Abstract: A method for improving the abrasion resistance of a printed image, the image being processed digitally by a colour management system for a print process comprising a set of colorants, the colour management system transforming a colour of a part of the image into a colorant coverage for said part of the printed image, wherein a sum of coverage values for all colorants in the set of colorants is larger than a user-selectable threshold value. In a preferred embodiment the set of colorants includes a colorless, transparent colorant.

Abstract: A method of controlling a user interface having a screen and being arranged to display a plurality of display items on the screen simultaneously in a configurable layout, the layout specifying at least one of: a selection of display items to be displayed simultaneously; a configuration of windows that are assigned to the display items to be displayed; and a level of detail for at least one of the display items to be displayed. The method further includes selecting a subset of said plurality of display items; entering a single command for concurrently changing, for each display item in the subset, at least one of the configuration of windows and the level of detail; and for each display item in the subset, translating the single command into an item-specific command adapted to the display item, and executing the item-specific command.

Abstract: A cover for covering the nozzle plate of a print head while in a parking position to delay a drying of ink. The cover can clean the nozzle plate while the nozzle plate is covered. A cost-effective and installation space-efficient cleaning of the nozzle plate of a print head is thus enabled.

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: A dancer suspension assembly for use in a roll-to-roll printing system, which assembly comprises a wire element connectable to a dancer of the printing system, which wire element is connected to actuator via a spring element, which actuator is configured to control a spring force exerted by the spring element on the wire element, and a pulley assembly around which the wire element runs. The spring element allows the operator to adjust the spring force and to apply said spring force to the dancer at any position of the dancer. Both the web tension and the dancer position can be controlled in a simple manner.

Abstract: A color printer includes a media transport system arranged to feed print media along a media transport path; a print engine disposed at the media transport path; a controller arranged to calculate an amount of coverage for each pixel and for each process color of an image to be printed on the media, and to control the print engine on the basis of the calculated amount of coverage; a temperature sensor; and a color correction module arranged to determine a correction of the amount of coverage on the basis of a temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is arranged at the media transport path upstream of the print engine for detecting the temperature of the media as they reach the print engine.

Abstract: A printer control system for controlling the printing of an object on a support in a number of passes on top of each other includes a user interface which has a display device and is arranged to visualize in a window on the display device a pixel-precise preview image before printing of the object. The preview image includes a representation of the surface of the object. The printer control system further includes a digital analyser for analysing the pass images in order to deduce before printing of the object locations of smooth areas at the surface of the object, and a preview emulator for digitally shining on the pixel-precise preview. The printer control system calculates a digital move path to be applied by the preview emulator over the pixel-precise preview based on the locations of the smooth areas in order to highlight regions of interest with a potential print artefact.

Abstract: The droplet velocities of the nozzles of different groups of nozzles of a print head of an inkjet printing device are determined for different line clock rates. An optimized operating line clock rate is then determined for the operation of the printing device, where the deviation between the droplet velocities of the nozzles of the different groups is reduced (e.g. minimized). The droplet positioning along the transport direction of a recording medium may be advantageously homogenized via the convergence of the droplet velocities.

Abstract: A printer controller arranged to control a print engine comprising: a print job storage for storing print jobs to be printed; wherein a print job may comprise a deadline, the deadline specifying an ultimate time by which the print job is to be completed; a scheduler module for determining a print execution time for each print job in a sequence of one or more print jobs, the scheduler taking into account a setup time for a print job for setting up the print engine to print the print job given a previous print job; a planning module for determining a print order for to-be-printed print jobs in the print storage, arranged to submit a plurality of sequences of to-be-printed print jobs in the print job storage to the scheduler and in response receive from the scheduler for each sequence of to-be-printed print jobs the print execution times of the print jobs; wherein the planning module elects a sequence of to-be-printed print jobs for which each deadline in a print job in the sequence is met according to the print

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a print system comprising a plurality of printers for printing print jobs, a user interface screen connected to the print system, each printer of the plurality of printers comprising a print job scheduling module for planning a print job schedule for print jobs submitted to the printer and an operational action scheduling module for planning an operational action schedule of operational actions to be applied to the printer, a control unit comprising a first merging module for merging for each printer the print job schedule and the operational action schedule into a first merged schedule, the control unit configured to control for each printer display of the first merged schedule on the user interface screen, wherein the control unit comprises a second merging module for merging the operational action schedules of the plurality of printers chronologically into a second merged schedule, and the control unit is configured to control display of the second merged schedule along the first m

Abstract: A web printing system has a loading tool to aid in the loading of new wide format web media. The loading tool is pivotable between a first position for loading a leading edge portion of the web onto the loading tool and a second position wherein an end portion of the loading tool extends above a print surface when in use. The end portion of the loading tool includes a beam element protruding from the loading tool in its pivoting direction towards the print surface, wherein in the second position the beam element is positioned with respect to the turn element, such that an S-shaped curve is formed in a web held on the loading tool. The curvature in the web significantly enhances the friction exerted by the beam element on the web, thereby stably holding the web in place.

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: The present invention relates to a printing system for cut sheets. The printing system comprises a paper path comprising a loop in order to enable duplex printing on the sheets in a continuous flow of sheets in a first and second interweaving pass in the loop. A controller controls simplex and/or duplex printing of image data on the continuous flow of sheets. A print engine is positioned in the loop configured to dispose marking material on the sheets according to the image data. A scheduler time schedules the continuous flow of sheets in an order of a plurality of actions comprising loading a sheet, printing the sheet in a first pass in the loop, printing the sheet in a second pass in the loop, and unloading the sheet.

Abstract: A printing system includes a print station disposed at a sheet transport path, a feed section arranged to feed media sheets of different media types into the transport path so as to be fed sequentially to the print station, and a controller arranged to receive print instructions concerning images to be printed, to schedule a sequence of the media sheets, and to control the feed section and the print station such that each image is printed on a sheet of a media type that has been specified for that image in the print instructions. A sensor is arranged at the transport path for detecting a quality condition of the sheets being fed to the print station, and the controller is adapted to receive a quality signal from the sensor and, when the quality of a sheet is found to be insufficient, to skip that sheet and to reroute the corresponding image to another scheduled sheet that is compatible with the print instructions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for applying an image onto a recording medium. The method involves applying an undercoat liquid onto the recording medium and semi-curing the undercoat liquid. Further, the method involves applying an image onto the semi-cured undercoat liquid and curing said image. The invention further relates to a printer apparatus configured for performing such method.

Abstract: A vacuum table for a wide format printing system, wherein a medium support surface with vacuum holes therein is spaced apart from a bottom plate by a spacer array. The spacer array is formed by an integrally formed spacer structure with a first and a second longitudinal plate positioned between the bottom plate and the medium support surface. These plates comprise a plurality of air flow through-holes as well as a top support edge and a bottom support edge extending equidistantly to one another. A connection element connects the first longitudinal plates and is positioned between the bottom support plane and the top support plane. The use of longitudinal plates allows the spacer to be cheaply and easily produced by punching. The plates further offer the advantage of a low air flow resistance while maintaining a high rigidity of the spacer array.

Abstract: A controller to control an apparatus (e.g. a printer) can include multiple secondary sub-controllers and a main sub-controller. Each of the secondary sub-controllers can have an operator process and one or more executable control processes. Each of the control processes can be configured to exchange data with one or more other of the control processes. The main sub-controller can be communicatively coupled to the secondary sub-controllers via a data network. Each of the main and secondary sub-controllers can include at least one processor and an operating system. The respective operator processes can be configured to communicate via the data network, and the control processes of each of the secondary sub-controllers can be configured such that the control processes communicate exclusively with the operator process of their respective secondary sub-controller to communicate via the data network.

Abstract: A sheet transfer device for transferring a sheet between two sheet processing devices comprising a switch for directing sheets from a first transport path coming from the first sheet processing device onto a two-way transport path or for directing sheets from the two-way transport path onto a second transport path for feeding sheets to the second sheet processing device. A transport pinch is provided along the two way transport path for reversing a sheet on the two-way transport path. When in use, the two-way transport path extends downward in a vertically extending free-hanging chamber wherein the sheet engaged by the transport pinch is allowed to hang freely under the influence of gravity. Thereby, a compact device is formed which is able to adjust the sheet to a suitable orientation for the second processing device. The device further prevents forces from the first processing device to disrupt the sheet's orientation in the second processing device.

Abstract: In a method for detecting a disturbance in an ejection unit of an inkjet print head, the ejection unit of the inkjet print head includes a pressure chamber for holding an amount of liquid and is in fluid communication with a nozzle orifice; and an actuator operatively coupled to the pressure chamber for generating a pressure wave in the liquid in the pressure chamber for ejecting a droplet of the liquid through the nozzle orifice upon application of a droplet ejection pulse.