METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING OF MAGNETIC INKS

摘要

A method of printing with a magnetic ink includes ejecting a plurality of magnetic ink drops onto a print medium in a print zone and applying a magnetic field to the ink drops on the print medium. The magnetic field increases a viscosity of the magnetic ink drops and reduces or eliminates absorption of the magnetic ink into a porous print medium such as paper.

主权项

1. A method of operating an inkjet printer comprising:
moving a print medium through a print zone in a process direction; ejecting a plurality of drops of a magnetic ink from a plurality of inkjet nozzles in the print zone onto a surface of the print medium; moving the print medium past an electromagnet located in the process direction from the plurality of inkjet nozzles in the print zone; applying a magnetic field with an orientation that is substantially parallel to the process direction to the plurality of drops of the magnetic ink on the surface of the print medium with the electromagnet to increase a viscosity of the magnetic ink on the print medium in a direction that is perpendicular to the process direction extending into the print medium; activating the electromagnet with a controller prior to moving the print medium past the electromagnet; and deactivating the electromagnet with the controller after applying the magnetic field to the plurality of drops of the magnetic ink on the surface of the print medium.