Abstract: Color separations of a printing image are aligned on a printing material perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing material. A front edge and a rear edge of a register mark are detected. Their distances and, at least in some regions, their widths along the traveled distance of the transport belt between the detection of the front edge and of the rear edge of the register mark are determined. Misalignments of the imaging devices used for the color separations are determined and corrected using these distances and widths.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the process sequence in a printing machine. Another object of the present invention is to increase the operational life of the printing machine. A method has been provided for transporting printing material (9) through a printing machine in which, in case of an occurrence of paper jam in the transport path (2), a flap (5) in the transport path (2) is actuated and a sheet of printing material (9) is transported along the flap (5) out of the transport path (2). Furthermore, a transport arrangement (1) for transporting printing material (9) along a transport path (2) in a printing machine is provided, comprising at least one transport path flap (5) actuated by a control arrangement (20) for opening and closing, and comprising an associated container (8) for receiving waste printing material when said flap (5) is open.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing replenishing of an inventory for serviceable equipment that requires fewer orders of replacement parts and resulting shipments from the provider of the parts to the inventory location by tracking parts in accordance with a predefined parameter to estimate current and future needs of the serviceable equipment.

Abstract: A heating device for heating at least one printing agent on a printing material which is moved along a transport path through said heating device includes a microwave applicator. A microwave absorber element is located in an outer perimeter of the microwave applicator. The microwave absorber element is an irradiation device that absorbs microwave radiation and emits electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation can be applied to the printing agent or the printing material.

Abstract: By using a high or low viscosity transparent toner, with respect to the other color toners, and different amounts of transparent toner lay-down, the gloss of an image printed by an electrophotographic device may be adjusted. By also applying the transparent toner as a negative mask, the differential gloss of the image may be reduced while still adjusting the gloss of certain portions of the image. Further, because different gloss levels may appear different at different viewing angles, transparent toner may be laid down to encode a transparent image within the image being printed. Such a transparent image may be useful as, for example, an authentication means for a document. Additionally, by varying the gloss levels on particular aspects of a printed image, multiple images of different gloss levels, which are prominent at different viewing angles can be made, thereby, a three-dimensional image effect can be achieved on the printed page.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data representing a color separation or mono-color image includes processing the color separation image data or mono-color image data in accordance with first and second or more halftone screen processings at different screen angles and obtaining results of the processings and combining the results of the processings to generate composite image data of the first and second or more halftone screen processings. The resulting print of the composite image data forms relatively pleasing rosettes or diamond structures in the particular color.

Abstract: In an apparatus for printing images on a moving primary imaging member by jetting ink, containing a fluid and marking particles, in an image-wise fashion onto the primary imaging member, a device for concentrating the ink prior to transferring a marking particle image to a receiver member. The ink concentrating device includes a fractionating unit for separating fluid of the ink from the marking particles. The fractionating unit is located a predetermined spaced distance from the primary image bearing member. An electrostatic field is established between the primary image bearing member and the fractionating unit for concentrating the marking particles in the liquid of the ink.

Abstract: A high speed digital printing apparatus having an imaging member, an ink jet head capable of image-wise jetting ink onto the imaging member, a mechanism for fractionating such image-wise ink on the imaging member to remove liquid therefrom, an intermediate transfer member onto which such image-wise ink is transferred from the imaging member, and a transfer member forming a nip with the intermediate transfer member for transferring a liquid-depleted image-wise ink to a receiver. An ink suitable for use in the printing press apparatus is formed by dispersing an ink concentrate with a suitable solvent.

Abstract: An ink jet device selectively ejects droplets of non-marking liquid ink into cells of a printing member in a desired latent negative image pattern. Certain cells of the printing member are filled with pigmented ink to create a desired image. An electrical bias is applied for fractionating pigment in the pigmented ink from liquid and transferring an image-wise pigmented ink pattern from the printing member to a receiving member, leaving behind a substantial portion of liquid. The receiver can be an intermediate member whereby the image-wise ink pattern is transferred from the intermediate member to a final receiver, while such receiver is in operative association with said intermediate member.

Abstract: Toner images applied on the first-side and on the second-side of a substrate are fixed together by microwaves, by being heated to a final fixing temperature, and that the toner image applied on the first-side is prefixed by microwaves before a toner image on the second-side is applied, with the toner image of the first-side being heated to a prefixing temperature that is lower than the final fixing temperature.

Abstract: A tandem color electrostatographic printer apparatus has five or more color printing stations or modules for applying respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a pentachrome color image in a single pass. A fuser station fuses the pentachrome color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused pentachrome toner image and enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser to improve color gamut.

Abstract: A method for producing a replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve and an outside topcoat applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a machine mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser section of the electrophotographic copying machine. The method includes the use of a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the sleeve to support the sleeve during positioning of a cured base cushion layer around the sleeve and a cured topcoat layer over the cured base material.

Abstract: Forming a multicolor image on a receiver member wherein a database of custom color profiles based on substrate physical properties and printing process characteristics is established. A set of universal color profiles is determined based on physical properties of substrates from clustered custom profiles. One universal color profile is assigned to a target substrate from the set of universal color profiles based on objective or subjective feedback. Thereafter, a multicolor toner image is formed on the receiver member with toners of at least three different colors of toner pigments which form various combinations of colors at different pixel locations on the receiver member to form the multicolor toner image thereon using the assigned one color profile. Based on objective or subjective feedback, the selected one universal color profile is modified, or a different universal color profile is selected.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-quality printed image in a printing machine. To achieve this, a method for adjusting a fusing device 100 of a digital printing machine has been provided, in which case microwave signals of a specific frequency or frequency range are directed at a printing material 5, a change between the microwave signals reflected by the printing material and the emitted microwave signals is detected, and in which case the fusing device is adjusted based on the change between said microwave signals. Furthermore, a measuring device 20 for a printing machine is provided, said device preferably being used for carrying out the said method, whereby the measuring device is configured so as to detect a change between a microwave signal reflected by the printing material 5 and a microwave signal directed at said printing material.

Abstract: A method for controlling the thickness and uniformity of a dip coated layer, using a coating apparatus under conditions of controlled temperature and controlled low humidity, includes the following steps: under normal coating conditions of ambient temperature and relative humidity, forming on a metal substrate having a thickness of at least about 500 microns a series of coated layers using variations in coating solution viscosity m, coating substrate withdrawal speed v, capillary number Ca, coating solution surface tension S, and boiling point bp (a correlative of evaporation rate) of the coating solution solvent, a coated layer including at least a portion of uniform thickness T(even) and, optionally, a portion of non-uniform thickness L(uneven); statistically analyzing measurements carried out on the series of coated layers and generating the constants, a, b, c, d, and e for Equations 2, 3, and 4: T(even)=a+b(m*v) ??(Equation 2) L(uneven)=c+d*(v*bp)+e*(Ca*bp) ??(Equation 3) v(even)=?c/bp*(d+e*m/S) ??(Equ

Abstract: A method for controlling the thickness and uniformity of a dip coated layer, using a coating apparatus in a normal coating environment, includes the following steps: forming under normal coating conditions of ambient temperature and relative humidity a series of coated layers on a metal substrate having a thickness of at least about 500 microns, using variations in coating solution viscosity m, coating substrate withdrawal speed v, capillary number Ca, coating solution surface tension S, and boiling point bp (a correlative of evaporation rate)of the coating solution solvent, a coated layer including at least a portion of uniform thickness T(even) and, optionally, a portion of non-uniform thickness L (uneven); statistically analyzing measurements carried out on the series of coated layers and generating the constants, a, b, c, d, and e for Equations 2, 3, and 4: T(even)=a+b(m*v) ??(Equation 2) L(uneven)=c+d*(v*bp)+e*(Ca*bp) ??(Equation 3) v(even)=?c/bp*(d+e*m/S) ??(Equation 4) using Equation 4, determining

Abstract: Treating a transport mechanism (5) for transporting print material (2) in a printing press (1) that uses toner in which oil-bearing substances (27) adhere to the transport mechanism (5). A cleaning device (30) is provided with at least one cleaning element (33) movable relative to the surface of the transport mechanism (5) for application of at least one oil-repelling substance (37) that reduces the adherence of the oil-bearing substances (27) to the transport mechanism (5). Accordingly, this cleaning element (33) can strip the surface of the transport mechanism (5) of oil-bearing substances (27).

Abstract: A microwave fuser device for heating printing matter in a reproduction apparatus with microwave energy from a suitable microwave source. The microwave fuser device supplies microwave energy through the bottom of a multi-channel resonator including a gap to enable transport of printing matter therethrough. The device includes a power splitter having plural channels for dividing microwave energy from the microwave source between the channels of the multi-channel resonator. The power splitter has a mechanism to provide variable geometry of its plural channels, whereby the effective width of microwave energy from the resonator of the microwave fuser device can be matched to the width of such printed matter having an image fused thereto substantially preventing undesirable high loss of energy and low yield.

Abstract: A tandem color electrostatographic printer apparatus has five or more color printing stations or modules for applying respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a pentachrome color image in a single pass. A fuser station fuses the pentachrome color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused pentachrome toner image and enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser to improve color gamut.

Abstract: A system and method for selective color-correction when applying three-dimensional texture to a printed substrate hinges either on a metric that is elicited from the image, or as determined by an operator. The metric may be associated with the human visual acuity curve for textural information. Other textural metrics may also be used.