Abstract: A thermal printhead (TPH) is positioned to selectively preheat a blanket surface such as an arbitrarily reimageable surface of a variable lithography system. The blanket then immediately passes through a chamber containing dampening solution vapor. The vapor condenses only where the blanket has not been heated, thus developing an image ready for inking.

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 switchable mirror system and method includes a laser imaging module including one or more lasers and one or more DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices), and a switchable mirror component located in a path upstream from the DMD (or DMDs) to direct a laser from the DMD when there is pause in a printing operation facilitated by said laser imaging module. A non-mechanical and electronic switchable mirror is thus located in the laser path between an LDA (Laser Diode Array) and a DMD to divert energy out of the system and away from the DMD during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or power down the laser system.

Abstract: A laser imaging system and method for printing includes a digital micromirror device and a switchable mirror element that acts as a clear lens element during the printing by the laser imaging system. A laser diode array provides a laser to the switchable mirror element in a laser path, wherein the switchable mirror element is located in the laser path between the laser diode array and the digital micromirror device to divert energy out of the system and away from the digital micromirror device during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or powering down the laser system.

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 sheet stacking system is disclosed that has improved tolerance for sheets that are not flat. Successive sheets are aligned onto a stack by a plurality of registration belts. The heights of the pivoting registration belts are compared with one another to determine the unevenness of the top of the stack. This unevenness is represented by the difference between the heights of the highest and lowest registration belt ?stack-height and is monitored to quantify the planarity of the top of the stack. When the unevenness (?stack-height) exceeds a threshold, the system switches to a modified method to control the elevation of the stack. This method may include stopping the machine from stacking before the unevenness is too large for the registration belts to uniformly drive sheets. This invention prevents the stacker from attempting to stack when sheets are expected to skew thereby preventing jams and unusable stacks.

Abstract: A temperature control system, the system comprising a cooling block configured to be in conductive communication with a heat source, said cooling block comprising a stem and a base, a cooling fluid configured to circulate through the base of the cooling block, and an electrical barrier formed in the base of the cooling block between the heat source and the cooling fluid.

Abstract: A method for applying flame treatments to a print surface on an object in an inkjet printer includes activating a hydrogen torch within the inkjet printer to generate a flame through a nozzle of the hydrogen torch and operating an actuator to move at least one of the print surface or the nozzle in a predetermined direction to apply the flame from the nozzle to the print surface. The method further includes adjusting a rate of fuel flow to the nozzle of the hydrogen torch to change a thermal output level of the flame with reference to a change in distance between the nozzle of the hydrogen torch and the print surface during the operating of the actuator.

Abstract: A switchable mirror system and method includes a laser imaging module including one or more lasers and one or more DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices), and a switchable mirror component located in a path upstream from the DMD (or DMDs) to direct a laser from the DMD when there is pause in a printing operation facilitated by said laser imaging module. A non-mechanical and electronic switchable mirror is thus located in the laser path between an LDA (Laser Diode Array) and a DMD to divert energy out of the system and away from the DMD during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or power down the laser system.

Abstract: A laser imaging system and method for printing includes a digital micromirror device and a switchable mirror element that acts as a clear lens element during the printing by the laser imaging system. A laser diode array provides a laser to the switchable mirror element in a laser path, wherein the switchable mirror element is located in the laser path between the laser diode array and the digital micromirror device to divert energy out of the system and away from the digital micromirror device during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or powering down the laser system.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the second surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate p

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.

Abstract: A laser imaging system and method. In an example embodiment, one or more laser diode arrays are associated with a digital micro-mirror device. A shutter-like device can be positioned upstream in the light path of the laser diode array (or arrays) such that the shutter-like device diverts energy out of the laser imaging system and away from the digital micro-mirror device during periods of extended non-imaging. A homogenizer module can be provided wherein the shutter-like device is located.

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: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a sensor array arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A cooling control system and method comprise a power meter for measuring a power of a laser, a temperature controller configured to adjust a temperature of fluid circulating through a cooling block, and a chip connected to the cooling block wherein the temperature controller regulates said temperature of the coolant in order to prevent the chip from overheating or from developing condensation on the chip.

Abstract: This invention in the field of grain drying, along with other particulates, provides an apparatus which dehumidifies air, then heats the air to relative low drying temperatures (95-160 Deg. F.), provides the dehumidified, heated air as process air to a system which uses the airflow as a transport method to fluidize the particulate matter and move the mixed process air and particles through a process column for drying. Once a particle reaches a designed moisture level, its mass will have been reduced, and that effect plus the velocity of the process air in the column will float the dried particle up and out of the column for further handling.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the first surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate pr

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A real-time surface energy treatment system for a printable substrate including a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the printable substrate to enhance wetting and adhesion of an ink to the printable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to measure at least one print quality characteristic of the ink on the substrate, and a system control in communication with the surface energy modification device and the full width array sensor and arranged to adjust an input power to the surface energy modification device based on the at least one print quality characteristic.