Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a principal substance applies the principal substance onto a surface and deposits drops of a gating agent onto a first portion of the principal substance applied to the first surface. The depositing of each drop of gating agent is individually controlled. A second portion of the principal substance not covered by the gating agent is transferred from the first surface to a second surface. A printing system adapted to transfer principal substance from a first surface to a second surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing system includes an inkjet cartridge, an ink reservoir, and a reversible pump. A method and system of operating the printing system are providing in which first fluid line couples the ink reservoir and an input port of the inkjet cartridge. A second fluid line couples the reversible pump and an output port of the inkjet cartridge. The reversible pump is operated in a first direction to supply ink from the ink reservoir to the ink jet cartridge via the first fluid line. The reversible pump is a second direction to supply ink from the ink reservoir to the inkjet cartridge via the second fluid line. The reversible pump is operated in the first direction and the second direction repeatedly and sequentially for a predetermined duration.

Abstract: A method of processing an electronic version of a variable document for a recipient includes the steps of receiving the electronic version of the variable document for the recipient and rasterizing the electronic version into one or more rasterized images, wherein each rasterized image is assigned a unique identifier. The method further includes the step of generating a run instance for the recipient, wherein the run instance includes the unique identifiers of the one or more rasterized images.

Abstract: A printing system includes a print unit and a cleaning unit. The print unit comprises a carrier for a plurality of inkjet cartridges. The cleaning unit includes a wiping unit, a cleaning bay, and a wiper washer unit. The wiping unit includes wiper blades and the wiper washer unit includes a plurality of spray nozzles that spray a fluid. A controller is adapted to transport the carrier into the cleaning bay, transport the wiping units such that the wiper blades clean the inkjet cartridges, and actuate the spray nozzles to wash the wiper blades. The carrier may be positioned in the cleaning bay when the inkjet cartridges are not used for printing and the controller controls at least one of humidity and temperature in the cleaning bay when the carrier plate is positioned therein.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a gating agent that blocks the substance from or attracts the substance to the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the gating agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The gating agent composition includes a nonionic surfactant, and water. The gating agent composition does not contain a discernable amount of dye, pigment or other colorant agent.

Abstract: A method for printing a print medium applies ink to a surface and ejects drops of an aqueous solution onto the print medium to define image and non-image areas. The ejection of each drop is individually controlled. Ink from the surface is transferred to the image areas of the print medium. Methods of printing on a web and for printing a printed sheet output of a press are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a gating agent that blocks the substance from the substrate. The methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the gating agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The gating agent composition includes a nonionic surfactant, and water. The gating agent composition does not contain a discernable amount of dye, pigment or other colorant agent.

Abstract: A drying unit includes a frame having an air box mounted thereon, wherein the air box includes an intake port and an exhaust port. A plurality of rollers define a web path within the frame and a heat source is removably attached to the frame, wherein removal of the heat source does not require removal of a web from the web path.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that helps determine the association of a substance with the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The substance may be biological substance or a chemical in nature.

Abstract: A system for managing a job in accordance with a job specification and job content includes a database that stores device information and a configuration engine. The configuration engine is responsive to the job specification and the database and identifies one or more device configurations that are capable of producing the job. The system also includes a controller that is responsive to a selection from the one or more device configurations to produce a command stream in a format compatible with the selection.

Abstract: A method of printing a printed output of a press comprising ink on a print medium applies ink to a surface, places individually controlled drops of aqueous solution onto the print medium in a drop pattern, and transfers ink from the surface to areas of the print medium that are free of aqueous solution to produce the printed output of the press. A method of variable printing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for printing a page designated by a page description language representation has a first print unit for printing a color on a first portion of the substrate and a second print unit for printing the color on a second portion of the substrate. A first RIP determines and rasterizes the first portion of the page description language representation to generate a first raster image representation that is used by the first print unit to print a first portion of the page on the first portion of the substrate. A second RIP determines and rasterizes the second portion of the page description language representation to generate a second raster image representation that is used by the second print unit to print a second portion of the page on the second portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that blocks the substance from or attracts the principal substance to the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The principal substance may be an ink, a dye, a marking substance other than an ink, or a carrier for any other type of substance.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that blocks the substance from or attracts the principal substance to the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The principal substance may be an ink, a dye, a marking substance other than an ink, or a carrier for any other type of substance.

Abstract: Methods for high-speed printing include deposition of individual drops of an aqueous solution on top of a hydrophobic ink applied to a print cylinder. The methods further include stripping away the ink from the area of the cylinder not covered by the aqueous solution and transferring the ink covered by the aqueous solution to a print medium.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed sheet output of a printing press uses an aqueous solution, an ink, and an input sheet. The method applies aqueous solution to the input sheet to form a non-image area and an image area thereon, and contacts the non-image and image areas of the input sheet with ink. Ink is transferred substantially only to the image area to produce the printed sheet output of the printing press. A method of producing a printed web of a printing press is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for printing a print medium applies ink to a surface and ejects drops of an aqueous solution onto the print medium to define image and non-image areas. The ejection of each drop is individually controlled. Ink from the surface is transferred to the image areas of the print medium. Methods of printing on a web and for printing a printed sheet output of a press are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing and distributing printed product applies aqueous solution to a print medium to define non-image and image areas of the print medium, and contacts the non-image area and the image area with ink. Ink is transferred substantially only to the image area of the print medium to produce the printed product. The printed product is distributed to an end user.

Abstract: A printing system deposits a principal substance on a surface and further deposits a gating agent on selectable portions of a print medium. A portion of the principal substance is transferred from the surface to the print medium after the gating agent is applied thereto. The gating agent substantially determines where the principal substance is deposited onto the print medium. A production system and method are also disclosed, as is a production apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a principal substance applies the principal substance onto a surface and deposits drops of a gating agent onto a first portion of the principal substance applied to the first surface. The depositing of each drop of gating agent is individually controlled. A second portion of the principal substance not covered by the gating agent is transferred from the first surface to a second surface. A printing system adapted to transfer principal substance from a first surface to a second surface is also disclosed.