Abstract: A formative surface having a conductive base covered with a dielectric and oleophobic/hydrophobic surface layer is created with defined pits to grow micro-puddles of a defined volume. The formative surface is brought into close proximity with a charge retentive surface carrying a charge image. Fountain solution vapor nucleates and grows preferentially on the base of the pits as micro-puddle droplets. The puddles are charged and extracted from the surface to provide a fog of charged droplets of narrow volume and charge distribution. The charged droplets are attracted and repelled respectively from the charged and discharged image regions of the charge retentive surface, thus developing the charged image into a fountain solution latent image. The developed latent image is then brought into contact with a transfer member blanket and split, thus creating on the blanket a fountain solution latent image ready for inking.

Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from a backbone of the polyamide (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the OAMB-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the OAMB-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the OAMB-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the OAMB-polyamide to form particles comprising the OAMB-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.

Abstract: A system includes a structure configured to hold items, at least one capacitive touch sensor, and an item scanner configured to move the capacitive touch sensor relative to the structure and to identification elements disposed on the items held by the structure. Each identification element represents a multi-digit code. The capacitive touch sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal comprising sequences of waveforms in response to movement of the capacitive touch sensor relative to the identification elements. Each sequence of waveforms includes the multi-digit code that identifies one of the items.

Abstract: Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a secondary roller having a rotatable reimageable surface layer configured to receive fountain solution. The fountain solution layer is patterned on the secondary roller and then partially transferred to an imaging blanket, where the fountain solution image is inked. The resulting ink image may be transferred to a print substrate. To achieve a very high-resolution (e.g., 1200-dpi, over 900-dpi) print with these secondary roller configurations, an equivalent very high-resolution fountain solution image needs to be transferred from the secondary roller onto the imaging blanket. To increase the resolution of the image on the secondary roller, examples include a textured surface layer added to the secondary roller for contact angle pinning the fountain solution on the roll. Approaches to introduce a micro-structure onto the surface layer of the secondary roller, and also superoleophobic surface coatings are described.

Abstract: A pair of bonded substrates having a first substrate of a first material, a second substrate of the first material, and an adhesive bonding the first substrate to the second substrate, wherein the adhesive has chemically linked compatibilizing particles compatible with the first and second substrates. A composition of matter has an adhesive having a chemically linked particle network forming a bond between a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein compatibilizing particles in the particle network are compatible with the first and second substrates. A method of joining two structures of identical materials includes preparing first and second structures to expose bare material, applying an adhesive to the bare material on the first and second structures, the adhesive containing compatibilizing particles compatible with the material and the preparing allows interaction between the material and the compatibilizing particles, and curing the adhesive.

Abstract: Pigmented polymer particles may comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a pigment, wherein at least some of the pigmented polymer particles have a morphology according to (a), (b), (c), or any combination thereof: (a) the pigment having a coating comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the coated pigment adhered to a thermoplastic polymer particle, (b) the pigment being embedded in an outer surface of the thermoplastic polymer particle, and (c) the pigment being encapsulated by the thermoplastic polymer particle. The pigmented polymer particles, especially the highly spherical pigmented polymer particles, may be useful, among other things, as starting material for additive manufacturing. For example, a method may comprise: depositing, upon a surface, the foregoing pigmented polymer particles optionally in combination with other thermoplastic polymer particles; and once deposited, heating at least a portion of the particles to promote consolidation thereof and form a consolidated body.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a printhead module comprising a plurality of printheads to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against a movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system is arranged to flow air toward the movable support surface at locations upstream and downstream of the printhead module, based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead module.

Abstract: Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a component present therein. Composite filaments suitable for additive manufacturing may comprise a continuous polymer phase of a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer that are immiscible with one another, and electrically conductive particles distributed in the continuous polymer phase, such as microparticles, nanoparticles, or any combination thereof. The first thermoplastic polymer is dissolvable or degradable and the second thermoplastic polymer is insoluble or non-degradable under specified conditions. Removal of the first thermoplastic polymer from a printed part may introduce porosity thereto, thereby inducing or enhancing piezoresistivity within the printed part.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing processes featuring consolidation of thermoplastic particulates may form printed objects in a range of shapes. Inorganic nanoparticles disposed upon the outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates may improve flow performance of the thermoplastic particulates during additive manufacturing, but may be undesirable to incorporate in some printed objects. Polymer nanoparticles may be substituted for inorganic nanoparticles in some instances to address this difficulty and provide other advantages. Particulate compositions suitable for additive manufacturing may comprise: a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles disposed upon an outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates, the polymer nanoparticles comprising a crosslinked fluorinated polymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a moveable feeder assembly/unit for multi-function devices and corresponding retrieval and printing methods. Here, a multi-function device is disclosed. The multi-function device includes multiple trays. Each tray is configured to receive or store one or more media sheets, and further is positioned at a respective vertical height. The multi-function device further includes a single moveable feeder unit for all trays at the multi-function device. The single moveable feeder unit is configured to move across a plurality of positions to reposition itself proximate to a target tray of multiple trays, selected for printing operation.

Abstract: A device may include a temperature controlled chamber. The temperature controlled chamber may be coupled to a plurality of strengthening coated capillary tubes. The strengthening coated capillary tubes may support the temperature controlled chamber and provide thermal insulation to the temperature controlled chamber.

Abstract: One or more spacers for installing an optical cable are disposed in a trench that extends along an axis. The optical cable includes one or more optical sensors. Each spacer includes a base configured to rest in a bottom of the trench. A first arm extends from the base. The first arm is adjacent to a first wall of the trench. An opposing second arm extends from the base. The second arm is adjacent to an opposing second wall of the trench. The optical cable is configured to extend along the axis.

Abstract: Based on evaporation of fountain solution from a rotating blanket cylinder to create an image that may be inked and printed, a digitally addressable heater array at or just below the blanket surface evaporates deposited fountain solution and forms a fountain solution latent image on the surface. The heater array has controllable heating elements (e.g., field effect transistors, thin film transistors) that provide a transient heat pattern on the surface to evaporate the fountain solution. Heat is generated by current flow in the heating elements, and power developed by the heating circuit is the product of source-drain voltage and current in the channel. Current may be supplied along data lines by an external voltage controlled by digital electronics to provide the desired heat at heating elements addressed by a specific gate line. The heater array may include a current return line that may be a 2-dimensional mesh.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises at least 10 wt % epoxy functionalized two-dimensional shaped particles, carbon nanotubes in the range of 0.1 to 5 wt %, epoxy resin and a curing agent. A method of manufacturing a composition of matter includes mixing epoxy resin, carbon nanotubes and a solvent to produce a material, drying the material, and mixing the material with a curing agent to product the composition of matter. A method of printing a composition of matter includes producing the composition of matter by combining epoxy functionalized graphene, carbon nanotubes, epoxy base resin, and a curing agent, extrusion printing the composition of matter into a desired pattern, and curing the pattern.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. For example, the method includes printing an image on a substrate, applying an adhesive on select portions of the image, coupling the image to a wave guide such that the adhesive contacts a surface of the wave guide, and providing a light through the wave guide such that the light is emitted through the wave guide and the adhesive and the light is reflected by the select portions of the image back through the adhesive and the wave guide.

Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises a solvent system comprising water, a first organic solvent, and a second organic solvent, wherein the second organic solvent is an alkanediol having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and the second organic solvent is present at an amount of from greater than 0 weight % to about 8 weight %; a white pigment; and resin particles. Methods of making and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A print feedstock has a base material and a marker material, the base material and the marker material having different physical properties. A system to validate objects includes at least one printer to print feedstock onto an object, the feedstock comprising a base material and a marker material, the base material and a marker material having different properties, a device to create a unique identifier for the object based upon a pattern of the feedstock, and a store in which the unique identifier can be stored.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of controlling the placement of micro-objects on the surface of a micro-assembler. Control patterns may be used to cause electrodes of the micro-assembler to generate dielectrophoretic (DEP) and electrophoretic (EP) forces which may be used to manipulate, move, position, or orient one or more micro-objects on the surface of the micro-assembler. The control patterns may be part of a library of control patterns.

Abstract: Systems and methods described receive a request for a transportation plan for a user, wherein the request comprises a starting point and an ending point for a route. Systems and methods then generate a set of potential transportation plans for the route, determine an impact of a subset of plans in the set of potential transportation plans and estimate a likelihood of acceptance of the subset of plans in the set of potential transportation plans based on a personal preference model for the user. Systems and methods also select an influence strategy of the user based on a user model and generate a message recommending a selected plan from the subset of plans for the user, wherein the message is generated based on the selected influence strategy.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a portable case, and a slide-out printer is connected to the portable case. The slide-out printer is connected so as to slide in and out of the portable case. The slide-out printer includes a scanner, and the scanner includes a platen. The apparatus also includes a slide-out shredder connected to the portable case. The slide-out shredder is similarly connected to slide in and out of the portable case.