Nanoparticle-based compositions compatible with jet printing and methods therefor

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a nanoparticle-based gating agent that blocks the substance from or attracts the substance to the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the gating agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Nos. 60 / 965,361, filed Aug. 20, 2007; 60 / 965,634, filed Aug. 21, 2007; 60 / 965,753, filed Aug. 22, 2007; 60 / 965,861, filed Aug. 23, 2007; 60 / 965,744, filed Aug. 22, 2007; and 60 / 965,743, filed Aug. 22, 2007. All of the above listed applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.BACKGROUND[0002]Lithographic and gravure printing techniques have been refined and improved for many years. The basic principle of lithography includes the step of transferring ink from a surface having both ink-receptive and ink-repellent areas. Offset printing incorporates an intermediate transfer of the ink. For example, an offset lithographic press may transfer ink from a plate cylinder to a rubber blanket cylinder, and then the blanket cylinder transfers the image to a surface (e.g., a paper web). In gravure printing, a cylinder with engraved ink well...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a new gating agent composition for use in high speed variable printing. The composition includes a water dispersible component, an amine, and water. The composition has a dynamic surface tension of less than 60 dynes / cm. The patent also describes a device that includes a housing, a series of ejection nozzles, and a source of gating agent. The gating agent is applied to the substrate in a pattern and has a viscosity of 1 to 14 mPa s. The method also includes the step of applying a printing agent to the substrate to form a print image in areas not covered by the pattern of the gating agent. The technical effects of the patent include improved printing speed, better print quality, and reduced ink consumption."

Problems solved by technology

Conventionally, all of these printing techniques have a similar limitation in that the same image is printed over and over again.

There is a substantial overhead cost involved in making the plates that are used by a lithographic press or cylinders / cylinder sleeves used by a gravure press.

Therefore, it is not cost effective to print a job on a lithographic or gravure press that will have few copies produced (i.e., a short-run job).

Also, conventional lithographic and gravure presses have not been used to print variable data (e.g., billing statements, financial statements, targeted advertisements, etc.) except in cases where such presses have been retrofitted with inkjet heads, albeit at high cost and slower speeds.

This traditional workflow is time- and labor-intensive.

Furthermore, the speed of the fastest ink jet printer is typically much slower than a lithographic or gravure press.

Traditional ink jet printing is also plagued by the effect of placing a water-based ink on paper.

Using a water-based ink may saturate the paper and may lead to wrinkling and cockling of the print web, and the web may also be easily damaged by inadvertent exposure to moisture.

These papers can often be much more expensive than a traditional web paper used for commercial print.

Still further, inks used in ink jet printers are extremely expensive as compared to inks used in traditional lithography or gravure printing.

This economic factor alone makes ink jet technology unsatisfactory for the majority of commercial printing applications, particularly long run applications.

Laser printing has limited viability for high speed variable printing at present, because production speeds are still much slower than offset and gravure, and the material costs (e.g., toner, etc.) are extremely high compared to commercial offset or gravure ink prices.

Laser color is also difficult to use for magazines and other bound publications, because the printed pages often crack when they are folded.

These printing techniques may use those described above to print paper substrates, in which case these techniques suffer from the same disadvantages.

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