Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a movable directed energy source to melt hardened metal drops and form an oxidation layer. A metal support structure can be formed over the oxidation layer, an object feature can be formed over the oxidation layer, or both a metal support structure and an object feature can be formed over oxidation layers located at opposite sides of a metal support structure. The oxidation layers weakly attach the metal support structure to the object feature supported by the metal support structure so the support structure can be easily removed after manufacture of the object is complete.

Abstract: A method of automatically diagnosing media handling defects on sheets, the method including receiving a first image of a first sheet, determining that the first image includes a detected media handling defect, determining that the detected media handling defect matches one or more known media handling defects in a database, and displaying a rectifying action.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer identifies image areas in ink image content data that are likely to affected by airflow disturbances to produce ink blur within an ink image. Inkjets farthest from these areas are selected to eject ink drops into these areas to form portions of an ink image. The image areas identified as being likely to produce ink blur are the leading edge, trailing edge, and side edge of the ink image content data. The ink drops ejected by these selected inkjets and their satellites are less likely to be affected adversely by the airflow disturbances.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer evaluates the effect of printing a print job with two different orientations of the image content data for the print job. The orientation that produces the least increase in the cross-process direction displacement error for the inkjets in the printer is selected for printing the print job. By attenuating the increase in cross-process direction displacement error, the interval between printhead maintenance operations is increased.

Abstract: A dross extraction system for a printer is disclosed, which includes an ejector defining an inner cavity associated therewith, the inner cavity retaining a liquid printing material. The dross extraction system also includes a first inlet coupled to the inner cavity of the ejector, a probe external to the ejector, which is selectably positionable to contact the liquid printing material to attract dross thereto, thereby extracting dross from the liquid printing material when the probe is withdrawn from the liquid printing material. A method of extracting dross from a metal jetting printer is also disclosed, which includes pausing an operation of the metal jetting printer, advancing a probe into a melt pool within a nozzle pump reservoir in the metal jetting printer, extracting dross from the metal printing material and onto the probe, retracting the probe from the nozzle pump reservoir, and resuming the operation of the metal jetting printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for cooling paper within a printer assembly that includes at least one misting assembly designed to mist an aqueous solution onto an unprinted surface of paper stock after a first side is printed. At least one convection accelerator assembly is designed to accelerate evaporation of the aqueous solution before the printed paper stock arrives at the at least one printing station for printing on the unprinted surface. At least one or more of a paper temperature, machine temperature, printhead temperature, and humidity sensor are operationally coupled to at least one controller assembly programmed to control at least one or more of misting, humidity, and airflow. The at least one controller assembly is designed to determine the heat to be dissipated into the airflow from the printed paper stock to obtain a targeted paper temperature and, therefore, the amount and placement of aqueous solution misted.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with two solid metal moving mechanisms that are independently operated to move two different metals into the receptacle of a vessel in a melted metal drop ejecting apparatus. The ejector is operated to form object features with melted metal drops of one of the two different metals and to form support features with melted metal drops of the other of the two different metals. The thermal expansion coefficients of the two metals are sufficiently different that the support features easily separate from the object features after the object and support features cool.

Abstract: Methods and systems for securely rendering a security feature with image data to be printed, can involve providing within the image data, data relating to a group of spots, and within the image data, mixing spots of two or more spot sizes among the group of spots to embed information within a stochastic or frequency modulation halftone image. In an embodiment, operations may be implemented for rendering a part of the image with a first spot among the group of spots and a remaining portion of the image with a second spot among the group of spots, wherein the second spot is smaller in size than the first spot.

Abstract: An implementation of the present teachings includes a resistor structure for measuring a level of a print material such as a liquid metal print material within a reservoir of a printer such as a magnetohydrodynamic printer. The resistor structure includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are physically and electrically separated from each other. When positioned within the reservoir, the liquid metal physically contacts the first electrode and the second electrode. An electrical resistance between the first and second electrodes changes depending on the level of the print material within the reservoir. As the level of the print material decreases, the electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode increases. The electrical resistance can be measured and used to determine a level of the print material within the reservoir.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit comprising air flow guide structure extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead to flow air through the opening. The air flow control system controls the air supply unit to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead.

Abstract: A method of operating an inkjet printer identifies a thermal load that will be imposed on the printheads in the inkjet printer during execution of a print job and identifies a remedial action to reduce the thermal load if the thermal load increases the temperature of the printheads above an upper threshold of a predetermined temperature range. The thermal load is identified from the ink image content data for the print job, the print job parameters for the print job, and environmental condition measurements received from sensors in the printer. The remedial actions include manipulation of the print job queue, alteration of print job parameters, and active cooling to remove heat from the printheads or media within the printer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer is configured to introduce a liquid metal onto a first part and a second part while the first part and the second part are in contact with one another. The liquid metal subsequently solidifies to join the first part and the second part together to produce an assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer identifies image areas and image features in ink image content data that are likely to produce ink blur within an ink image. The ink image content data for these areas and features is modified to attenuate the appearance of ink blur. The image areas identified as being likely to produce ink blur are the trailing edge and the side edges of the ink image content data. The modification of the ink image content data for the features and predetermined areas improves the quality of the printed ink image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with an orifice cleaning system that removes metal drops that have adhered to a plate, an orifice in the plate, and a nozzle ejecting melted metal drops through the orifice during object forming operations. The orifice cleaning system includes an orifice cleaning tool that consists essentially of a soft carbon material, such as graphite. The orifice cleaning tool is configured with a handle that is gripped by an articulated arm to move the orifice cleaning tool against the plate, the orifice, and a portion of the nozzle at the orifice.

Abstract: A multi-sheet cooling buffer suitable for use in a printing device and a method of sheet processing with the cooling buffer are described. The cooling buffer includes an inlet and an outlet and a sheet cooling mechanism. An array of cooling stations, intermediate the inlet and the outlet, are each configured to receive print media sheets independently from the inlet and direct cooled sheets towards the outlet. In the cooling buffer, multiple print media sheets are able to be cooled contemporaneously in respective ones of the cooling stations.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer evaluates the effect of printing a print job with two different orientations of the image content data for the print job. The orientation that produces the least increase in the cross-process direction displacement error for the inkjets in the printer is selected for printing the print job. By attenuating the increase in cross-process direction displacement error, the interval between printhead maintenance operations is increased.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a pair of temperature regulation modules mounted on opposite sides of each printhead in the printer. Each temperature regulation module includes a thermoelectric cooling device that is activated by a controller when the temperature of the printhead exceeds a predetermined setpoint. By cooling the printheads, the temperature of the printheads can be kept in a temperature range that enables fast drying inks to obtain their optimal performance and that prevents duplex printing operations from raising the temperature of the printheads significantly above the predetermined setpoint.

Abstract: Nozzles for an additive manufacturing device and methods for improving wettability of the nozzles are disclosed. The method may include subjecting the nozzle to a surface treatment. The surface treatment may include contacting a surface of the nozzle with one or more surface modifying agents. The surface modifying agents may include one or more of an oxidizing agent, an acid, a base, or combinations thereof. The one or more surface modifying agents may increase an oxygen content of the surface of the nozzle. An inner surface of the nozzle may have a water contact angle of greater than 1° and less than about 90°. The inner surface of the nozzle may be free or substantially free of a coating.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject ink through an opening in a carrier plate to a deposition region. A print medium is held against a movable support surface by vacuum suction communicated through platen holes of a vacuum platen and transported through the deposition region. An airflow control system comprises upstream and downstream valves associated with the printhead, individually addressable channels for the vacuum platen, or both. The upstream and downstream valves are arranged to selectively block and allow airflow through an upstream side or a downstream side, respectively, of the opening in the carrier plate. Actuation of the upstream and downstream valves may be controlled based on a location of the print medium. The channels are arranged to selectively control the supply of vacuum suction to respectively corresponding columns of platen holes. Actuation of the channels may be controlled based on a size of the print medium.

Abstract: A multi-sheet cooling buffer suitable for use in a printing device and a method of sheet processing with the cooling buffer are described. The cooling buffer includes an inlet and an outlet and a sheet cooling mechanism. An array of cooling stations, intermediate the inlet and the outlet, are each configured to receive print media sheets independently from the inlet and direct cooled sheets towards the outlet. In the cooling buffer, multiple print media sheets are able to be cooled contemporaneously in respective ones of the cooling stations.