite the media to transfer texture to the curable ink, resulting in textured ink, and a curing mechanism to cure the textured ink. A method of controlling gloss in a printed image includes forming a printed image on print media using curable ink, using a roller to transfer a texture pattern to the curable ink, and curing the ink such that the pattern cures into the ink.

Abstract: A printer for printing on a semiporous recording medium includes a dryer adapted to dry the semiporous recording medium to a moisture content not to exceed that of the recording medium equilibrated to 20% RH. A liquid-deposition unit deposits hydrophilic liquid in a selected fluid pattern on the recording medium within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. A charging member charges the recording medium so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the recording medium and the charged areas have a potential of at least 100 V. A development station deposits charged dry ink on the medium, the dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charged areas, so that the charged dry ink is deposited on the paper in a dry ink pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern.

Abstract: An ink composition having organic pigment particles, a hydrosoluble solvent; a dispersing agent, and water, wherein each of the organic pigment particles has a circularity of 2 nm or less, which is defined as a difference between radii of concentric circumscribing and inscribed circles of a contour of an image of each of the organic pigment particles taken by a transmission electron microscope when a gap between the concentric circumscribing circle and the inscribed circle is least, wherein the inscribed circle has a diameter of from 5 nm to less than 50 nm.

Abstract: An inkjet recording medium includes a substrate, a base layer disposed on the substrate, and an ink receiving layer disposed on the base layer. The ink receiving layer includes cationically-modified fumed silica having nanoparticles of alumina and/or silica mixed therein. The alumina nanoparticles have an individual particle size ranging from about 15 nm to about 50 nm, and the silica nanoparticles have an individual particle size ranging from about 5 nm to about 45 nm.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus records an image on a recording material by ejecting a first ink composition through at least one first liquid ejecting nozzle having an open end. The ink jet recording apparatus also includes a platen having a surface on which the recording medium is placed. The surface is away from the open end at a distance PG satisfying the relationship 0.5 mm<PG<2.5 mm. The first ink composition that has been ejected through the first liquid ejecting nozzle is split into a main droplet having a flying velocity Vm and at least one satellite droplet including a satellite droplet having a flying velocity Vs. The flying velocities Vm and Vs satisfy the relationship Vm?Vs<3 m/s.

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

Abstract: A printer includes a web transport that is configured to transport a web of media along a transport path through the printer. Printheads in the printer are associated with web detectors that detect the presence or absence of the web opposite the printheads. A controller in the printer is operatively connected to the web detectors to alter operation of the printer with reference to the presence or absence of the web opposite the printheads.

Abstract: An inkjet receiver is described which comprises a support and one or more layer coated thereon, at least one layer of which comprises one or more metal organosilicate polymer particulate materials. The metal organosilicate polymer particulate materials are obtainable by contacting a metal salt with a silicon-containing compound having an organic substituent in an organic solvent, wherein either the silicon-containing compound contains a basic group and/or the reaction is conducted in the presence of a base, wherein the metal is selected from one or more of aluminum, magnesium strontium, calcium or zinc and the silicon-containing compound comprises hydrolyzable and non-hydrolyzable substituents such as to form a metal organosilicate polymer particulate material therefrom. The described inkjet receiver is useful for forming images by inkjet printing having excellent color fastness over time.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides an ink composition ejected from a nozzle having a step, the ink composition containing at least any one of a first water-soluble organic solvent and a second water-soluble organic solvent, wherein the first water-soluble organic solvent exhibits a surface tension of 30 mN/m or lower at 20° C., an aqueous solution of the second water-soluble organic solvent of 10 mass % exhibits a surface tension of 50 mN/m or lower at 20° C., and the total content of the first water-soluble organic solvent and the second water-soluble organic solvent is 0.15 mass % or higher.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus for coloring an article of aluminum or aluminums alloys, said article comprising a surface formed by an open pore oxide layer, and an article printed therewith. In order to achieve a high quality printing image that exhibits a high resolution, wherein the effects of color migration and bleeding of the deposited ink compositions are reduced, the method comprises the steps of mounting said article on an inkjet printing apparatus; printing a bottom printing layer on said surface according to predetermined pixel information and at a predetermined ink deposition rate for each pixel; successively printing at least two upper printing layers on said surface, wherein on each upper printing layer the same pixel information is printed as on the bottom printing layer and the ink deposition rate for each pixel is adjusted if required; and heating said article for fixing the resulting printing image on said surface.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a first substrate, and a phase change ink deposited on a surface of the first substrate. The phase change ink includes an ink vehicle including a polymeric material having one or more hydroxyl groups, and an optional colorant, wherein the phase change ink is solid at room temperature but is liquid at a jetting temperature of from about 60 to about 150° C., and a hydroxyl group mass percentage, measured as a total mass of hydroxyl groups to an entire weight of the ink, is from about 1% to about 35%.

Abstract: A recording medium detection unit is provided on the upper stream side of a carrier mechanism in a carrier route and detects at least the front and back ends in a carrier direction of a recording medium. A nozzle array control unit controls the drive of a plurality of nozzles on the basis of job information reported by a higher-order device and the detection information of the front and back ends by the recording medium detection unit and enables the plurality of nozzles to perform a recording process for inject ink only an area in the range between the front and back ends of the recording medium. A control unit receives image data and also notifies the higher-order device of the stoppage of image data transfer according to the detection of the back end of the recording medium by the recording medium detection unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a first line head that ejects a polymerizable ink containing an active energy radiation-polymerizable compound but substantially not containing a coloring agent onto a recording medium to form an undercoat layer, a second line head that ejects a glittering ink onto the undercoat layer to form a glittering image, a third line head that ejects a coloring ink to form a color image, a transport mechanism that transports the recording medium, an irradiation portion that irradiates the undercoat layer with active energy radiation, and a heating portion that dries the glittering ink. The first line head is disposed upstream from the second line head in the recording medium moving direction, and the third line head is disposed downstream from the second line head in the recording medium moving direction.

Abstract: An ink composition is provided that includes (A) a polymerizable silicone compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group and a silicone chain, (B) tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, and (C) a radical polymerization initiator. There are also provided an inkjet recording method that includes (a1) a step of discharging onto a recording medium the ink composition and (b1) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation, a printed material obtained by the inkjet recording method, and a process for producing a formed printed material that includes (a2) a step of forming an image on a support by discharging the ink composition by an inkjet method, (b2) a step of obtaining a printed material having a cured image on the support by irradiating the obtained image with actinic radiation so as to cure the ink composition, and (c2) a step of molding the printed material.

Abstract: An image is recorded by ejecting two or more ink compositions on a porous layer that contains inorganic microparticles and a water-soluble resin and has a porosity [%] of 50% or more with a maximum total ejection amount (mL/m2) set at less than 90% of an absorption capacity (mL/m2) of diethylene glycol in the porous layer. The porosity=(absorption capacity of diethylene glycol (mL/m2))/(thickness of porous layer (?m))×100. The maximum total ejection amount=(maximum ejection amount of one dot (mL/m2))×(total amount of ink (%)). An inkjet recording method capable of inhibiting color change from occurring to cause color irregularities when papers are stacked on an image portion within a relatively short time after recording in high-speed processing or processing of a large number of sheets, and capable of stably obtaining images recorded with desired color tone.

Abstract: Reactive inks and methods of generating an image on a substrate using both reactive and heat activated inks are presented. An image is printed on a substrate, without reacting the reagents in the ink. Subsequently, the reagents are reacted to fix the image to a substrate, with substantial permanency and fastness. Sublimation or similar heat activated dyes are printed are also printed on the substrate. The sublimation or similar heat activated dyes are activated, and have an affinity for polymer that is applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for creating a graphic image on a reflective metal surface. A digital representation of the graphic image in a negative form is created on a computer and stored in memory. The negative image is then sent to an inkjet printer, where ultraviolet light curable ink representative of the negative image is printed onto the reflective metal surface using the inkjet printer. The portions of the reflective metal surface that are not covered with the ink remain exposed. The reflective metal in the exposed areas is mechanically scuffed to render it less reflective and visually distinct from the covered portions. The ultraviolet light curable ink is then removed with a high pressure water spray to reveal the graphic image made by the contrast between the original reflective metal and the scuffed metal surfaces.

Abstract: An inkjet recording sheet for forming an image using aqueous pigment ink that includes a substrate and an ink-receiving layer formed on the substrate. The ink-receiving layer is obtained by applying, on the substrate, a coating composition containing: a cationic acrylic silicone emulsion-based resin having a hydrolyzable silyl group as a crosslinking component; a cationic polyether-based urethane resin; and a carbodiimide group-containing resin, followed by curing the applied coating composition. In the coating composition, the content of the cationic acrylic silicone emulsion-based resin is 2 to 7% by mass, the content of the cationic polyether-based urethane resin is 88 to 94% by mass, and the content of the carbodiimide group-containing resin is 2 to 6% by mass in terms of solid matter.

Abstract: A recording ink containing at least a solid component which contains a colorant and a resin and is a solid at 25° C., a liquid component which has a higher boiling point than that of water and is a liquid at 25° C. and water, wherein the total content of the liquid component in the recording ink is 20% by mass or less, the total content of the solid component in the recording ink is 20% by mass or more, and the total content of a resin component in the solid component is 40% by mass to 95% by mass relative to a total amount of the solid component is provided.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method including printing an image on a recording medium using an aqueous ink, wherein the recording medium includes a support containing a cellulose pulp, and a coat layer containing a pigment and a binder, and optionally containing a cationic additive in an amount of 0.1% or less in the total amount of the coat layer, which is formed in one or more layers on at least one surface of the support, wherein the recording medium has an outermost layer of the coat layer having a gloss at an angle of 60 degrees in accordance with JIS-ZS-8741 of 13 or less, and a centerline average roughness Ra of 0.2?m to 2.5 ?m at a cut-off value of 0.8 and the aqueous ink contains coloring particles, a resin emulsion, water, and a wetting agent, the aqueous ink has a solid content of 3% by mass or more.

Abstract: The present invention prevents necessary image data from deviating from a print medium and thereby executes a good printing operation without a loss of necessary image data. For this purpose, when performing a so-called marginless printing, in which ink is applied also to an area overrunning from the print medium to form an image without leaving a blank margin at edges of the print medium, the overrunning widths of the area are made adjustable.

Abstract: A device, method, system and article for controlling an image forming device including removable RFID functionality. A print job may be received and a determination may be made as to whether the print job includes RFID data. The RFID data may be sent to a removable RFID module when RFID data is included in the print job. Media may then be provided to a first paper path defined in the removable RFID module when RFID data is included in the print job and provided to a second paper path defined in the image forming device. An image may then be formed on the media.

Abstract: An inkjet receiver comprising a support and one or more layers coated on the support, at least one of which comprises a particulate material and a binder, the particulate material comprising composite particles having an inner portion and an outer portion or core-shell arrangement, wherein the inner portion comprises a negatively-charged, positively-charged or functionalized latex, and the outer portion comprises an inorganic material having enhanced keeping properties and reduced ozone-induced dye fade.

Abstract: An ink set is used in one or more recording media selected from a non-ink-absorbing or low ink-absorbing medium, a medium having an arithmetic surface roughness Ra of 20 ?m or more, fabric, and plain paper. The ink set contains a glitter ink which is recorded by an ink jet head and contains a glitter pigment and a polymerizable ink which contains an active energy line polymerizable compound and does not substantially contain a coloring material.

Abstract: A system and method for depositing a substance onto a continuously moving substrate in first and second transverse swathes, is achieved by providing a print carriage having a first set of inkjet heads and a second set of inkjet heads. The carriage is traversed across the substrate in a forward pass, while depositing the first and second swathes from the respective first and second plurality of inkjet heads and subsequently traversed across the substrate in a reverse pass. The first and second sets of inkjet heads are arranged such that the first and second swathes complement one another on both forward and reverse passes to provide substantially complete coverage of the substrate. In this manner complementary swathes may be deposited from a single head.

Abstract: A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes a reservoir having a supply of release agent. An applicator is configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent to an imaging surface of an imaging device. A metering blade is positioned to meter the release agent on the imaging surface applied by the applicator. The metering blade is arranged in doctor mode with respect to the imaging surface and includes a tip positioned adjacent the imaging surface. The tip has a square portion positioned proximate the imaging surface and a beveled portion opposite the imaging surface.

Abstract: The effect of air resistance acting on ink drops discharged from nozzles of an ink-jet head is appropriately controlled, for example, by means of a method suitable for a breathable medium, such as a cloth and the like. In this way, for example, high-resolution printing, printing with a great gap distance, and the like is properly implemented.

Abstract: An inkjet ink including water, a pigment, a polymer, and a hydrazine compound. The polymer does not include an anionic unit and includes a first unit having a carbonyl group capable of reacting with a hydrazino group, and a second unit having at least one of an amino group, a dimethylamino group, and a diethylamino group. The content of the first unit is from 40% to 90% by weight based on the weight of the polymer, and the inkjet ink has a pH of not less than 9.

Abstract: A method for identifying a type of recording medium using a time-varying output signal from a photosensor includes amplifying the time-varying output signal of the photosensor; converting the amplified time-varying output signal of the photosensor to digitized data points using an analog to digital converter thereby creating a first set of digitized data; filtering the first set of digitized data to provide a low pass data set; filtering the first set of digitized data to provide a high pass data set; computing the standard deviation of the low pass data set; computing the standard deviation of the high pass data set; and identifying the recording medium type using values from both the standard deviation of the low pass data set and the standard deviation of the high pass data set.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ink passage comprises an ink passage comprising a first surface; and a second surface; wherein ink flows in an ink flow direction from the first surface to the second surface, and wherein a downstream edge of the first surface and an upstream edge of the second surface intersect each other.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes forming a glittering image on a recording medium by ejecting a glittering ink containing silver onto the recording medium by an ink jet method, applying a protective ink containing a resin and substantially no coloring material onto the glittering image, and forming a color image by ejecting a color ink containing a coloring material to the glittering image by an ink jet method. The protective ink is applied between the glittering image and the color image.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes heating an ink non-absorbent or low ink-absorbing recording medium to a temperature of 40° C. to 110° C. and performing recording using an aqueous ink composition containing a water-insoluble colorant, a paraffin wax, resin particles, and water.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes forming a first image by applying by an ink jet method a glitter ink in which a glitter pigment is dispersed to a first region of a recording medium in which the glitter first image is to be formed, and forming a second image by applying by an ink jet method a color ink containing a coloring material to a second region of the recording medium in which the colored second image is to be formed, the amount per unit area of the glitter ink ejected in an overlapping region in which the first region overlaps the second region being larger than the amount per unit area of the glitter ink ejected in the first region excluding the overlapping region.

Abstract: A medium transporting apparatus has a first transport path that reverses the sides of the medium when guiding the medium, wherein the first transport path is installed so as to be connected to the middle of a second transport path between a mounting portion and a recording portion; a first mode in which after there has been recording on a first surface of a preceding medium, a second roller installed on the mounting portion transports a succeeding medium to the recording portion side while guiding it to the second transport path.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing a heat shrinkable flattened plastics tubing or other elongate printable medium, the apparatus comprising: means for feeding at least one printable medium over a printer head; and a control means to control the sequence of printing operations on the medium, wherein the apparatus further comprises a return feed assembly to return the printable medium printed on a first face thereof inverted into the printing apparatus and off-set, e.g.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for reverse printing a plurality of images interlaced with each other on an underside surface of an appropriate flexible lenticular substrate. The method includes analyzing a viewing orientation of either portrait configuration or landscape configuration of at least one of the plurality of images; determining whether the appropriate flexible lenticular substrate is used for the printing of the plurality of images interlaced with each other in accordance with the viewing orientation of one of the plurality of images; analyzing an orientation of a first marker on the underside surface of the appropriate flexible lenticular substrate; and printing the plurality of images interlaced with each other in accordance with the orientation of the first marker on the underside of the appropriate flexible lenticular substrate.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical disc drive unit for recording/reproducing information with respect to a recording surface of an optical disc, a label printer module for printing a label on a label surface of the optical disc, and an optical disc support apparatus separated from the optical disc during recording/reproduction of the information, and supporting the optical disc to allow the label surface of the optical disc to be located at a printable position with respect to the label printer module during printing of the label.

Abstract: A print medium having increased resistance to gasfade. An inhibitor comprising a sulfur-containing polymer is incorporated into the print medium. The sulfur-containing polymer is poly(1,4-phenylene sulfide) or poly(1,3-phenylene sulfide). The inhibitor is present in at least a surface of the print medium and may be present in the print medium in a concentration from approximately 0.25% by weight per cm2 of the print medium to approximately 30% by weight per cm2 of the print medium. A method of forming the print medium is disclosed as is a method of producing a printed image having increased resistance to gasfade.

Abstract: A multilayer image transfer sheet for non-thermally transferring an image to a receiving object includes, in the following order with respect to each other, a backing sheet; a water-releasable sacrificial layer disposed on the backing sheet; an ink-absorbing layer disposed over the water-releasable sacrificial layer; a printed image layer formed on the ink-absorbing layer; and an adhesive layer disposed over the printed image layer and configured and arranged for permanent attachment of the printed image layer to a receiving object. The printed image layer includes ink printed to form at least one image.

Abstract: An inkjet recording medium comprising a support, an ink receiving layer containing fine particles and a water-soluble resin, and a back coat layer containing a specific resin, and satisfying the equation B>?30A+4C+37, wherein A is a static friction coefficient between the uppermost surface at the back coat layer side of the support and a metal roller onto which wear-resistant particles are adhered, B is an amount of deformation of the overall layer(s) on the back coat layer side of the support B (?m), and C is an overall rigidity of the layers including the support, the ink receiving layer and the back coat layer (mN·m), and A, B and C are within the ranges of 0.84>A>0.44, 32>B>20 and 5>C>2, respectively.

Abstract: Color material recording amount determination unit configured to determine a color material recording amount data according to a gradation value and colorless material recording amount calculation unit configured to determine, according to the color material recording amount data, a base colorless material recording amount data of a colorless material that is recorded as a base of the color material are included.

Abstract: A mixture of dyes and salts thereof comprising: (a) dyes of Formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein: R1 is optionally substituted C1-8alkyl; R2 is H or methyl; R3 is H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl; L is optionally substituted C1-4alkyl; y is 1 to 3; z is 1 to 3; and y+z is 2 to 4: and (b) an acid triphenylmethane dye and salts thereof: wherein the ratio of the components (a) and (b) is in the range of from 95:5 to 5:95 parts by weight.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method includes preparing a bright image and improving the lightness, or the L*value, of the bright base image. More specifically, a bright image is formed using a bright pigment, and then an ink jet process is performed to discharge a white ink composition containing a white pigment onto the bright image with a weight per unit area (g/cm2) in a range of 0.01 to 0.5, inclusive.