Ink printing system comprising groups of inks, each group having a unique inkbase composition

摘要

A printing system comprising two or more groups of ink, wherein each group of ink includes ink based upon a unique formulation. This enables a user to select an ink type for printing an image without requiring extra printers or replacement of printing components. Additionally, the user can print a single image using inks of two different base formulations. The system comprises at least two groups of ink storage containers, each group containing a group of ink volumes, each group of ink volumes having a unique ink base formulation. The system further comprises at least two groups of ink formulation specific print heads, each group being associated with the compatible ink formulation. A controller enables the user to selectively print an image using ink having one or more ink base formulations. The system can use any configuration of ink storage configurations and print heads arrangements.

主权项

1. An ink printing system, comprising:
a plurality of ink storage containers, the plurality of ink storage containers segmented into at least two groups of ink storage containers, each group of ink storage containers containing a group of ink volumes, each group of ink volumes having a unique ink base formulation; and a plurality of print heads for printing an image, the print heads being segmented into at least two groups of ink formulation specific print heads, each group of ink formulation specific print heads being in fluid communication with the group of ink storage containers containing a group of ink volumes associated with a compatible ink formulation, wherein a first group of ink volumes within a first group of the at least two groups of ink storage containers is water based, wherein a second group of ink volumes within a second group of the at least two groups of ink storage containers is non-water based, and wherein the second group of ink volumes is formulated having a base formulation selected from a non-water based ink formulation group, wherein the non-water based ink formulation group consists of a solvent based ink formulation, an ultra-violet (UV) curable based ink formulation, and a dye sublimation based ink formulation.