Using continuous spray inkjet system for accurately printing titanium oxide based inks

• US 7,104,643 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kodak Limited (Eastman Kodak Company)
• Original Assignee: CREO Company Limited
• Inventors: Glass, Boaz, Figov, Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thinh
• Application Number:
  US11/123,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20050264632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 347/105
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0015 for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing selective coating B41J2/2114
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/002 Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2117 Ejecting white liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/543 with multiple inkjet print heads B41J2/17503, B41J2/2103 take precedence

Abstract

Method and apparatus for producing an accurately positioned white layer to serve as an undercoat for inkjet process colors imaging on a substrate, by accurately ink jetting a colorless loosely-bonded frame onto the substrate, thereby defining an area to be imaged, ink jetting or spraying a white layer, the white layer at least partially overlapping the frame and covering the area defined by the frame.

Claims

1. A method of producing an accurately positioned white layer to serve as an undercoat for inkjet process colors imaging on a substrate, comprising the steps of:

accurately ink jetting a colorless loosely-bonded frame onto the substrate, said frame defining an area to be imaged; and

ink jetting or spraying a white layer, said white layer at least partially overlapping said frame and said white layer covering said area defined by said frame.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of drying said white layer.

3. The method of claim 2, additionally comprising the step of removing said overlapping parts of said white layer and said frame.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said removing comprises rubbing or washing.

5. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising the step of imaging said white layer with ink jet inks.

6. The method according to claim 1, whereby the colorless ink is oil based.

7. Apparatus for producing an accurately positioned white layer to serve as an undercoat for inkjet process colors imaging on a substrate, comprising:

a first inkjet or inkjet array adapted for accurate printing; and

a second inkjet or spraying means,

wherein said first inkjet or inkjet array is operable to accurately ink jet a colorless loosely-bonded frame onto the substrate, said frame defining an area to be imaged; and

wherein said second inkjet or spraying means is operable to ink jet or spray a white layer, said white layer at least partially overlapping said frame and said white layer covering said area defined by said frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, additionally comprising drying means.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, additionally comprising rubbing or washing means.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first inkjet or inkjet array is additionally operable to inkjet an image onto said white layer.