David S Macmillan

US Patent:

6357870, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Oct 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/686130

Inventors:

Bradley Leonard Beach - Lexington KY
David Starling MacMillan - Winchester KY
Jean Marie Massie - Lexington KY
Ronald Lloyd Roe - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347103

Abstract:

A method of printing uses a liquid applicator to apply a coating solution ontaining polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymer to an intermediate transfer medium. An image is printed onto the intermediate transfer medium using an ink jet printing device. The coating solution contains an organic solvent, which is preferably a glycol solvent or a diol solvent. Suitable solvents include trimethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, di propylene glycol, tri propylene glycol, 1,2 butane diol, 2 pyrrolidone, gamma butyrolactone and glycerol. The coating solution is applied in an amount of 0. 01 to 10 mg/cm. The coating solution may contain 0. 01 to 20 wt. % of polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone copolymer, 5-95 wt. % of an organic solvent and 5-95 wt. % water. More preferably, the coating solution contains 0.

US Patent:

6508956, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912984

Inventors:

Ronald Willard Baker - Versailles KY
David Clay Blaine - Lexington KY
Philip Jerome Heink - Lexington KY
John William Kietzman - Lexington KY
David Starling MacMillan - Winchester KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc - Lexington KY

International Classification:

C09K 1102

US Classification:

25230116, 524800, 524366, 524386, 524389, 556444, 556445, 568852, 427331

Abstract:

The invention provides a test fluid for detecting coating flaws in a coated web and a method for testing a web coating system. The test fluid includes, water, a polyol, a surfactant, a radiant energy activated tracer compound and an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of an alkylene glycol and a dialkylene glycol. The test fluid is used to identify deficiencies in the web coating system so that adjustments to the web coating system may be made before assembling the coating system in an ink jet printer.

US Patent:

6528119, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Jan 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/484700

Inventors:

David Starling MacMillan - Winchester KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B05D 504

US Classification:

427261, 427288, 427411, 4274191

Abstract:

The invention provides an improved paper coating composition for ink jet printing applications. The composition contains from about 2 to about 1 parts by weight polyvalent metal salt, from about 0 to about 30 parts by weight deionized water, an effective amount of cationic amine polymer and surfactant and from about 35 to about 60 parts by weight of an ink penetrant promoter selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures of 1,2-propanediol and dipropylene glycol. Since the composition is free from ethylene glycol components, the composition is safer to use and less harmful to humans and the environment. The composition has also been found to provide improved ink drying with less bleeding or smearing of image.

US Patent:

6585365, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Sep 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/667749

Inventors:

David Starling MacMillan - Winchester KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347100, 347101, 347105

Abstract:

The invention provides an improved paper coating system for ink jet printing applications. The system includes an ink jet printer containing an ink jet pen and a paper coating device for coating a print media with an effective amount of coating composition prior to printing thereon. The coating composition preferably includes from about 0. 25 to about 20% by weight of a first component selected from the group consisting of polyvalent metal salt and organic acid, a second component consisting of from about 1 to about 20% by weight amine polymer, from about 0. 25 to about 2. 0% by weight surfactant and from about 25 to about 96% by weight glycol-based solvent having a surface tension ranging from about 25 to below about 45 dynes/cm. Since the coating composition is free from ethylene glycol-based components, the composition is safer to use and less harmful to humans and the environment. The composition has also been found to provide improved ink drying with less bleeding or smearing of image.

US Patent:

6590023, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Mar 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/813678

Inventors:

David S. MacMillan - Winchester KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

C08K 304

US Classification:

524495, 528480, 528482, 528490

Abstract:

A method of making a coating formulation prior to its introduction onto a web to be printed by an ink jet printer. The method includes the steps of: determining the nature and amount of undesirable substances in a component of the coating formulation, adjusting the pH of the component, contacting the pH adjusted component with a first activated carbon material, filtering the thus treated component, contacting the thus treated component with a second activated carbon material, and filtering the thus treated component and combining it with other components of the coating formulation to yield a treated coating formulation having a reduced amount of the undesirable substances.

US Patent:

6660369, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

Dec 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/314775

Inventors:

David Starling MacMillan - Winchester KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B32B 300

US Classification:

428195, 428206, 428208, 428211, 428521, 4285375, 4285377

Abstract:

The invention provides an improved paper coating composition for ink jet printing applications. The composition contains from about 2 to about 1 parts by weight polyvalent metal salt, from about 0 to about 30 parts by weight deionized water, an effective amount of cationic amine polymer and surfactant and from about 35 to about 60 parts by weight of an ink penetrant promoter selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures of 1,2-propanedioland dipropylene glycol. Since the composition is free from ethylene glycol components, the composition is safer to use and less harmful to humans and the environment. The composition has also been found to provide improved ink drying with less bleeding or smearing of image.

US Patent:

6706118, Mar 16, 2004

Filed:

Feb 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/083722

Inventors:

Philip Jerome Heink - Lexington KY
Royden Thomas Kern - Lexington KY
David Starling MacMillan - Lexington KY
Johnny Ray Sears - Midway KY
Ronald Todd Sellers - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B05C 1110

US Classification:

118697, 118702, 118763, 118699, 118704, 118706

Abstract:

A coating apparatus for applying a coating liquid to a printing substrate. The apparatus includes a rotatable first roll, and a rotatable second roll positioned adjacent to the first roll and defining with the first roll a first nip through which the printing substrate passes. The apparatus also has a metering device for applying a layer of coating liquid onto the second roll, which in turn transfers the coating liquid to the printing substrate. The apparatus further has a controller that communicates with at least the second roll, wherein the controller performs the steps of determining whether the idle time of the second roll is longer than a predetermined threshold, setting a pre-spin flag if the idle time of the second roll is longer than a predetermined threshold, and directing the second roll to perform a pre-spin upon the presence of the pre-spin flag.

US Patent:

6709096, Mar 23, 2004

Filed:

Nov 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/295329

Inventors:

Bradley Leonard Beach - Lexington KY
Ligia Aura Bejat - Versailles KY
Gerald Lee Fish - Versailles KY
Philip Jerome Heink - Lexington KY
David Starling MacMillan - Winchester KY
Jean Marie Massie - Lexington KY
Peter Brown Pickett - Lexington KY
Ronald Lloyd Roe - Lexington KY
Sean David Smith - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 201

US Classification:

347103, 347 96

Abstract:

A layered intermediate used in inkjet printing contains a release coat formed on a transfer medium in an area where an image has not been printed. The release coat is formed of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or a PVP copolymer and at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol solvents and diol solvents. A viscous coating of PVP or the PVP copolymer is formed on the transfer medium in an area where an image has been printed. A release layer formed from components in the release coat and components in the ink is formed on the viscous coating. A first ink layer is formed on the release layer of flocculated ink. A second ink layer is formed on the first ink layer, of ink that is substantially not flocculated.