Abstract: A print job is processed to produce printed output using a printing component of a device. An input/output device (of the device) is controlled by a processor of the device to output signals to finishing equipment. Such finishing equipment is adapted to manipulate the printed output. The processor of the device causes the signals to include an initial signal indicating the start of a data transfer and subsequent signals following the initial signal. The signals can be in industry-standard format or a format compatible with the finishing device.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a marking process speed in a printing system, the printing system including a vacuum transport belt and at least one sheet onto which marking material is directly applied to print sheets, the method including printing an image on the sheet, receiving, from a sensor, data related to the image, determining, based on the data, at least one actual dimension of the image, determining if the at least one actual dimension of the image is equal to a target dimension of the image, and if the at least one actual dimension is not equal to the target dimension, adjusting one or more components of the printing system.

Abstract: An optical light reflectance measurement system above an imaging member surface measures fountain solution surface light reflectance interference on reflective substrate portions of the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The measured light reflectance interference corresponds to a thickness of the fountain solution layer and may be used in a feedback loop to actively control fountain solution layer thickness by adjusting the volumetric feed rate of fountain solution added onto the imaging member surface during a printing operation to reach a desired uniform thickness for the printing. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated.

Abstract: An optical light reflectance measurement system above an imaging member surface measures fountain solution surface light reflectance interference on reflective substrate portions of the imaging member surface in real-time during a printing operation. The measured light reflectance interference corresponds to a thickness of the fountain solution layer and may be used in a feedback loop to actively control fountain solution layer thickness by adjusting the volumetric feed rate of fountain solution added onto the imaging member surface during a printing operation to reach a desired uniform thickness for the printing. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated.

Abstract: A printing system comprises one or more printheads arranged to eject ink to a deposition region. Print media are held by vacuum suction against a movable support surface, which transports the print media though the deposition region. The vacuum suction is communicated from a vacuum source to the movable support surface via a vacuum plenum. An airflow control system comprises one or more dampers arranged in the vacuum plenum to control airflow between the vacuum source and the movable support surface. The dampers have an adjustable impedance to airflow through the damper. The airflow control system is configured to adjust the impedance of the damper based on a detected condition of the printing system. A detected condition of the printing system may include, for example, a sensed pressure in the vacuum plenum.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving, by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD), a scanned image of a print job with a finish option applied to the print job, determining, by the processor, that the finish option requires an adjustment based on an analysis of the scanned image, determining, by the processor, an amount of adjustment to the finish option to apply to subsequent copies of the print job, and performing, by the processor, an adjustment to the MFD to apply the amount of adjustment to the finish option for subsequent copies of the print job.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing relatively low temperature joining processes, including displacement/vibration welding techniques and/or heat staking techniques, in a process of building up laminate layers to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components in additive material (AM) manufacturing systems. A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of laminate cutting (with lasers or other cutting devices); laminate transport between processing stations (including using one or more of conveyors, robotic pick and place devices and the like); laminate stacking, clamping and adhering through comparatively low temperature welding or other mechanical joining (including displacement/vibration welding or heat staking); and mechanical surface finishing (via CNC machining or other comparable process).

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a metallic shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of magnetic retainers are each shaped to physically secure the object to the metallic shuttle mount while the object is being moved.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of threads, at least partially comprising a flexible synthetic elastomer, are connected to the shuttle mount. The threads are joined together to form an elastic netting which can be manually expanded around the object to retain the object to the shuttle mount while the object is being printed in the direct-to-object print system.

Abstract: Printing devices include a media supply storing print media, a luminescent belt positioned adjacent the media supply in a location to move sheets of the print media from the media supply, a print engine positioned adjacent the luminescent belt in a location to receive the sheets from the luminescent belt, an optical sensor positioned adjacent the belt in a location to receive belt-emitted light from the luminescent belt, and a processor electrically connected to the optical sensor. The processor receives the image from the optical sensor and identifies locations of the sheets on the belt based on where the sheets block the belt-emitted light from the luminescent belt.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of an object. The mount has a plurality of receptacles, each has a shape for receiving a retainer in one of a plurality of orientations. A head of each retainer is shaped to retain an edge of the object on the mount. A base of each retainer is shaped such that, when the base is pressed into a receptacle, the head assumes a desired orientation. The removable retainers retain the object on the shuttle mount.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject in onto a surface of an object. The mount has a plurality of receptacles, each has a shape for receiving a retainer in one of a plurality of orientations. A head of each retainer is shaped to retain an edge of the object on the mount. A base of each retainer is shaped such that, when the base is pressed into a receptacle, the head assumes a desired orientation. The removable retainers retain the object on the shuttle mount.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a metallic shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of magnetic retainers are each shaped to physically secure the object to the metallic shuttle mount while the object is being moved.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of threads, at least partially comprising a flexible synthetic elastomer, are connected to the shuttle mount. The threads are joined together to form an elastic netting which can be manually expanded around the object to retain the object to the shuttle mount while the object is being printed in the direct-to-object print system.

Abstract: 3-D printing system include development stations positioned to electrostatically transfer build and support materials to an intermediate transfer surface, a transfer station adjacent the intermediate transfer surface, guides adjacent the transfer station, and platens moving on the guides. The guides are shaped to direct the platens to repeatedly pass the transfer station and come in contact with the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station. The intermediate transfer surface transfers a layer of the build and support materials to the platens each time the platens contact the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station to successively form layers of the build and support materials on the platens. The platens and the intermediate transfer surface include alignment features.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing relatively low temperature joining processes, including displacement/vibration welding techniques and/or heat staking techniques, in a process of building up laminate layers to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components in additive material (AM) manufacturing systems. A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of laminate cutting (with lasers or other cutting devices); laminate transport between processing stations (including using one or more of conveyors, robotic pick and place devices and the like); laminate stacking, clamping and adhering through comparatively low temperature welding or other mechanical joining (including displacement/vibration welding or heat staking); and mechanical surface finishing (via CNC machining or other comparable process).

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing relatively low temperature joining processes, including displacement/vibration welding techniques and/or heat staking techniques, in a process of building up laminate layers to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components in additive material (AM) manufacturing systems. A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of laminate cutting (with lasers or other cutting devices); laminate transport between processing stations (including using one or more of conveyors, robotic pick and place devices and the like); laminate stacking, clamping and adhering through comparatively low temperature welding or other mechanical joining (including displacement/vibration welding or heat staking); and mechanical surface finishing (via CNC machining or other comparable process).

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a base plate configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A shaft passes through the base plate. A back support is fixed to an end of the base plate. A side plate is slideably attached to the base plate. The back support and side plate collectively provide support to the shaft. A suction cup is connected to one end of the shaft for holding an object to the shaft while the object is being moved.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing localized and directed laser welding joining techniques in a process of building up laminate layers to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components (3D objects). A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of laminate cutting (with lasers or other cutting devices); laminate transport between processing stations (including using one or more of conveyors, robotic pick and place devices and the like); laminate stacking, clamping and adhering through a targeted laser welding technique; and mechanical surface finishing (via CNC machining or other comparable process).

Abstract: 3-D printing system include development stations positioned to electrostatically transfer build and support materials to an intermediate transfer surface, a transfer station adjacent the intermediate transfer surface, guides adjacent the transfer station, and platens moving on the guides. The guides are shaped to direct the platens to repeatedly pass the transfer station and come in contact with the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station. The intermediate transfer surface transfers a layer of the build and support materials to the platens each time the platens contact the intermediate transfer surface at the transfer station to successively form layers of the build and support materials on the platens. The platens and the intermediate transfer surface include alignment features.