EP0938975A2 - Apparat und Verfahren zum Schmelzfixieren von Bildern - Google Patents

Apparat und Verfahren zum Schmelzfixieren von Bildern

Info

Publication number
EP0938975A2
EP0938975A2 EP99301400A EP99301400A EP0938975A2 EP 0938975 A2 EP0938975 A2 EP 0938975A2 EP 99301400 A EP99301400 A EP 99301400A EP 99301400 A EP99301400 A EP 99301400A EP 0938975 A2 EP0938975 A2 EP 0938975A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nip
receiving substrate
final receiving
ink
fuser roller
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99301400A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0938975A3 (de
EP0938975B1 (de
Inventor
Ronald F. Burr
Donald R. Titterington
Michael F. Deily
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
Original Assignee
Tektronix Inc
Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/030,672 external-priority patent/US6213580B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/045,216 external-priority patent/US6113231A/en
Priority claimed from US09/062,521 external-priority patent/US6196675B1/en
Application filed by Tektronix Inc, Xerox Corp filed Critical Tektronix Inc
Publication of EP0938975A2 publication Critical patent/EP0938975A2/de
Publication of EP0938975A3 publication Critical patent/EP0938975A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0938975B1 publication Critical patent/EP0938975B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0024—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen
    • B41J11/00242—Controlling the temperature of the conduction means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/145—Arrangement thereof
    • B41J2/155—Arrangement thereof for line printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17593—Supplying ink in a solid state
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2002/012—Ink jet with intermediate transfer member
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J2025/008—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for comprising a plurality of print heads placed around a drum

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for image fusing in an ink jet printing system and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method that utilize separate image transfer and image fusing operations for improved fusing of an ink image into media.
  • Ink jet printing involves ejecting ink droplets from orifices in a print head onto a receiving surface to form an image.
  • the image is made up of a grid-like pattern of potential drop locations, commonly referred to as pixels.
  • the resolution of the image is expressed by the number of ink drops or dots per inch (dpi), with common resolutions being 300 dpi and 600dpi.
  • Ink-jet printing systems commonly utilize either direct printing or offset printing architecture.
  • ink is ejected from jets in the print head directly onto the final receiving substrate.
  • offset printing system the image is formed on an intermediate transfer surface and subsequently transferred to the final receiving substrate.
  • the intermediate transfer surface may take the form of a liquid layer that is applied to a support surface, such as a drum.
  • the print head jets the ink onto the intermediate transfer surface to form an ink image thereon. Once the ink image has been fully deposited, the final receiving substrate is then brought into contact with the intermediate transfer surface and the ink image is transferred to the final receiving substrate.
  • U.S. Patent 5,389,958 entitled IMAGING PROCESS and assigned to the assignee of the present application is an example of an indirect or offset printing architecture that utilizes phase change ink.
  • the intermediate transfer surface is applied by a wicking pad that is housed within an applicator apparatus. Prior to imaging, the applicator is raised into contact with the rotating drum to apply or replenish the liquid intermediate transfer surface.
  • the applicator is retracted and the print head ejects drops of ink to form the ink image on the liquid intermediate transfer surface.
  • the ink is applied in molten form, having been melted from its solid state form.
  • the ink image solidifies on the liquid intermediate transfer surface by cooling to a malleable solid intermediate state as the drum continues to rotate.
  • a transfer roller is moved into contact with the drum to form a pressurized transfer nip between the roller and the curved surface of the intermediate transfer surface/drum.
  • a final receiving substrate such as a sheet of media, is then fed into the transfer nip and the ink image is transferred to the final receiving substrate.
  • US Patent No 5,777,650 entitled PRESSURE ROLLER and assigned to the assignee of the present application discloses a roller for fixing an ink image on a final receiving substrate.
  • the preferred embodiment of the roller is described in the context of an offset ink jet printing apparatus similar to the one described in the '958 patent.
  • the final receiving medium is preheated to a preferred temperature of about 63° C and the pressure in the transfer nip is preferably about 1150 psi (7,929 kPa). Additionally, the speed of the final receiving medium through the transfer nip is approximately five inches/sec. (13cm./sec.).
  • the ink image on the final receiving surface is composed of individual drops of ink that form primary and secondary colors.
  • the primary and/or secondary colors may include two or more drops of ink placed on top of one another.
  • the ink image is transferred from the drum to the final receiving substrate. A portion of the ink image is fused or pressed into the final receiving substrate. The height of the remaining ink that lays above the surface of the final receiving substrate is referred to as the "ink pile height.”
  • the ink pile height of an image affects the "look and feel" of the image. In general, a lower ink pile height is preferred, as the appearance of the image will more closely resemble an image created by a commercial web press.
  • the ink pile height also affects the ability of a user to write on the image. In images having ink pile heights approaching 1 x 10 -3 in., and higher, the tip of a writing instrument will often furrow through the ink "pile.” This can hinder the flow of writing ink through a ball point pen, or prevent the graphite writing surface of a pencil from contacting and marking the receiving substrate. Additionally, depending upon the composition of the ink used in the printer, ink pile height can hinder media from being transported through an automatic document feeder in a photocopier.
  • the ink pile height of images on the final receiving surface ranges from about 1 x 10 -5 inch for a single pixel primary color to about 1 x 10 -3 in. for a solid fill secondary color.
  • a liquid ink jet printer using a direct printing process and an aqueous-based ink produces images having a negligible ink pile height of less than 1 x 10 -5 inch.
  • the apparatus and method utilize separate image transfer and fusing operations for improved fusing of an ink image into media.
  • the apparatus and method allow faster print speeds by utilizing separate image transfer and fusing operations.
  • the fusing operation may be utilized to apply a coating to the final receiving substrate.
  • the apparatus and method are capable of producing images having an ink pile height of 7 x 10 -4 inch and less.
  • the apparatus and method are capable of reducing the ink pile height in images for better image durability and improved writability.
  • an apparatus and related method for improved image fusing in an ink jet printing system are provided.
  • An ink image is transferred to a final receiving substrate by passing the substrate through a transfer nip.
  • the substrate and ink image are then passed through a fusing nip that fuses the ink image into the final receiving substrate.
  • improved image fusing is possible without compromising print speed.
  • the secondary fusing operation enables the image transfer process to use reduced pressures, whereby the load on the drum and transfer roller is reduced. Additionally, the secondary fusing operation may be utilized to apply a supplemental coating to the transferred image.
  • Nip pressures that may be utilised in the image transfer step are generally less than about 13.79 x 10 6 Pa (2000psi), preferably less than about 5.52 x 10 6 Pa (800psi), more preferably about 69 x 10 3 Pa (10 psi) to about 4.83 x 10 6 Pa (700 psi), still more preferably about 689 x 10 3 Pa (100 psi) to 4.14 x 10 6 Pa (600 psi), and most preferably about 1.38 x 10 6 Pa (200 psi) to about 4.14 x 10 6 Pa (600psi)
  • Nip pressures that may be utilised in the image fusing step are generally less than about 27.58 x 10 6 Pa (4000psi), preferably about 2.76 x 10 6 Pa (400psi) to about 13.79 x 10 6 Pa (2000psi), more preferably about 3.45 x 10 6 Pa (500psi) to about 6.89 x 10 6 Pa (1000psi), and most preferably about 4.14 x 10 6 Pa (600psi) to about 6.89 x 10 6 Pa (1000 psi).
  • Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a multiple print head offset ink jet printing apparatus that utilizes the apparatus and method of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic illustration of the transfer of the inked image from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to a final receiving substrate.
  • Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the secondary fusing operation of the present invention showing the final receiving substrate passing through the fusing nip.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a multiple print head, offset or indirect ink jet printing apparatus 10 that utilizes the secondary fusing method and apparatus of the present invention.
  • the printing apparatus 10 is more fully disclosed in copending European Patent Application No (not yet assigned; attorney reference APEP98048) entitled PHASE CHANGE INK PRINTING ARCHITECTURE SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED IMAGING and assigned to the assignee of the present application. This Application is hereby specifically incorporated by reference in pertinent part.
  • the imaging apparatus 10 in Fig. 1 utilizes an offset printing process to place a plurality of ink drops in imagewise fashion on a final receiving substrate.
  • the apparatus 10 includes 16 print head modules 12A - 12N, 12P and 12Q positioned around a support surface or drum 14.
  • the print head modules jet drops of ink 23, 25 in a molten or liquid state onto an intermediate transfer surface 9 on the drum 14.
  • the intermediate transfer surface 9 is preferably a liquid layer that is applied to the drum 14 by contacting the drum with an applicator assembly 16 (See Fig. 1).
  • Suitable liquids that may be used as the intermediate transfer surface include water, fluorinated oils, glycol, surfactants, mineral oil, silicone oil, functional oils and combinations thereof.
  • the preferred liquid is amino silicone oil.
  • the applicator assembly 16 includes a reservoir 18, a wicking pad 20 for applying the liquid and a metering blade 22 for consistently metering the liquid on the surface of the drum 14.
  • Wicking pad 20 is preferably formed from any appropriate nonwoven synthetic textile with a relatively smooth surface.
  • a preferred configuration can employ the smooth wicking pad 20 mounted atop a porous supporting material, such as a polyester felt. Both materials are available from BMP Corporation as BMP products NR 90 and PE 1100-UL, respectively.
  • the metering blade meters the liquid to have a thickness of from about 0.025 microns to about 60 microns, and more preferably from about 0.05 to about 10 microns.
  • the reservoir 18 may also be supplied by a separate liquid supply system (not shown) to insure an uninterrupted supply of liquid.
  • the support surface may take the form of a drum 14 as shown in Fig. 1, or alternatively may be a belt, web, platen, or other suitable design.
  • the support surface 14 may be formed from any appropriate material, such as metals including, but not limited to, aluminum, nickel or iron phosphate, elastomers, including but not limited to, fluoroelastomers, per fluoroelastomers, silicone rubber and polybutadiene, plastics, including but not limited to, polytetrafluoroethylene loaded with polyphenylene sulfide, thermoplastics such as polyethylene, nylon, arid FEP thermosets such as acetals or ceramics.
  • the preferred material is anodized aluminum.
  • liquid or molten ink is ejected from the print head modules 12A - 12N, 12P and 12Q onto the intermediate transfer surface 9 on the drum 14 to form an ink image thereon.
  • a final receiving substrate or media 11 is fed through a preheater 30 and into a transfer nip 32 formed between the drum 14 and a transfer roller 34.
  • the preheater 30 preheats the media 11 to a temperature of between about 50° C to about 100° C and preferably to about 70° C.
  • the transfer roller 34 has a metallic core, preferably steel, with an elastomeric covering 15 having a 40 - 45 Shore D rating (see Fig. 2).
  • Suitable elastomeric covering materials include silicones, urethanes, nitriles, EPDM and other appropriately resilient materials.
  • the elastomeric covering 15 on roller 34 engages the media 11 on the side opposite to the side to which the ink image is transferred from the exposed surface of the intermediate transfer surface 9. As explained in more detail below, as the media 11 passes through the nip 32, it is pressed against the deposited ink image to transfer the ink image to the media.
  • FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the sequence involved when drops of ink 23, 25, 27 and 29 forming a portion of the ink image are transferred to the final receiving substrate 11.
  • the drum 14 and the transfer roller 34 have a length of about 14 inches (35 cm.), and the width of the transfer nip is between about 0.020 in. (0.508 mm.) and about 0.140 inch (3.553 mm.), and more preferably between about 0.070 in.
  • the force urging the transfer roller 34 into contact with the drum 14 is between about 100 lbf. (445 N.) and about 800 lbf. (3558 N.), and preferably about 700 lbf. (3114 N.).
  • the preferred nip pressure is about 556 psi (3.83 X 10 6 Pa.).
  • the liquid intermediate transfer surface 9 on the surface of drum 14 and the ink image deposited thereon are maintained within a predetermined temperature range by an appropriate heater device 28.
  • Heater device 28 may be a radiant heater positioned as shown or, alternatively, positioned internally within the drum 14. Heater device 28 increases the temperature of the drum 14/ liquid intermediate transfer surface 9 from ambient temperature to between about 25° C and about 100° C or higher. This temperature is dependent upon the exact nature of the liquid employed in the intermediate transfer surface 9, the composition of the ink forming the ink image and other parameters of the printing process. Using amino silicone oil as the intermediate transfer surface and the preferred ink described below, a more preferred temperature range for the drum 14/liquid intermediate transfer surface 9 is between about 45° C to about 90° C, with the most preferable temperature being about 65° C.
  • a phase change ink is utilized in the printing apparatus 10.
  • the phase change ink is initially in solid form and is then changed to a molten state by the application of heat energy to raise the temperature to between about 85° C and about 150° C.
  • the molten ink is then applied in raster fashion from the nozzles 42 in the print head modules 12A-12N, 12P and 12Q to the exposed surface of the liquid intermediate transfer surface 9.
  • the ink cools to an intermediate temperature and solidifies to a malleable state in which it is transferred to the final receiving substrate 11 via the transfer nip 32.
  • This intermediate temperature where the ink is maintained in its malleable state is between about 30° C and about 80° C, and preferably about 65° C.
  • the ink used to form the ink image preferably has fluidic and mechanical properties that meet the parameters needed for high speed indirect printing at speeds of 100 ppm and higher.
  • the viscosity of the ink in a molten state must be matched to the requirements of the print head modules utilized to apply it to the intermediate transfer surface 9.
  • the viscosity of the molten ink must also be optimized relative to other physical and rheological properties of the ink as a solid, such as yield strength, hardness, elastic modulus, loss modulus, ratio of the loss modulus to the elastic modulus, and ductility.
  • the hardening time required for the molten ink drops on the intermediate transfer surface 9/drum 14 to reach a malleable state suitable for transfer must be sufficiently short to support the desired printing speed.
  • a preferred phase change ink is comprised of a phase change ink carrier composition admixed with a phase change ink compatible colorant. More specifically, the preferred phase change ink carrier composition comprises an admixture of (1) at least one urethane resin; and/or (2) at least one mixed urethane/urea resin; and (3) at least one mono-amide; and (4) at least one polyethylene wax.
  • the preferred phase change ink carrier composition comprises an admixture of (1) at least one urethane resin; and/or (2) at least one mixed urethane/urea resin; and (3) at least one mono-amide; and (4) at least one polyethylene wax.
  • phase change inks having various compositions may be utilized with the printing apparatus 10 in practicing the method and apparatus of the present invention as described herein.
  • suitable alternative phase change inks are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,889,560 (the '560 patent) and 5,372,852 (the '852 patent).
  • the '560 patent and '852 patent are hereby specifically incorporated by reference in pertinent part.
  • the inks disclosed in these patents consist of a phase change ink carrier composition
  • a phase change ink carrier composition comprising one or more fatty amide-containing materials, preferably consisting of a mono-amide wax and a tetra-amide resin, one or more tackifiers, one or more plasticizers and one or more antioxidants, in combination with compatible colorants.
  • the ink image is fused into the media by passing the media through a secondary fusing nip 39 downstream from the transfer nip.
  • the media 11 and ink image are first heated by a fusing preheater 50 to a temperature of between about 50° C and about 100° C, and more preferably to between about 65° C and about 70° C. The media 11 then passes through the secondary fusing nip 39.
  • the secondary fusing nip 39 is formed by a first fuser roller 36 and a second fuser roller 38.
  • First and second radiant heaters 37, 41 are used to maintain the first and second fuser rollers 36, 38, respectively, within a predetermined temperature range.
  • First and second IR thermocouples 35, 55 monitor the temperature of the first and second fuser rollers 36, 38, respectively.
  • the first and second fuser rollers 36, 38 are maintained between about 50° C and about 100° C, and more preferably between about 65° C and about 70° C.
  • the first fuser roller 36 is driven to rotate at the same speed as the drum 14.
  • the first fuser roller 36 is fabricated from a metal, such as steel, to provide a sufficiently hard contact area within the fusing nip 39.
  • the second fuser roller 38 is a passive roller that is driven by contact with the powered first fuser roller 36.
  • the second fuser roller 38 includes a hard inner core 52 and an elastomeric outer layer 54 having a durometer of about 85 Shore A.
  • the outer elastomeric layer 54 gives the second fuser roller 38 a measure of compliance and allows for the creation of a wider fusing nip 39, as described below.
  • Suitable elastomeric covering materials include silicones, urethanes, nitriles, EPDM and other appropriately resilient materials.
  • the second fuser roller 38 is biased into contact with the first fuser roller 36 to create the fusing nip 39.
  • each end of the second fuser roller 38 is attached to a moving linkage that is actuated by two pneumatic cylinders.
  • a portion 56 of the linkage and a pneumatic cylinder 58 are schematically shown in Fig. 3. It will be appreciated that other means for biasing the second fuser roller 38 into contact with the first fuser roller 36 may be utilized, including, but not limited to, solenoids, motors and hydraulic cylinders.
  • the pressure and temperature in the secondary fusing nip 39 combines with the pressure and temperature in the transfer nip 32 to fuse the ink image into the media 11 and achieve an improved ink pile height in the final image.
  • the force urging the second fusing roller 38 into contact with the first fusing roller 36 is between about 400 lbf (1779 N.) and about 2000 lbf (8896 N.), and is preferably about 720 lbf. (3203 N.).
  • the preferred width of the fusing nip 39 is between about 0.035 in. (0.888 mm.) and about 0.150 in. (3.807 mm.), and more preferably between about 0.085 in.
  • the first and second fusing rollers 36, 38 have a preferred length of about 14 in. (35 cm.).
  • the preferred nip pressure is about 605 psi (4.17 X 10 6 Pa.).
  • the fusing preheater 50 heats the media 11 and ink image to a preferred temperature of between about 65° C and about 70° C.
  • the speed of the media 11 through the transfer nip 32 and secondary fusing nip 39 is preferably about 15 in./sec. (ips) (38 mm./sec.).
  • the preferred combination of the pressures, temperatures and media speed recited above allow the secondary fusing nip 39 to fuse the ink image into the media 11 to achieve an ink pile height of about 7 x 10 -4 in. (0.0178 mm.) or less. It has been observed that images having ink pile heights of 7 x 10 -4 in.
  • images having ink pile heights of 7 x 10 -4 inch and less embody improved writability and travel more effectively through an automatic document feeder.
  • utilizing separate nips for transferring and fusing the ink image allows the transfer nip to utilize a lower pressure and temperature.
  • a lower pressure within the transfer nip 32 less force is exerted by the transfer roller 34 on the drum 14 during the imaging process. This reduces the possibility of the transfer roller 34 introducing position errors resulting in misalignment between the drum 14 and the print head modules 12A-12N, 12P and 12Q, particularly in the Y-axis direction.
  • the present invention allows for greater consistency in image quality.
  • This advantage is especially important in printing systems that image, transfer and fuse simultaneously and continuously, such as the apparatus 10 described in the present application. In these systems the drum 14 is under constant load from the transfer roller 34, and reducing the load on the drum substantially reduces wear on the drum components and the power required to rotate the drum.
  • a release agent may be applied to the first fuser roller to prevent the ink image from adhering to the first fuser roller.
  • the release agent is applied by contacting the first fuser roller with a liquid impregnated surface.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP99301400A 1998-02-25 1999-02-25 Apparat und Verfahren zum Schmelzfixieren von Bildern Expired - Lifetime EP0938975B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US62521 1987-06-12
US09/030,672 US6213580B1 (en) 1998-02-25 1998-02-25 Apparatus and method for automatically aligning print heads
US30672 1998-02-25
US09/045,216 US6113231A (en) 1998-02-25 1998-03-19 Phase change ink printing architecture suitable for high speed imaging
US45216 1998-03-19
US09/062,521 US6196675B1 (en) 1998-02-25 1998-04-17 Apparatus and method for image fusing

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0938975A2 true EP0938975A2 (de) 1999-09-01
EP0938975A3 EP0938975A3 (de) 2000-02-23
EP0938975B1 EP0938975B1 (de) 2007-12-19

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99301400A Expired - Lifetime EP0938975B1 (de) 1998-02-25 1999-02-25 Apparat und Verfahren zum Schmelzfixieren von Bildern

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0938975B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69937767T2 (de)

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NL1021010C2 (nl) * 2002-07-05 2004-01-06 Oce Tech Bv Werkwijze voor het bedrukken van een ontvangstmateriaal met hot melt inkt en een inkjet printer geschikt om deze werkwijze toe te passen.
US7419230B2 (en) 2002-03-29 2008-09-02 Olympus Corporation Test chart geometrical characteristic analysis system geometrical characteristic analysis method printer and ink-jet printer
BE1017612A5 (de) * 2005-12-16 2009-02-03 Manroland Ag Inkjet-druckeinrichtung.

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US4889560A (en) 1988-08-03 1989-12-26 Tektronix, Inc. Phase change ink composition and phase change ink produced therefrom
US5372852A (en) 1992-11-25 1994-12-13 Tektronix, Inc. Indirect printing process for applying selective phase change ink compositions to substrates
US5389958A (en) 1992-11-25 1995-02-14 Tektronix, Inc. Imaging process
US5777650A (en) 1996-11-06 1998-07-07 Tektronix, Inc. Pressure roller

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US4889560A (en) 1988-08-03 1989-12-26 Tektronix, Inc. Phase change ink composition and phase change ink produced therefrom
US5372852A (en) 1992-11-25 1994-12-13 Tektronix, Inc. Indirect printing process for applying selective phase change ink compositions to substrates
US5389958A (en) 1992-11-25 1995-02-14 Tektronix, Inc. Imaging process
US5777650A (en) 1996-11-06 1998-07-07 Tektronix, Inc. Pressure roller

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7419230B2 (en) 2002-03-29 2008-09-02 Olympus Corporation Test chart geometrical characteristic analysis system geometrical characteristic analysis method printer and ink-jet printer
NL1021010C2 (nl) * 2002-07-05 2004-01-06 Oce Tech Bv Werkwijze voor het bedrukken van een ontvangstmateriaal met hot melt inkt en een inkjet printer geschikt om deze werkwijze toe te passen.
EP1378357A1 (de) * 2002-07-05 2004-01-07 Océ-Technologies B.V. Verfahren zum Bedrucken eines Empfangsmaterials mittels Heissschmelztinte und Tintenstrahldrucker der geeignet ist dieses Verfahren anzuwenden
US6905203B2 (en) 2002-07-05 2005-06-14 Océ-Technologies B.V. Method of printing a receiving material with hot melt ink and an inkjet printer suitable for applying such a method
BE1017612A5 (de) * 2005-12-16 2009-02-03 Manroland Ag Inkjet-druckeinrichtung.

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DE69937767D1 (de) 2008-01-31
EP0938975A3 (de) 2000-02-23
DE69937767T2 (de) 2008-04-30
EP0938975B1 (de) 2007-12-19

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