Abstract: An approach is provided for contact leveling an image applied to a media substrate. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a contact leveling member comprising at least one textured surface configured to repel one or more inks to level an image applied to the media substrate. The at least one textured surface may comprise one or more micro/nano structures configured to cause, at least in part, the at least one textured surface to have an ink contact angle greater than 100° and a sliding angle less than 30° when the at least one textured surface contacts the one or more inks.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling ultraviolet-curable gel ink spread of a printed image. The approach involves causing, at least in part, one or more inks to be applied to a first substrate image area by one or more inkjets in a printing zone of a printer, the one or more inkjets being configured to form one or more first ink spots on the first substrate image area. The approach also involves determining a temperature of at least the first substrate image area in the printing zone. The approach further involves determining a first spot size of at least one of the one or more first ink spots. The approach additionally involves causing, at least in part, a temperature of at least a second substrate image area in the printing zone to be based, at least in part, on the determined first spot size.

Abstract: An approach is provided for curing an image applied to a substrate by way of a printing process. The approach involves causing, at least in part, one or more portions of the image to be cured to a predetermined degree to form one or more pinned portions. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, other portions of the image different from the pinned portions to reflow among the pinned portions to level the image. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, the reflowed portions of the image to be cured.

Abstract: Haptic or tactile features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied at varying positions on a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. A plurality of raised image areas are specified for a group of substrates and raised marks are printed in only one raised image area for each substrate in a manner that is evenly distributed between the raised image areas for the group of substrates. The substrates will present a relatively uniform stack avoiding localized large pile heights when the substrates are stacked. A clear marking material is used to print the raised marks so as not to obscure underlying data printed on the substrate. The clear marking material may include a monomer that may become cross-linked in an exposure process to resist deinking of the substrate. The clear marking material may be mixed with a phosphorescing or fluorescing material as an additional security measure.

Abstract: An approach is provided for curing an image applied to a substrate by way of a printing process. The approach involves causing, at least in part, one or more portions of the image to be cured to a predetermined degree to form one or more pinned portions. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, other portions of the image different from the pinned portions to reflow among the pinned portions to level the image. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, the reflowed portions of the image to be cured.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling ultraviolet-curable gel ink spread of a printed image. The approach involves causing, at least in part, one or more inks to be applied to a first substrate image area by one or more inkjets in a printing zone of a printer, the one or more inkjets being configured to form one or more first ink spots on the first substrate image area. The approach also involves determining a temperature of at least the first substrate image area in the printing zone. The approach further involves determining a first spot size of at least one of the one or more first ink spots. The approach additionally involves causing, at least in part, a temperature of at least a second substrate image area in the printing zone to be based, at least in part, on the determined first spot size.

Abstract: An approach is provided for contact leveling an image applied to a media substrate. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a contact leveling member comprising at least one textured surface configured to repel one or more inks to level an image applied to the media substrate. The at least one textured surface may comprise one or more micro/nano structures configured to cause, at least in part, the at least one textured surface to have an ink contact angle greater than 100° and a sliding angle less than 30° when the at least one textured surface contacts the one or more inks.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of forming an image. An exemplary printing apparatus can include a fuser subsystem including one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light induced heating elements including plurality of nanomaterials, wherein the nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal nanoshells. The exemplary printing apparatus can also include one or more light sources disposed in close proximity to the one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light sources having an emission in the absorption range of the plurality of nanomaterials and disposed to produce heat in the fuser subsystem by light absorption by the plurality of nanomaterials.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are printing apparatuses and methods of forming an image. An exemplary printing apparatus can include a fuser subsystem including one-or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light induced heating elements including plurality of nanomaterials, wherein the nanomaterials are selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal nanoshells. The exemplary printing apparatus can also include one or more light sources disposed in close proximity to the one or more light induced heating elements, each of the one or more light sources having an emission in the absorption range of the plurality of nanomaterials and disposed to produce heat in the fuser subsystem by light absorption by the plurality of nanomaterials.

Abstract: A high precision-heat fusing device is provided for heating unfused toner images in an electrostatographic reproducing machine. The high precision-heat fusing device includes (a) an endless rotatable shell defining an interior and having an exterior surface, a first end, a second end, and an axis for rotation; (b) a plural number of heating elements each having an end-to-end length and being selectively activatable, and arranged end-to-end in series and parallel to the axis of rotation; (c) a plural number of temperature sensors for sensing a temperature of the exterior surface at axially spaced apart points; and (d) a controller connected to the plural number of heating elements and to the plural number of temperature sensors for precisely sensing and controlling the temperature of the exterior surface at each of the axially spaced apart points.

Abstract: Described herein is a printing system having one or more modules for reproducing an image on a substrate; a print media source that supplies the substrate; a finisher that provides finishing capabilities for the substrate; and a controller that uses an unhealthy module with a faulty charger, developer, transferor, cleaner, fuser, etc. to partially process a job.

Abstract: A glossing subsystem is provided that receives duplexed output media that has been selectively marked on a first side and a second side. The glossing subsystem includes: a first glossing unit that selectively provides a first gloss level to a first side of the duplexed output media; and, a second glossing unit that selectively provides a second gloss level to a second side of the duplexed output media.

Abstract: A printing device includes: multiple marking engines that during operation place marks on output media; and, a power supply that selectively supplies selected levels of power to the marking engines for selected times so as to ready the marking engines for operation from a dormant state. Power from the power supply is selectively distributed to the multiple marking engines so that at least one of the marking engines is readied for operation prior to at least one of the other marking engines.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus for transferring a phase change ink onto a print medium having a phase change ink component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image; an imaging member for accepting the phase change ink image from the phase change ink component, and transferring the phase change ink image from the imaging member to the print medium, and a transfix pressure member positioned in association with the imaging member, wherein the print medium passes through a nip formed between the imaging member and the transfix pressure member, and wherein the imaging member exerts pressure on the transfix pressure member so as to transfer and fuse the phase change ink image from the imaging member to the print medium, and further wherein the transfix pressure member includes a substrate; an intermediate layer positioned on the substrate; and an outer layer on the intermediate layer and the outer layer has a modulus of from about 1 to about 50 MPa, a thickness of from about 0.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines. First and second fusers are associated with the marking engines, respectively. The printing system has a first mode of operation in which print media is fused by both fusers and a second mode of operation in which at least a portion of the print media is fused by the second fuser, which portion has not been previously fused by the first fuser. The second fuser has first and second fuser operating modes when the printing system is in the first and second modes of operation, respectively. The second fuser applies a first energy input to the print media in the first fuser operating mode and a second energy input, different from the first energy input, to the print media in the second fuser operating mode.

Abstract: In a tightly integrated parallel printing architecture having at least a first print engine and a second print engine, the first print engine and a second print engine includes a first fuser system having a first fusing member for fusing marking particles on the substrate and second fuser system having a second fusing member for fusing marking particles on the substrate, including: a calibration system for maintaining uniform gloss characteristics between printed images generated by the first fusing system and the second fusing system, the calibration system including sensor for sensing a gloss value indicative of the gloss of the fused marking particles on the substrate.

Abstract: A sensor system for detecting gloss levels of a printed image on a substrate generated by a print engine, including: a fixing member for fixing marking particles on the substrate; an optical sensor for sensing a gloss value of the surface of the fixing member; and means for correlating the gloss value of the surface of the fixing member to a gloss value of the printed image on the substrate.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking devices for applying images to print media. A first primary fusing device is associated with the first marking device for applying a primary fusing treatment to the images applied to print media by the first marking device. A second primary fusing device is associated with the second marking device for applying a primary fusing treatment to the images applied to print media by the second marking device. At least one secondary fusing device receives printed media from the first and second marking devices. The secondary fusing device selectively applies a further fusing treatment to at least a portion of the images applied to the printed media to increase a uniformity of an appearance characteristic between printed images generated by the first marking device and the second marking device.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking devices for applying images to print media. A primary fusing device is associated with each of the first and second marking devices for applying a primary fusing treatment to the images applied to print media by the first and second marking devices. A secondary fusing module receives printed media from the first and second marking devices, the secondary fusing module including first and second secondary fusing devices which selectively apply a further fusing treatment to the images applied to the printed media.

Abstract: An image transfer printing apparatus, including: a member having an imaging transfer surface; an applicator assembly distributing a liquid layer onto the imaging transfer surface to produce an intermediate transfer surface; the applicator assembly including a porous member having a core, the core having openings defined therein, a liquid supply system connected to the core for supplying liquid to saturate the porous member.