Abstract: There are disclosed compositions comprising core-shell nano-elements composed in their core of a water-insoluble thermoplastic compound having a molecular weight of more than 0.6 kDa and in their shell of at least one fatty amine, or a part thereof, the core-shell nano-elements having a viscosity of 107 mPa·s or less and being dispersed in a polar carrier as nano-elements having an average diameter of 200 nm or less. The water-insoluble thermoplastic compound can be capable of stimulating the synthesis of skin proteins and/or enabling the delivery of active agents upon application of the core-shell nano-elements to a surface to be treated therewith. Methods for preparing the composition and uses thereof are also provided.

Abstract: A jacket-securing arrangement is disclosed for mounting in a cylinder, which cylinder has an outer surface and at least one recess in the outer surface for receiving an inwardly turned edge of a replaceable jacket overlying at least part of the outer surface of the cylinder. The jacket-securing arrangement is mountable within the recess so as not to project beyond the outer surface of the cylinder when the jacket is secured thereto, and includes a clamping lever pivotable about a shaft located within the recess between a clamping position in which the edge of the replaceable jacket is clamped between the lever and a side wall of the recess and a release position in which the lever is spaced from the side wall of the recess. A magnet is provided to retain the lever in the clamping position. The clamping lever is formed of two or more members assembled around the shaft and defining between them a bearing surface engaging an outer surface of the shaft.

Abstract: Ink formulations suitable for deposition upon the intermediate transfer member of an indirect printing system and for transfer therefrom to a substrate. The inks are aqueous inkjet inks comprising an organic polymeric resin and a colorant. Ink film constructions including a plurality of continuous ink films fixedly adhered to the printing substrate that can be obtained with these inks are also disclosed. The inks and the printed constructions are such that the ink films and the dried inks composing them have a first dynamic viscosity within a range of 106 cP to 5·107 cP at at least a first temperature within a first range of 60° C. to 87.5° C., and a second dynamic viscosity of at least 6·107 cP, for at least a second temperature within a second range of 50° C. to 55° C.

Abstract: A jacket-securing arrangement is disclosed for mounting in a cylinder, which cylinder (220) has an outer surface and at least one recess (320) in the outer surface for receiving an inwardly turned edge of a replaceable jacket (225) overlying at least part of the outer surface of the cylinder. The jacket-securing arrangement is mountable within the recess so as not to project beyond the outer surface of the cylinder when the jacket is secured thereto, and includes a clamping lever pivotable about a shaft located within the recess between a clamping position in which the edge of the replaceable jacket is clamped between the lever and a side wall of the recess and a release position in which the lever is spaced from the side wall of the recess. A magnet is provided to retain the lever in the clamping position. The clamping lever is formed of two or more members assembled around the shaft and defining between them a bearing surface engaging an outer surface of the shaft.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member (ITM) configured for receiving ink droplets to form an ink image thereon, for transferring the ink image to a target substrate, and for moving along a continuous path, the ITM including: (i) first and second longitudinal edges extending along a longitudinal axis of the ITM; and (ii) one or more guiding elements, arranged along at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges and configured to engage with a guiding subsystem of a printing system, so as to move the ITM along the continuous path, at least one of the guiding elements includes one or more markers positioned at one or more respective marking locations along the respective guiding element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink. In some embodiments, an intermediate transfer member (ITM) comprising a silicone-based release layer surface is employed. For example, the release layer surface satisfies at least one of the following properties: (i) a receding contact angle of a drop of distilled water deposited on the silicone-based release layer surface is at most 60°; and (ii) a 10-second dynamic contact angle (DCA) of a drop of distilled water deposited on the silicone-based release layer surface is at most 108°. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein.

Abstract: There is disclosed a condensation curable coating composition in the form of an oil-in-oil emulsion, the coating composition being able to protect surfaces coated therewith from undesired contamination by materials coming in contact therewith. The surfaces to be so protected by the coating composition, once cured, can, by way of illustration, be of parts of printing systems and the materials coming in contact with such surfaces can be ink images or residues thereof.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member (ITM) (44) of printing system (10), the ITM includes: (a) an outer layer (102) configured to receive droplets (11) of printing fluid for producing an image thereon, and transfer the image to target substrate (50), and (b) a stack (107) of flexible support layers, the stack includes a mesh (109), having a first section impregnated in a first layer (106) having a first elastic modulus in an axis in which a tension force is applied to the ITM (44), and a second section impregnated in a second layer (108), which is placed in contact with the first layer (106) and has in the axis, a second elastic modulus different from the first clastic modulus. In response to applying to the ITM (44) a specified level of the tension force, the stack (107) is configured to retain a predefined elongation of the ITM (44) along the axis.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coating apparatus for applying a layer of particles to a receiving surface. The apparatus comprises a pressurized air source, an application chamber partially bounded by the receiving surface into which an air stream is delivered by the air source, an air return path for returning air from the application chamber to an intake of the air source to form an air circulation loop, a dosing device for introducing particles to be coated onto the receiving surface into the air circulation loop, and a controller serving to regulate the dosing device so as to maintain the particle concentration within predetermined limits. A method of applying a layer of particles is also provided, as well as printing systems benefiting from the present coating apparatus.

Abstract: A system includes (a) an image forming station including multiple print bars arranged along an axis and configured to apply to a substrate being moved along the axis, droplets of printing fluids having multiple colors, respectively, and (b) multiple dryers, which are mounted on the image forming station, and are interleaved with the multiple print bars along the axis, the multiple dryers are configured to dry the droplets applied to the substrate for forming an image on the substrate, at least a dryer among the dryers includes: (i) an illumination assembly, which is configured to dry the droplets by directing the optical radiation to impinge on the substrate, and (ii) a temperature control assembly, which is configured to control a temperature of the substrate by directing a gas to the substrate, the illumination assembly and the temperature control assembly are packaged together in a housing.

Abstract: An indirect printing system is disclosed having an intermediate transfer member (ITM) in the form of an endless belt that circulates during operation to transport ink images from an image forming station. Ink images are deposited on an outer surface of the ITM by one or a plurality of print bars. At an impression station, the ink images are transferred from the outer surface of the ITM onto a printing substrate. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the ITM 20 is maintained within the image forming station at a predetermined distance from the one or each of the print bars 10, 12, 14 and 16 by means of a plurality of support rollers 11, 13, 15, 17 that have a common flat tangential plane and contact the inner surface of the ITM.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member (ITM) for use with a printing system, the ITM having (a) a support layer; and (b) a release layer having an ink reception surface and a second surface opposing the ink reception surface, the second surface attached to the support layer, the release layer formed of an addition-cured, hydrophobic silicone material, wherein the release surface of the release layer has relatively hydrophilic properties with respect to the addition-cured, hydrophobic silicone material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coating apparatus for applying a monolayer layer of particles to a receiving surface. The apparatus comprises a pressurized air source, an application chamber partially bounded by the receiving surface into which an air stream is delivered by the air source, an air return path for returning air from the application chamber to an intake of the air source to form an air circulation loop, and a dosing device for introducing particles to be coated onto the receiving surface into the air circulation loop, a particle deflector being positioned in the path of the air stream to break up agglomerated particles carried by the air stream prior to coating the receiving surface with the particles. A method of applying a layer of particles is also provided, as well as printing systems benefiting from the present coating apparatus.

Abstract: A system includes: (a) a flexible intermediate transfer member (ITM) including multiple layers and markers including: (i) a structure engraved, in at least one of the layers, at respective marking locations along the ITM, and (ii) at least part of the structure is filled with a filling material that changes one or both of optical and magnetic properties of the ITM, the ITM includes an outer layer for receiving ink droplets, and transferring the ink image to a target substrate, (b) sensing assemblies disposed at respective predefined locations relative to the ITM, and configured to produce signals indicative of respective positions of the markers, and (c) a processor, which is configured to receive the signals, and based on the signals, to control a deposition of the ink droplets on the ITM, and the processor is configured to detect a deformation of the ITM based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: A digital printing system includes intermediate transfer member (ITM) having multiple layers and markers engraved in layers at marking locations along ITM, to receive printing fluid to form image, sensing assemblies disposed at predefined locations relative to ITM, and produce signals indicative of markers positions, continuous target substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, to engage with ITM at engagement point for receiving image from ITM, at engagement point, the ITM moved at first velocity and the continuous target substrate moved at second velocity, first drum to rotate at first direction and first rotational velocity to move ITM at the first velocity, and second drum to rotate at second direction and at second rotational velocity to move continuous target substrate at second velocity, and processor to engage and disengage between ITM and continuous target substrate at engagement point by displacing one or both of the first and second drums.

Abstract: A system includes an image forming station, which is configured to apply droplets of one or more printing fluids to a target substrate, so as to form an image thereon, and a substrate conveyor, which includes one or more perforated plates having multiple openings, and is configured to grip and move the target substrate to and from the image forming station for forming the image, the substrate conveyor includes one or more rotatable elements, which are fitted in the respective openings, and are configured to provide mechanical support to the target substrate, and when the target substrate moves over the one or more rotatable elements, at least one of the rotatable elements is configured to rotate in response to a physical contact with the target substrate.

Abstract: A printing system for printing on a substrate, comprises a movable intermediate transfer member in the form of a flexible, substantially inextensible, belt guided to follow a closed path, an image forming station for depositing droplets of a liquid ink onto an outer surface of the belt to form an ink image, a drying station for drying the ink image on the belt to leave an ink residue film on the outer surface of the belt, first and second impression stations spaced from one another in the direction of movement of the belt, each impression station comprising an impression cylinder for supporting and transporting the substrate and a pressure cylinder carrying a compressible blanket for urging the belt against the substrate supported on the impression cylinder, and a transport system for transporting the substrate from the first impression station to the second impression station.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to control apparatus and methods of a printing system, for example, comprising an intermediate transfer member (ITM) and to user-related features of a printing system. Some embodiments relate to regulation of a velocity and/or tension and/or length of the ITM. Some embodiments relate to regulation of deposition of ink on the moving ITM. Some embodiments regulate to apparatus configured to alert a user of one or more events related to operation of the ITM. Some embodiments relate to a time-line GUI for visualizing and/or manipulating queued print jobs which may be employed. Some embodiments relate to a reversed augmented reality GUI for visualization and/or control of the printing system. In some embodiments, a display screen is mounted to a printer housing and/or able to control access to moving parts of a printing system.

Abstract: A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path.

Abstract: Ink formulations suitable for deposition upon the intermediate transfer member of an indirect printing system and for transfer therefrom to a substrate. The inks are aqueous inkjet inks comprising an organic polymeric resin and a colorant. Ink film constructions including a plurality of continuous ink films fixedly adhered to the printing substrate that can be obtained with these inks are also disclosed. The inks and the printed constructions are such that the ink films and the dried inks composing them have a first dynamic viscosity within a range of 106 cP to 5·107 cP at at least a first temperature within a first range of 60° C. to 87.5° C., and a second dynamic viscosity of at least 6·107 cP, for at least a second temperature within a second range of 50° C. to 55° C.