Patent ID: 6350014
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
Apparatus for printing an image using image forming materials having nanoparticles less than an average diameter of 500 nm, the apparatus defining a plurality of printing nozzles each of which prints a pixel on a receiver, the nanoparticles being effective in two states, in a first state it aggregates and will not flow through an ink jet printer nozzle and in a second state when subject to a force is flowable so as to be deposited on the receiver, such nanoparticles being bound to each other by Van der Waals forces in the first state and after deposition on the receiver comprising:(a) a hopper for receiving the nanoparticles and defining a cavity into which the nanoparticles aggregate in the first state; (b) means for applying a force to the nanoparticles disposed in the hopper to cause them to be effective in the second state and deliver them to the nozzles where such nanoparticles flow and are deposited on the receiver.