Coating for Aqueous Inkjet Transfer
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorChu-Heng Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image transfer member (ITM) is provided with a skin over its surface in which the skin incorporates a hygroscopic agent. The hygroscopic agent is operable to make the ITM skin very hydrophilic or to provide a high surface energy. One such hygroscopic agent is glycerol that may be applied to the surface of the ITM with a carrier, such as water. In an image transfer process, the carrier is completely or partially removed, such as by drying, leaving a thin skin of the hygroscopic agent. Ink drops applied in an image pattern onto the skin spread without puddling or draw-backs, producing an optimum wet image.
Claims30
A composition for forming a skin on the surface of an image transfer member in an aqueous ink imaging system, comprising a hygroscopic agent.
An image transfer system comprising:
- a transfer member having a low energy density surface;
- and
- a skin at least covering said surface where an inkjet image is applied, said skin formed by a hygroscopic agent.
An aqueous ink transfer process comprising:
- applying a mixture to the surface of an image transfer member (ITM), the mixture including a hygroscopic agent and a carrier;
- partially drying the mixture to at least partially remove the agent, leaving an imaging skin on the surface of the ITM;
- applying aqueous ink onto the skin;
- partially drying the ink;
- and
- transferring the ink onto a substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.