1. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink prepared by a method including the steps of,
a) preparing a resin system comprising a resin or resins with optionally a colorant,
b) coarse grinding the resin system,
c) milling the coarse ground resin system with a carrier liquid to produce a liquid marking particle mix,
d) heating the liquid marking particle mix to a temperature about or greater than the first softening point of the resin system of the marking particle mix to less than about the second softening point of the resin system,
e) maintaining the temperature of the heated marking particle mix for a selected period of time,
f) cooling the marking particle mix to room temperature, and
g) mixing the marking particle mix with high shear.
2. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the resin system comprises;
0 to 60% of the colourant; and
resin or resins to 100%
3. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 2 wherein the resin system further comprises a plasticiser in a range of from 0 to 20%.
4. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 comprising:
1 to 60 percent marking particle mix by weight,
0.01 to 5 percent charge control agent,
0.1 to 20 percent dispersion agent, and
carrier liquid to 100 percent.
5. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the selected period of time is from several minutes to several days depending upon the type of heating applied and the method of applying that heat.
6. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the heating is provided by convection, conduction or radiation.
7. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 3 wherein the plasticiser is selected from the group comprising sulfonamides, adipates, sebacates and phthalates.
8. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the step of milling the resin system includes milling with additives selected from one or both of the group comprising charge control agents and dispersion agents.
9. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the resin is selected from one or more of the group comprising ethyl cellulose, oil modified alkyd resin, acrylic ester resin, methacrylic ester resin, polystyrene, silicone-acryl copolymer, silicone resin, silicone-(meth)acryl copolymer, block polymer or graft polymer, polyolefin copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride) resin, chlorinated polypropylene, polyamide resin, coumarone-indene resin, rosin-modified resin, alkylphenol-modified xylene resin, synthetic polyesters; polypropylene or modified polypropylene; alkylated poly vinyl pyrrolidones; natural waxes, montan wax, candelilla wax, sugar cane wax, beeswax; natural resins, ester gum and hardened rosin; natural-resin-modified cured resins, natural resin-modified maleic acid resins, natural resin-modified phenol resins, natural resin-modified polyester resins, natural resin-modified pentaerythritol resins and epoxy resins.
10. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the colourant when present is selected from one or more of inorganic pigments selected from carbon blacks, silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, magnetic iron oxide, or organic pigments selected from phthalocyanine blue, alkali and reflex blue, phthalocyanine green, diarylide yellow, arylamide yellow, azo and diazo yellow, azo red, rubine toner, quinacridone red, basic dye complexes, lake red, or fluorescent pigments and dyestuffs selected from basic dyes and spirit soluble dyes or combinations thereof.
11. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 1 wherein the carrier liquid is selected from the group comprising isoparaffinic-hydrocarbons, silicone fluids of straight chained configuration, silicone fluids of cyclic configuration, silicone fluid of branched configuration, vegetable oils, synthetic oils or polybutenes or blends thereof.
12. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 4 wherein the charge control agent is selected from the group comprising metallic soaps, fatty acids, lecithin, organic phosphorus compounds, succinimides and sulphosuccinates.
13. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink as in claim 4 wherein the dispersion agent is selected from the group comprising polymeric hyperdispersants, amino-silicones, polymeric petroleum additives, polymeric oil additives and multi-functional pigment dispersing agents.
14. A liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink prepared by a method including the steps of,
a) preparing a resin system comprising a resin or resins with a colorant and a plasticiser, the resin system comprising;
1 to 60% of the colourant;
1 to 20% plasticiser; and
resin or resins to 100%
b) coarse grinding the resin system,
c) milling the coarse ground resin system with a carrier liquid to produce a liquid marking particle mix,
d) heating the liquid marking particle mix to a temperature about or greater than the first softening point of the resin system of the marking particle mix to less than about the second softening point of the resin system,
e) maintaining the temperature of the heated marking particle mix for a selected period of time,
f) cooling the marking particle mix to room temperature, and
g) mixing the marking particle mix with high shear;
wherein the liquid electrostatographic toner or liquid ink jet ink comprises;
1 to 60 percent marking particle mix by weight,
0.01 to 5 percent charge control agent,
0.1 to 20 percent dispersion agent, and
carrier liquid to 100 percent.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A printing apparatus comprising:
a paper discharge roller unit configured to transport a print sheet to a discharge port;
a transportation roller unit configured to transport the print sheet to the paper discharge roller unit;
a transportation speed determination unit configured to determine a transportation speed at which the transportation roller unit is driven; and
a paper discharge roller drive unit configured to drive the paper discharge roller unit at the transportation speed determined by the transportation speed determination unit during the time that the print sheet is being transported by the transportation roller unit, and then drive the paper discharge roller unit at a discharge speed which is determined independently from the transportation speed after the print sheet has left the transportation roller unit while the print sheet is being transported by the paper discharge roller unit, wherein
a print sheet sensor is provided between the discharge roller unit and the discharge port, and wherein
the paper discharge roller drive unit detects when the print sheet leaves the transportation roller unit on the basis of the detection result by the print sheet sensor, a distance between the transportation roller unit and a sensing position of the print sheet sensor, a length of the print sheet in the transportation direction, and the transportation speed determined by the transportation speed determination unit.
2. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the paper discharge roller drive unit detects when the print sheet leaves the paper discharge roller unit on the basis of the detection result by the print sheet sensor.
3. A printing apparatus comprising:
a paper discharge roller unit configured to transport a print sheet to a discharge port;
a transportation roller unit configured to transport the print sheet to the paper discharge roller unit;
a transportation speed determination unit configured to determine a transportation speed at which the transportation roller unit is driven; and
a paper discharge roller drive unit configured to drive the paper discharge roller unit at the transportation speed determined by the transportation speed determination unit during the time that the print sheet is being transported by the transportation roller unit, and then drive the paper discharge roller unit at a discharge speed which is determined independently from the transportation speed after the print sheet has left the transportation roller unit while the print sheet is being transported by the paper discharge roller unit, wherein
a circulating transportation route is provided for causing the print sheet to circulate in a housing of the printing apparatus, and wherein
the transportation speed determination unit determines the transportation speed to be equivalent to the discharge speed in the case where the print sheet is not circulated around the circulating transportation route.
4. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein
the paper discharge roller unit comprises a first paper discharge roller unit located near the transportation roller unit and a second paper discharge roller unit located near the discharge port, wherein
a print sheet sensor is provided between the first paper discharge roller unit and the second paper discharge roller unit, and wherein
the paper discharge roller drive unit detects when the print sheet leaves the transportation roller unit on the basis of the detection result by the print sheet sensor, a distance between a sensing position of the print sheet sensor and the transportation roller unit, a length of the print sheet in the transportation direction, and the transportation speed determined by the transportation speed determination unit.
5. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein
the paper discharge roller drive unit detects when the print sheet leaves the paper discharge roller unit on the basis of the detection result by the print sheet sensor, a distance between the sensing position of the print sheet sensor and the second paper discharge roller unit, and the discharge speed.
6. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein
there is a space between the transportation roller unit and the first paper discharge roller unit for allowing the print sheet, which is being transported, to warp in the space.
7. A printing apparatus comprising:
a paper discharge roller unit configured to transport a print sheet to a discharge port;
a transportation roller unit configured to transport the print sheet to the paper discharge roller unit;
a transportation speed determination unit configured to determine a transportation speed at which the transportation roller unit is driven; and
a paper discharge roller drive unit configured to drive the paper discharge roller unit at the transportation speed determined by the transportation speed determination unit during the time that the print sheet is being transported by the transportation roller unit, and then drive the paper discharge roller unit at a discharge speed which is determined independently from the transportation speed after the print sheet has left the transportation roller unit while the print sheet is being transported by the paper discharge roller unit, wherein
a print transportation drive unit is provided for transporting the print sheet on which ink is sprayed, and wherein
the transportation speed is determined to be higher than a speed of the print sheet which is transported by the print transportation drive unit during spraying ink on the print sheet.
8. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein
the speed of transporting the print sheet during spraying ink on the print sheet is determined on the basis of a printer option which is selected by the user, and wherein
the transportation speed is determined in accordance with a print schedule which is determined in advance of printing with respect to an order of print tasks and an interval between adjacent print tasks.
9. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein
the paper discharge roller unit comprises a first paper discharge roller unit located near the transportation roller unit and a second paper discharge roller unit located near the discharge port, wherein
a print sheet sensor is provided between the first paper discharge roller unit and the second paper discharge roller unit, and wherein
the paper discharge roller drive unit detects when the print sheet leaves the transportation roller unit on the basis of the detection result by the print sheet sensor, a distance between a sensing position of the print sheet sensor and the transportation roller unit, a length of the print sheet in the transportation direction, and the transportation speed determined by the transportation speed determination unit.
10. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein
the paper discharge roller drive unit detects when the print sheet leaves the paper discharge roller unit on the basis of the detection result by the print sheet sensor, a distance between the sensing position of the print sheet sensor and the second paper discharge roller unit, and the discharge speed.
11. The printing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein
there is a space between the transportation roller unit and the first paper discharge roller unit for allowing the print sheet, which is being transported, to warp in the space.