Abstract: A plasma generating device includes a first plasma electrode and a counter electrode facing each other. The first plasma electrode extends in a lateral direction and includes two projections. Each of the two projections protrudes from the first plasma electrode in the direction of the counter electrode over a predetermined distance. The plasma generating device further includes a preload mechanism adapted for urging each of said two projections of the first plasma electrode against the counter electrode. The two projections cooperatively define a plasma gap between the first plasma electrode and the counter electrode. The counter electrode includes a support surface facing said plasma gap. The support surface is substantially flat along the plasma gap.

Abstract: A method for printing a plurality of print jobs on a flat bed printer includes automatically grouping the print jobs into a plurality of consecutive container jobs, and for each container job automatically creating a digital plan of the flat bed, automatically defining a mask with cutting information according to the created plan, receiving the defined mask on the flat bed, receiving the media pieces on the flat bed positioned in according with the received mask, and unattended printing of the print jobs on the media pieces by the flat bed printer making use of the received mask. The automatic grouping includes gathering the group of print jobs due to the print job characteristics of each of the print jobs and/or the flat bed characteristics of the flat bed and ordering the consecutive container jobs due to the print job characteristics of each of the print jobs and/or the flat bed characteristics of the flat bed.

Abstract: An ink storage apparatus and an agitator device in a printing system having at least one agitator member rotatable about an axis, wherein the agitator member includes a plurality of fin elements that extend out of a primary plane of the agitator member. The agitator member includes a paddle element having a generally planar rectangular configuration, and a plurality of fin elements that extend out of a plane of the paddle element. The ink storage apparatus has at least one ink container defining a storage volume for holding a predetermined volume of printing ink, and the agitator device is arranged within the storage volume of the ink container for agitating the ink.

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: Belt conveyor system comprising: an endless mesh belt, the belt having a mesh structure and having edge areas at the lateral sides, a drive mechanism drivable by a drive motor to rotate the belt, and a steering roller for steering the lateral position of the belt, wherein an edge area comprises a band running substantially parallel to the lateral sides, the band comprising an elastic filler being provided inside the mesh structure, the elastic filler being discernible from the mesh structure, and wherein the belt conveyor system further comprises a band position detector for detecting the lateral position of the band.

Abstract: An inkjet print head includes an ejection unit having a liquid chamber for holding an amount of liquid, a electromechanical transducer operatively coupled to the liquid chamber for generating a pressure wave in the amount of liquid and a nozzle in fluid communication with the liquid chamber for enabling a droplet of the amount of liquid to be ejected through the nozzle. A method for detecting an operating state of the ejection unit includes the consecutive steps of actuating the electromechanical transducer to generate a pressure wave in the liquid; actuating the electromechanical transducer to suppress a residual pressure wave in the liquid; sensing an amplitude of the residual pressure wave in the liquid; and based on the result of the sensing step determining that the ejection unit is (i) in an operative state if the amplitude of the residual pressure wave is below a threshold or (ii) in a malfunctioning state if the amplitude of the residual pressure wave is above the threshold.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing a user action to be applied on a digital item represented by a digital object displayable on a user interface touch screen of an electronic system. The electronic system is configured to apply the user action upon the digital item by means of an activation of a user operable element displayable on the user interface touch screen. The method includes displaying the digital object on the user interface touch screen, selecting the digital object, displaying a user operable element on the user interface touch screen, receiving an activation of the user operable element, executing the user action upon the digital item, showing an animation of a gesture to the digital object simultaneously with the execution of the user action upon the digital item, which gesture leads, when applied to the digital object, to execution of the user action upon the digital item.

Abstract: A method for scheduling a reload of a supply material in a printing system including a print engine capable of printing at a settable print velocity while using the supply material, a control unit for controlling a print job queue comprising at least one print job scheduled to be printed by means of a scheduling scheme while using the supply material, a supply material input holder for holding the supply material, and a user interface for interacting with a user of the printing system. The method includes determining a plurality of moments in time that the supply material input holder is empty, and simultaneously scheduling for each determined moment in time of the plurality of moments in time a reload event of reloading the supply material input holder with the supply material in the scheduling scheme.

Abstract: A web processing apparatus comprising a web transport station and a web processing station. The web transport station comprises a web tension control assembly, which comprises a first tensioning device and a second tensioning device. Said first tensioning device is movably arranged for controlling tension of a first web. Said second tensioning device is movably arranged for controlling tension of a second web independently of the tension of the first web. Said first tensioning device comprises a first interior space and the first tensioning device is arranged with respect to the second tensioning device such that the first interior space at least partly accommodates the second tensioning device. The web processing apparatus allows for accurately controlling tension of the first and second webs simultaneously and independently of one another in a tandem mode, while maintaining the possibility for controlling tension of a single web in a single mode.

Abstract: A print head assembly comprises a print head unit, a cooling duct, and a blower arranged to pass a gaseous cooling medium through the cooling duct. The cooling duct has an elongated closed hollow cross-section bounded on at least one side by a flat wall. The print head unit is attached to the flat wall outside of the cooling duct such that the print head unit is cooled by the gaseous medium passing through the cooling duct via thermal contact through the flat wall of the cooling duct.

Abstract: A print job processing system includes a printer; a user interface; a job file receiving section; and a media management system adapted to extract media specifications from a received job file and check the media specifications for compatibility with properties and/or a current status of the printer. The media management system is adapted to check whether essential media specifications are defined in the job file or not and, when they are not defined, to invite the user via the user interface to complete the specifications.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aqueous ink composition including between 1 and 40 weight % of a water dispersible resin, between 0.5 and 15 weight % of a colorant, between 20 and 80 weight % of water and between 1 and 30 weight % of an acetal cosolvent, wherein all amounts are relative to the total ink composition. The ink composition may further include between 15 and 75 weight % of a dispersion stabilizing cosolvent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a latex ink composition, the latex ink composition comprising a water soluble resin. The invention further relates to a water soluble resin suitable for a latex ink composition, the water soluble resin comprising a backbone and a stabilizing group, wherein the stabilizing group is capable of forming hydrogen bonds. The invention further relates to the use of a water soluble resin in a latex ink composition.

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 present invention relates to a radiation curable ink composition comprising two ester compounds. The invention further relates to a method for making such ink composition and a printing method using such ink composition.

Abstract: Belt conveyor system comprising: an endless mesh belt, the belt having a mesh structure and having edge areas at the lateral sides, a drive mechanism drivable by a drive motor to rotate the belt, and a steering roller for steering the lateral position of the belt, wherein an edge area comprises a band running substantially parallel to the lateral sides, the band comprising an elastic filler being provided inside the mesh structure, the elastic filler being discernible from the mesh structure, and wherein the belt conveyor system further comprises a band position detector for detecting the lateral position of the band.

Abstract: A recording substrate treatment apparatus includes transporting mechanism for transporting a sheet of a recording substrate through a first chamber in the interior space of the recording substrate treatment apparatus; a first suction device arranged for removing a gaseous medium from the first chamber; and an impingement device, arranged for providing a first flow of the gaseous medium at the outer surface of the transporting mechanism. The first suction device is fluidly connected to the impingement device, such that in operation the impingement device receives a first flow of the gaseous medium from the first suction device. With this arrangement, the impingement flow is balanced with an air flow directly extracted from the first chamber of the recording substrate treatment apparatus. A printing system including such a recording substrate treatment apparatus and a method of drying a recording substrate using such a recording substrate recording apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation curable ink composition comprising an ester compound, that is suitable for printing high gloss images. The invention further relates to a method for making such ink composition and a printing method using such ink composition.

Abstract: A gas impingement device includes a first surface including a pattern of a plurality of gas outlets, the pattern including a number of substantially parallel rows of gas outlets, the rows arranged in a direction, which direction is at a skew angle ? with a front edge of the first surface of the gas impingement device. A recording substrate treatment apparatus and a printing system including such a gas impingement device and a method of drying a recording substrate by using the gas impingement device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method compensates a failing nozzle of a print head of an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer includes at least one print head, the at least one print head including a plurality of nozzles. A receiving material is moved relatively to the at least one print head.