Abstract: A method of operating a printer separates the image data content of a sheet in a print job into multiple color separations. The first color separation printed on the sheet includes at least two fiducials printed in the least perceptible color of ink in the printer. The at least two fiducials are used to identify the process direction and skew of the printed sheet before the remaining color separations are printed on the sheet with the first color separation.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus has a plurality of thermally insulative members that float in a volume of heat transfer lubricating fluid in which a X-Y translation mechanism moves to position a platform opposite an ejector. The apparatus also includes a housing having an internal volume in which the platform and X-Y translation mechanism are located. The heat transfer lubricating fluid can be a molten salt, such as a molten fluoride, chloride, or nitrate molten salt. The thermally insulative members can be spheres made of zirconium oxide or zirconium dioxide. The thermally insulative layer formed by the members floating in the fluid protects the X-Y mechanism while the housing helps keep the surface temperature of the object being formed on the platform in an optimal range for bonding of melted metal drops ejected from the ejector to a surface of a metal object being formed on the platform.

Abstract: A method includes moving a first part along a movement path. The method also includes introducing drops of a liquid metal onto the first part using a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The drops of the liquid metal solidify to form a second part that is joined to the first part. The method also includes mechanically joining the second part to a third part.

Abstract: A method for determining a temperature of an object includes contacting the object with a first electrical conductor. A difference in electronegativity between the object and the first electrical conductor is greater than a predetermined value. The method also includes contacting the object or a substrate on which the object is positioned with a second electrical conductor. A difference in electronegativity between the object or the substrate and the second electrical conductor is less than the predetermined value. The method also includes connecting the first and second electrical conductors together. The method also includes measuring the temperature of the object using the first and second electrical conductors. The first and second electrical conductors form at least a portion of a thermocouple.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a diffractive optical element (DOE) configured with grating surfaces varying in a periodic fashion to hold an amount of fountain solution. When radiated with a light source the combination of the grating surface and the fountain solution therein reduces the scattering of the surface structure (“contrast”) that gives rise to a diffraction pattern. The diffractive optical element can be placed on the printing blanket of the lithography printing system or on a separate substrate.

Abstract: A method operates a three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing system to maintain a temperature of an uppermost layer of a 3D metal object being formed within a temperature range conducive for bonding between the uppermost layer and a next layer to be formed. A controller of the system compares a temperature of the uppermost layer with at least a low end temperature of the temperature range and operates an electrical resistance switching network using 3D model data to provide electrical power selectively to heating elements in a modular heater to heat the 3D metal object being formed when the temperature indicated by the signal from the sensor is less than the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a glass roll at a lower temperature than the fountain solution. The lower temperature causes the fountain solution to undergo a change in state and in a solid state the fountain solution crystalizes and changes roll opacity with the thickness of the film. When radiated with a light source the opacity is continuously measured through the surface of the roller. The thickness of the crystallized fountain solution can then be determined via the opacity level increase by the crystallization and the impact to the opacity on the glass roll.

Abstract: A system for determining a temperature of an object includes a three-dimensional (3D) printer configured to successively deposit a first layer of material, a second layer of material, and a third layer of material to form the object. The 3D printer is configured to form a recess in the second layer of material. The material is a metal. The system also includes a temperature sensor configured to be positioned at least partially with the recess and to have the third layer deposited thereon. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the first layer of material, the second layer of material, the third layer of material, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A tone reproduction curve for a printing apparatus is periodically generated based on printed items produced by the printing apparatus. The tone reproduction curve is adjusted between periodic print-based generations of the tone reproduction curve by: determining the amount of area coverage of marking material applied by the printing apparatus during printing (in subsequent periods following an initial period in which the tone reproduction curve was generated); weighting the amount of area coverage in each of the subsequent periods differently based on how distant each of the subsequent periods is from the initial period to produce a weighted moving average of the area coverages of the marking material; and adjusting the tone reproduction curve based on the weighted moving average of the area coverages of the marking material.

Abstract: A processor maintains image quality degradation for a printing device. A communications device receives a print job that includes instructions to print a plurality of printed sheets in a sheet printing sequence. The processor generates a predicted output image for a mid-job sheet of the printed sheets based on the image quality degradation and the sheet count of the mid-job sheet within the sheet printing sequence. The printing engine alter printing characteristics to print a proof sheet matching an appearance of the predicted output image.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. Print media are held against a movable support surface via vacuum suction, and the movable support surface transports the print media through the deposition region. A vacuum plenum comprises a vacuum platen over which the movable support surface moves. The vacuum platen has platen holes that communicate the vacuum suction from the vacuum plenum to the movable support surface. An airflow restriction mechanism forms a high impedance zone in the vacuum platen, the high impedance zone comprising a subset of the platen holes. The airflow impedance through the high impedance zone is relatively high compared to the airflow impedance through another subset of the platen holes, which are part of a low impedance zone. The high impedance zone may be located near the printhead to reduce airflow through uncovered platen holes near the printhead.

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 printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. A movable support surface, such as a belt, is used to transport print media through the deposition region, with the print media being held against the movable support surface by vacuum suction through holes in the movable support surface. A media registration device loads print media onto the movable support surface and registers the print media to a location of the movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises no-suction-regions in which the vacuum suction through the movable support surface is prevented. The no-suction regions extend across the width of the movable support surface in a cross-process direction and are arranged at predetermined intervals along the process direction. The control system causes the media registration device to register each of the print media relative to a respective one of the no-suction-regions.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. Print media are held by vacuum suction against a movable support surface, which moves over a vacuum platen to transport the print media through the deposition region. The vacuum platen has platen holes through which the vacuum suction is communicated. Multiple vacuum plenums are provided to supply the vacuum suction to different groups of the platen hoes. A first vacuum plenum is fluidically coupled to a first group of the platen holes located at least partially in the deposition region, and to a second group of platen holes located upstream of the first group. A second vacuum plenum is fluidically coupled to a third group of the platen holes comprising at least some platen holes located between the first and second groups of platen holes.

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 comprises a movable support surface to transport a print medium along a process direction through the deposition region, the media transport device holding the print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction. The air flow control system is arranged to selectively flow air through the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead based on a location of a print medium transported by the media transport device relative to the printhead.

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 printhead to eject a print fluid through an opening of a 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 to selectively flow air through the opening based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead. The air supply unit comprises an air guide structure comprising an air outlet portion extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the printhead and the carrier plate, the air outlet portion terminating in an end wall that is angled obliquely relative to the movable support surface towards a reverse-process direction.

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: An additive manufacturing system has an extruder and a printhead module with a conveyor for moving between the extruder and the printhead module. The extruder is operated to form a support layer having microneedle protrusions. The conveyor moves the support layer having the microneedle protrusions to a position opposite the printhead module for sharpening of the microneedle protrusions and the application of a medicament to the sharpened microneedle protrusions.

Abstract: Signage packs for retail store shelves are compiled with a continuous belt pusher system having multiple pushers that allow accumulated set signage packs to be collated and pushed to a downstream transport system that forwards them for the application of hot-melt adhesive to an edge of each pack while simultaneously eliminating printer skipped pitches.

Abstract: Devices include first and second frame elements having mounting points connectable to opposite ends (e.g., first end, second end) of the touchscreen. First and second rollers are connected, respectively, to the first and second frame elements. A web of transparent material is supported by and between the first and second rollers. Further, an ultraviolet light device is connected to the second frame element and is positioned to expose the web of transparent material to ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the transparent material between users.