Abstract: An inkjet printer cradle that has a body configured to correctly position a removable inkjet cartridge within an inkjet printer, the removable inkjet cartridge having a printhead and an air inlet. The cradle has an air compressor for supplying compressed air to the air inlet of the removable inkjet cartridge such that an outlet from the air compressor couples with the air inlet upon engagement with the removable inkjet cartridge into the body. The cradle also provides a print media transport assembly for transporting print media past the printhead when the removable inkjet cartridge is positioned by the body.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-dispersion pigment including a pigment, an ionic group directly bonded to the pigment and a nonionic molecular chain bonded to the pigment through an amide bond.

Abstract: A method of inkjet textile printing using an aqueous ink includes ejecting an aqueous ink to a textile medium. The aqueous ink includes water, an anionic dye including an acid dye or a reactive dye, and a compound to promote fixing of coloring agent in the ink to the textile medium when the textile medium is irradiated with microwaves. Microwaves are irradiated to the textile medium to which the aqueous ink was ejected.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method is disclosed, in which the method includes: recording an image, on a recording medium, using two or more ink compositions each comprising at least a pigment, by applying the two or more ink compositions to an acidic surface of the recording medium at a dotting interval of 500 msec or less; wherein the recording includes forming at least a first color sub-image by applying at least one of the two or more ink compositions and the at least one of the two or more ink compositions includes a self-dispersing polymer having an acid value of from 70 to 120 mgKOH/g and a water-soluble organic solvent.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head having a nozzle forming surface formed with nozzles from which a first liquid is ejected; a wiping processing device which carries out a wiping process of the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head; and a movement device which causes relative movement between the liquid ejection head and the wiping processing device, wherein the wiping processing device includes: a wiping member which wipes the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head; and a second liquid supply device which supplies a second liquid which has undergone a deaeration process, to a vicinity of a contact region between the wiping member and the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head, on a side of forward travel of the wiping member, in the wiping process.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus includes: a droplet ejection head that ejects droplets; a conveying member that retains a recording medium and conveys the recording medium with facing the recording medium to the droplet ejection head; a coating member that coats the conveying member with a lubricant; and a cleaning member that cleans the conveying member. The droplet ejection apparatus satisfies the following formulae (1) L2?L1??(1) wherein, in the formulae (1): L1 is the width, in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, of the cleaning of the conveying member by the cleaning member; and L2 is the width, in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, of coating the lubricant on the conveying member by the coating member.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method includes: a treatment liquid application process in which a treatment liquid containing an acidic compound is coated on a recording medium by roller coating at a coating speed of 300 mm/sec or higher; and an ink application process in which an ink composition containing self-dispersing polymer particles having an acid value of from 30 mgKOH/g to 80 mgKOH/g, a pigment, and an aqueous medium is ejected, by an inkjet process, onto the recording medium coated with the treatment liquid to record an image.

Abstract: Provided are an aqueous ink-jet ink and a method for forming an ink-jet image enabling to decrease bleed occurrence during high-speed printing and to realize highly detailed image quality. An aqueous ink-jet ink characterized by containing water, a pigment, an organic or inorganic amine salt, and a water-soluble resin having a higher pKa than an acid component formed by dissociation of the amine salt in an ink.

Abstract: A method for creating composite droplets for use in an ink jet system includes a first fluid (1) brought into contact with a second fluid within a set of channels (5,14). The interface between the fluids is characterised by an interfacial tension. The first fluid forms spaced droplets (8) within the second fluid, the composite of the first and second fluids passing through an orifice (6) to form a jet (9).

Abstract: To reduce ink bleeding and growing of dot diameters for high image quality, an ink jet recording apparatus for recording a color image includes a first head group including chromatic color ink recording heads, a second head group including at least one of a transparent ink recording head and an achromatic color ink recording head, and light emitting devices for curing a photocurable ink having landed on a recording medium. The first and the second head groups are disposed along a scanning direction. The chromatic color ink recording heads of the first head group do not have the light emitting device therebetween along the scanning direction. And the light emitting device is arranged along the scanning direction between the first and second head groups and further arranged at least on a trailing side, in the scanning direction, of a trailing one of the first and second head groups.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus, comprises: a plurality of ejection heads which eject liquid containing, a first ultraviolet curing initiator having spectral absorption characteristics at least in a first wavelength range, a second ultraviolet curing initiator which has spectral absorption characteristics at least in a second wavelength range being on a shorter wavelength side from the first wavelength range and has no spectral absorption characteristics in the first wavelength range, an ultraviolet-polymerizable compound, and a coloring material, onto a medium; a semi-curing device which radiates, at least once, ultraviolet light having at least a wavelength which is in the first wavelength range and which is on a longer wavelength side from the second wavelength range, onto dots formed by the liquid ejected from the ejection heads onto the medium; an intermediate processing device which performs intermediate processing of an image formed on the medium by the dots; and a main curing device which radiates ultravi

Abstract: An ink for inkjet textile printing comprising a pigment, a water-dispersible resin, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent comprises a polyol having an SP value within a range from 10 to 15.5 (cal/cm3)1/2, and the water-dispersible resin comprises a urethane resin having a glass transition point within a range from ?35 to 10° C.

Abstract: An ink jet image-forming method for forming an image by applying an ink in a fixed amount of 0.5 pl or more to 6.0 pl or less to plain paper. The ink contains a self-dispersion pigment, water, a water-soluble compound having a coefficient of hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity of 0.37 or more as defined by the equation (A) stated in the description and a water-soluble compound having a coefficient of hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity of 0.25 or less, and has a surface tension of 34 mN/m or less. The application of the ink is divided into plural times when an image having a portion where the ink is applied in a duty of 80% or more and an amount of 5.0 ?l/cm2 or less in total is formed in a basic matrix for forming the image, and the amount of the ink applied at each of the times divided is 0.7 ?l/cm2 or less.

Abstract: Suitable preliminary discharge conditions are set for a recording head using reaction liquid in bidirectional recording. While the recording head makes a reciprocating motion and scans a recording medium, a preliminary discharge of the reaction liquid is executed after recording on the recording medium from discharge ports on the rear side in a direction in which the recording head travels and a preliminary discharge of ink is executed when a preliminary discharge of the reaction liquid is not executed.

Abstract: A print head cleaning device, an ink jet image forming apparatus having the same, and methods thereof include a cleaning liquid circulation and/or a structure to clean an image forming apparatus print head.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording method including supplying an ink-composition onto a recording medium to record an image; and supplying a first treatment liquid containing a first aggregating agent that aggregates components contained in the ink composition.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink set including: an ink composition which contains a colorant, resin microparticles, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water; and a reaction liquid which contains an anionic surfactant and a reactant for producing aggregates by contact with the ink composition. The invention also provides an image recording method using the ink set, including: applying the reaction liquid on a recording medium; and applying the ink composition on the recording medium on which the reaction liquid has been applied.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method including recording onto a recording medium a black image of composite black using a black ink and color inks, wherein the black ink includes water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a surfactant, and a carbon black whose volume average particle diameter is 40 nm to 100 nm, and the color inks include a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink, wherein the mass ratio (A/B) of a solid content A to a water-soluble organic solvent content B in the black ink is in the range of 1/8 to 1/15, and wherein the recording medium includes a support with a coating layer, and the amounts of purified water transferred to the recording medium at contact periods of 100 ms and 400 ms at a temperature of 23 C and a relative humidity of 50% are 2 ml/m2 to 35 ml/m2 and 3 ml/m2 to 40 ml/m2 respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a mixture of compressed fluid and marking material and depositing the marking material in a pattern onto a substrate, includes a high pressure source of a mixture of compressed fluid and marking material. A micro-machined manifold includes a plurality of micro-nozzles, a fluid chamber, and an entrance port with portions of a first surface of the micro-machined manifold defining the entrance port with the entrance port being connected in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. Each of the micro-nozzles having an inlet and an outlet with the inlet being connected in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the outlet being located on the second surface of the micro-machined manifold. Each micro-nozzle is shaped to produce a directed beam of the mixture of compressed fluid and marking material beyond the outlet of the micro-nozzle.

Abstract: An ink stick for use in a phase change ink printer includes a first portion of a solid ink stick body, the first portion being formed of a first material of a phase change ink composition. The ink stick also includes a second portion of the solid ink stick body, the second portion being formed of a second material. The first material and the second material combine when the ink stick body is melted.

Abstract: A printhead assembly suitable for printhead maintenance operations is provided. The printhead assembly comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) an ink supply system for supplying ink to the printhead; and (c) a foaming system for providing a liquid foam on the face.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an applying device that applies a first liquid containing a diffusion preventing agent for a coloring material, onto a recording medium; a droplet depositing device that deposits a second liquid containing the coloring material, onto the recording medium onto which the first liquid has been applied; a radiation irradiating device that radiates radiation onto the recording medium onto which the second liquid has been deposited; and a controlling device that controls a time from the second liquid being deposited to the second liquid being irradiated with the radiation, according to deposition data for the droplet depositing device.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a carrying unit that carries a recording medium in a carrying direction, and a recording head that ejects ink to the recording medium carried by the carrying unit to perform recording. An application unit is provided on an upstream side of a carrying direction from the recording head in the carrying unit and supplies a treatment liquid to predetermined division application ranges which are divided in a direction perpendicular to the carrying direction of the recording medium depending on a size of the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of surface treatment, a method for forming circuit lines, a printed circuit board formed thereby, and an apparatus for forming circuit lines on a substrate, wherein fine circuit lines are formed simply, rapidly, and economically. The method for forming circuit lines of the present invention comprises: (a) selectively applying a surface treatment solution which includes an alkali metal compound on a base film in accordance with circuit patterns by a discharging method; (b) applying a conductive ink which includes metal nanoparticles in accordance with the surface-treated circuit pattern; and (c) curing the base film on which the conductive ink is applied under a reduction atmosphere lines.

Abstract: Provided is a method for forming an image using an ink-jet recording method which forms the image with a single pass printing method employing an ink comprising water in an amount of 20 to 90 weight % based on the total weight of the ink, a pigment and a water soluble resin containing an acidic group which is neutralized with ammonia or an amine compound, the method containing the steps of: applying a processing solution on a coated paper for printing; and ejecting droplets of the ink on the coated paper for printing, wherein the processing solution is capable of aggregating an ingredient of the ink or increasing a viscosity of the ink, and the coated paper for printing is heated from 40 to 60° C. during the step of ejecting the droplets of the ink.

Abstract: A maintenance system and method for maintaining an imaging member of an imaging device includes a pre-cleaning device to clean the imaging member; an applicator to apply release agent to the imaging member; a metering device to meter release agent on the imaging member; a reservoir to remotely store release agent; and a pump to supply the applicator with release agent from the reservoir. The saturation level of the applicator is monitored and maintained within a predetermined range. The applicator, pre-cleaning device and metering device may be independently actuated to engage the imaging member. Release agent collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be recycled. Debris collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be stored and/or removed.

Abstract: Methods and means for imaging on paper media are provided. A data file of an image to be printed is analyzed. A pattern for a clear fluid is determined according to the analysis. The pattern of clear fluid is applied to a paper media traveling in a particular direction, wherein the pattern is generally elongated along the direction of travel. The pattern of clear fluid is defined by a maximum width that is generally equal to the maximum width of the image to be formed. One or more colored inks are applied such that the image is formed and is supported by the paper media. The paper media exhibits reduced cockle as a result of the pattern of clear fluid.

Abstract: A printer has a head ejecting an ink including a colorant, water, an alcoholic solvent, and a surfactant to form an image, and a control portion controlling the head so as not to eject the ink to edge pixels when the image is formed on a medium. In the above printer, the alcoholic solvent contains at least one slightly water-soluble alkanediol.

Abstract: A maintenance system and method for maintaining an imaging member of an imaging device includes a pre-cleaning device to clean the imaging member; an applicator to apply release agent to the imaging member; a metering device to meter release agent on the imaging member; a reservoir to remotely store release agent; and a pump to supply the applicator with release agent from the reservoir. The saturation level of the applicator is monitored and maintained within a predetermined range. The applicator, pre-cleaning device and metering device may be independently actuated to engage the imaging member. Release agent collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be recycled. Debris collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be stored and/or removed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a supply unit that supplies liquid absorbing particles to receive a liquid; a transporting unit that transports the liquid absorbing particles supplied by the supply unit; and a ejecting unit that ejects liquid droplets to the liquid absorbing particles transported by the transporting unit, the ejecting unit having: an ink ejecting part that ejects ink; and a dampening solution ejecting part that ejects a dampening solution to dampen the liquid absorbing particles, the ink ejecting part being provided on an upstream side of the dampening solution ejecting part in an image forming direction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having an imaging member having an external surface and a series of substantially equal sized cells located over such surface. The printing apparatus includes an ink jet device for selectively ejecting droplets of ink, having marking particles and liquid, into the cells of said imaging member in a desired image-wise ink pattern, a mechanism for filling the cells of said imaging member with a dielectric fluid after said ink jet device ejects droplets of ink into said cells, and transfer mechanism including a device for fractionating the marking particles in the ink from the liquid and transferring the image-wise marking particle pattern to a receiver member.

Abstract: A method of ink-jet recording includes a pretreatment process applying a pretreatment liquid onto a recording medium in advance of ink-jet recording, and a recording process recording by ejecting a pigment ink onto the recording medium by an ink-jet method. The pretreatment liquid contains alkali metal halide and water.

Abstract: Ejected liquid forms a latent image on a charged transfer surface. In some invention aspects electrostatic charge is first applied to the surface; inkjet devices eject the image-forming liquid; voltage is established between the devices and surface; another, separate substance associated with the latent image actuates it. In other aspects hydrophobic or hydrophilic material in the surface stabilizes the image on it; electrostatic apparatus, associated with the surface, cooperates with the stabilizing material, further controlling image-droplet position and size. In other aspects a desired image forms on a final printing medium, based on an input electronic image-data array; the liquid ejection is onto an intermediate transfer surface, based on detailed incremental control by the data, forming a latent image representing the desired image.

Abstract: A maintenance system and method for maintaining an imaging member of an imaging device includes a pre-cleaning device to clean the imaging member; an applicator to apply release agent to the imaging member; a metering device to meter release agent on the imaging member; a reservoir to remotely store release agent; and a pump to supply the applicator with release agent from the reservoir. The saturation level of the applicator is monitored and maintained within a predetermined range. The applicator, pre-cleaning device and metering device may be independently actuated to engage the imaging member. Release agent collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be recycled. Debris collected by the pre-cleaning device and/or metering device may be stored and/or removed.

Abstract: An inkjet printing method includes in order the steps of: a) providing to an inkjet printer one or more colorless liquids and a white ink including a pigment with a refractive index greater than 1.60; b) mixing the white ink in a controlled amount with the one or more colorless liquids to form a white ink-mixture wherein the viscosity is reduced by at least 5 mPa·s by reference to the white ink when measuring the viscosity at 40° C. with a Brookfield DV-II+Pro at 12 rotations per minute; and c) printing the white ink-mixture with the inkjet printer onto an ink-receiver. Additionally, a color inkjet ink set includes the one or more colorless liquids and the white ink, and an inkjet printer for use in the inkjet printing method.

Abstract: The invention relates to dissolving an anionic dye/cationic polymer complex including the step of applying to the complex a water-soluble solvent having a dielectric constant from 20 to 43 at standard temperature and pressure.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes an ejection head for ejecting ink droplets toward a recording medium by exerting electrostatic force onto ink containing charged colorant particles, an ink tank for reserving the ink to be supplied to the ejection head, a circulation path for circulating the ink between the ejection head and the ink tank, and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the ejection head and the circulation path using cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid circulated through the circulation path at a time of cleaning by the cleaning mechanism is obtained by adding a charge control agent to an ink dispersion medium.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an ink ejection device which ejects a droplet of radiation-curable ink onto a recording medium; a solvent separating device which separates a coloring material component and a solvent component in the droplet of the radiation-curable ink on the recording medium; a solvent removing device which removes the solvent component separated by the solvent separating device; and a curing device which irradiates radiation onto the droplet of the radiation-curable ink after the solvent component is removed by the solvent removing device, in such a manner that the droplet of the radiation-curable ink is cured.

Abstract: A 3D-inkjet printing method includes the steps of a) providing two or more fluids having a different composition to an inkjet printer; b) mixing the two or more fluids in a controlled amount; c) jetting the mixture of the two or more fluids with the inkjet printer onto a support; d) at least partially curing the jetted mixture by actinic radiation or electron beam; and e) repeating steps b) to d) in order to build a 3D-relief on the support. The method is capable of printing 3D-objects with inkjet fluid sets in an inkjet printer.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: an object liquid deposition device which deposits an object liquid containing coloring material onto a recording medium; a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits a treatment liquid that insolubilizes the coloring material onto the recording medium; and a control device which controls the treatment liquid deposition device in such a manner that volume of the treatment liquid deposited in a high-density region on the recording medium where volume per prescribed surface area of the object liquid deposited on the recording medium is high, is less than volume of the treatment liquid deposited in a low-density region on the recording medium where the volume per prescribed surface area of the object liquid deposited on the recording medium is low.

Abstract: A textile printing method applying inkjet printer comprises the steps for feeding a fabric by a fabric feed roller, applying a pretreatment liquid to the fabric by jetting the pretreatment liquid installed in a pretreatment liquid reservoir installed respective containers filled with individual compositions of a pretreatment liquid, so that such individual compositions are concurrently mixed and applied on the fabric surface to pretreat the fabric by operation of a control unit depending upon the fabric material through a pretreatment head, drying the pretreatment liquid applied to the fabric through a drier, and printing on the dried fabric by jetting the ink installed in a ink reservoir through the printing head. The pretreatment head, the drier and the printing head are serially arranged so that the steps for applying a pretreatment liquid, drying the pretreatment liquid and printing on the dried fabric are concurrently performed.

Abstract: A plurality of ink cartridges are installed to be arranged in a vertical direction. A carriage reciprocates in the vertical direction. An ink-jet head has nozzle rows arranged, in a row in the vertical direction, to be parallel mutually, and the ink cartridge is connected to the nozzle row via a tube. There is provided a vertically long and a stylish liquid jetting apparatus which can be installed vertically even in a narrow area.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus comprises: a liquid deposition device which deposits a first liquid of a treatment liquid on a recording medium initially, deposits a second liquid of an ink liquid including a coloring material on the recording medium secondly, and deposits a third liquid of a treatment liquid on the recording medium thirdly, in such a manner that the coloring material in the ink liquid is insolubilized on the recording medium and an image is formed on the recording medium; and a liquid deposition control device controlling the liquid deposition device in such a manner that a deposition volume per pixel of the first liquid, V1_Pixel, is smaller than a deposition volume per pixel of the second liquid, V2_Pixel, and a deposition surface area of the first liquid on the recording medium is greater than a deposition surface area of the second liquid on the recording medium.

Abstract: Provided is a printing device which prints an image using a metallic ink and a color ink, the device including: an input unit which inputs image data; a metallic dot formation unit which forms dot concentration dots on a printing medium using the metallic ink; and a color print unit which prints the image indicated by the image data using the color ink on the printing medium on which the dots using the metallic ink are formed.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a treatment liquid application device which applies treatment liquid onto a recording medium, the treatment liquid containing cationic polymer and a coloring material aggregating agent; an ink liquid ejection device which ejects droplets of ink liquid toward the recording medium, the ink liquid having anionic properties and containing a solvent and a coloring material which aggregates due to reaction with the coloring material aggregating agent; and a solvent absorbing device which absorbs the solvent on the recording medium in a state where an aggregate of the coloring material and the solvent are separated after a first reaction in which a film is formed at a liquid interface between the treatment and ink liquids on the recording medium by mixing treatment and ink liquids and a second reaction in which the aggregate of the coloring material in the ink liquid is formed after film formation.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus forms an image on a surface of a recording medium by using ink and treatment liquid. The ink contains coloring material, and the treatment liquid contains at least one of a component which aggregates the coloring material and a component which increases viscosity of the ink. The image forming apparatus includes: a repellent agent deposition device which deposits a repellent agent onto the recording medium to render the surface of the recording medium liquid-repellent; a treatment liquid droplet ejection device which ejects and deposits droplets of the treatment liquid onto the recording medium on which the repellent agent has been deposited; and an ink droplet ejection device which ejects and deposits droplets of the ink onto the recording medium on which the droplets of the treatment liquid have been deposited.

Abstract: A liquid application apparatus includes: an application roller having an application surface for applying a liquid to a medium, at least the application surface of the application roller being constituted by an elastic body; a liquid holding unit including an abutting part which abuts against a circumferential surface of the application roller so as to form a liquid holding space, the abutting part including a measuring roller which has a projection-recess surface capable of holding a specific amount of the liquid; and a drive control device which rotates the application roller and the measuring roller in such a manner that the liquid is transferred from the application surface to the medium while the liquid is supplied to the application surface from the liquid holding unit, and which halts rotation of the measuring roller while rotating the application roller after an end of application of the liquid to the medium.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for printing on specialty media are disclosed. The methods comprise the steps of providing a fixing fluid, providing a dye- or pigment-based ink-jet ink containing an effective amount of a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species, jetting the fixing fluid onto the specialty media forming a coated substrate, and jetting the ink-jet ink onto the coated substrate. Additionally, a gelled printed image on a substrate is disclosed comprising a fixing fluid containing a fixing agent and an aqueous ink-jet ink containing a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species. In both the method and with respect to the image, the polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) species used can be a known species, or one of a number of new graft copolymers containing a polyvinyl(alcohol-acetate) polymer as one of the constituents of the copolymer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus comprising an ink-jet head with an ink passage having an inner volume and a preservative in the ink passage in a preservative residual ratio of no greater than 10%. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a preservative having water, a penetrant, and a humectant. A further embodiment of the invention relates to a processing method involving filling an inner volume of an ink passage in an ink-jet recording apparatus with a preservative and removing a portion of the preservative from the inner volume such that a preservative residual ratio is no greater than 10%.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, with an inkjet printer, an image is formed by adhering a colorless pretreatment liquid containing a polyvalent metal salt, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, and water to a plain paper thereby subjecting the plain paper to pretreatment, and thereafter, ejecting at least one type of ink composition containing a pigment and water and reacting with the polyvalent metal salt onto the plain paper.