Abstract: The present invention relates to a printing system for cut sheets, the printing system comprising a control unit for controlling the printing of image data on a plurality of sheets and scheduling the plurality of sheets in a printing order, the plurality of sheets having different media properties, and a paper path comprising a loop in order to enable printing on the plurality of sheets in an interweaving first and second pass in the loop, and a print engine for disposing marking material on the sheets according to the image data. The print system comprises a pattern recognition module for recognizing a repeating pattern in the plurality of sheets on the basis of the media properties of the sheets. The control unit is configured to determine the entrance time of each of the plurality of sheets for entering the loop in the paper path for the first pass and for the second pass while taking the repeating pattern recognized by the pattern recognition module and a length of the loop into account.

Abstract: A sheet conveying system includes an upstream conveyor section having an endless first conveyor belt movable in a first conveying direction x and extending in a first lateral direction z, the first conveying direction x and the first lateral direction z defining a first conveying plane xz; and a downstream conveyor section having an endless second conveyor belt that adjoins the first conveyor belt and is movable in a second conveying direction x? and extends in a second lateral direction z?, the second conveying direction x? and the second lateral direction z? defining a second conveying plane x?z?. The conveyor sections are adapted to hold the sheets slip-free on the first and second conveyor belts. The second conveyor belt has a shear compliance in the second conveying plane x?z? that is larger than the shear compliance of the first conveyor belt in the first conveying plane xz.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printing system, comprising a print job receiving section permitting a user to submit a print job to the printing system, the print job comprising a plurality of print job settings, a print job queue section comprising a print job queue for print jobs submitted to the printing system and scheduled to be printed, and a proof print repository section comprising a proof print repository for proof print jobs submitted to the printing system. The printing system comprises a continuous monitoring section configured to compare print job settings of a proof print job residing in the proof print repository or scheduled in the print job queue with current resources available in the printing system according to a proof print policy. The proof print policy is attached to the proof print job and comprises a comparison criterion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing system with an apparatus for defect detection comprising a sensing unit for sensing a surface geometry or topology of a sheet and for generating data representative of that surface geometry or topology, a processor device for processing the data to detect and classify deformations, and a controller for controlling further progress of the sheet along the transport path of the printing system in dependence upon the deformations detected and classified by the processor device. Furthermore, the invention provides a corresponding method of detecting defects in a printing system.

Abstract: A printing system comprising an apparatus for defect detection in a printing system. The printing system comprises, an image forming device, a sensing unit for sensing a surface geometry of a sheet to be printed and for generating data representative of that surface geometry, a processor device for processing the data; and a controller for controlling further progress of the sheet along a transport path of the printing system in dependence upon the deformations in the surface geometry of the sheet detected and classified by the processor device. The operating conditions the sheet is exposed to at the sensing unit are similar to the operating conditions the sheet is exposed at the image forming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aligning anchor for positioning a substrate on a printing surface. The printing surface comprises a plurality of suction holes being distributed over the printing surface to provide a suction force to a contact side of the substrate. The aligning anchor comprises a first aligning element comprising a contact surface shaped to contact the printing surface, wherein the first aligning element has a thickness perpendicular to the contact surface. The aligning anchor further comprises a first positioning pin and a second positioning pin, each positioning pin protruding in a height direction substantially perpendicular from the contact surface and being shaped to fit into a suction hole.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing system with a transport mechanism for transporting sheets. The transport mechanism comprises: a conveyor body for supporting and conveying a plurality of sheets a transport path; suction means, and especially fan means, for generating an under-pressure at or adjacent to the conveyor body to hold the sheets fixed in position on the conveyor body as it conveys the plurality of sheets along the transport path; and a controller for controlling or regulating operation of the suction means to adjust the under-pressure generated. The controller is configured to control operation of the suction means based on delivery of the plurality of sheets to the conveyor body and/or a change in the delivery of the sheets to the conveyor body. Further, the invention provides a corresponding method of transporting sheets of a print medium in a printing system.

Abstract: A method for scheduling operator actions for a print job to be printed in a print-while-rip mode includes assuming at least one part of a print job duration which is unknown due to missing information, establishing at least one operator action during the at least one second part of the print job duration based on a first part of the print job duration, displaying a time bar for the print job on the user interface, the time bar starting from the established start time and including a first time bar part corresponding to and proportional to the first part of the print job duration and at least one second time bar part corresponding to the at least one second part of the print job duration, and for each established operation action, displaying a digital object representing the operator action at the corresponding moment in time on the second time bar part.

Abstract: The invention provides a web winding device for attaching a leading edge of a web to a take-up roller positioned at an end of a transport path. A guide device is rotatable around the roller axis of the take-up roller from a first to a second angular position. The first angular position is positioned adjacent the end of the transport path and the second angular position is positioned in a space between the transport path and the take-up roller. The guide device is arranged for: at the first angular position, pushing the leading edge of the web against the take-up roller; during rotation, holding the leading edge in pushing engagement with the take-up roller; and at the second angular position, guiding the leading edge between the web on the transport path and the take-up roller for attaching the leading edge to the take-up roller.

Abstract: In an inkjet print head for generating a droplet of ink, the inkjet print head comprises an ink supply substrate, a droplet forming unit arranged on the ink supply substrate and an intermediate element arranged between the ink supply substrate and the droplet forming unit. The intermediate element has a first element surface on which the droplet forming unit is arranged and the intermediate element has a second element surface opposite to the first element surface. The intermediate element is supported on the ink supply substrate at the second element surface. The intermediate element is provided with a number of support protrusions at the second element surface. Due to the support protrusions, differences in coefficient of thermal expansion of the droplet forming unit and the ink supply substrate may reduce an effect of a resulting deformation of the droplet forming unit on an image quality.

Abstract: In an inkjet print head for generating a droplet of ink, the inkjet print head comprises an ink supply substrate; a droplet forming unit arranged on the ink supply substrate, the droplet forming unit having an ink inlet surface, in which ink inlet surface an ink inlet port for receiving ink from the ink supply substrate is arranged; a manifold chamber formed over the ink inlet surface of the droplet forming unit; and a filter arranged between the ink supply substrate and the manifold chamber, the filter having a first filter surface at an upstream side and having a second filter surface at a downstream side, the second filter surface being opposite to the first filter surface and filter holes extending from the first filter surface to the second filter surface. The filter is arranged in an area surrounding the manifold chamber for increasing the filter area without significantly increasing a cross-sectional size of the inkjet print head.

Abstract: A method for printing by means of a flatbed printer including a flatbed surface for placing a plurality of pieces of media to be printed upon, the plurality of pieces of media having different thicknesses, a control unit for controlling the printing of digital images on the plurality of pieces of media, a gantry constructed to move over the flatbed surface in a first direction and extending in a second direction, a print head configured to eject recording material on the plurality of pieces of media and attached to the gantry, the method including the steps of dividing the flatbed surface into a plurality of strips extending in the second direction over a length of the flatbed surface in the second direction, storing a position of each of the plurality of strips in storage of the control unit, for each strip coupling in storage a thickness range to the strip, the thickness range including a maximum allowed thickness for a piece of media to be placed in the strip on the flatbed surface and a minimum allowed th

Abstract: A method is provided for converting image data from a source format into a target format in a system including a converter for converting a sequence of data from the source format into an intermediate format, and an image processing system for converting the data from the intermediate format into the target format. The inverter is capable of dividing the data in the intermediate format into separate files. The method includes the steps of processing a first file in the image processing system; compiling a second file in the converter; and when the first file has been processed completely, instructing the converter to close the second file and send it to the image processing system and to open a new file for the next data to be converted.

Abstract: A print head includes a plurality of chip-like tiles arranged on a common substrate, each tile having a front face with an array of recording elements disposed in the front face in a predetermined pattern, and a generally rectangular contour with a cut-out formed at at least one of its four corners, each cut-out being delimited by two reference-defining walls extending normal to one another and to the front face and serving as a reference for positioning the tiles on the substrate so as to establish a predetermined positional relationship between the recording elements of the different tiles. The substrate has a plurality of recesses accommodating each at least a part of a tile and having side walls that define engagement surfaces for each of the reference-defining walls of each tile, the substrate is formed of a material that is suitable for photo-lithographic processing, and the engagement surfaces of the substrate are surfaces formed by photo-lithographic techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous reaction liquid comprising a salt, a first surfactant being an amphoteric surfactant and a second surfactant being a non-ionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic silicones (such as polyalkylene oxide modified silicones/polyether modified silicones), alkoxylated alcohols, fluorosurfactants, polyether modified silicone surfactants and polyethyleneoxides. Reaction liquids according to the present invention show improved spreading on print substrates when applied, which is beneficial when the reaction liquid is applied by an ink jet method. The present invention further pertains to an ink set comprising such a reaction liquid and a method of printing using such an ink set.

Abstract: A user interface for at least one media processing apparatus includes a display device connected to an apparatus control system and arranged to visualize timings of events occurring or expected to occur in a processing sequence of the apparatus, the timings being visualized by showing an indication of each event on a timeline that has a certain time scale and a certain zero point, wherein the timeline has at least two sections which differ in the time scale and/or the zero point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink composition comprising at least one network forming substance, an initiator, an amine acrylate and at least one selected oxygen scavenger, as well as a printing method wherein the present ink composition is printed on a recording medium, and a method of preparing the ink composition. Using the present ink composition, blooming during printing can be decreased or even prevented, particularly in UV curable gelling inks.

Abstract: A toner bottle closure includes a first closure member configured to be fixed to a toner bottle. The first closure member has an outlet opening for dispensing toner. A second closure member is movable relative to the first closure member along an axis between a closed position, in which the second closure member cooperates with the first closure member to close or seal the outlet opening, and an open position for dispensing the toner. The second closure member includes an impact damper, which projects at least partially in a direction parallel to the axis of movement. The impact damper is configured to deform plastically for damping a mechanical impact on the toner bottle closure. A rotation preventer is configured to prevent rotation of the second closure member around the axis of movement relative to the first closure member. A toner bottle including such a toner bottle cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital printer having a reciprocating print head with an array of printing elements, the printer being arranged to operate in a selected one of a plurality of print modes, the printer having a failure detection system arranged to detect malfunctioning printing elements and a failure compensation system arranged to compensate a malfunction of a printing element by activating another printing element, the method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a list of print modes sorted by decreasing productivity; b) selecting an initial print mode; c) simulating a print operation in the currently selected print mode; d) counting a number of incidents in which a malfunction of a printing element cannot be compensated; e) if the count result is below a given threshold value: keep the selected print mode; f) if not: select the next print mode in the list and repeat steps (c) to (f) for that print mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a nozzle surface provided with a coating having anti-wetting and anti-fouling property. The method is based, for example, on the self-healing property of the coating used in the method. Also disclosed is a nozzle surface having such coating and a print head having the nozzle surface.