Abstract: An indirect printing system comprising an intermediate transfer member (ITM) and an image forming station at which droplets of ink are applied to the ITM to form ink images thereon, the image forming station including a first print bar including a first plurality of print heads and having mounted thereon a first blowing mechanism for introducing a first gas flow, having a first flow rate, into a gap between the first plurality of print heads and the ITM, and a second print bar including a second plurality of print heads and having mounted thereon a second blowing mechanism for introducing a second gas flow, having a second flow rate, into a gap between the second plurality of print heads and the ITM, the second print bar being disposed downstream of the first print bar, the second flow rate being greater than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A printing system is described that has an intermediate transfer member in the form of a seamed endless belt for transporting an ink image from an image forming station, at which an ink image is deposited on the intermediate transfer member, to an impression station, where the ink image is transferred onto a printing substrate. The belt has along its edges formations of a greater thickness than the belt. The formations are received in channels to guide the belt and maintain the belt under lateral tension. Two drive members are provided, each located within a respective one of the channels. The two drive members are connected for movement in synchronism with one another and each has a respective laterally projecting gripper shaped for form locking engagement with the formations on a leading end of a strip from which the intermediate transfer member is to be formed.

Abstract: Disclosed are curable polymer compositions, elastomers thereof and release layers useful in the art of printing made of the disclosed elastomers. Disclosed are also intermediate transfer members having a release layer useful in the art of printing. Disclosed are anisotropic intermediate transfer members. Disclosed are curable adhesive compositions, that in some embodiments are useful in preparing intermediate transfer members useful in printing. Also disclosed are intermediate transfer members useful in the art of printing having a release layer with an image transfer surface having protonatable functional groups apparent thereupon. Also disclosed are methods of making such intermediate transfer members.

Abstract: An aqueous treatment composition for ITM (Intermediate transfer member) of a printing system and a method of printing comprising the step of applying said treatment composition to the surface of an ITM, wherein said treatment composition comprising: at least 3% wt quaternary ammonium salt, at least 1% wt water soluble polymer, and at least 65% wt water. Also disclosed, a printing system comprising a an ITM and treatment station for forming a thin layer of liquid treatment formulation on the ITM surface.

Abstract: An indirect printing system is disclosed having an intermediate transfer member (ITM) in the form of an endless belt that circulates during operation to transport ink images from an image forming station. Ink images are deposited on an outer surface of the ITM by one or a plurality of print bars. At an impression station, the ink images are transferred from the outer surface of the ITM onto a printing substrate. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the ITM 20 is maintained within the image forming station at a predetermined distance from the one or each of the print bars 10, 12, 14 and 16 by means of a plurality of support rollers 11, 13, 15, 17 that have a common flat tangential plane and contact the inner surface of the ITM.

Abstract: A printing system and method are provided. The printing system includes an image forming station for temporarily deposit an image on an intermediate transfer member when the intermediate transfer member in the image forming station is in a first temperature range. The system further includes a drying station configured to increase a temperature of the intermediate transfer member from a first temperature in the first temperature range to a second temperature in a second temperature range, the second temperature being substantially higher than the first temperature. The system further includes an impression station configured to transfer the temporarily deposited image from the intermediate transfer member onto a substrate when the intermediate transfer member in the impression station is in the second temperature range. The system further includes a cooling station for retaining a coolant configured to revert the intermediate transfer member to a temperature in the first temperature.

Abstract: A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path.

Abstract: A system printing comprises: a movable intermediate transfer member in the form of a flexible, substantially inextensible, belt guided to follow a closed path, an image forming station for forming an ink image, a drying station for drying the ink image to leave an ink residue film, first and second impression stations spaced from one another in the direction of movement of the belt, each impression station comprising an impression cylinder for supporting and transporting a substrate and a pressure cylinder for urging the belt against the substrate supported on the impression cylinder, and a transport system including a perfecting system for selectively inverting the substrate during transportation between the two impression stations; and a treatment station situated between the second impression station and the image forming station, the treatment station configured to apply a treatment agent comprising polyethylenimine (PEI) to pre-treat the belt.

Abstract: A printing system for printing on a substrate. In embodiments, the system comprises: a movable intermediate transfer member in the form of a flexible, substantially inextensible, thin belt whose compressible layer has a thickness of at most 400 micrometers, the belt being guided to follow a closed path, an image forming station for depositing ink droplets onto an outer surface of the belt to form an ink image, a drying station for drying the ink image to leave an ink residue film, first and second impression stations spaced from one another in the direction of movement of the belt, each impression station comprising an impression cylinder for supporting and transporting the substrate and a pressure cylinder carrying a thick compressible blanket for urging the belt against the substrate supported on the impression cylinder, a thickness of the compressible blanket being at least 1 mm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques whereby sufficient compensation is provided to counteract the deleterious effects of a malfunctioning nozzle (i.e. which might create a white streak within the printed ink image) in a manner that is faithful to/harmonious with the underlying AM or FM screening. In this manner, it is possible to minimize the negative impact a failed or malfunctioning nozzle has upon the printed ink image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to control apparatus and methods of a printing system, for example, comprising an intermediate transfer member (ITM) and to user-related features of a printing system. Some embodiments relate to regulation of a velocity and/or tension and/or length of the ITM. Some embodiments relate to regulation of deposition of ink on the moving ITM. Some embodiments regulate to apparatus configured to alert a user of one or more events related to operation of the ITM. Some embodiments relate to a time-line GUI for visualizing and/or manipulating queued print jobs which may be employed. Some embodiments relate to a reversed augmented reality GUI for visualization and/or control of the printing system. In some embodiments, a display screen is mounted to a printer housing and/or able to control access to moving parts of a printing system.

Abstract: Printing an image, using a printing system having a malfunctioning or inoperative nozzle corresponding to a column of affected positions in a half-toned digital image, includes modifying the half-toned digital image, using a pre-print digital processor of the printing system to compute a modified version of the half-toned digital image, such that droplet sizes are increased only in the two neighboring columns and according to a value of a compensation function, and printing the modified half-toned digital image on the target surface. Values of the threshold-based compensation function are based on a luminance-debt function defined by an iterative row-by-consecutive-row computation procedure, where for each iteration step the luminance-debt function is re-calculated according to data representing the ink values of affected positions and data representing the instant value of the compensation function.

Abstract: A system comprising a processor configured to: provide a master Three-Dimensional (3D) scene; insert at least one source video feed into at least one position within the master 3D scene, allowing a configuration in which at least a first part of the master 3D scene is in front of the source video feed and at least a second part of the master 3D scene is behind the source video feed; and generate a combined video of the master 3D scene with the at least one source video feed inserted therein.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed which includes a plurality of rollers configured to support and move a loop-shaped, flexible intermediate transfer member of at least 10 meters in length along a printing system path. The printing system further includes an image forming station configured to form an image on a portion of the intermediate transfer member, and an impression station configured to enable substantial transfer of the deposited image to a substrate. The printing system also includes at least one high-speed motor associated with the plurality of rollers and configured to move the loop-shaped flexible intermediate transfer member at a speed of at least about one meter per second. Moreover, the printing system includes guiding channels configured for exerting a lateral tensioning force on the loop-shaped intermediate transfer member as it is received within the guiding channels and circulates at the speed of at least about one meter per second.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method of measuring a magnitude of a yaw angle of print head(s) or of a supporting print-bar thereof relative to cross-print direction. In some embodiments, a 1D-representation (1D-rep) of an ink-calibration image is transformed into the frequency domain (e.g. by FFT) characterized by peak profile. The yaw angle magnitude may be computed from relative energies of a primary and secondary peak of the peak profile of the frequency domain.

Abstract: A printing system is described that has an intermediate transfer member in the form of a seamed endless belt for transporting an ink image from an image forming station, at which an ink image is deposited on the intermediate transfer member, to an impression station, where the ink image is transferred onto a printing substrate. The belt has along its edges formations of a greater thickness than the belt. The formations are received in channels to guide the belt and maintain the belt under lateral tension. Two drive members are provided, each located within a respective one of the channels. The two drive members are connected for movement in synchronism with one another and each has a respective laterally projecting gripper shaped for form locking engagement with the formations on a leading end of a strip from which the intermediate transfer member is to be formed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for printing multi-level and multi-color digital image are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, first and second level AM half-tone screens are respectively applied to first and second multi-level color-components of the multi-level and multi-color input digital image to respectively generate first and second target binary images. The first and second target binary images are printed respectively using first and second inks (e.g. of different colors) onto a common surface. Specific properties of the AM half-tone screens as well as techniques for producing the AM half-tone screens are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the techniques overcome objectionable textures derived from rounding errors in divisional of conventional AM supercells.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member (ITM) for use in a printing system to transport an ink image from an image forming station to an impression station for transfer of the ink image from the ITM onto a printing substrate, wherein the ITM is an endless flexible belt of substantially uniform width which, during use, passes over drive and guide rollers and is guided through at least the image forming station by means of guide channels that receive formations provided on both lateral edges of the belt, wherein the formations on a first edge differ from the formations on the second edge by being configured for providing the elasticity desired to maintain the belt taut when the belt is guided through their respective lateral channels.

Abstract: A printing process is disclosed which comprises directing droplets of an ink onto an intermediate transfer member to form an ink image, the ink including an organic polymeric resin and a coloring agent in an aqueous carrier, and the transfer member having a hydrophobic outer surface so that each ink droplet in the ink image spreads on impinging upon the intermediate transfer member to form an ink film. The ink is dried while the ink image is being transported by the intermediate transfer member by evaporating the aqueous carrier from the ink image to leave a residue film of resin and coloring agent. The residue film is then transferred to a substrate.

Abstract: An ink film construction including: (a) a first printing substrate selected from the group consisting of an uncoated fibrous printing substrate, a commodity coated fibrous printing substrate, and a plastic printing substrate; and (b) an ink dot set contained within a square geometric projection projecting on the first printing substrate, the ink dot set containing at least 10 distinct ink dots, fixedly adhered to a surface of the first printing substrate, all the ink dots within the square geometric projection being counted as individual members of the set, each of the ink dots containing at least one colorant dispersed in an organic polymeric resin, each of the dots having an average thickness of less than 2,000 nm, and a diameter of 5 to 300 micrometers; each ink dot of the ink dots having a generally convex shape in which a deviation from convexity, (DCdot), is defined by: DCdot=1?AA/CSA, AA being a calculated projected area of the dot, the area disposed generally parallel to the first fibrous printing sub