Apparatus and method for coating of inks applied at high speed

Print apparatus of the type in which a rapidly moving web has wet watery, low-viscosity ink applied thereto by jet ink printing mechanism at a first station, the web traveling at a high rate from the first station to a second station and from the second station to a heat application station, the ink being wet and watery as the web travels from the first station to the heat application station, comprising:

• a powder material application housing at the second station and positioned to direct travel of the web therethrough from an upper position to a lower position,
• the heat application station including a heated housing in juxtaposition with the powder material application housing and positioned horizontally laterally therefrom to receive the web as the web travels from the powder material application housing,
• pouring means within the material application housing for covering successive portions of the web with a fusible powder material as successive portions of the web travel downwardly through the powder material application housing, some of the fusible powder material which covers successive portions of the web adhering to the wet ink as the fusible powder material engages the web, fusible powder material which does not adhere to the wet ink falling downwardly within the powder application housing as the web travels downwardly therethrough,
• roller means within the powder application housing directing successive portions of the web to change direction of travel from a vertically inclined direction to a substantially horizontal direction and into the heated housing of the heat application station, so that remaining fusible powder material which does not adhere to the wet ink is discharged from the successive portions of the web as the successive portions change direction of travel,
• successive portions of the web traveling from the powder material application housing into the heat application housing at the heat application station, the wet ink being dried and the fusible powder material which is carried by the successive portions of the web being fused within the heat application housing, the successive portions of the web then traveling from the heat application housing, the powder material being solidified exterior of the heat application housing and providing a coating upon the web in the formation of the ink applied to the web at the first station.

Print apparatus in which a web travels at a high rate from a first station to a second station and then to a heat application station and then to a solidification station, comprising:

• ink jet print mechanism at the first station for printing of wet, watery, non-tacky, low-viscosity ink in desired configurations upon the web,
• the web moving from the first station to a second station and from the second station to a heat application station at a high rate, the ink remaining a wet, watery, non-tacky, low-viscosity ink as it moves from the first station to the heat application station,
• guide means at the second station for guiding high rate travel of the web,
• powder application means at the second station for applying fusible powder material to the web and to the wet, watery, non-tacky, low-viscosity ink as the web travels at the second station, a portion of the fusible powder material, adhering to the wet, watery, non-tacky, low-viscosity ink on the web, the web then traveling to the heat application station,
• the portion of the fusible powder material which adheres to the wet, watery, non-tacky, low-viscosity ink, being fused at the heat application station, the web then traveling at a high rate to the solidification station, the powder material solidifying upon the web and adhering thereto in said desired configurations as the web moves at the solidification station.