Abstract: Calibration apparatus is disclosed for a jet printer including a recording medium support having a support surface, and at least one nozzle that is operative to emit an ink jet toward the support surface and is movable along the support surface in a translation direction. The apparatus includes a probe positioned proximate the support surface that includes a plurality of edge portion pairs separated by different distances in a direction along the translation axis, and located at different distances along a test direction perpendicular to the translation direction and proximate the support surface. The apparatus also includes detection circuitry responsive to the probe, and calibration logic responsive to the detection circuitry and having a calibration result output.

Abstract: A certified proofing method is disclosed that includes receiving a printable sheet and automatically detecting at least one feature of at least one component of a proofing process bearing on its quality. The method also includes automatically evaluating at least one result of the step of detecting, printing print data on the printable sheet, and generating a certification notice for the printable sheet in response to a positive electromagnetic result signal from the step of evaluating.

Abstract: A set of ink-jet printable proofing sheets are disclosed that each comprise a first printable face having a periphery including first, second, third, and fourth edges. The first and third edges are disposed opposite each other on the first printable face, and the second and fourth edges are disposed opposite each other on the first printable face. The first face has properties resulting from a deposited ink drop print-enhancing treatment. Each sheet also includes a second face sharing the periphery and the first, second, third, and fourth edges of the first printable face, and a first machine-readable mark located on one of the first and second faces and including a plurality of data areas of different densities, with the combination of densities in the data areas being unique to each sheet.

Abstract: A jet printer is disclosed that includes a print head attached to a movable carriage, with a deflection element having a deflection axis in the direction of an axis of rotation of a drum. A carriage mechanism can move the carriage in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drum. The printer also includes self-interleaving logic with an output provided to the print head, as well as a control circuit responsive to a swathing table and having an output provided to the deflection element.

Abstract: One general aspect of the invention provides for creating half-tone inkjet proofs on print-enhanced sheets based on an effective image cell pitch that substantially matches a cell pitch used to create press plates. Print process variables can be adjusted for the inkjet proofing printer based on received color matching information. These adjustments can define preprint ink mixing ratios that allow at least some image cells to be printed with ink mixtures. Or they can define sub-area printing values that allow at least some dots to be printed with areas of different inks.

Abstract: A lead screw coupling that includes two universal joints. The first joint is operatively connected between a first member that includes a mounting site for coupling to a lead screw nut, and a second member. The second joint is operatively connected between the second member and a third member that includes a mounting site for coupling to a movable printer carriage. In a preferred embodiment the universal joints and the members are all defined by a plurality of slanted planar slots that are each cut along a plane that is tilted with respect to an axis of rotation of the lead screw.

Abstract: A method of jet printing is disclosed in which a jet printing fluid source advances in a helical progression with respect to a drum, and drops from the jet printing fluid source are guided to a substrate in steps that define a swathing order that separates their trajectories. A printing system is also disclosed in which a digital filtering function is applied to a desired input position value to obtain a guiding value for a drop of printing fluid.

Abstract: A printer drum includes a leading edge assembly for holding a first end of a substrate, and a trailing edge assembly for holding a second end of the substrate. The leading edge assembly includes a first plurality of interconnected disks, and the trailing edge assembly includes a second plurality of interconnected disks. The disks of the two assemblies are interleaved such that the disks of the trailing edge assembly are rotatable relative to the disks of the leading edge assembly about the axis of rotation of the drum. A balancing disk is interleaved with the disks. A leading edge clamp interconnects the first plurality of disks, and a trailing edge clamp interconnects the second plurality of disks. A plurality of registration pins of the leading edge clamp selectively engage a substrate held by the clamp.

Abstract: A spread spectrum digital screening mask and a method and system for digital screening a continuous tone image with the spread spectrum digital screening mask. The mask is characterized in the frequency domain by a function in magnitude independent of angle within a band of frequencies between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency. The mask may be further characterized by its thresholded binary planes at each of a plurality of predetermined threshold values. The binary planes are characterized in frequency domain by magnitudes primarily distributed within the band of frequencies. For each binary plane, the number of pixels having one of the binary values divided by the total number of pixels in the binary plane equals a fraction determined by the predetermined threshold value of the binary plane divided by the maximum threshold value.