Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink set which makes it possible to obtain recorded images that have a broad color reproduction range and a high saturation, as well as glossiness without conspicuous graininess caused by dot expression, and which in particular makes it possible to achieve an extreme suppression of graininess caused by dot expression in cases where the ink set is used on media that have a coating layer, and to obtain recorded images with extremely superior coloring characteristics in cases where the ink set is used on ordinary paper. The present invention provides an ink set comprising at least a yellow ink (Y), magenta ink (M), cyan ink (C) and red ink (R), wherein the L* values in the CIE-stipulated Lab display system of aqueous solutions of the respective inks diluted 1000 times by weight are in the following ranges: (Y): at least 89 but no more than 94, (M): at least 76 but no more than 93, (C): at least 74 and no more than 87, (R): at least 55 and no more than 74.

Abstract: A method of forming a fluid ejection device includes providing a substrate having a first side supporting an oxide layer and a conductive layer over the oxide layer; and patterning the conductive layer to define an area for an actuator of the fluid ejection device, including shaping the area with first and second ends each having a first width and at least one portion between the first and second ends having a second width less than the first width.

Abstract: A diverter assembly to transport a substrate along a transport path includes a plurality of sets of idle rollers and at least one support member. Each set of idle rollers may include a longitudinal axis and a plurality of respective idle rollers disposed along the respective longitudinal axis. Each idle roller of adjacent sets of idle rollers may be in a staggered arrangement with each other. The at least one roller support member may rotatably support the respective sets of idle rollers. The plurality of sets of idle rollers may be in a circumferential arrangement with each other.

Abstract: Ink sets can include a plurality of aqueous inks. In one embodiment, a first ink can include a magenta dye and a magenta pigment. A second ink can include a cyan pigment, and a third ink can include a yellow pigment, wherein the second and third inks are substantially devoid of dye. The inks can independently include 2-pyrrolidone or 2-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone and an additional solvent selected from a glycol, a second pyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, an aqueous ink-jet ink can comprise a pigment and a liquid vehicle including water, 2-pyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, tetraethylene glycol, and 1,6-hexanediol.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus, including: a water-based ink which contains glycol ether and water; and an element which is configured to contact with the water-based ink, is formed of a polyacetal resin, and contains aliphatic amide in an amount of less than 29 ppm by weight.

Abstract: An aqueous black ink composition which enables the formation of an excellent black recorded image having extremely high ozone gas resistance and a neutral and achromatic color. The ink composition comprises: a dye which includes at least one compound represented by specific formula (1) or at least one tautomer or salt of the compound; a dye which includes at least one compound represented by specific formula (3) or at least one tautomer or salt of the compound; and a dye which includes at least one compound represented by specific formula (4) or at least one tautomer or salt of the compound.

Abstract: Ink for ink jet recording includes a coloring material and alkylpolyols, wherein the alkylpolyols include two or more types of first alkylpolyols having a log P value of greater than or equal to ?0.7 and less than or equal to 0.01, and a normal boiling point of greater than or equal to 180° C. and lower than or equal to 250° C., and the content of the alkylpolyols is greater than or equal to 5% by mass and less than or equal to 30% by mass.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a transport unit which transports a medium in a transport direction, a first head, a first light source which is provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the first head, a second head which is provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the first head and the first light source, and a second light source which is provided further to the downstream side in the transport direction than the second head and which irradiates light with a stronger irradiation energy than the irradiation energy of the first light source, in which the first head ejects ink of one color of any among magenta ink, cyan ink, and black ink onto a medium, and the second head ejects yellow ink onto the medium.

Abstract: A print is produced on a semiporous recording medium. The semiporous recording medium is dried to an equilibrated 20% RH. Hydrophilic liquid is deposited on the medium in a selected fluid pattern within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. The recording medium is charged so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the recording medium and the discharged areas correspond to the fluid pattern. Charged dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charge in the charged areas on the recording medium is deposited on the medium in a pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern. The dry ink is at least in part hydrophilic, so the dry ink adheres to the hydrophilic liquid, and at least some of the liquid is drawn into or around the deposited dry ink particles.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a printer head that ejects ink and a platen. The ink includes an organic solvent, a surfactant, and 60% by mass or less of water. The platen is composed of a material containing a conductive resin. A solubility parameter A [(J/cm3)1/2] calculated from the organic solvent and the surfactant and a solubility parameter B [(J/cm3)1/2] of the conductive resin satisfy |A?B|?2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a first carriage having a print head independently movable in a main scanning direction, a second carriage having a print head movable with the first carriage, an encoder sheet, first and second home position reference units provided to the first and second carriages, a home position detector that detects the first and second home position reference units, and first and second position detectors provided to the first and second carriages, which detect positions of the first and second carriages by reading the encoder sheet. A control unit controls ejection of ink from the print head of the first carriage based on an output from the first position detector, and ejection of ink from the print head of the second carriage based on the output from the second position detector.

Abstract: A method for aligning a printhead to compensate for printhead roll when an image receiving member moves laterally during printing has been developed. The method includes generating at different times a plurality of marks in a process direction with different inkjets in a printhead and identifying relationships between marks in each plurality. Lateral motion is thereby detected and removed from the analysis identifying the magnitude of the roll corresponding to the locations of the marks in the pluralities of marks.

Abstract: A method for producing a decorated profile body comprises the following steps. In a first step, a profile body substrate is provided. In a second step, a decoration background is applied to the profile body substrate. In a third step, by means of a digital printing process, a decoration finish is applied to the profile body substrate which decoration finish covers the decoration background of the profile body substrate at least in some sections. The decoration finish is applied to the profile body substrate after the applied decoration background, wherein the decoration background and the decoration finish together form a decoration of the profile body substrate. This creates a decorated profile body in which the decoration background has a color composition which is a substantially expanded color space compared to the decoration finish. The decoration finish is printed using a digital printing process having a comparatively limited color space applied according to the CMYK principle.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink containing a first coloring material and a second coloring material, wherein the first coloring material is a compound represented by a general formula (1), and the second coloring material is a compound represented by a general formula (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to (i) a reactive ink for ink jet printing comprising a two-component system, the first component comprising a polymerizable monomer, and the second component comprising a polymerization catalyst, wherein the monomer is able to form a polymeric film at low temperature within thirty minutes, preferably within ten minutes, from contacting the catalyst, (ii) a process of making an image on a non-porous substrate using such a reactive ink, and an ink jet print head including a two component ink-system.

Abstract: Method for decorating green or fired ceramic bodies by inkjet printing comprising the use of a ceramic inkjet ink which is prepared by milling a ceramic inorganic pigment in an organic medium in the presence of a dispersant which is the reaction product of a polyethyleneimine and a ricinoleic acid polyester, until the average particle size of the pigment is between 0.1 and 0.8 ?m.

Abstract: An ink set, used in an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with a recording head including: a plurality of nozzle arrays, each including a plurality of nozzles; and a sucking-and-covering unit for covering the recording head, wherein the black ink is supplied to one of the plurality of the nozzle arrays of the recording head, and the color ink is supplied to the other plurality of the nozzle arrays of the recording head, wherein the black ink includes resin-coated carbon-black particles, surfactant-treated carbon-black particles and water, wherein the color ink includes resin-coated color-pigment particles, surfactant-treated color-pigment particles and water, and wherein the ink set satisfies Expression (1), Expression (2) and Expression (3) below: 5.0% by mass?P(Bk)?12.0% by mass??Expression (1) 3.0% by mass?P(CL)?10.0% by mass??Expression (2) [R(CL)/S(CL)]<[R(Bk)/S(Bk)]??Expression (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color printer and particularly to a color printer reducing power consumption and complying with international criteria ensuring sustained earth environment. In a color printer having multiple optical writing heads for individual recording colors, the activated periods of individual color recording heads are set to different periods and one writing period of individual recording heads is divided into multiple periods, video data for recording one dot line are divided into multiple blocks in the main scan direction, and the divided video data are used for emission at different times in the sub-scan direction, whereby a smaller number of optical writing elements are simultaneously driven for emission and the peak power consumption of the entire apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing raster image data and determining via a reference device (e.g., LUT), an amount of marking medium (toner, ink) to be used for printing a document. Then billing costs based on the amount of medium is determined. In particular, a calibration method may be performed on an apparatus to determine the amounts of medium used for that particular apparatus. The calibration method includes printing pages with test patches for a plurality of colors at a particular dot value (or density), and weighing similar printed test pages so that the amount of medium used to print colors at particular dot values is determined by subtracting a weight of the pages before printing from the weight of the printed test pages. The change in weight (or mass) of the medium is used to populate the reference device for that apparatus.

Abstract: A Printhead, particularly suitable for viscous or particle-filled fluids, with multiple channels is proposed. A channel of the printhead is characterized by a micro-electro-pneumatic circuit 2 containing a series circuit between a first and second pressure level out of a micro-valve 18 and a pneumatic throttle 23, for generating a control pressure pc at the common pneumatic node 5 of micro-valve 18 and pneumatic throttle 23, further a drop-on-demand fluid ejector 4 with a diaphragm 8 actuated by the control pressure pc, the fluid ejector 4 controlling the fluid discharge through fluid outlet 6.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head unit includes: a liquid ejecting head that has a fixing face to be used for attachment and that ejects a liquid from a nozzle; a head fixing member that has stiffness higher than that of the fixing face and that is secured to the fixing face on the liquid ejecting head; and a support member that has an attachment face to which the liquid ejecting head is attached through the head fixing member.

Abstract: A printer includes an intermediate buffer that holds plain data produced by subjecting print data to extraction processing and microweave processing, and a control buffer that holds head control data produced by subjecting plain data to vertical-horizontal conversion processing. The control buffer is allocated storage capacity that allows it to hold data equivalent to one impression and data equivalent to one-fourth an impression (one pass in printing at four passes per impression).

Abstract: An aqueous black ink composition that produces a black recorded image that is stable even when stored for a long time period, exhibits a neutral black to gray color with low color saturation and no tinge, has a high printed image density and exhibits excellent fastness properties of the recorded image, particularly ozone-gas resistance. The ink composition contain at least one kind of coloring matter (I), which a coloring matter represented by formula (1) below, a tautomer thereof, or a salt of the coloring matter or the tautomer; at least one kind of coloring matter (II), which is a coloring matter represented by formula (2) below or a salt thereof; and coloring matter (III), which is a coloring matter having an azo group other than coloring matters (I) and (II), or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A dye ink set for ink jet recording, which has a wide color gamut, particularly for the hue range of magenta, blue, and cyan, and which has good ejection stability properties. The ink set includes ink compositions of two colors, a magenta ink composition and a cyan ink composition which contain a dye, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and the magenta ink composition contains a compound represented by formula (1) below or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus is capable of solving the problems of deterioration of a foam application function and driving systems caused by the dried and fixed foam remaining without being applied. The image forming apparatus includes a foam forming section forming foam, a reservoir section supplying foam formed by the foam forming section to an application roller, a discharge channel through which extra foam is collected from the reservoir section, and a heating unit for heating the extra foam to return the extra foam to a liquid form. The discharged liquid prepared by defoaming the foam discharged through the discharge channel is returned to a container containing the defoamed liquid.

Abstract: A printer having multiple stages of nozzles is controlled to avoid or minimize blank space between print portions when printing on roll paper. A controller in communication with the printer is configured to determine if last partial print data to be printed contains blank raster data. If so, the controller calculates the difference between a total number of rasters in the first through the last partial print data and the number of blank rasters in the last partial print data, prints the last partial print data, and controls the paper transportation mechanism to advance the roll paper only the calculated distance to eliminate excess blank space between print portions. The functionality of the controller is also embodied in a method for controlling a printer as described above.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method using a recording apparatus including a plurality of ink jet heads, comprising performing printing by depositing droplets of an ink composition ejected from the ink jet heads on a recording medium, wherein the ink jet heads are aligned in a direction cross to a transporting direction of the recording medium and the ink composition has a yield value of 0.50 to 2.00 mPa.

Abstract: A liquid-jet head includes a thin film member having a thin part and a thick part, and at least a part of the thin film member is formed of an electroformed film. In the liquid-jet head, the thin film member includes a metallic film forming the thin part, a first electroformed film formed on the metallic film, the first electroformed film forming the thick part, and a second electroformed film covering a connecting part between the metallic film and the first electroformed film.

Abstract: A recording media containing a raw base wherein said media encompasses, on its image side, a pigmented pre-coating layer and a non-polyolefin barrier coating and, on its backside, a polymeric barrier layer. Also disclosed is a method of making such recording media and methods of forming photographic printed images on said recording media.

Abstract: Article having a first single, discrete atomic, dry layer of a first weakly bonded crystalline material on at least a surface of a substrate.

Abstract: An ink composition comprises at least a coloring agent coated with a water-insoluble polymer and resin particles. The water-insoluble polymer is a polymer obtained by a solution polymerization process using at least a polymerizable unsaturated monomer and a polymerization initiator. The coloring agent coated with the water-insoluble polymer is a coloring material obtained by a phase inversion emulsification process in which, after the water-insoluble polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent, at least the coloring agent and water are added thereto, followed by mixing. The organic solvent is removed to perform dispersion in an aqueous system. The resin particles are a polymer obtained by an emulsion polymerization process using at least a crosslinking agent. The average particle size of the resin particles is from 20 to 80 nm.

Abstract: A size press (SP) surface sizing composition provides a SP surface sizing for a print medium that is used in a digital printing system. The surface sizing composition includes an aqueous mixture including a macromolecular material in an amount from about 25% to about 75% dry weight; an inorganic metallic salt in an amount from about 3% to about 20% dry weight; and an amount of inorganic pigment ranging from at least 16% to about 60% dry weight, such that a total dry weight equals about 100%.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a recorded matter including applying a first ink including a volatile first liquid to an intermediate transfer medium having ultraviolet transmittance; applying, using an ink jet method, second ink including a coloring agent and a polymerizable compound polymerized by irradiation of ultraviolet to locations on the intermediate transfer medium where first ink is applied; partially polymerizing the polymerizable compound by irradiating surface side of the intermediate transfer medium to which the second ink is applied with ultraviolet rays from the opposite side surface; transferring the second ink irradiated by ultraviolet in the polymerizing of the polymerizable compound to a recording medium; and curing the polymerizable compound configuring the second ink transferred to the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a photosensitive negative resin composition containing (a) an epoxy-group-containing compound, (b) a first onium salt containing a cation portion structure represented by (b1) and an anion portion structure represented by (b2), and (c) a second onium salt containing a cation portion structure represented by (c1) and an anion portion structure represented by (c2).

Abstract: A system and method detect missing inkjets in an inkjet image generating system. The system and method generate digital images of printed documents that do not have test pattern data within them. The digital images are processed to detect light streaks and the positions of the light streaks are correlated to inkjet positions in printheads. Identification of the ink color associated with the correlated inkjet positions are obtained with analysis of color separated images and/or color errors.

Abstract: Prior to recording, the gap between ink nozzles and a sheet is set to a first gap and a humidified gas is supplied in a short time. After that, the gap is varied from the first gap to a second gap smaller than the first gap and recording is then started.

Abstract: A print head is provided in which a plurality of printing elements, switching elements and driving circuits that are adjacent to each other are divided into groups. The print head includes a buffer circuit. The buffer circuit receives input from signal lines corresponding to binary block selection data for selecting a block, the block being formed by selecting and collecting one printing element from each group. The buffer circuit also outputs to each logic element of a block selection circuit via signal lines, provided in the same number as the signal lines corresponding to binary block selection data. Each logic element selects a block based on the block selecting data, and only one bit of the logic levels of the signal lines input to a buffer circuit is inverted between two adjacent logic elements. An inverter is provided for that one bit of inversion.

Abstract: An inkjet cartridge has an ink containment system for storing ink for printing. The inkjet cartridge includes a printhead having a plurality nozzles in fluid communication with the ink reservoir and an electrical interconnect for providing an electrical communication between the printhead and a printer controller. The electrical interconnect is disposed at an acute angle relative to the printhead.

Abstract: An ink jet image forming method for forming an image including applying ink to a printing paper sheet using a recording head of an ink jet system. The ink contains a self-dispersion pigment, a polymer particle having a glass transition temperature of 25° C. or lower, and water and has a surface tension of 34 mN/m or less. When recording a line image having a recording density of 600 dpi or more and 4,800 dpi or less and a width of adjacent four pixels or more by conducting one scanning of the recording head, an amount of an ink droplet applied from the recording head is 0.6 pL or more and 6.0 pL or less, and an average ink application amount per unit area in the line image is 0.3 ?L/cm2 or more and 1.5 ?L/cm2 or less.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an ink for inkjet textile printing which has excellent fastnesses and causes less bleeding on a textile and to provide a low cost method for inkjet textile printing by using said ink; and relates to an ink for inkjet textile printing wherein the ink contains at least one kind disperse dye, a dispersing agent, water and at least one kind (referred to as A compound) of the compounds represented by the following formula (1): (wherein, n is an integer number of 1 to 12) and at least one kind compound (referred to as B? compound) selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 3 to 5 carbon atoms and polypropylene glycols, as organic solvents, the total content of A compound and B? compound is 12 to 50% by weight based on the total amount of the ink, and the ratio by weight of A compound to B? compound is in the range of 5:1 to 0.7:1.

Abstract: An inkjet head including a substrate configured to discharge ink including a supporting surface formed of a resin material and configured to support the substrate, the supporting substrate including a portion continuing to a surface intersecting the supporting surface and forming a corner portion, the portion forming the corner portion including a non surface treated area which is not surface treated, the supporting surface including a portion adjacent to the non surface treated area being surface treated areas which is surface treated, wherein the substrate and the supporting surface are bonded via an adhesive agent disposed in the non surface treated area and the surface treated area.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording apparatuses, includes water, a pigment dispersion, and a super-penetrating agent and a high SP organic solvent respectively having a predetermined solubility parameter (SP value). All of differences (?SPs) between SP values of the neighboring organic solvents are from 0.5 to 5.0 in order of SP values thereof, and the difference of SPmax?SPmin is 12 or less in which SPmax is the highest SP value of an organic solvent among organic solvents in the high SP organic solvent and SPmin is the smallest SP value of an organic solvent among organic solvents in the super-penetrating agent.

Abstract: Silver carbonate decomposes to form silver metal by a temperature of 280 degrees Celsius. Its use in inkjet ink allows the low-cost production of conductive metallic inks.

Abstract: A glass or ceramic dishware item with an image disposed thereon is provided. The image is transferred, at ambient temperature, to the surface of the dishware from an ink composite by using a silicone transfer substrate. The ink composite is dispensed by an inkjet head. Methods and systems for producing ink composites and dishware using ink composites are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet recording inkset including a black ink; and at least one color ink, wherein the black ink and the color ink respectively contains a coloring material, water, a water-soluble organic solvent and a surfactant, and wherein the black ink contains, as the coloring material, a water-dispersible carbon black having a hydrophilic group on its surface, which can be dispersed without using a dispersing agent, and only the color ink contains, as the surfactant, a fluorine surfactant expressed by Chemical Formula 1: Chemical Formula 1 where Rf represents a fluorine-containing alkyl group; R1 represents an anionic group; R2 represents a cationic group; and q represents a positive integer.

Abstract: A core/shell particle is provided, comprising: a water-absorbent, dye-fixing polymeric core, comprising: (a) a multivalent cation and a polymerization product of a monoethylenically unsaturated carbonyl-group containing monomer; (b) a nitrogen-containing polymer; or (c) a combination of (a) and (b); and a water-insoluble, porous polymeric shell, surrounding all or a portion of said core. A paper sizing or coating composition which incorporates the core/shell particles is provided. Recording sheets which include the composition, methods of making the composition and recording sheets, and methods for making an image are provided.

Abstract: A method for assembling a printhead such as an ink jet printhead can include the use of an ultrasonic bonding process to bond two or more printhead layers together. In an embodiment, an ultrasonic frequency is directed to an interface between a first layer and a second layer to generate heat at the interface. In an embodiment, the heat melts at least one of the first layer and the second layer, and the layers are cooled to cure the melted layer. In another embodiment, the heat generated using the ultrasonic frequency cures an adhesive layer between the first layer and the second layer. The ultrasonic lamination process described can result in a fluid-tight seal which requires less processing time and materials over an adhesive-based process.

Abstract: A method for assembling a printhead such as an ink jet printhead can include the use of a laser to bond two or more printhead layers together. In an embodiment, a laser beam is directed through a transparent layer to an energy-absorbing layer, where the energy-absorbing layer is melted such that after removal of the laser beam the melted layer solidifies to adhere the energy-absorbing layer to the transparent layer. In another embodiment, heating the energy-absorbing layer melts the transparent layer to adhere the energy-absorbing layer to the transparent layer after removal of the laser beam. The laser transmission lamination process described can result in a fluid-tight seal which requires less processing time and materials over an adhesive-based process.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured to process multivalued image data corresponding to a unit area of a recording medium so as to form an image on the unit area with a plurality of relative movements between a recording head and the recording medium. The apparatus has a selecting unit for selecting either a first processing mode to segment the multivalued image data into a plurality of multivalued image data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, and then quantize each of the plurality of multivalued image data, or a second processing mode to quantize the multivalued image data into quantized image data, and then segment the quantized image data into a plurality of quantized image data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements. The selecting unit may select either the first processing mode or the second processing mode based on the number of relative movements to the unit area.

Abstract: Provided is an ink composition that can form an image in which bleeding caused when the image is recorded by an ink jet method is inhibited and which has excellent toughness and glossiness and shows excellent adhesiveness with respect to various substrates, even when being dried at a low temperature. The ink composition is an ink composition for an ink jet including (a) an alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer which contains an alkyl(meth)acrylate having 7 to 22 carbon atoms in total and a repeating unit derived from (meth)acrylic acid and has an acid value of 1.3 mmol/g to 2.0 mmol/g in an unneutralized state, and (b) an aqueous medium containing water.