# US 2019/0315129 A1 · Method For Printing Viewable Transparent Ink

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- Number: US 2019/0315129 A1
- Document ID: US20190315129A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/954,346
- Filed: 2018-04-16
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-16
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Applicants: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Paul J. McConville; Dale R. Breed; Christine A. Steurrys
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315129A1

## CPC

- B41J 2/2146: {for line print heads}
- B41J 2/2114: {Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids (B41J2/211 takes precedence)}
- B41J 2/2135: {Alignment of dots}
- B41J 2/2142: {Detection of malfunctioning nozzles (generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers B41J2/045, B41J2/05; jet deflection sensors B41J2/125; for cleaning purposes B41J2/16579)}
- B41J 3/407: for marking on special material
- B41M 3/008: {Sequential or multiple printing, e.g. on previously printed background; Mirror printing; Recto-verso printing; using a combination of different printing techniques; Printing of patterns visible in reflection and by transparency; by superposing printed artifacts}
- B41M 5/0023: {Digital printing methods characterised by the inks used (inks per se C09D11/00)}
- B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing}
- B41M 5/0064: {on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers}
- B41M 7/0081: {using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams}
- B41M 5/0058: {on metals and oxidised metal surfaces}
- B41M 5/0076: {on wooden surfaces, leather, linoleum, skin, or flowers}
- B41M 7/009: {using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)

## Abstract

A method for printing including disposing a first ink onto a substrate to form a first ink layer on the substrate in an area where a diagnostic image will be printed; disposing a second ink onto the first ink layer to form a second ink diagnostic image, wherein the first ink has a first color density and the second ink has a second color density that is different from the first ink color density, wherein the second ink drops hit and displace areas of the first ink layer creating holes which provide a density contrast; curing or drying after forming the second ink diagnostic image; wherein the second ink diagnostic image is rendered visible by the contrast between the second ink diagnostic image and the substrate as compared to the first ink layer and the substrate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for printing comprising:
disposing a first ink onto a substrate to form a first ink layer on the substrate in an area where a diagnostic image will be printed;
disposing a second ink onto the first ink layer to form a second ink diagnostic image,
wherein the first ink has a first color density and the second ink has a second color density that is different from the first ink color density,
wherein the second ink drops hit and displace the first ink creating holes which provide a density contrast;
curing or drying after forming the second ink diagnostic image;
wherein the second ink diagnostic image is rendered visible by the contrast between the second ink diagnostic image and the substrate as compared to the first ink layer and the substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the difference between the first ink color density and the second ink color density is from about 1.0 to about 0.01.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first ink is a dark ink selected from the group consisting of black ink, blue ink, green ink, red ink, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second ink is a clear ink.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second ink is a clear ink that is substantially free of colorant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein disposing the first ink and the second ink comprises inkjet printing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein disposing the first ink comprises disposing two or more layers of the first ink to provide a substantially uniform solid first ink layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of plain paper, bond paper, silica coated paper, glossy coated paper, transparency material, plastic, polymeric film, metal, wood, wax, and salt.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a white plastic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises polyvinyl chloride.

### Claim 11

A method for printing viewable transparent ink comprising:
disposing a dark ink onto a substrate to form a solid dark ink layer on the substrate in an area where a diagnostic image will be printed;
disposing a clear ink onto the solid dark ink layer to form a clear ink diagnostic image, wherein clear ink drops hit and displace the dark ink creating clear holes which provide a density contrast;
curing or drying after forming the clear ink diagnostic image;
wherein the clear ink diagnostic image is rendered visible by the contrast between the clear ink diagnostic image and the substrate as compared to the dark ink layer and the substrate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the dark ink is selected from the group consisting of black ink, blue ink, green ink, red ink, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the dark ink is black ink.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the clear ink is substantially free of colorant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein disposing the dark ink and disposing the clear ink comprises inkjet printing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein disposing the solid dark ink comprises disposing two or more layers of dark ink to provide a substantially uniform solid dark ink layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of plain paper, bond paper, silica coated paper, glossy coated paper, transparency material, plastic, polymeric film, metal, wood, wax, and salt.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate is a white plastic.

### Claim 19

An inkjet printer comprising:
at least one print head having at least one inkjet from which a first ink is ejected;
at least one print head having at least one inkjet from which a second ink is ejected;
wherein the first ink has a first color density and the second ink has a second color density that is different from the first ink color density;
a user interface through which data is entered for processing within the inkjet printer;
at least one actuator operatively connected to the at least one print head that ejects the first ink;
at least one actuator operatively connected to the at least one print head that ejects the second ink;
at least one radiation source for curing or drying printed ink images; and
a controller operatively connected to the at least one print head that ejects the first ink, the at least one print head that ejects the second ink, the at least one actuator, the at least one radiation source, and the user interface, the controller being configured:
to operate the at least one print head having at least one inkjet from which the first ink is ejected to print an uncured solid first ink layer onto a substrate;
to operate the at least one print head having at least one inkjet from which the second ink is ejected to print a diagnostic pattern onto the uncured solid first ink layer, such that the second ink drops hit and displace areas of the uncured solid first ink layer creating density holes which provide a density contrast; and
to operate the at least one radiation source to cure or dry the printed image after the second ink diagnostic pattern is printed, wherein the second ink diagnostic pattern is rendered visible by the contrast between the second ink diagnostic pattern and the substrate as compared to undisplaced first ink layer areas and the substrate.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The inkjet printer of claim 19, wherein the first ink is black ink; and
wherein the second ink is clear ink.