Abstract: An example of an additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The example disclosed herein comprises a build material distributor, a preheating source, and a controller. The build material distributor is to form build material layers from an intended build material having a color. The preheating source is to emit energy at a wavelength related to the intended build material color so that at least a 40% of the energy is absorbed by the build material. The controller is to receive printing instructions to print a 3D object, wherein the printing instructions define an area to be fused in a build material layer. The controller is also to instruct the build material distributor to form the build material layer. The controller is further to control the preheating source to emit energy to preheat a zone comprising the area to be fused.

Abstract: In an example of the disclosure, a print job is received. The print job includes an image to be printed upon a substrate utilizing printheads. The print job is analyzed to determine a set of imaged segments, a set of image-adjacent segments, and a set of remote segments. The print job is printed upon the substrate utilizing a first set of printheads. A cooling liquid is applied to the set of image-adjacent segments of the printed print job utilizing a second set of printheads downstream from the first set of printheads. The printed job is exposed to an array of controllable illumination elements. The array of illumination elements is controlled to apply a drying illumination to the imaged segments and the image-adjacent segments of the printed print job, without providing the drying illumination to the remote segments.

Abstract: An example apparatus to produce a three-dimensional object comprises a controller, a build area configured to receive a layer of particulate material, a printhead, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source. The controller is to cause the printhead to deposit a liquid which absorbs ultraviolet radiation onto the layer of particulate material. The controller is further to cause the ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source to irradiate the liquid, after the liquid has been deposited onto the layer of particulate material, thereby to heat the liquid and cause a portion of the particulate material to solidify.

Abstract: An example apparatus to produce a three-dimensional object comprises a controller, a build area configured to receive a layer of particulate material, a printhead, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source. The controller is to cause the printhead to deposit a liquid which absorbs ultraviolet radiation onto the layer of particulate material. The controller is further to cause the ultraviolet light emitting diode energy source to irradiate the liquid, after the liquid has been deposited onto the layer of particulate material, thereby to heat the liquid and cause a portion of the particulate material to solidify.

Abstract: A system to carry print media through a print zone in a printer. In one example, the system includes an endless conveyor belt in a loop, a driver operatively connected to the conveyor belt under the print zone to circulate the conveyor belt through the print zone, an encoder operatively connected to the driver under the print zone to measure movement of the conveyor belt in the print zone indirectly through the driver, and a controller programmed to control the driver based on measurements from the encoder.

Abstract: In an example, a media sheet conveyance system includes a first transport assembly, a plurality of subject transport assemblies, and a controller. The first transport assembly includes an endless first belt having a plurality of rows of holes, including a first and a second edge row separated by a distance “x”. Each subject transport assembly includes an endless subject belt having a subject edge row of holes, with a distance to a nearest edge row of an adjacent transport assembly being less than or equal to the distance “x.” The controller is to, in order to convey a media sheet, control a first drive roller to circulate the first belt over a first vacuum element set, and control a subject drive roller to circulate a subject belt over a subject vacuum element.

Abstract: In one example, a system to convey print media through a print zone in a printer includes an endless conveyor belt in a loop, a pair of drivers to circulate the conveyor belt through the print zone from opposite ends of the loop, an encoder to measure movement of the conveyor belt, and a controller programmed to control both drivers driving the conveyor belt based on measurements from the encoder.

Abstract: In one example, a system to support print media through a print zone in a printer includes an endless support belt, a driver to circulate the support belt through the print zone, and an encoder unit under the print zone to measure movement of the support belt in the print zone.

Abstract: In an example a method includes, by processing circuitry, acquiring a digital image of a printed output and receiving an indication of the performance level of a printer used to print the printed output. It may be determined if the performance level meets a predetermined standard. When the performance level does not meet the predetermined standard, an indication that the predetermined standard has not been met may be generated. The digital image may be displayed for inspection.

Abstract: In an example, apparatus includes a first radiation source to output radiation at a first waveband and a second radiation source to output radiation at a second waveband, which is different from the first waveband. The apparatus may receive a medium having marked thereon a first colorant and a second colorant and the first and second wavebands may be selected such that an energy absorbance efficiency of the first colorant is higher than that of the second colorant at the first waveband and an energy absorbance efficiency of the second colorant is higher than that of the first colorant at the second waveband.

Abstract: A drying assembly comprises a plurality of electromagnetic energy sources arranged to dry printing fluid deposited onto a surface of a substrate, by evaporation of a solvent fluid therefrom. The drying assembly further comprises a conveyor system configured to move the substrate in a conveying direction, and a focusing system configured to focus electromagnetic energy from the plurality of electromagnetic energy sources to form a non-uniform heating pattern on the surface of the substrate. The non-uniform heating pattern comprises a plurality of spatially separated higher and lower intensity regions distributed along the conveying direction.

Abstract: In one example, a media support with a continuous belt rotatable and suction cups lengthwise along the belt and in lines laterally across the belt to hold down a sheet of print media as the sheet is moved through a hold down area, a vacuum pump to supply vacuum to the suction cups. The vacuum control system is configured to close a supply of vacuum to all of the suction cups in the hold down area and then open the supply of vacuum sequentially to each of multiple lines of suction cups as each line enters the hold down area and then close the supply of vacuum sequentially to each of the multiple lines of suction cups as each line leaves the hold down area until all of the suction cups in the hold down area are closed.

Abstract: In an example, there is provided a method including: receiving, at a processor, data specifying the shape of a blank to form a folded article; and determining, using the processor, based on the received data, a suction array layout to hold the blank against a media support, wherein the suction array layout conforms to the shape of the blank.

Abstract: In one example, a media support includes a continuous loop belt and multiple suction cups arranged along the outer perimeter of the belt. Each suction cup has a port aligned with a hole in the belt so that air may be evacuated from the suction cup when connected to a vacuum source.

Abstract: An example gas ejection device, for a cutting apparatus, comprises a housing to retain a gas and a slot provided in the housing. A nozzle is movably disposed within the slot. The nozzle is to discharge a gas retained in the housing.

Abstract: A method of drying print agent is disclosed. The method comprises blowing hot air onto an absorbent printable medium that bears water- and/or solvent-based print agent to reduce the viscosity of the print agent and to promote absorption of at least some water and/or solvent in the print agent by the printable medium; and, subsequent to the blowing of hot air, irradiating the printable medium with ultraviolet radiation to dry the unabsorbed portion of print agent on the printable medium. A printer ink drying apparatus and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method may comprise forming an image on a surface by controlled electrostatic transfer of a fluid print agent comprising thermoplastic resin disposed in a carrier fluid The method may also comprise heating the fluid print agent on the surface to remove the carrier fluid and to melt the thermoplastic resin and allowing the melted thermoplastic resin in continuous areas on the surface to fuse together to form an image from fused print agent. The method may further involve providing a printed substrate bearing the image formed from fused print agent. The method may further comprise irradiating the printed substrate with an ultraviolet narrowband source so as to cause heating of the fused print agent to melt the thermoplastic resin. A print system and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Dye-sublimation printers and methods are disclosed for porous substrates or for polyester-coated substrates. In an example the device comprises a substrate path, a printhead, over a print zone of the substrate path, to transfer a print fluid on the substrate; a narrow band radiation source, over a sublimation zone of the substrate path to sublimate a portion of the transferred print fluid to form an image on the substrate; and an advancing mechanism, to transfer the substrate from the print zone to the sublimation zone.

Abstract: In an example, a printer ink dryer unit comprises at least one ultraviolet light source to dry a printer ink layer by causing evaporation of a solvent fluid therefrom.

Abstract: In an example, a printer ink dryer unit comprises at least one ultraviolet light source to dry a printer ink layer by causing evaporation of a solvent fluid therefrom.