Abstract: A printer cleaning device cleans an image receiving surface treated with a surface preparation material. The cleaning surface includes an applicator that receives fluid from a receptacle and applies a portion of the fluid onto the image receiving surface of a printer. A wiper engages the image receiving surface to remove a portion of dried aqueous ink and fluid from the image receiving surface. The applicator is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the image receiving surface. The dried aqueous ink and fluid removed by the wiper are diverted to a conduit to enable a pump to move the dried aqueous ink and fluid through a filter before returning the filtered fluid to the receptacle so the applicator can absorb the filtered fluid.

Abstract: A printer includes a surface preparatory material remover. The remover is configured with a pad mounted to a roller to engage selectively the surface preparatory material on a surface of a rotating member to remove a portion of the surface preparatory material outside of an area where an ink image is formed to reduce the adhesion of media to the rotating member surface as the media exits a nip in which the ink image is transferred to the media.

Abstract: A printer cleaning device cleans an image receiving surface with a surface preparation material, includes a roller having a perforated cylindrical wall surrounded by a foam material. The cylindrical wall has an interior volume for holding a fluid pumped into the interior volume by a pump. The pressurized fluid flows through the cylindrical wall into the foam material as the roller is moved into engagement with the image receiving surface. The roller is rotated in a direction opposition to a direction of movement of the image receiving surface to help the foam material to scrub the image receiving surface and apply the fluid to the surface. As the roller is moved away from the surface, the foam material expands to facilitate absorption of fluid and remove material from the image receiving surface. The foam material in one embodiment is hydrophobic.

Abstract: A printer cleaning device includes a cleaning blade that is operatively disposed on a cleaning surface to contact and remove a material from the cleaning surface. The cleaning blade has a body portion and a cleaning edge adjoining the body portion adapted to contact the cleaning surface. The printer cleaning device further includes a pad that is attached to the body portion of the cleaning blade and is disposed across a predetermined length of the cleaning blade. The pad has a first corner that is located at a first end of the body portion wherein the first end is at a predetermined distance from the cleaning edge. The printer cleaning device further includes a controller configured to control the cleaning blade to contact and wipe the cleaning surface.

Abstract: A printer cleaning device includes a cleaning blade that is operatively disposed on a cleaning surface to contact and remove a material from the cleaning surface. The cleaning blade has a body portion and a cleaning edge adjoining the body portion adapted to contact the cleaning surface. The printer cleaning device further includes a pad that is attached to the body portion of the cleaning blade and is disposed across a predetermined length of the cleaning blade. The pad has a first corner that is located at a first end of the body portion wherein the first end is at a predetermined distance from the cleaning edge. The printer cleaning device further includes a controller configured to control the cleaning blade to contact and wipe the cleaning surface.

Abstract: A printer cleaning device cleans an image receiving surface with a surface preparation material, includes a roller having a perforated cylindrical wall surrounded by a foam material. The cylindrical wall has an interior volume for holding a fluid pumped into the interior volume by a pump. The pressurized fluid flows through the cylindrical wall into the foam material as the roller is moved into engagement with the image receiving surface. The roller is rotated in a direction opposition to a direction of movement of the image receiving surface to help the foam material to scrub the image receiving surface and apply the fluid to the surface. As the roller is moved away from the surface, the foam material expands to facilitate absorption of fluid and remove material from the image receiving surface. The foam material in one embodiment is hydrophobic.

Abstract: A printer cleaning device cleans an image receiving surface treated with a surface preparation material. The cleaning surface includes an applicator that receives fluid from a receptacle and applies a portion of the fluid onto the image receiving surface of a printer. A wiper engages the image receiving surface to remove a portion of dried aqueous ink and fluid from the image receiving surface. The applicator is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the image receiving surface. The dried aqueous ink and fluid removed by the wiper are diverted to a conduit to enable a pump to move the dried aqueous ink and fluid through a filter before returning the filtered fluid to the receptacle so the applicator can absorb the filtered fluid.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured to apply a coating material to the lead edge of an imaging surface after an ink image is formed on the surface. A controller determines the amount and location of coating material applied to the lead edge based on the stiffness or thickness of the media printed on, and based on image content.

Abstract: A printer includes a surface preparatory material remover. The remover is configured with a pad mounted to a roller to engage selectively the surface preparatory material on a surface of a rotating member to remove a portion of the surface preparatory material outside of an area where an ink image is formed to reduce the adhesion of media to the rotating member surface as the media exits a nip in which the ink image is transferred to the media.

Abstract: A filtration system, mechanism and method is proved that continuously filters waste fluid from variable data ink-based printing system cleaning subsystems. Waste fluid from a cleaning subsystem is forced through a bank of progressively finer filter media. Initial coarse filters remove large components of the ink and/or skin that would rapidly clog the later finer filters required to remove small components of the ink and/or skin. The filtered fluid is recycled for printing surface cleaning and filtration. To avoid clogging, the filter media are cleaned by reversing the flow of fluid through the filters. This back-flushing operation is accomplished with a relatively small volume of fluid that is routed as concentrated waste fluid to a waste container for disposal. To avoid disruption to the printing process, two or more filter banks are preferably used. While one filter bank is filtering the waste fluid any other bank(s) may be back-flushed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured to apply a coating material to the lead edge of an imaging surface after an ink image is formed on the surface. A controller determines the amount and location of coating material applied to the lead edge based on the stiffness or thickness of the media printed on, and based on image content.

Abstract: A printer includes a surface preparatory material remover. The remover is configured with a pad mounted to a roller to engage selectively the surface preparatory material on a surface of a rotating member to remove a portion of the surface preparatory material outside of an area where an ink image is formed to reduce the adhesion of media to the rotating member surface as the media exits a nip in which the ink image is transferred to the media.

Abstract: A pressure roller for a media processing device has enhanced temperature uniformity and resists temperature increases when subjected to elevated temperatures, enabling greater dimensional stability of the pressure roller in fluctuating temperatures. The pressure roller includes a hollow cylindrical member, an elastomeric layer, and an endbell on each end of the hollow cylindrical member. A chamber is defined by an inner wall of the hollow cylindrical member and the endbells in which a volume of fluid is contained to absorb heat from the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: An inkjet offset printer includes an image receiving drum assembly having a hollow drum with an external surface and an internal surface defining an internal cavity. A heating and a cooling system located in the internal cavity provides distributed heating and cooling to the internal surface of the drum. Heating and cooling can be provided to individual regions of the internal drum surface to maintain a substantially uniform external drum surface temperature.

Abstract: An indirect printer includes a system for alternating the pressure in a transfer nip by manipulating the transfer roller. The system includes a pair of pivotable collars mounted about the ends of the transfer roller. The collars are pivoted towards or away from one another to bend the transfer roller and to increase or decrease, respectively, the pressure in the longitudinal center of the nip.

Abstract: An image transfer system for use in an indirect printer includes a support roller for a transfix roller. The support roller is configured to apply pressure to a center portion of a nip formed between a transfix roller and an imaging drum while the transfix roller applies pressure to the ends of the nip. This configuration is particularly advantageous for use with imaging drums and transfix rollers having thin walls.

Abstract: A pressure roller for a media processing device has enhanced temperature uniformity and resists temperature increases when subjected to elevated temperatures, enabling greater dimensional stability of the pressure roller in fluctuating temperatures. The pressure roller includes a hollow cylindrical member, an elastomeric layer, and an endbell on each end of the hollow cylindrical member. A chamber is defined by an inner wall of the hollow cylindrical member and the endbells in which a volume of fluid is contained to absorb heat from the hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: An inkjet offset printer includes an image receiving drum assembly having a hollow drum with an external surface and an internal surface defining an internal cavity. A heating and a cooling system located in the internal cavity provides distributed heating and cooling to the internal surface of the drum. Heating and cooling can be provided to individual regions of the internal drum surface to maintain a substantially uniform external drum surface temperature.

Abstract: A print drum subassembly suitable for ink jet printing applications includes a composite print drum including an outer shell having a wall thickness in a range of about 1.5 mm to about 15 mm and a thermal conductivity greater than about 200 W/m-K disposed around a hollow core having wall thickness in a range of about 4 mm to about 30 mm and a thermal conductivity less than about 10 W/m-K. A radiant heater is arranged within the hollow core and is configured to heat the outer shell without substantially heating the hollow core.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a plurality of color separation modules. Each color separation module includes an image receiving member and a printhead module configured to eject ink drops onto the image receiving member to form a color separation on the image receiving member. The printer is configured to transfix each color separation on each image receiving member to a single sheet to produce a composite ink image on the print medium after the print medium has passed by all of the color separation modules in the printer.