Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus for printing on a moving substrate (16) is described. The apparatus comprises ink jet printheads (4) for printing on a surface of the substrate, a plurality of rollers (12, 14) arranged to move the substrate (16) relative to the printheads (4), and a pressure source (22). The pressure source (22) is arranged to apply a negative gauge pressure (32) to the substrate (16). The application of the pressure can hold the substrate flat and can reduce undesired movement of the substrate relative to the rollers (12, 14). The apparatus allows for high quality full colour images to be printed onto substrates in a single pass using an ink jet printer.

Abstract: In an inkjet device for containing, degassing and supplying ink, gas is supplied to a container for the ink so that the gas bubbles through the ink in the container. A controller controls a gas supplying means to operate in at least two modes including a degassing mode in which the pressure in the container is at a degassing pressure and the gas supplying means is controlled to supply the gas at a pressure above the degassing pressure to bubble through the ink, and an ink supplying mode in which the container is at an ink delivery pressure. In preferred examples, the ink container is arranged for supplying ink to a printhead; using the degassing arrangement, the formation of bubbles in the ink at the printhead can be reduced.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is adapted for printing on a printing surface of a three-dimensional object 12. The apparatus comprises an inkjet printhead 14 having a plurality of nozzles, and being operative to effect relative movement of the printhead and the object, during printing, with a rotational component about an axis of rotation and with a linear component, in which the linear component is at least partially in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of rotation and wherein the nozzle pitch of the printhead is greater than the grid pitch to be printed onto the printing surface in the nozzle row direction. In preferred examples, a substantially helical path is printed on the surface and improved ink jet printing of three dimensional objects can be achieved.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is adapted for printing on a printing surface of a three-dimensional object 12. The apparatus comprises an inkjet printhead 14 having a plurality of nozzles, and being operative to effect relative movement of the printhead and the object, during printing, with a rotational component about an axis of rotation and with a linear component, in which the linear component is at least partially in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of rotation and wherein the nozzle pitch of the printhead is greater than the grid pitch to be printed onto the printing surface in the nozzle row direction. In preferred examples, a substantially helical path is printed on the surface and improved ink jet printing of three dimensional objects can be achieved.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing a mixed batch of consumer products without the use of a mechanical mixer to carry out the mixing. An image sequencing means is provided which sequences images to be printed by a digitally-controlled printhead. Varying images are placed on consumer products or parts thereof—e.g. cigarette cards—as those products or parts of products pass under the printhead at a point in the production line. The consumer products, once assembled, are packaged directly from the production line to form mixed batches of product—without an additional mixing step.