Abstract: A photo-curable ink composition including colorant, water, photo-initiator, UV curable polyurethane dispersions, hydrophobic radiation-curable monomers and water-soluble or water-miscible radiation curable monomers. Also disclosed herein is a method for forming a printed article and an inkjet printing system using said photo-curable ink composition.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided apparatus for generating control data to control an ink jet printer to print a double-sided image on a single side of a substantially transparent substrate. The apparatus comprises a processor for receiving image data of a first and a second image, a printhead control data generator to generate, from the first image, first image printhead control data, and to generate, from the second image, second image printhead control data, and a covering layer printhead control data generator to generate covering layer printhead control data.

Abstract: According to one example there is provided apparatus for curing ink on a substrate. The apparatus comprises a substrate support, a curing sheet positionable above the substrate support to create a gap between a substrate on the substrate support and the curing sheet. The apparatus further comprises an oxygen-depletion mechanism for reducing the oxygen level in the gap and an ultra-violet, UV, radiation source to apply UV radiation through the curing sheet to a substrate on the substrate support.

Abstract: A vacuum hole array including a dense array of vacuum holes and a sparse array of vacuum holes.

Abstract: A photo-curable ink composition including an acrylic polymer or copolymer, a mono-functional monomer, a multi-functional monomer, a photo-initiator and a pigment. Also disclosed herein is a method for forming a printed article and an inkjet printing system using said photo-curable ink composition.

Abstract: A mobile device and method for measuring image quality parameters, the device including a digital camera configured to capture one or a plurality of images, a processor configured to select one or a plurality of pairs of points from each image of the one or plurality of images, each pair of points connectable by a line, the processor further configured to compute one or a plurality of image quality parameters from at least one of the lines, and the processor further configured to compute a representative image quality parameter from the image quality parameters, and an output unit configured to communicate one or a plurality of representative image quality parameters.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and printing methods include a media support member to support media and an ink applicator unit to selectively apply ink to the media disposed on the media support member in a print mode. The image forming apparatus and printing methods also include a heating unit to preheat at least one of the media support member and the media to a predetermined temperature in a preheat mode prior to the selective application of the ink to the media.

Abstract: A printer for inkjet printing on a flexible substrate. It has a print-head for printing on the flexible substrate in a printing area, and a transport and tensioning mechanism for transporting the flexible substrate in a feed direction relative to the printing area and applying tension to it. The tension applied to the flexible substrate causes a substrate elongation. The printer is arranged to measure the substrate elongation caused by the tension applied to the flexible substrate and compensate for the substrate elongation by at least one of modifying the defined transport of the flexible substrate, and translating the print-head relative to the printing area.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention, there is provided a method of generating data to control the ejection of ink drops from a plurality of arrays of printhead nozzles of a printing system. In the printing system one of the arrays of nozzles is configured to eject a first ink of a first colour having a first colourant density. Another one of the arrays of nozzles is configured to eject a second ink of the first colour having a second colourant density. Each array of nozzles is capable of making ink marks having a plurality of different ink mark volumes on a media. The method comprises obtaining image data for a single colour channel and generating, from the image data, multi-level screen data describing, for each of the first and second inks, the ink mark volume to be made by the array of printhead nozzles at each screen location.

Abstract: A method includes moving an assembly of printheads with a bidirectional lateral motion. A direction of the lateral motion is substantially perpendicular to, and the lateral motion is concurrent with, a longitudinal motion of a substrate relative to the printhead assembly. Nozzles of the printheads are arranged in two rows that are oriented substantially parallel to the direction of the lateral motion. The longitudinal motion and the lateral motion are coordinated such that a nozzle in one of the rows and a nozzle in the other of the rows trace a common path on the substrate.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention, there is provided an image processor for generating data to control an inkjet printing system. The image processor comprises an image analyzer to identify within an image to be printed an area of substantially solid color and to define within the identified area a frame portion and an intra-frame portion, and a printer control data generator to generate printing system control data to cause a printing system to print a frame portion and an intra-frame portion of the identified area.

Abstract: According to one example there is provided a method of printing an image on a substrate using a printing system having a printhead. The method comprises forming, using ink from the printing system, a spittoon on the substrate, printing the image on the substrate, and whilst printing the image, ejecting ink from a printhead into the formed spittoon during a printhead maintenance operation.

Abstract: In one example, a pallet conveyor includes: a forward track to guide pallets from an upstream part of the forward track to a downstream part of the forward track; a return track; and a pallet transfer device configured to simultaneously (1) continuously receive pallets from a downstream part of the return track and give pallets to the upstream part of the forward track and (2) continuously receive pallets from the downstream part of the forward track and give pallets to an upstream part of the return track.

Abstract: A method system and device, to align a substrate on a surface, the device including a first intake and a second intake where the first intake is configured to accept a first fluid and the second intake is configured to accept a second fluid. The first fluid is channeled into the device to vertically move the device a distance, and the second fluid calibrated and channeled into the nozzle, the nozzle having a focusing outlet, and where the fluids are configured to exert a force to facilitate the alignment of the substrate on the surface.

Abstract: A fluid applicator mounting device includes a main body to removeably receive a fluid applicator module. The main body includes a common fluid channel having a main input port, a main output port, a supplemental input port to provide fluid to the fluid applicator module, and a supplemental output port to output fluid from the fluid applicator module. The fluid applicator mounting device also includes an input fm member disposed inside the common fluid channel and arranged proximate to the supplemental input port to guide fluid to the fluid applicator module. The fluid applicator mounting device also includes an output fin member disposed inside the common fluid channel and arranged proximate to the supplemental output port to guide fluid from the fluid applicator module away from the supplemental output port.

Abstract: An ink delivery device, method and non-transitory computer readable medium, the device may include a first closed pathway for a first ink flow through a multi-nozzle printhead in a first direction, and a second closed pathway for a second ink flow through the multi-nozzle printhead, the second pathway configured to move the second ink flow in a second direction. The device may further include a first shunt between the first closed pathway and the second closed pathway at a first end of the multi-nozzle printhead, the first shunt allowing some of the first ink flow to merge with the second ink flow, and a second shunt between the first closed pathway and the second closed pathway at a second end of the multi-nozzle printhead, the second shunt allowing some of the second ink flow to merge with the first ink flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in printing an image in a multipass printing device, the method comprising obtaining information identifying two or more defective nozzles in a nozzle array, determining that a line of a printed image is associated with more than a first predetermined number of defective nozzles based on the obtained information identifying two or more defective nozzles and selected step sizes, and identifying adjusted step sizes such that no more than the first predetermined number of defective nozzles is associated with any line of the printed image.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided a printer for a printing on a roll of substrate. The printer comprises a substrate support for receiving a roll of substrate, a drive mechanism for driving substrate from a roll of substrate when installed on the substrate support through a print writing module, and a substrate edge trimming module for trimming the longitudinal edges of a substrate prior to the substrate passing through the print writing module.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed. The printer prints a swath of ink across the paper in a first direction. The printer moves the media with respect to the print head in a backwards direction and prints a second swath of ink across the media in a second opposite direction. The printer then moves the media with respect to the print head in a forwards direction by a different amount. The printer then repeats printing the two swaths as describe above.

Abstract: Methods of printing articles using a photo-curable adhesion promoter and varnish composition jetted onto a media substrate, and a printed article are described.