Abstract: A system for printing on a multi-dimensional object includes a plurality of print heads, and a printing chase comprising one or more alignment elements configured to provide accurate registration of an object holder (also configured as an object packaging) relative to the print heads. The system further includes an actuator configured to move the printing chase relative to the print heads. The system is configured to receive information corresponding to an alignment element that is employed for positioning the object holder on the printing chase, determine a position a printable area using the retrieved information, receive information relating to print data to be printed on the printable area, use the determined position of the printable area to control a movement of the printing chase relative to the print heads, and operate the print heads to eject marking material onto the printable area to print data on the printable area.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The system includes an unwinder, a printing module and a rewinder. The unwinder is arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a printing module. The printing module includes a flood coater arranged to deposit a coating layer on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate. The rewinder is arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A method for evaluating curing in an ink composition comprises depositing an ink composition on the surface of an object via a direct-to-object inkjet printing system to form a film thereon, the ink composition comprising a photoinitiator capable of initiating a free radical polymerization process in the ink composition upon the absorption of light to cure the deposited film; exposing, in-situ, the deposited film to light generated by a first source of light under conditions which initiate the free radical polymerization process to cure the deposited film; exposing, in-situ, the cured film to light generated by a second source of light under conditions which induce light absorption by unreacted photoinitiator in the cured film; measuring the absorbance of the cured film; and determining a degree of cure in the cured film from the measured absorbance and predetermined calibration data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a fluorosilicone composite for a variable data lithography imaging member surface layer. Examples of the fluorosilicone composite include a first part and a second part, the first part having fluorosilicone, carbon black, silica and butyl acetate, the second part having a platinum catalyst, a crosslinker, butyl acetate and an inhibitor. The first part may also include a dispersant (e.g., a polyoxyalkylene amine derivative) that removes a need for shaking the dispersion by paint shaker and instead allows a more manufacture friendly roll ball milling process. The dispersant will also help in stabilizing the fluorosilicone composite for scaled up production.

Abstract: The present teachings describe a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a first plate and a second plate stacked together. The printhead assembly includes a first adhesive between the first plate and the second plate for bonding the plates together. The printhead assembly includes a second adhesive surrounding an outer edge of the first adhesive wherein the second adhesive has an oxygen migration rate lower than an oxygen migration rate of the first adhesive. An oxygen sensitive component is contained within the outer edge of the first adhesive.

Abstract: A surface treatment system includes a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a surface treatment device that is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder with two types of surface treatments. The device is capable of producing a plasma or a flame at its nozzle for surface treatment. By controlling the materials supplied to the device and the way in which is operated, either a flame or plasma is produced. Thus, the surface treatment system is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by a direct-to-object printer.

Abstract: A system for printing on a multi-dimensional object includes a plurality of print heads, and a printing chase configured to receive an object holder for an object and provide accurate registration of the object. The system further includes an actuator configured to move the printing chase relative to the print heads. The system is configured to receive information corresponding to an object holder mounted on the printing chase, determine a position of at least one printable area using the retrieved information, receive information relating to print data to be printed on the at least one printable area, use the determined position of the at least one printable area to control a movement of the printing chase relative to the print heads, and operate the print heads to eject marking material onto the at least one printable area to print data on the at least one printable area.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer uses stereolithography to form a structure and then embed one or more objects in the structure. The printer includes a controller that operates a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to cure a portion of a liquid photopolymer at an interface between the liquid photopolymer and the external surface of an embedded object with reference to a meniscus formed between the liquid photopolymer and the external surface of an embedded object. The incorporation of the embedded object speeds formation of the final object and increases the durability of the final object.

Abstract: The present teachings describe a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly includes a first plate and a second plate stacked together. The printhead assembly includes a first adhesive between the first plate and the second plate for bonding the plates together. The printhead assembly includes a second adhesive surrounding an outer edge of the first adhesive wherein the second adhesive has an oxygen migration rate lower than an oxygen migration rate of the first adhesive. An oxygen sensitive component is contained within the outer edge of the first adhesive.

Abstract: A surface treatment system includes a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a surface treatment device that is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder with two types of surface treatments. The device is capable of producing a plasma or a flame at its nozzle for surface treatment. By controlling the materials supplied to the device and the way in which is operated, either a flame or plasma is produced. Thus, the surface treatment system is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by a direct-to-object printer.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The system includes an unwinder, a printing module and a rewinder. The unwinder is arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a printing module. The printing module includes a flood coater arranged to deposit a coating layer on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate. The rewinder is arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A method for evaluating curing in an ink composition comprises depositing an ink composition on the surface of an object via a direct-to-object inkjet printing system to form a film thereon, the ink composition comprising a photoinitiator capable of initiating a free radical polymerization process in the ink composition upon the absorption of light to cure the deposited film and a fluorophore capable of emitting viscosity-dependent fluorescence upon the absorption of light; exposing, in-situ, the deposited film to light generated by a first source of light under conditions which initiate the free radical polymerization process to cure the deposited film; exposing the cured film to light generated by a second source of light under conditions which induce fluorescence emission by the fluorophore in the cured film; measuring the fluorescence emission; and determining a degree of cure in the cured film from the measured fluorescence emission and predetermined calibration data.

Abstract: A method for evaluating curing in an ink composition comprises depositing an ink composition on the surface of an object via a direct-to-object inkjet printing system to form a film thereon, the ink composition comprising a photoinitiator capable of initiating a free radical polymerization process in the ink composition upon the absorption of light to cure the deposited film; exposing, in-situ, the deposited film to light generated by a first source of light under conditions which initiate the free radical polymerization process to cure the deposited film; exposing, in-situ, the cured film to light generated by a second source of light under conditions which induce light absorption by unreacted photoinitiator in the cured film; measuring the absorbance of the cured film; and determining a degree of cure in the cured film from the measured absorbance and predetermined calibration data.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a workflow method and system associated with a paper-based sensor. Specifically, provided is a paper-based sensor workflow including printing of customized security sensing information and bio-reagents to produce a paper-based sensor, applying a test material, such as, but not limited to, blood, to the paper-based sensor, capturing an image of the paper-based sensor and performing a colorimetric process; and performing one or more analytics to produce results associated with the test material.

Abstract: An adhesive compound can include an uncured epoxy film having a curing temperature between about 80° C. and about 300° C. The uncured epoxy film can include a cresol novolac epoxy resin and a bisphenol A epoxy resin. The uncured epoxy film can have a thickness between about 0.1 mil and about 5 mil.

Abstract: A direct-to-object printer includes an ultraviolet (UV) curing verification subsystem. The verification subsystem includes a ribbon that frictionally engages an image on an object that contains UV curable material. An imaging device generates image data of the ribbon that engaged the image and the image data is processed to determine whether any uncured UV material is present on the ribbon.

Abstract: A printer includes an ultraviolet (UV) curing device having UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) to cure UV curable inks ejected onto a surface after the surface travels past a plurality of printheads in the printer. A UV detector having UV sensors is positioned opposite the UV curing device so the UV sensors and UV LEDs are opposite one another in a one-to-one correspondence. A controller operates the UV curing device to direct UV light into the UV detector and receives electrical signals generated by the UV sensors. The controller compares these electrical signals to a predetermined threshold to identify defective LEDs in the UV curing device. The controller then determines how to move the UV curing device across the path of the surface to irradiate areas of the surface previously opposite the defective UV LEDs.

Abstract: A surface treatment system includes a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a surface treatment device that is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder with two types of surface treatments. The device is capable of producing a plasma or a flame at its nozzle for surface treatment. By controlling the materials supplied to the device and the way in which is operated, either a flame or plasma is produced. Thus, the surface treatment system is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by a direct-to-object printer.

Abstract: A surface treatment system includes a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a plurality of surface treatment devices. Each surface treatment device is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder differently than each of the other surface treatment devices in the plurality of surface treatment devices. A controller is configured to operate the surface treatment devices independently of one another so less than all of the devices can be operated to treat an object surface. Thus, the surface treatment system is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by a direct-to-object printer.

Abstract: A method for curing a three dimensional (3D) printed part is disclosed. For example, the method includes adding a layer of a build material, curing the layer of the build material using a first light source having a first wavelength, repeating the adding and the curing using the light source having the first wavelength for a predefined number of layers, adding a final top layer of the build material to form the 3D printed part and curing the final top layer of the build material using a second light source having a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength.