# US 12,117,746 B2 · Print treatment units

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- Number: US 12,117,746 B2
- Document ID: US12117746B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/256,668
- Filed: 2019-03-22
- Published: 2022-01-06
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-22
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Fernanda Orlik; Albert Teishev; Alex Veis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12117746B2

## CPC

- C09D 11/10: based on artificial resins
- G03G 15/10: using a liquid developer
- C09D 11/107: from unsaturated acids or derivatives thereof
- C09D 11/52: Electrically conductive inks
- G03G 15/2007: {using radiant heat, e.g. infrared lamps, microwave heaters}
- G03G 15/2021: {Plurality of separate fixing and/or cooling areas or units, two step fixing}
- G03G 15/6585: {by using non-standard toners, e.g. transparent toner, gloss adding devices}
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A method is disclosed. The method may comprise forming an image on a surface by controlled electrostatic transfer of a fluid print agent comprising thermoplastic resin disposed in a carrier fluid. The method may also comprise heating the fluid print agent on the surface to remove the carrier fluid and to melt the thermoplastic resin and allowing the melted thermoplastic resin in continuous areas on the surface to fuse together to form an image from fused print agent. The method may further involve providing a printed substrate bearing the image formed from fused print agent. The method may further comprise irradiating the printed substrate with an ultraviolet narrowband source so as to cause heating of the fused print agent to melt the thermoplastic resin. A print system and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
forming an image on a surface by controlled electrostatic transfer of a fluid print agent comprising thermoplastic resin disposed in a carrier fluid;
heating the fluid print agent on the surface to remove the carrier fluid and to melt the thermoplastic resin;
allowing the melted thermoplastic resin in continuous areas on the surface to fuse together to form an image from fused print agent by allowing the melted thermoplastic resin to cool;
providing a printed substrate bearing the image formed from fused print agent, wherein the fused print agent is a print agent in which the thermoplastic resin is at least partially set; and
irradiating the printed substrate with an ultraviolet narrowband source having an output between about 350 nm to about 420 nm supplying a radiation dose of between 0.75 J cm−2 and 3.0 J cm−2, inclusive, for an exposure time of approximately 0.07 seconds to approximately 0.3 seconds so as to cause heating of the thermoplastic resin to a temperature greater than 140° C., such that the image is fixed with no additional pressure being applied.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ultraviolet narrowband source comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode array.

### Claim 3

A print system comprising:
a print unit to print an image on a printed substrate from fused print agent comprising a thermoplastic resin, the print unit comprising:
an image unit to form an image on a surface by controlled electrostatic transfer of fluid print agent comprising thermoplastic resin disposed in a carrier fluid; and
a heating unit to heat the fluid print agent on the surface to remove the carrier fluid and to melt the thermoplastic resin to allow the melted thermoplastic resin in continuous areas on the surface to fuse together to form an image from fused print agent; and
a treatment unit comprising a narrowband ultraviolet source, to receive the printed substrate bearing the image formed from fused print agent, wherein the fused print agent is a print agent in which the thermoplastic resin is allowed to cool and is at least partially set, and irradiate the printed substrate with ultraviolet radiation having an output between about 350 nm to about 420 nm supplying a radiation dose of between 0.75 J cm−2 and 3.0 J cm−2, inclusive, for an exposure time of approximately 0.07 seconds to approximately 0.3 seconds to heat the thermoplastic resin to a temperature greater than 140° C., such that the image is fixed with no additional pressure being applied.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The print system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the narrowband ultraviolet source comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode, LED, array.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The print system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the heating unit comprises an infrared source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The print system as claimed in claim 3 comprising a conveyor unit to convey the printed substrate from the print unit to the treatment unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The print system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the print unit is to form the image from fused print agent on an intermediate surface and comprises a pressing unit to press the image from fused print agent on to the substrate to form the printed substrate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The print system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the image unit is to form at least part of the image from fluid print agent on the intermediate surface and the heating unit is to heat the fluid print agent to melt the thermoplastic resin on the intermediate surface before pressing the fused print agent on to the substrate.