Abstract: An X-ray irradiation system includes a support for an object requiring decontamination, a first source of irradiation directed to a top side of the object; a second source of irradiation directed to a bottom side of the object; and a controller configured to control a dose rate and a time of each of the first source and the second source to optimize decontamination of the object. A method of irradiating an object is further disclosed.

Abstract: A method of coating a donor surface with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the method comprising: providing a supply of the thermoplastic particles suspended in a fluid, applying the fluid to the donor surface, in a manner to cause the particles suspended in the fluid to form a substantially continuous particle coating on the donor surface, causing fluid flow within an interior plenum of a housing over a portion of the donor surface partially disposed therein, the fluid flow being of sufficient magnitude to entrain particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface and insufficient to entrain particles that are in direct contact therewith; and extracting from the plenum fluid and particles which are not in not direct contact with the donor surface, so as to leave adhering to the donor surface a particle coating that is substantially only a single particle deep.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate, the donor surface returns to the coating station where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid.

Abstract: A metering device is disclosed for regulating the depth of a flowable product coating a surface movable relative to the metering device by directing an air curtain towards the surface. The metering device comprises a body having an interior chamber, an inlet for connecting the chamber to a source of gas under super-ambient pressure; and an opening communicating with the chamber and having a mouth through which gas is discharged from the chamber towards the surface to form the air curtain. A porous or reticulated membrane is secured to, or formed integrally with, the body of the device to lie in the path of the gas discharged through the mouth of the opening.

Abstract: A method of coating a donor surface with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the method comprising: providing a supply of the thermoplastic particles suspended in a fluid, applying the fluid to the donor surface, in a manner to cause the particles suspended in the fluid to form a substantially continuous particle coating on the donor surface, causing fluid flow within an interior plenum of a housing over a portion of the donor surface partially disposed therein, the fluid flow being of sufficient magnitude to entrain particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface and insufficient to entrain particles that are in direct contact therewith; and extracting from the plenum fluid and particles which are not in not direct contact with the donor surface, so as to leave adhering to the donor surface a particle coating that is substantially only a single particle deep.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method are disclosed for printing on conical objects. An ink image is deposited onto the outer release surface of an intermediate transfer member (ITM) having the form of a flexible endless belt. After drying of the ink image on the ITM, the ITM transports the dried ink image to an impression station having a nip at which the ink image is transferred onto the objects. In order to permit printing on conical objects, the ITM is elastically deformable at least in the direction of movement of the ITM, and is guided in such a manner as to be elongated during passage through the impression station, the extent of elongation varying across the width of the ITM so as to match the surface velocity of the ITM to that of the object over the entire line of contact between the ITM and the object at the nip.

Abstract: There is disclosed a print construction comprising: (a) a printing substrate having an image-receiving surface; (b) a receptive layer, at least partially covering said image-receiving surface, and having a particle reception surface distally disposed to said image-receiving surface, said receptive layer optionally having a thickness of at least 1000 nanometer (nm); and (c) a plurality of individual particles adhered to said particle reception surface, and forming a monolayer thereon, the features of which are described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface (12) with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface (80) to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate (20), the donor surface (12) returns to the coating station (14) where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate, the donor surface returns to the coating station where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method are disclosed for printing on conical objects. An ink image is deposited onto the outer release surface of an intermediate transfer member (ITM) having the form of a flexible endless belt. After drying of the ink image on the ITM, the ITM transports the dried ink image to an impression station having a nip at which the ink image is transferred onto the objects. In order to permit printing on conical objects, the ITM is elastically deformable at least in the direction of movement of the ITM, and is guided in such a manner as to be elongated during passage through the impression station, the extent of elongation varying across the width of the ITM so as to match the surface velocity of the ITM to that of the object over the entire line of contact between the ITM and the object at the nip.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method are disclosed for printing on conical objects. An ink image is deposited onto the outer release surface of an intermediate transfer member (ITM) having the form of a flexible endless belt. After drying of the ink image on the ITM, the ITM transports the dried ink image to an impression station having a nip at which the ink image is transferred onto the objects. In order to permit printing on conical objects, the ITM is elastically deformable at least in the direction of movement of the ITM, and is guided in such a manner as to be elongated during passage through the impression station, the extent of elongation varying across the width of the ITM so as to match the surface velocity of the ITM to that of the object over the entire line of contact between the ITM and the object at the nip.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for coating selected regions of a surface of a substrate with a film are disclosed. A cyclically moveable transfer member has an imaging surface which is coated with individual particles formed of, or coated with a thermoplastic polymer, and substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface are removed so as to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface. Selected regions of the imaging surface are exposed to radiation to render the particles tacky within the regions, and the coated imaging surface and the substrate are pressed against one another to cause transfer of only the particles rendered tacky in the coating, such that the transferred particles form a film on the substrate. The monolayer on the imaging surface of the transfer member is replenished with fresh thermoplastic particles and the cycle repeats.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid.

Abstract: A metering device is disclosed for regulating the depth of a flowable product coating a surface movable relative to the metering device by directing an air curtain towards the surface. The metering device comprises a body having an interior chamber, an inlet for connecting the chamber to a source of gas under super-ambient pressure; and an opening communicating with the chamber and having a mouth through which gas is discharged from the chamber towards the surface to form the air curtain. A porous or reticulated membrane is secured to, or formed integrally with, the body of the device to lie in the path of the gas discharged through the mouth of the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

Abstract: A metering device is disclosed for regulating the depth of flowable product coating a surface movable relative to the metering device by directing an air curtain towards the surface. The metering device comprises a body (10) having an interior chamber (12), an inlet for connecting the chamber to a source of gas under super-ambient pressure; and an opening (16) communicating with the chamber and having a mouth through which gas is discharged from the chamber towards the surface to form the air curtain. A porous or reticulated membrane (18) is secured to, or formed integrally with, the body of the device to lie in the path of the gas discharged through the mouth of the opening.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for coating selected regions of a surface of a substrate with a film are disclosed. A cyclically moveable transfer member has an imaging surface which is coated with individual particles formed of, or coated with a thermoplastic polymer, and substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface are removed so as to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface. Selected regions of the imaging surface are exposed to radiation to render the particles tacky within the regions, and the coated imaging surface and the substrate are pressed against one another to cause transfer of only the particles rendered tacky in the coating, such that the transferred particles form a film on the substrate. The monolayer on the imaging surface of the transfer member is replenished with fresh thermoplastic particles and the cycle repeats.