Abstract: A method for making labels comprising providing a plastic substrate layer and a paper substrate layer. The paper substrate layer comprises a printed display information sheet, wherein the printed display information sheet comprises a plurality of display information tags arranged in an array. The plastic substrate layer is coupled to each of the rows of display information tags within a first portion of the display information tags to form a composite substrate row. A first line of perforations is cut into a width of the composite substrate at one or more first spaced intervals, a length of the first spaced intervals being defined by a length of the display information tags. A a second line of perforations is cut into a width of the composite substrate at one or more second spaced intervals, a length of the second spaced intervals being defined by a height of the display information tags.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a technique that effects spot gloss or gloss control and/or variations on one image without requiring clear inks. This is preferably accomplished by use of a multilayer printing process in which an image is first printed using a first set of color print heads and then cured, and in which the image is again printed using a second set of color print head, but where the image remains uncured for a predetermined interval to allow the ink drops applied to the media to spread and thus introduce a gloss effect.

Abstract: A method of applying labels to a store shelf in a retail environment. The method includes applying labels with adhesive strips applied to a bottom surface of each label and a top laminate layer with a release coating applied to the top surface of each label. The labels in the pad are sequenced according to a store's planogram.

Abstract: A single dual-sided product placement and information strip includes a first side with product information for consumers and a second side with product placement information for placing products on a display shelf. The dual-sided product placement and information strip enables information necessary for consumers to be printed on the first (consumer-facing) side and information that assists stockers to place products on shelves to be printed on the second (opposing) side. Also disclosed are systems and methods for formatting and printing the dual-sided product placement and information strips. The single dual-sided product placement and information strip may be printed alone or in a single sheet along with one or more other dual-sided product placement and information strips.

Abstract: Systems and methods of applying a gaseous inhibitor into a printing region to hinder the curing process of ink on the print heads caused by the presence of stray light in the printing environment.

Abstract: Apparatuses and embodiments related to compensated laser cutting of labels. A computer system receives an image of a label, and rasterizes the image. The computer system determines how much of each type of printer ink of a label printer to deposit at each pixel location of the image. The computer system determines which pixels intersect a cut line, and determines the characteristics of the ink of the pixels, such as the quantity or thickness of the ink at the pixel locations. The computer system determines laser data including power, cut speed, and/or frequency of a laser that is tuned to accurately cut through the ink that forms the image, the material(s) of the label, and the adhesive that removably adheres the label to base material(s), but to not excessively damage the base material(s). A laser cutting system uses the laser data to control a laser.

Abstract: A transparent white ink composition is formulated to brighten, lighten and or dilute full-tone primary inkjet colors: cyan; magenta; yellow and black, eliminating the need for ‘light ink’ primary color inks. The transparent white ink is jetted concurrently with reduced amounts of full-tone inks in lighter tonal areas conventionally supported by ‘light ink’ primary inks. Printing ‘light ink’ primary colors using a transparent white ink composition may reduce the number of print channels needed to print all four primary colors and the four ‘light ink’ primary colors. Embodiments of the transparent white ink composition may be solvent- or water-based, drying by evaporation of the carrier fluid. Other embodiments may be radiation-curable ink compositions. An inkjet printer includes print carriage and print head assemblies configured for jetting a primary color ink and the transparent white ink in the same pass in correct proportions to achieve a desired effect.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system for generating a unitary ink tank with a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The system includes a processor configured to execute computer instructions that control 3D printing of an ink tank for a printer system. The system further includes a 3D printer coupled to the processor and configured to, based on the computer instructions, print the ink tank in accordance with a selective laser sintering process that sinters a powdered nylon material to form the ink tank as a unitary that includes a network of passageways configured to route ink of the printer system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an industrial single-pass inkjet printer/press incorporating an line-scan camera. The line-scan camera enables system software to inspect every sheet for quality assurance purposes. These inspection results are tied back to a digital printer to take one or more of several possible actions. Actions include ensuring a particular number of acceptable prints are generated and sorted. Actions further include performing nozzle checks without pausing or interrupting production orders.

Abstract: Techniques for more accurately and efficiently replicating the alignment of one or more printer components with respect to another printer component are described herein. Replication may be achieved by using a fixture and a connection media to create a near exact replica of features of the fixture, or to temporarily hold multiple printer components in position while a joining layer of the connection media hardens. More specifically, a connection media, such as epoxy, can be used to fill an intentionally-established gap between connecting bodies or components that are held in a predetermined position by the replication fixture. The replication fixture represents a mechanical mounting interface that influences the position of a print head (or an array of print heads) within a printer housing or printing mechanism. Joining printer components in such a manner enables a stable mechanical coupling to be formed that does not require post operations.

Abstract: In a color printing environment, functions for printing color management are dissociated. An abstraction layer is also provided to facilitate setting and evaluation of all factors relating to color print and prediction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention involve printing a ceramic or metal oxide pigmented ink onto asphalt, bitumen, or rubberoid backed roofing materials. Additionally, embodiments of the invention allow for adhesion of the ink to TPO and PVC roofing substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to low odor radiation curable ink compositions. The composition comprises 10-40% w/w of 4-hydrobutylacrylate, 5-25% of a urethane (math)acrylate oligomer, 10-55% of diacrylates, one or more photoinitiators, one or more additives, and one or more pigments. The composition excludes many monofunctional monomers that have distinct odor and are commonly used in an ink jet composition.

Abstract: A UV curable inkjet ink composition includes a monofunctional urethane acrylate component consisting of 5-50% by weight of the ink composition, the monofunctional urethane acrylate component comprising either of a monomer and an oligomer; a monomer component consisting of 10-80% by weight of ink composition; a photoinitiator component consisting of 1-15% by weight of ink composition; and an oligomer component, consisting of no more than 20% by weight of the ink composition, in addition to the monofunctional urethane acrylate component if the monofunctional urethane acrylate component is an oligomer.

Abstract: Mechanisms for adjusting the position of one or more print heads at an extremely fine resolution (e.g., less than 10 ?m) are described herein. The adjustment mechanisms include a differential screw and an indexing wheel through which the differential screw extends. One threaded segment of the differential screw is connected to a threaded feature of a flexible body that is coupled to the print head(s), while another threaded segment of the differential screw is connected to a threaded feature of a rigid body that is coupled to a printer assembly. As the indexing wheel and differential screw rotate, the space between the flexible body and the rigid body changes based on the difference between the pitches of the threaded segments. The adjustment mechanisms described herein utilize the accurate, consistent motion of the flexible body upon experiencing pressure to effect predictable changes in the position of the print head(s).

Abstract: Techniques for interactively determining/visualizing the color content of a source image and how the corresponding image data is mapped to device colors are described herein. For example, the color content of a digital image can be converted between different color spaces to identify gamut limitations of an output device (e.g., a printing assembly), discover color(s) that cannot be accurately reproduced, etc. Color space conversions enable the transformation of the color content of the digital image from device-specific colorants to a device-independent representation (and vice versa). In some embodiments, these transformations are facilitated using lookup tables that are implemented in graphical processing unit-resident memory.

Abstract: White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, such as inkjet inks, for jetting onto a ceramic substrate, and associated methods and systems. The compositions comprise a pigment compound that is configured to be jetted on a ceramic substrate during a ceramic inkjet process to impart a color effect to the ceramic substrate, and a reduction agent which, when exposed to a firing temperature, reacts with the pigment compound to cause a reduction reaction. In some embodiments, the pigment compound comprises jettable copper particles, which can cause the fired composition to take on a red or oxblood color, which can be used for decoration.

Abstract: Individually controllable ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to cure ink and generate different effects. The UV LEDs only expose specified areas to generate the different effect and can create multiple effects on the same substrate by exposing different areas to varying amounts of time or by performing a curing stage and post-dosage curing stages. The different effects include generating a glossy surface, a matte surface, and sharper images.