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 by using phase shifted monochromic light to produce optical path differences through the fountain solution film. The intensity of the reflected light through the fountain solution film is very sensitive due to the phase shifted light so interference fringes are easier to delineate and fountain solution thickness measurement more reliable.

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: An apparatus includes one or more layers of material printed by a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The one or more layers cool and solidify to form an object after being printed by the 3D printer. At least one of the one or more layers includes greater than 50% metal. The apparatus also includes a first temperature sensor in contact with the object. The first temperature sensor measures the temperature of the material while the object is being printed by the 3D printer, after the object has been printed by the 3D printer, or both.

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: An in-line integrity module houses a camera/reader system to check for sheet and job integrity. The integrity module includes paper path structure that is adjustable between two different heights to match paper path heights of upstream or downstream devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the thickness of fountain solution (FS) in a Digital Architecture for Lithographic Ink (DALI) printing system by transferring the FS to an optical roller with the properties of a lens and measuring the resulting effect on the refraction of an image captured through the lens. The optical roller may comprise a clear or glass cylinder forming a Fresnel lens cylinder having an engineered surface of known surface roughness and wherein the roller is placed adjacent the image member blanket. A heat source is used to evaporate the FS from the blanket for transfer to the optical roller where the FS wets the roller surface to different degrees based on the FS thickness relative to Fresnel ridge depth. Changes to the optical refraction through the lens varies with the FS thickness. An image sensor (e.g., a CCD camera or image analysis system) evaluates the image through the optical roller for FS thickness determination.

Abstract: A system for collating and stacking long cut retail edge marker strips exiting a roll fed high speed slitter/perforator/cutter apparatus includes a media collation apparatus that facilitates automated collation of the long retail edge marker strips by collecting them off a surface and through the use of a device of graduated stair configuration separately lifting the retail edge markers from the surface for downstream accumulation. Individual bundles of slit retail edge marker strips are moved in a cross-process direction on integrated shelves of the media collection apparatus by a connected pusher. This allows the bundles to be transferred through the cross-process move in separate bundles before being collated at the end of the move when the pusher retracts to drop the bundles onto a receiving platform.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system, the system comprising a build platform and a printhead for depositing a conductive print material at deposition contact points of a build surface on the build platform. A heating system comprises at least one induction coil for preheating the deposition contact points of the build surface.

Abstract: A vacuum roller system and a method of operation the vacuum roller system can include an assembly of interdigitated rollers, and a vacuum system, wherein the assembly of interdigitated rollers is operably connected to the vacuum system to move sheets of media through a downstream dryer in a printer, wherein a vacuum is drawn between individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers so that the vacuum is distributed across a sheet of media and is split around the individual rollers. The spacing between the individual rollers among the assembly of interdigitated rollers is variable to vary the vacuum.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus has a thermally insulative layer between a platform on which an ejection head ejects drops of melted metal and a X-Y translation mechanism on which the platform is moved within an X-Y plane opposite the ejection head. The apparatus also includes a housing having an internal volume in which the platform and X-Y translation mechanism are located. In one embodiment, the thermally insulative layer is a plurality of spheres made of a thermally insulative material such as a ceramic made of zirconium dioxide or zirconium oxide. The thermally insulative layer 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 the ejected melted metal drops to the object's surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a dryer configured to attenuate the effects of temperature differentials arising in substrates that are caused by holes in a media transport belt and a platen covering a vacuum plenum. The dryer includes a heater, a media transport belt cooler, and a media transport belt. The media transport belt is configured to move substrates past the heater after ink images have been formed on the substrates and the media transport belt cooler is positioned to remove heat energy from the media transport belt after the media transport belt has passed the heater and the substrates have separated from the media transport belt. The substrate cooler is configured to reduce a temperature of the media transport belt to a temperature that attenuates image defects arising from temperature differentials in the media transport belt when the media transport belt is opposite the heater.

Abstract: An object printed by a three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a plurality of layers of material printed by the 3D printer. The layers of material bond together to form the object as the layers of material cool and solidify after being printed by the 3D printer. The object also includes a temperature sensor placed in contact with one or more of the layers when the layers of material are being printed by the 3D printer. The temperature sensor remains in contact with the object after the layers of material cool and solidify to form the object. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the object after the layers of material cool and solidify to form the object.

Abstract: A method includes generating relative movement between a first part and a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The method also includes introducing drops of a liquid metal onto the first part and a second part using the 3D printer. The liquid metal solidifies to join the first part and the second part together.

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 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.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a build platform comprising a build surface. The printing system also includes an enclosure system having a side portion extending entirely around the build surface, a top plate portion that abuts the side portion, and a bottom portion. The side portion, the top plate portion and the bottom portion form an enclosed space surrounding the build surface. The top plate portion is moveable so as to adjust a volume of the enclosed space. A 3D printer printhead is disposed adjacent to the enclosure system for depositing a print material onto the build surface. The printing system also includes a heating system for heating the enclosed space.

Abstract: A bookmaking system includes sets of redundant cover printers and book block printers and a binder (or set of binders) for binding a printed cover page, printed by an assigned one of the set of redundant cover printers, and a corresponding set of printed pages for a book block, printed by an assigned one of the set of redundant book block printers, together to form a book. A transport mechanism connects the redundant printers and redundant cover printers with the binder. An assigned one of a plurality of book block buffers, intermediate the book block printers and the binders, stores the set of printed pages until the corresponding printed cover page is ready for binding; and/or an assigned one of a plurality of cover buffers, intermediate the cover printers and the binders, stores the printed cover page until binding can be performed.

Abstract: A print system and a method for detecting and correcting underperforming LEDs in-line of a 3D object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads arranged in a two-dimensional array, a curing light source, an inline detection and correction (IDC) system, a movable member to hold an object and a test plate and a controller to control movement of the movable member to move the object and the test plate past the array of printheads, to operate the plurality of printheads to eject a marking material onto the object as the object passes the two-dimensional array of printheads, to operate the curing light source apply energy to the test plate and to cure the marking material, and to operate the IDC system to read the test plate to confirm that the curing light source is operating correctly based on a reading of the test plate.

Abstract: An object printed by a three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a plurality of layers of material printed by the 3D printer. The layers of material bond together to form the object as the layers of material cool and solidify after being printed by the 3D printer. The object also includes a temperature sensor placed in contact with one or more of the layers when the layers of material are being printed by the 3D printer. The temperature sensor remains in contact with the object after the layers of material cool and solidify to form the object. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the object after the layers of material cool and solidify to form the object.

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.