Lexmark International, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Terence E Franey

Bradley Leonard Beach

Jing X Sun

James M Mrvos

Agnes Kam Zimmer

Kathryn E Dowlen

Donald Leo Elbert

Ann M Piekunka

Rodney O Aulick

Carla M Butler

Ashok Murthy

Ajay Kanubhai Suthar

James F Feeman

Douglas Campbell Hamilton

Peter E Wallin

Alexander D Meade

Richard B Watkins

Gerald G Leslie

Donald Wayne Stafford

Paul Timothy Spivey

Ronald Lloyd Roe

Kelly Ann Killeen

Ann P Holloway

Mark Duane Foster

Jean Marie Massie

John Melvin Olson

Pramod K Sharma

Bhaskar Gopalanarayanan

Sean David Smith

Robert Francis Soto

Charles Edward Akers, Jr

Robert L Vollmer

Sandra Helton McCain

Jerry F Stone

Richard W Holt

Ashok Vishnu Gangal

Kevin Scott Kennedy

Kathryn E Burns

Allen C Sanders

Scott Alan Searls

Matthew D Clift

Chao Li

Richard Nicholas Schrantz, Jr

David G Vella

Austin W Woolfolk

Liam Ruan De Paor

Jane Elece Barcelo

An endless electrophotographic member, such as a developer roller, which indicates an improved resistance to nip banding. The improvement to nip banding may be provided by the use of an organic salt within a roller surface region. The roller may provide, at a nip location, a resistive surface layer having an electrical resistance that avoids the development of nip banding and relatively dark regions on printed media.

Electrophotographic roller with resistance to nip banding

The present invention relates to graft copolymers, useful as dispersants in ink jet ink compositions, which comprise two structurally distinct segments: a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment. The preferred hydrophilic segment is comprised preferably of a methacrylic acid polymer, or a copolymer thereof with another monomer, such as styrene sulfonic acid. The preferred hydrophobic segment comprises a polymer or copolymer containing electron rich functional groups comprised of a plurality of methacrylate derivatized monomers, preferably a methacrylate ester monomer, or a substituted methacrylate ester monomer (a methacrylate ester where the alkyl group is replaced with a siloxyl substituent, an oligomeric siloxane). The present invention also relates to aqueous ink compositions which include the polymeric dispersants of the present invention. A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a polymer comprising a monomeric hydrophobic head and a polymeric tail. In a preferred embodiment, the monomeric hydrophobic head is (ethylene glycol) 2,4,6-tris-(1-phenylethyl)phenyl ether.

Polymeric dispersants used for aqueous pigmented inks for ink-jet printing

A release agent composition for use in an electrophotographic process is disclosed. This composition includes a specifically-defined heat-stable silicone oil-silicone wax random copolymer. The copolymer has a melting point such that it is liquid on the hot fuser roll, but solidifies at room temperature on the printed page. A random silicone copolymer, in the form of a paste or pliable caulk, which is useful for sealing leaks in toner cartridges is also disclosed. Finally, the method for preparing these copolymers is disclosed.

Release agent for electrophotographic process

A jet printing ink composition which results in reduced drop misdirection and missing nozzles is provided. The aqueous-based ink composition includes at least one colorant; a wetting agent; and a co-solvent comprising a substituted or unsubstituted lactam, an amide, or mixtures thereof.

Ink jet ink containing wetting agent

A release agent composition for use in an electrophotographic process is disclosed. This composition includes a specifically-defined heat-stable silicone oil-silicone wax copolymer. The copolymer has a melting point such that it is liquid on the hot fuser roll, but solidifies at room temperature on the printed page. A random silicone copolymer, in the form of a paste or pliable caulk, which is useful for sealing leaks in toner cartridges is also disclosed. Finally, the method for preparing these copolymers is disclosed.

Method for making silicone copolymers

An ink system comprising a first ink containing a flocculating dye in an aqueous solution and a second ink containing a dispersant-pigment complex in an aqueous solution reduces bleed between the two inks when they are applied side by side. The flocculating dye flocculates the dispersant-pigment complex

Ink system with reduced bleed

Open-Cell urethane foam is thoroughly dried in a convection oven or controlled atmosphere and then compressed with heat to a felt immediately. Alternatively, the dried foam is sealed in a plastic bag until the felting step. The amount of non-volatile residue is significantly reduced to produce a foam for use to contain ink in an ink jet cartridge.

Method of maintaining a low residue open-cell felted foam

An ink refill device includes a body having a chamber with ink therein. The chamber has one wall formed of a frangible material. The body has a needle communicating the chamber with a reservoir, which has a foam of a controlled porosity therein, in a print cartridge when the needle is inserted in a vent of the reservoir to fill the reservoir. Breaking of the frangible wall of the chamber with the needle extending downwardly enables ink to flow from the chamber at a controlled flow rate to the reservoir in the cartridge. In the preferred embodiment, the needle has one or more notched openings adjacent its distal end to increase its surface area through which ink flows to increase flow of ink to the reservoir.

Device for ink refill of a reservoir in a print cartridge

Trimers of C.sub.9 to C.sub.11 alpha olefins are useful as carrier fluid in liquid toner for electrophotography. Their use practically eliminates air pollution, oil slicks when liquid toned prints are placed on a surface and a halo effect.

Carrier fluid for liquid electrophotographic toner

Aqueous inks containing 1,2-alkyl of from C4 to C10 diols, specifically 1,2-hexanediol or 1,2-pentanediol are employed in jet inks. Two such inks of different colors applied side-by-side to paper do not bleed and therefore give excellent image definition. The diols are not flammable, odorous or highly volatile.

Inks used in multi-color printing

A liquid toner having a mineral oil vehicle, a blend of Surlyn ionomeric resin and Nucrel resin, pigment and, as charge director, lecithin, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and calcium Petronate. The charge director optimizes speed of recovery of charge properties during continual use. The mineral oil does not vaporize well and is readily condensed, thus permitting use as a confined toner.

Electrophotographic liquid developer with charge director

A waterfast ink having 3.0% Food Black 2, 2.5% highly hydroxyethylated polyethyleneimine, 10.0% ammonium benzoate, and the balance water. The invention appears to function upon loss of water after printing by a polar neutralizing between the dye and the polyimine, which results in an affinity of the dye to paper. It is applicable to any dye having anionic solubilizing groups but not having quaternary ammonium and to any ammonium salt.

Waterfast aqueous inks

A alkali-soluble dye for a waterfast ink having structural formula as follows: ##STR1## and an ink containing the dye dissolved in water. Printing from the ink is insoluble below pH 6.0; is an intense black at low concentration; and remains black on acid papers. The aqueous inks are stable and exhibit good printhead nozzle maintenance.

Waterfast dye and aqueous ink

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Terence E Franey