Xerox Corporation

Fusheng Xu

Paul J McConville

Jing Zhou

Naveen Chopra

Barkev Keoshkerian

Anthony Salvatore Condello

Stephan V Drappel

Daryl Walter Vanbesien

Jeffrey H Banning

Jenny Eliyahu

James Michael Chappell

James R Beachner

Bryan James Roof

Michael D Thompson

Jack Gaynor Elliot

Faming Li

Lawrence Floyd, Jr

Jason O'Neil

Jacques K Webster-Curley

A computer-based apparatus, including: a memory element storing computer readable instructions; a processor; and a source element to expel a first plurality of drops of a substance with a known density through a medium, and under a set of conditions. The processor executes the computer readable instructions to calculate uncalibrated volumes for the first plurality of drops using respective images of drops in the first plurality of drops. The source element expels a second plurality of drops of the first substance through the medium, and under the first conditions. The processor executes the computer readable instructions to: calculate, using a weight for the second plurality of drops and the known density, actual volumes for the second plurality of drops; and generate, using uncalibrated volumes and the actual volumes, an equation to modify the uncalibrated volumes to match the actual volumes.

Apparatus and method for measuring drop volume

Disclosed herein are curable solid inks which are solid at room temperature and molten at an elevated temperature at which the molten ink is applied to a substrate. In particular, the curable solid ink of the present embodiments comprises a cyclohexyl-based crystalline gellant that impart self-leveling capabilities to the inks, where the cyclohexyl-based crystalline gellant have a structure of Formula I: wherein each X, Y, p, q, R, R, R, and Rare as defined herein.

Curable solid inks containing cyclohexyl-based crystalline gellants

An approach is provided for controlling ultraviolet-curable gel ink spread of a printed image. The approach involves causing, at least in part, one or more inks to be applied to a first substrate image area by one or more inkjets in a printing zone of a printer, the one or more inkjets being configured to form one or more first ink spots on the first substrate image area. The approach also involves determining a temperature of at least the first substrate image area in the printing zone. The approach further involves determining a first spot size of at least one of the one or more first ink spots. The approach additionally involves causing, at least in part, a temperature of at least a second substrate image area in the printing zone to be based, at least in part, on the determined first spot size.

Method and apparatus for controlling ultraviolet-curable gel ink spread of a printed image

Disclosed herein are curable solid inks which are solid at room temperature and molten at an elevated temperature at which the molten ink is applied to a substrate. In particular, the curable solid inks of the present embodiments comprise low molecular weight amide gellants that impart self-leveling capabilities to the inks. Also disclosed herein are methods for making the amide gellant and the inks comprising the amide gellants.

Low molecular weight amide gellants and methods for making the same

An ink jet printhead maintenance system, which can be part of an ink jet printer, for removing ink residue from a printhead faceplate. The printhead maintenance system can include a supply of liquid which can be applied to the ink residue on the printhead faceplate using various techniques, such as those described. The liquid can include a monomer and/or an oligomer. The wet clean system described can be more effective in removing ink residue which can result from certain inks, such as ultraviolet curable gel inks, than previous printhead maintenance techniques.

Assisted maintenance for printhead faceplate surface

An indirect media flatness measurement system, and method, by which the appropriate level of hold-down force may be determined with some degree of quantitative accuracy. In an ink jet printer that is operative to subject a substrate media to a hold down force during printing, the method including printing a predetermined test image having a predetermined pattern on a substrate media using an ink jet print apparatus to produce a test print. Optionally, pattern may be an array of test symbols. The test symbol may include a line printed on the substrate media in a direction perpendicular to a process direction of the printer. The test print is compared with the predetermined test image, including measuring drop placement errors of test symbols. The height of the substrate media at the location of each test symbol is calculated based upon the drop placement error.

Indirect media flatness measurement

A radiation curable gel ink printing system is provided that includes a radiation source configured to emit UV light having short wavelength components. The disclosed systems and methods transport a substrate having radiation curable gel ink deposited thereon to the radiation source to expose the ink to the radiation source. The exposure at the radiation source may be continuous or pulsed. The radiation source may be configured a distance away from the radiation curable gel ink deposited on the substrate. The radiation source pre-treats the radiation curable gel ink before spreading the radiation curable gel ink at a contact-leveling nip at which a contact member applies pressure to the partially cured radiation curable gel ink against the substrate. The radiation curable gel ink is preferentially cured to allow spreading of the radiation curable ink by the contact member while limiting offset of the ink onto the contact member.

Growing community of inventors

Webster, NY, United States of America

Fusheng Xu