Abstract: A printer includes: a first roller feeding a liner; a print unit printing information on a print medium temporarily adhering to the liner fed by the first roller; a second roller located at a first position when performing a print operation in a first print mode, and a second position when performing the print operation in a second print mode, at which second position the second roller rotates by the rotation of the first roller to separate the print medium from the liner; a reflective optical sensor including a light emitting part and a light receiving part arranged in an upward and downward direction defined when the printer is placed on a horizontal surface, and that is used to determine a position of the second roller; and a sensor housing containing the light receiving part. The sensor housing has a surface opposite to the light receiving part. The surface has an opening on a side of the light emitting part, and a light blocking part on a side opposite to the side of the light emitting part.

Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a standby tray, a sheet post-processing unit, a first pressing member, a second pressing member, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the first pressing member to press a first sheet conveyed into the standby tray at a first location, cause the first sheet to be conveyed upstream to a first position, control the second pressing member to press the first sheet at a second location, cause a second sheet to be conveyed on top of the first sheet while the first sheet is no longer pressed by the first pressing member but is still pressed by the second pressing member, press the second sheet at the first location, and cause the first sheet to be conveyed upstream to a second position that is offset from the first position.

Abstract: In order to improve a method for optimization in the creation of test charts with the aim of improving the quality of prioritization, the invention proposes a method for optimizing a plurality of test patch-comprising test charts for printing purposes, wherein a prioritization of the test patches is carried out on the basis of the specification of the target printing method, the intended number of colors as well as the color identification and the intended mixing intentions, and a compilation of test patches is made according to that prioritization, wherein the test chart is printed, the printed test chart is colorimetrically measured, and the result is used for optimizing the prioritization.

Abstract: A method of forming an image on a substrate by applying energy, involves a substrate in or on which there are at least two different colour-change agents, i.e. a first colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least two different colours; and a second colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least one different colour than achievable with the first colour change agent. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-layer laminate comprising, in order, a layer comprising the first agent, a barrier layer, and a layer comprising the second agent.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing an image on a substrate, wherein the image includes an indicia and a frame. The method includes covering at least a portion the substrate with a carrier comprising magnetically alignable flakes, aligning the magnetically alignable flakes with a magnetic field of a magnetic assembly comprising a metal plate with an opening, and solidifying the carrier. The frame is formed at an edge of the opening and the indicia is visible within the frame. The magnetic assembly includes two magnets disposed so that the North pole of one magnet and the South pole of another magnet are proximate to the metal plate at opposite sides of the opening.

Abstract: A transfer printing process that exploits the mismatch in mechanical or thermo-mechanical response at the interface of a printable micro- or nano-device and a transfer stamp to drive the release of the device from the stamp and its non-contact transfer to a receiving substrate are provided. The resulting facile, pick-and-place process is demonstrated with the assembling of 3-D microdevices and the printing of GAN light-emitting diodes onto silicon and glass substrates. High speed photography is used to provide experimental evidence of thermo-mechanically driven release.

Abstract: A method of forming a digital embossing (17) on a surface (2) by bonding hard press particles (67) to a carrier (68). A liquid binder pattern (P) is applied on the carrier by a digital drop application head. Hard press particles (67) are applied on the carrier (68) and the binder pattern such that some hard press particles are bonded to the carrier (68) by the liquid pattern and non-bonded press particles (67) are removed. The carrier (68) with the bonded hard press particles (67) is pressed to the surface (2) and an embossing is formed when the carrier (68) with the hard press particles (67) is removed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus applies ink to a surface of a printing plate in the shape of a predetermined pattern and then transfers the ink to a substrate. The printing apparatus includes: an image recording section that applies the ink to the surface of the printing plate; a plate surface observation unit that acquires information about the surface of the printing plate; a storage section that stores information about a reference shape serving as a reference of the surface of the printing plate; and a determination section that compares the information about the reference shape stored in the storage section with the information about the surface of the printing plate, which is obtained by the plate surface observation unit, and determines whether or not the surface of the printing plate to which the ink has been applied is present in a predetermined range of the reference shape.

Abstract: An ink curing apparatus for curing ink on an object and method includes at least one thermal imaging sensor that is configured to image thermal radiation of the object and at least one heating element that is configured to generate heat energy. A control responsive to the imaging sensor controls the heating element. The control controls the heating element as a function of the thermal radiation of the object to heat the object to a particular radiation level. The method may be used to cure ink on the object. The object may be made of a textile. The method may be used with at least one chosen from screen printing, digital printing, sublimation ink printing, discharge ink printing, and pad printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form a first image on a first side of a recording medium and a second image on a second side of the recording medium, a position detector configured to detect respective positions of the first and second images, and a controller configured to perform, based on detection results obtained by the position detector, at least one of an image position correction by matching the first and second images and a magnification error correction by calculating and correcting a magnification error of one of the first and second images relative to the other. A program product used in the image forming apparatus includes a method of forming the first image and the second image, detecting the respective positions of the first and second images, and matching a position or a size of the first and second images.

Abstract: An illuminated metal keycap having a legend diffuser material that may diffuse light through a legend opened in a background layer. The background layer may be opaque and the legend may be transparent. The metal keycap is adhered to a scissor mechanism positioned above electrical switch circuitry. Included within, below, or adjacent to the scissor mechanism may be one or more light sources positioned to emit light through the metal keycap, around the perimeter of the metal keycap, and/or through the background layer.

Abstract: A novel print engraving substrate is provided that when used with a cutting plotter, is able to improve the functioning of the cutting plotter. In some embodiments, a print engraving substrate may comprise a print engraving material forming a top surface; an adhesive material coupled to the print engraving material opposite to the top surface; a print engraving area disposed on the top surface; and a registration area disposed on the top surface which may receive one or more registration marks. The print engraving area may be configured to receive indicia such as cutting indicia which may be applied by a printer. The registration area may lack one or more colors or textures applied to the print engraving area thereby facilitating or allowing an optical scanner of a cutting plotter to detect registration marks on a substrate comprising a colored and/or textured print engraving area.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a printing head usage amount of a 3D printer and a control device are provided. The method is adapted to control the control device of the 3D printer. The method includes following steps. At least one printing head of the 3D printer is divided into a plurality of sections. An accumulated printing point number of each of the sections is obtained. At least one specific section used for printing a 3D object is selected from the sections according to the accumulated printing point number of each of the sections. The method for adjusting the printing head usage amount of the 3D printer and the control device can avoid excessively high usage amount of some nozzles.

Abstract: A printing system obtains a print job, analyzes the obtained print job, and imposes print pages to a total of four surfaces of a print target sheet including two surfaces on each of front and back in accordance with a bookbinding format of the analyzed print job. As for an imposition method, if the bookbinding format of the print job is particular two fold bookbinding for which processing of two-folding a sheet and bonding a plurality of two-folded sheets is performed, imposition is performed while reserving a glue surface not to print out of the four surfaces of the print target sheet.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a container mounted on a side wall of the image processing apparatus and comprising a bottom extending upwards in the vertical direction at a predetermined angle from the side wall for supporting an end of a sheet and a wall member vertically arranged on the bottom and forming a space with the bottom, and configured to house a sheet in the space through an opening formed on the upper side of the container; and a pickup unit located adjacent to the bottom of the container and having a pickup roller and configured to move the pickup roller to the inside of the container if a pickup operation for conveying the sheet to the inside of the image processing apparatus is executed, and keep the pickup roller at a waiting position outside of the space of the container if the pickup operation is not executed.

Abstract: A method for operating a device that applies a force to a print sheet during a folding operation, wherein the print sheet is in a specified starting position prior to the folding operation. Braking-force triggering pulses are directed toward the print sheet to counter the acceleration of the print sheet in the starting phase of the folding operation and/or to counter fluttering movements that occur during the intake of the print sheet. The pulses exert an intermittent, uniform or oscillating force onto at least a section of the print sheet. The pulses are controlled by a control unit which operates based on control profiles resulting from queried operating parameters and/or based on stored control profiles.

Abstract: A printer with adhesive capabilities is presented. A printer includes one or more printing elements to image one or two sides of print media. The printer also includes an adhesive element to apply or activate adhesive material on at least one of the two sides of the print media.

Abstract: A device for braking and positioning a print sheet in a processing machine, wherein, along a feeding direction for the print sheet, at least one mechanism exerts a braking force onto the print sheet, to position the print sheet in connection with an operation of a downstream-arranged processing station. The device includes at least a first mechanism operative to release pneumatic, braking-force triggering pulses that act upon the print sheet. At least a second mechanism is operative to generate at last one frictional force that acts upon the print sheet, wherein with aid of at least one of the first mechanism and the second mechanism, intermittent, uniform or oscillating braking forces are generated that act upon the print sheet. A control unit controls the braking forces based on at least one of changeable control profiles resulting from queried operating parameters and stored control profiles.

Abstract: A media path moves media sheets from a media supply, a print engine receives the media sheets from the media path, and a sensor detects a characteristic related to the media sheets. A drive nip continuously moves the media sheets, and a stall nip receives the media sheets from the drive nip. The stall nip is positioned less than the length of one of the media sheets from the drive nip. The stall nip alternately stops or moves the media sheets while the drive nip continuously moves the media sheets, as controlled by a controller, to cause the media sheets to buckle between the drive nip and the stall nip. The controller controls when to stop or move the media sheets to constantly vary the size of the buckle, and thereby make the buckle relatively larger for a first characteristic and make the buckle relatively smaller for a different characteristic.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method and system for applying ink markings on a food product in such a manner to form a permanent marking thereon. The markings include text and graphics, and can include an advertisement, freshness information, traceability data, or other types of relevant information, or any combination thereof. The method preferably forms the markings on the food product while the product moves through a predetermined region of a food processing system. Preferably, the ink marking assembly is located above the food products to be marked and the products are marked while passing thereunder. The performance or characteristics of the marking device may be adjusted in response to selected characteristics of the food product, environmental conditions, processing conditions, compliance requirements, and the like, in order to optimize the marking process.