Abstract: A method of aligning a first image on a first side of a medium and a second image on a second side of a medium, the first side and the second side facing away from each other, includes using an imaging device for printing the first image and a discrimination feature including a discriminatory edge perpendicular to an alignment direction in a coordinate system of the medium on a first side of the medium while controlling the position of the medium with respect to a coordinate system of the imaging device based on a first set of feed parameters and using the imaging device for printing the second image and a plurality of features on the second side of the medium while controlling the position of the medium in the coordinate system of the imaging device based on a second set of feed parameters, the plurality of features including a first feature, a second feature and a third feature.

Abstract: A flatbed printer assembly includes a controller for controlling the movements of a gantry, a carriage support and the print head while moving over a medium support table. The controller is configured to receive a print job including a cut path intended to circumvent a piece of the recording medium, a first image intended to be printed on a front side of the piece of the recording medium, a second image intended to be printed on a back side of the piece of the recording medium, wherein at least one of the first and second image is intended to be printed at least partially in a full bleed print mode. Shapes are selected for a first alignment mark for the first image and a second alignment mark for the second image. A first location is determined on the front side of the recording medium according to the selected shape of the first alignment mark. The first location crosses the cut path.

Abstract: In a method to check a fixative print head for nozzle failures, a reference mark is printed by the nozzles of a colored ink print head and a test mark is printed via overprinting of the colored ink by the nozzles of the colored ink print head and of a fixative by the nozzles of the fixative print head onto a printing substrate web. The test mark and the reference mark are compared with one another. If the reference mark and the test mark correspond to one another (e.g., at least in part), this indicates that nozzles of the fixative print head are operating incorrectly. If operating incorrectly, the nozzles have, for example, failed entirely or eject the fixative at too great an angular deviation.

Abstract: In a method for printing to a recording medium using a fluid-based colorant transport or pigment transport (e.g. via ink or liquid toner), fluid-based printing to the recording medium is performed and a surface protection is applied to increase the robustness (e.g. abrasion resistance) in at least a printed region of the recording medium. The applied quantity per area is configured to provide an increased color space. Further, in a surface protection given fluid-based printing to a recording medium, the presentable color space is increased.

Abstract: A printing system comprising a controller for controlling the processing of print jobs, a plurality of input holders for holding print media to be printed upon, a print engine for disposing marking material on the print media, and a plurality of output holders for holding the print media when the marking material has been disposed on the print media by the print engine and the print media is ready for taking out by an operator. The controller is configured to establish and to maintain a plurality of physical configurations of the printing system. Each physical configuration comprises the print engine, at least one input holder out of the plurality of input holders and at least one output holder out of the plurality of output holders.

Abstract: A method for printing a print job, the print job including a plurality of plots to be printed on a print media, includes receiving, by a reprographic printing system, the print job; causing printing the plots of the print job subsequently on the print media and tracking the completion of a plot in the print job while printing; and after receiving an interruption to the print job, terminating printing the plots of the print job and subsequently determining a print job related reference that is indicative for the interrupted print job, and printing a fiducial on the print media, the fiducial including an identifier uniquely identifying the interrupted print job, thereby defining a print job starting point for resuming the interrupted print job.

Abstract: A roll to roll printing method in which a web of a recording medium is withdrawn from a first roll, a number of images are printed on the web and the printed web is wound on a second roll, wherein a representation of the printed images is printed on a part of the web which is to form a trailing end of the web on the second roll.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a wiper position in an ink jet printer having a nozzle plate and a wiper arranged to wipe the nozzle plate, the nozzle plate having a number of nozzles each of which is in fluid communication with a pressure chamber, each pressure chamber having an actuator for exciting a pressure wave in a liquid in the pressure chamber, and a detection system arranged to detect pressure fluctuations in the pressure chamber includes adjusting the wiper to a position in which it is set against the nozzle plate; exciting a pressure wave in at least one of the pressure chambers; recording the pressure fluctuations in said at least one pressure chamber; deciding, on the basis of the detected pressure fluctuations, whether the wiper is set correctly against the nozzle that is in fluid communication with said at least one pressure chamber; and correcting the position of the wiper if necessary.

Abstract: In a printer, a print head carriage assembly includes a carriage arranged to move in a main scanning direction relative to a recording medium; a plurality of print heads mounted on the carriage and arranged to apply a curable marking material onto the recording medium; and a number of curing devices mounted on the carriage and disposed in positions relative to the print heads such that each print head is associated with at least one of the curing devices. The at least one of the curing devices is disposed to follow its associated print head in a distance in the main scanning direction so as to cure the ink that has been applied with that print head. The print heads are arranged in at least two rows which extend in the main scanning direction and are staggered in a sub-scanning direction normal to the main scanning direction, and the print heads are grouped such that each print head in each row has, in each other row, a counterpart print head which belongs to the same group.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for a printing system includes a rotary drum having an inner chamber circumferentially surrounded by an outer peripheral wall with perforations formed therein. By means of sucking an air flow through the perforations of the drum to a suction system, sheets are attracted to the peripheral wall of the drum. A stationary shutter member is positioned inside the inner chamber for blocking the flow of air through the perforations when they pass, with the rotation of the drum, through a first predetermined angular range. The shutter member includes protrusions while the rotary drum includes recesses for receiving the protrusions, such that a meandering air flow passage is formed between the shutter member and the rotary drum. As such, friction between the rotary drum and the stationary shutter member is reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the suction system.

Abstract: A printing system for printing to a recording medium can include a guide, a printer, and a cleaner. The guide can guide the recording medium and be arranged in a first vertically traveling region. The printer having a print bar with a print head can print to the recording medium. The printer can be arranged in a printing position located in the first vertically traveling region, and be displaced, to facilitate the cleaning of the print head, into a service position located in a second vertically traveling region. The cleaner can be adapted to clean the print head. The cleaner can be arranged in a printing position located in the first vertically traveling region, and be displaced into the service position located in the second vertically traveling region to clean the print head. The cleaning can be automatically or manually performed.

Abstract: In a method for printing a plurality of print jobs on a flat bed printer, each print job specifies an image receiving area with a given shape and given dimensions where an image is to be printed on a recording medium. Each of the print jobs includes a number of sub-jobs specifying image layers to be printed in a predetermined print order, with print settings being individually assigned to each sub-job. The method includes grouping the sub-jobs by their print settings; nesting the image receiving areas of the print jobs on a flat bed of the printer; and printing the sub jobs group by group, with sub-jobs of the same group and from different print jobs being printed in common steps of scanning the flat bed. The scanning steps are performed in a scan order which preserves the print order in each print job.

Abstract: A filter device for filtering ink for delivery to at least one drop forming unit of a print-head in a printing apparatus includes: an inlet for admission of ink to the filter device; a first filter member adjacent the inlet for filtering the ink as the ink enters the filter device; a collection chamber arranged below the first filter member for collecting the ink after the ink passes through the first filter member; and an outlet for delivering the ink from the collection chamber to a reservoir for supplying the at least one drop forming unit. The collection chamber includes at least one flow directing member defining at least one predetermined flow path, especially at least one circuitous or indirect flow path, for the ink through and/or around the collection chamber to the outlet.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing stage having a print head arrangement for applying marking material onto a media, a media transport system arranged to advance the media with non-uniform velocity through the printing stage in a media transport direction and a curing stage disposed downstream of the printing stage in the media transport direction for curing the marking material. A blouse forming stage is disposed between the printing stage and the curing stage and an auxiliary media transport system is provided for advancing the media with uniform velocity through the curing stage.

Abstract: A printing system for cut sheets includes a controller for controlling the printing of image data on the cut sheets and scheduling the cut sheets in a printing order. The cut sheets have a plurality of media types, each media type having a dedicated preferred maximum speed for transporting the cut sheets of said media type along a paper path of the printing system. The controller is configured to schedule the cut sheets for printing taking into account change-over times between changes in media types of the scheduled cut sheets.

Abstract: In a printer having first and second clamps, the deformation of a recording medium due to the web tensile force produced in the printer can be determined using the first and the second clamps. The deformation can be determined in advance of a printing process and/or during the printing operation. A print image can be adapted based on the determined deformation to compensate for the deformation of the recording medium.

Abstract: In a method for automatic adaptation of a quantity of a coating substance, a coating substance is inkjet printed to a printing region of the recording medium; a first color is over printed across a width of the printing region of the recording medium and atop the coating substance; a print image of a second color is over printed atop the first color; the printing region having been printed to is sensory recorded; a local bleeding behavior of the first and the second colors is analyzed based on the sensory recording; and a printed quantity of the coating substance is locally adapted, based on the analysis of the local bleeding behavior, in segments of the printing region that are affected by bleeding.

Abstract: Method for generating a preview of an image in a print job comprising: creating a preview RIP-job at the head of a RIP-job queue, the RIP-job queue queueing in first-in-first-out order RIP-jobs to be submitted to and processed by a raster image processor, and the preview RIP-job arranged to register images to be submitted to the raster image processor for generating a preview of the image, registering the image in the preview RIP-job in order for the image to be submitted to the raster image processor, wherein the completion of the preview RIP-job is independent of the state of any print job as well as of the contents of the preview RIP-job.

Abstract: A media roll holder assembly a web-based printing system comprises a support for rotatably supporting the roll in an operative position, a holding element for rotatably holding the roll on the support, and a pivotable arm on which the holding element is provided. The pivotable arm is formed and positioned to position the holding element on the roll, such that a lifting force for lifting the roll from the support results in a holding force on the holding element in the first angular direction for holding the roll in the operative position on the support. The roll is then rotatably secured in its operative without excess angular forces acting on the roll. As the rotation of the roll is substantially unimpeded, the medium may be transported with great precision, resulting in high quality printing.

Abstract: A drive gear assembly for a roll that is detachably supported in a machine body, the assembly comprising a drive gear mounted for a rotation about a stationary axis in the machine body, a driven gear mounted on an end portion of the roller, and a bearing formed in the machine body for supporting said end portion in an operative position in which the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, the assembly further comprising by a safety cover that is pivotally supported on the machine body to be movable between an active position in which it covers at least a part of the periphery of the driven gear, except a portion where the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, and an open position in which it permits an insertion of the end portion of the roll into the bearing, the cover being elastically biased into the open position and having an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by at least one of the roll and the driven gear for holding the cover in the active position as long as the roll is in the operative posi