METHODS FOR UV GEL INK LEVELING AND DIRECT-TO-SUBSTRATE JET DEPOSITION DIGITAL RADIATION CURABLE GEL INK PRINTING, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS HAVING LEVELING MEMBER WITH METAL OXIDE SURFACE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve improvement regarding print artifacts such as a corduroy appearance caused by inconsistent ink drop line width and/or objectionable pile heights, and to improve image quality by a radiation curable gel ink.;SOLUTION: A radiation curable gel ink leveling method for digital direct-to-substrate jet evaporation radiation curable gel ink printing includes depositing radiation curable gel ink directly onto a substrate 112, irradiating the gel ink to increase a viscosity of the gel ink, adding sacrificial release fluid to a hydrophilic leveling roll surface, the leveling roll surface including metal oxide, and leveling the ink with the leveling roll. UV gel ink printing systems and leveling apparatus include a leveling roll having a metal oxide surface suitable for use with water based release fluids that contain a surfactant and/or polymer.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT