Abstract: A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to printing include an apparatus including a base mounting a storage spool to store printing ribbon including a web carrying marking medium, the base mounting a ribbon take-up spool. A ribbon path from the storage to the take-up spool runs through a printing station where there is a print head, and printing is effected at the printing station when relatively moving the head and the substrate with the ribbon interposed between. The apparatus includes a movable ribbon guide member, a ribbon guide member drive device to move the ribbon guide member, and a controller which, during or in between at least some printing operations, controls drive of at least the take-up spool to advance ribbon through the printing station. The controller controls the ribbon guide member in response to an input signal representative of ribbon tension along the ribbon path to adjust the ribbon tension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for compensating for effects related to variations in the velocities of electrically charged ink drops (40) in a jet (4) output from a print head of a printer, the drops being electrically charged by charge electrodes (30), consisting of: measuring the velocity of the jet on the downstream side of a drop charge zone, and calculating a variation in this measured velocity, for each drop, determining a voltage correction value to be applied to the charge electrodes, as a function of said measured velocity variation.

Abstract: A method for configuring a marking device includes, at a control system, establishing communication with the marking device; receiving, from the marking device, information about capabilities of the marking device; presenting the received information about capabilities of the marking device to a user; receiving, from the user, instructions to set machine settings for the marking device; and causing the marking device to be configured according to the instructions received from the user.

Abstract: To clean a print head of an ink jet printer, an ink gun is connected to an ink chamber, a solvent chamber, a vacuum source, and an ink collection gutter, which is capable of being connected in a controlled manner to a vacuum source. During cleaning, an interruption of a hydraulic connection between the gun and the ink chamber is ordered. Next, the gun is connected to the vacuum source. Finally, the solvent chamber is hydraulically connected to the vacuum source via a conduit which includes the ink gun.

Abstract: Solvent-based inkjet ink formulations including an organic solvent, a resin, a surfactant, and a colorant are provided. The inks have many desirable attributes such as extended decap time.

Abstract: A printing method includes jetting a curable ink including at least one of an oxetane compound, a siloxane compound, or a sulfide compound onto a substrate.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods that utilize material-handling systems in which material in the systems has enhanced stability, e.g., during conveyance of the material from a reservoir to a printhead through a conduit, the conduit having a conduit wall defining an inner conduit space and including a material line for carrying the printing material in the inner conduit space, wherein the inner conduit space is configured to carry a heated liquid, being heated from a liquid heater, to contact the material line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wide format print head composed of X inkjet print devices intended to print on a moving support and for which the print quality is to be improved over the entire width. The solution according to the invention consists of inputting a single air flow passing through the internal cavity of the print head.

Abstract: A method for marking items includes determining production-date information indicative of a production date associated with an item; at least in part on the basis of the production-date information, determining a production-date range corresponding to the production-date information; retrieving expiration-date information corresponding to the production-date information; and marking the item with a mark representative of the expiration-date information.