Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a heater for converting a filament of extrusion material into thermoplastic material. The heater has a channel configured to change the cross-sectional shape of the filament to a cross-sectional shape that has a greater surface area than the surface area of the filament before the heater receives the filament. The channel of the heater can also be configured to drive the center portion of the filament toward the heated walls of the channel and to mix thermoplastic material in the channel while exposing the center portion of the filament to the heated wall of the channel.

Abstract: A system and method for applying an overcoat to a printed image on a substrate generally includes a radiative source that transmits electromagnetic radiation within a predefined wavelength range to the printed image on the substrate to be absorbed by the printed image and heat the printed image to a predetermined temperature range, a depositing device that deposits an overcoating powder onto the heated printed image, the overcoating powder having a melting point within the predetermined range such that upon deposition thereof, the overcoating powder adheres and/or melts onto the heated printed image, and a residual powder removing device that removes any residual overcoating powder not adhered to the printed image or the substrate.

Abstract: A printer is configured to apply marking material to print media to create a printed item, and a transport belt is positioned to receive the printed item from the printer and is configured to dry the marking material on the printed item. The transport belt has a middle layer attached between outer and inner layers, and the printed item contacts the outer layer. The outer and inner layers are non-perforated entangled fiber materials that are porous and that are more flexible than the middle layer.

Abstract: A purge cycle is performed with an ink delivery system of an inkjet printer by applying a pressure pulse to a printhead in the printer that is substantially shorter than pressure pulses previously used. A pressure at a predetermined threshold is generated behind a valve and then release to the printhead. The duration of the pressure application is in a range of about 150 milliseconds to about 250 milliseconds. This pressure pulse substantially reduces the amount of ink emitted during the purge. A bidirectional wipe of the printhead face is effective for restoring inkjets in the printhead even though the amount of emitted ink is substantially reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rendering a transparent pantograph pattern. A background path and a foreground path for a pantograph pattern can be determined. An intersection internal to the background path and external to foreground path that is to be marked can be defined. Areas to be masked can be defined with respect to the pantograph pattern. The pantograph pattern can be then rendered as a transparent vector pattern pantograph by writing a background based on the background path and a foreground based on the foreground path and the areas defined as masked.

Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a frame, a round member directly or indirectly connected to the frame, and an arm directly or indirectly connected to the frame. The arm is rotatable to rotate between a first position and a second position. The arm is positioned to bias sheets toward the round member when in the first position, and the arm is positioned to bias the sheets away from the round member when in the second position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating labels from a template can involve correcting an image of a form captured by an image-capturing device, detecting in the image of the form a group of features including one or more polygons, and one or more writable areas in polygon(s), creating a template of the form based on the group of features detected in the image, and transmitting the template electronically to a requester of the template.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes an ejector and a coil wrapped at least partially around the ejector. The 3D printer also includes a power source configured to transmit voltage pulses to the coil. The 3D printer includes a computing system causing one or more drops of the liquid to be jetted out of the nozzle, and a substrate configured to support the one or more drops and advance along a path defined by one or more arcuate contours, where the one or more arcuate contours define a first layer of a strut. One or more struts are printed from the first layer of the strut to a node of each strut. The one or more struts are printed from a first layer to a node and combine to fabricate a lattice structure including one or more vertical struts and/or one or more angled struts wherein each strut intersects with another strut at a node.

Abstract: Devices and methods use a processor, a scanner, and a display screen. The processor is used to recognize Braille characters within the field of view of the scanner. The processor is used to convert the Braille characters into text, and the display screen is used to display the text visibly.

Abstract: A method of forming an article which includes a diffraction grating, an article, and an apparatus for forming the article by printing are described. The method includes forming a periodic structure by printing a first set of parallel lines on a first side of a transparent substrate with a marking material and printing a second set of parallel lines on a second side of the transparent substrate with a marking material, the first and second sets of lines, in combination, defining a grating having a frequency and a spacing between lines which causes incident light to be diffracted into a plurality of beams travelling in different directions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a selector and an instructor. The selector selects an image. The instructor provides an instruction if an aspect ratio of the selected image exceeds a maximum ratio of a range of predetermined aspect ratios. The instruction is an instruction to remove an end portion of the selected image in a width direction so that the aspect ratio of the selected image will be contained within the range of the predetermined aspect ratios. The instructor also provides an instruction if the aspect ratio of the selected image is smaller than a minimum ratio of the range of the predetermined aspect ratios. The instruction is an instruction to add a margin to an end portion of the selected image in the width direction so that the aspect ratio of the selected image will be contained within the range of the predetermined aspect ratios.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of displaying and editing a document having editable text that allows for a wide variety of word verification features beyond merely correcting errors in spelling or grammar and allows for such detailed editing in a simple and user-friendly manner.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. For example, the method is executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) and includes receiving a desired transparency level for an annotation image to be added to a canvas image, applying a transparency factor based on the desired transparency level to a transparency output function and an opaque output function to calculate an output value for each pixel of the canvas image that overlaps a pixel of the annotation image in a color space associated with the MFD, and generating an annotated canvas image that includes the output value that is calculated for each pixel of the canvas image that overlaps the pixel of the annotation image.

Abstract: An adhesive sign suited to use in retail applications includes a substrate layer. An adhesive layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The adhesive layer defines an exposed region for attachment to an associated structure. The adhesive layer is derived from a photo-curable inkjet composition. An ink layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The ink layer includes an image. The ink layer is derived from a photo-curable inkjet composition. The adhesive layer and ink layer can be formed in the same inkjet printing process and cured in a common photo-curing station. A stack of the adhesive signs can be assembled without interleaving a release liner between each pair of signs.

Abstract: Examples of the preferred embodiments use printed content (e.g., halftones, difference in grayscale or darkness) to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor may measure halftones or grayscale differences between printed content and non-printed content of a current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate, imaging member rotation speed) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.

Abstract: Examples of the preferred embodiments use an ink quantity metric (e.g., lightness L*, darkness, image density, line width) of printed content to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor (e.g., spectrometer) may measure the ink quantity metric of the current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more layers of material printed by a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The one or more layers cool and solidify to form an object after being printed by the 3D printer. At least one of the one or more layers includes greater than 50% metal. The apparatus also includes a first temperature sensor in contact with the object. The first temperature sensor measures the temperature of the material while the object is being printed by the 3D printer, after the object has been printed by the 3D printer, or both.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus includes a processor, a printing device, a user interface, and an input/output device. The printing device is in communication with the processor. The user interface is in communication with the processor. The input/output device is in communication with the processor and with a computerized network external to the apparatus. The processor is adapted to maintain a general lexicon of mask words. The processor is adapted to provide, through the user interface and the computerized network, options to change the mask words in the general lexicon to create a local lexicon. The processor is adapted to redact the mask words in the local lexicon from at least one of: printed items; items displayed on the user interface; and items provided to the computerized network through the input/output device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the thickness of fountain solution (FS) in a Digital Architecture for Lithographic Ink (DALI) printing system by transferring the FS to an optical roller with the properties of a lens and measuring the resulting effect on the refraction of an image captured through the lens. The optical roller may comprise a clear or glass cylinder forming a Fresnel lens cylinder having an engineered surface of known surface roughness and wherein the roller is placed adjacent the image member blanket. A heat source is used to evaporate the FS from the blanket for transfer to the optical roller where the FS wets the roller surface to different degrees based on the FS thickness relative to Fresnel ridge depth. Changes to the optical refraction through the lens varies with the FS thickness. An image sensor (e.g., a CCD camera or image analysis system) evaluates the image through the optical roller for FS thickness determination.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. For example, the method executed by a processor of a multi-function device (MFD) includes detecting use of the MFD, wherein the MFD is associated with a plurality of MFDs that are designated as a cluster within a location, deactivating the MFD in response to use of the MFD being detected, transmitting a first notification to deactivate the plurality of MFDs within the cluster in response to use of the MFD being detected, initiating a decontamination process within the location in response to the use of the MFD being detected, receiving an indication that the decontamination process is completed, transmitting a second notification to reactivate the plurality of MFDs within the cluster, and reactivating the MFD.