Abstract: Machinery and techniques are disclosed for applying treatment processes to surfaces of objects arranged in a form of an array of objects, and for inspecting surface areas of the objects in such object arrays before and/or after applying the surface treatment processes thereto.

Abstract: Machinery and techniques are disclosed for applying treatment processes to surfaces of objects arranged in a form of an array of objects, and for inspecting surface areas of the objects in such object arrays before and/or after applying the surface treatment processes thereto.

Abstract: A system for interfacing between different types of conveyor systems that comprise a first serial conveyor system using a sequence of object carriers configured to transport a continuous serial stream of objects, and a parallel conveyor system configured to simultaneously transport one or more arrays of objects. A first accumulator unit can be used to accumulate a batch of the object carriers of the first serial conveyor system. Each of the object carriers can carry an object of the continuous serial stream of objects for accumulating a batch of the objects therein. Two or more first movable trays, each configured to receive an array of the objects from the batch of objects accumulated in the first accumulator unit, can be used to transfer the received array of objects to the parallel conveyor system, and load the objects thereby carried onto grippers of the parallel conveyor system.

Abstract: Machinery and techniques are disclosed for applying treatment processes to surfaces of objects arranged in a form of an array of objects, and for inspecting surface areas of the objects in such object arrays before and/or after applying the surface treatment processes thereto.

Abstract: Machinery and techniques are disclosed for applying treatment processes to surfaces of objects arranged in a form of an array of objects, and for inspecting surface areas of the objects in such object arrays before and/or after applying the surface treatment processes thereto. The treated objects are held by an array of grippers/mandrels, each gripper/mandrel is configured to receive a respective object of the array, and to controllably generate gripping contact with internal surface(s) of the received object, for attaching the object thereto.

Abstract: A system for interfacing between different types of conveyors is disclosed. The conveyor systems comprise a first serial conveyor system using a sequence of object carriers configured to transport a continuous serial stream of objects, and a parallel conveyor system configured to simultaneously transport one or more arrays of objects. A first accumulator unit can be used to accumulate a batch of the object carriers of the first serial conveyor system. Each of the object carriers can carry an object of the continuous serial stream of objects for accumulating a batch of the objects therein. Two or more first movable trays, each configured to receive an array of the objects from the batch of objects accumulated in the first accumulator unit, can be used to transfer the received array of objects to the parallel conveyor system, and load the objects thereby carried onto grippers of the parallel conveyor system.

Abstract: A printing system is provided for printing on an object having a curved surface. The printing system comprises: a support assembly for supporting an object having the curved surface to be printed on, said support assembly comprising a gripper configured for holding the object thereon at a predetermined working distance between the curved surface of the object and a printing head unit, said gripper being configured and operable for varying its cross-sectional dimension so as to maintain said working distance for the objects of different dimensions.

Abstract: A layer-by-layer three dimensional printing technique for printing on outer surfaces of a plurality of substrate elements passing through a printing route/zone while being rotated thereinside about a printing axis. At least one array of printing head units is used to define at least one printing route along the printing axis, where the at least one printing route is a substantially linear segment of a closed loop lane along which the objects are progressing. The print head units being configured for movement along radial axes, or one or more axes substantially perpendicular, to the printing axis, to allow layer-by-layer printing of said three-dimensional objects over said substrate elements while being rotated in said printing route.

Abstract: Machinery and techniques are disclosed for applying treatment processes to surfaces of objects arranged in a form of an array of objects, and for inspecting surface areas of the objects in such object arrays before and/or after applying the surface treatment processes thereto. The treated objects are held by an array of grippers/mandrels, each gripper/mandrel is configured to receive a respective object of the array, and to controllably generate gripping contact with internal surface(s) of the received object, for attaching the object thereto.

Abstract: A layer-by-layer three dimensional printing technique for printing on outer surfaces of a plurality of substrate elements passing through a printing route/zone while being rotated thereinside about a printing axis. At least one array of printing head units is used to define at least one printing route along the printing axis, where the at least one printing route is a substantially linear segment of a closed loop lane along which the objects are progressing. The print head units being configured for movement along radial axes, or one or more axes substantially perpendicular, to the printing axis, to allow layer-by-layer printing of said three-dimensional objects over said substrate elements while being rotated in said printing route.

Abstract: A printing system is provided for printing on an object having a curved surface. The printing system comprises: a support assembly for supporting an object having the curved surface to be printed on, said support assembly comprising a gripper configured for holding the object thereon at a predetermined working distance between the curved surface of the object and a printing head unit, said gripper being configured and operable for varying its cross-sectional dimension so as to maintain said working distance for the objects of different dimensions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet ink composition for printing on a ceramic substrate comprising: (a) a liquid vehicle; (b) sub-micron particles of binding composition having a melting point below 6000 C; and (c) sub-micron particles causing an etch-like effect, said sub-micron particles are selected from metal oxide particles, high melting point frit particles, and a combination thereof, said sub-micron particles causing an etch-like effect have a melting point of at least 500 C above the melting point of said sub-micron particles of binding composition. The invention further relates to a printing process using such ink and to a ceramic substrate printed with a pattern or image having an etch-like effect, by means of the printing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet ink composition for printing on a ceramic substrate comprising: (a) a liquid vehicle; (b) sub-micron particles of binding composition having a melting point below 6000 C; and (c) sub-micron particles causing an etch-like effect, said sub-micron particles are selected from metal oxide particles, high melting point frit particles, and a combination thereof, said sub-micron particles causing an etch-like effect have a melting point of at least 500 C above the melting point of said sub-micron particles of binding composition. The invention further relates to a printing process using such ink and to a ceramic substrate printed with a pattern or image having an etch-like effect, by means of the printing process.

Abstract: A duplex printing system and a printing method which enables printing of the second side of substrate in any desired order is provided. The printing system includes a printing unit, a reader and a processing unit. In the first pass, the printing unit receives a digital representation of a first image and at least one machine readable code and prints the first image and the machine readable code on a first side of a printing substrate. In the second pass, the reader identifies the printed machine readable code, preferably a bar-code, and provides it to the processing unit. The processing unit provides the digital representation of a second image associated with the machine readable code to the printing unit for printing a second image on a second side of the printing substrate, preferably, but not necessarily, in an orientation which is generally similar to the orientation of the printed first image and in registration therebetween.