Thermal ink-jet printing with fast- and slow-drying inks
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsIvan Rezanka, John W. Lin, Gary R. Fague, Lesley P. Dudek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-color ink-jet printer in which a first partial image is created on a recording medium, and then a second partial image is created on the same recording medium after the first partial image is substantially dried. The first partial image comprises an ink which dries at a slower rate than that of the second partial image. In one embodiment, means are provided for heating the recording medium prior to the creation of the second partial image.
Claims15
An apparatus for printing an image on a sheet movable in a process direction, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a first ink jet printhead mounted at a first location and containing a first type ink for printing a first portion of the image on the sheet, said first type ink having a surface tension greater than 45 dynes/cm at room temperature;
- and
- b. a plural number of secondary ink jet printheads mounted apart at a second location gapped from said first printhead, said secondary printhead each containing a second type ink for printing on the sheet a second portion of the image abutting said first portion thereof, said second type ink having a surface tension less than 45 dynes/cm at room temperature for preventing bleeding of said second type ink into said first type ink.
A method of printing an image on a sheet movable in a process direction, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. printing a first portion of the image having sharp edges by using a first type ink having a surface tension greater than 45 dynes/cm at room temperature;
- and
- b. printing a second portion of the image in contact with said first portion using a second type ink having a surface tension less than 45 dynes/cm at room temperature so as to prevent said second type ink from bleeding into said first type ink.
An ink jet printing apparatus comprising:
- a. means for movably supporting an image receiving sheet;
- b. a primary printhead mounted at a first location and including a first set of droplet ejecting nozzles and a first ink supply containing a slow-drying first black ink for printing high quality black portions of images on the receiving sheet;
- and
- c. a plural number of secondary printheads mounted gapped from said primary printhead at a second location for printing abutting multicolor portions of the images said plural number of secondary printheads including a printhead containing a fast-drying, second black ink having a surface tension of less than 45 dynes/cm for preventing said second black ink from bleeding into abutting multicolor portions of the images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.