Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Medium and processing means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-12
2001-11-27
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Medium and processing means
C399S335000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322208
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet printing apparatus having a replaceable treatment device for ink images.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ink jet apparatus produces images on a receiver by ejecting ink drops onto the receiver in an imagewise fashion. To improve the quality, physical durability, and stability of the printed image, it is often necessary provide treatment of the receiver or ink spots on the receiver prior to or after the ink drops are placed onto the ink receiver. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,969 discloses a print head that conditions the ink receiver by ejecting a treatment fluid to the receiver before printing. The treatment fluid on the receiver helps to immobilize the ink spots printed on the receiver, thereby improving the quality and stability of the print. U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,668 teaches an ink jet printer having a heater for heating the receiver prior to printing to reduce the dry time of the printed ink image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide ink jet printing apparatus which treats the receiver or ink image for enhancing image properties.
A further object of this invention is to provide ink jet apparatus that can selectively improve different aspects of the image properties in response to the requirements of specific applications.
These objects are achieved by apparatus for forming an ink image with improved image properties on a receiver in response to a digital image, comprising:
a) ink jet print head means for delivering ink to a receiver to form an image;
b) means for providing relative movement between the receiver and the print head means;
c) means for actuating the ink jet print head means in accordance with the digital image so that the print head means transfer ink to the receiver to form the ink image corresponding to the digital image; and
d) replaceable receiver treatment means for treating the receiver or the ink image to improve selective aspects of image properties.
ADVANTAGES
A feature of the present invention is that the ink jet printing apparatus is compatible with different types of receiver treatment devices such as a radiation source, a heat source, an electric fan, or a fluid ejection head such as a spray bar or an ink jet print head. Many different aspects of the image properties can be improved as a result.
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Bugner Douglas E.
Wen Xin
Cone Darius N.
Eastman Kodak Company
Hilten John S.
Owens Raymond L.
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