Abstract: A dryer for use in an aqueous ink printer adequately dries coated substrates printed with aqueous ink images before discharge of the substrates. The dryer has a housing, a plurality of laser diodes, a current source, a variable electrical resistance network having a plurality of resistors, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a plurality of ink coverage densities for a plurality of areas in an ink image that passes through the dryer, select and vary an electrical resistance of one or more of the resistors in the variable electrical resistance network using the identified ink coverage densities, and operate the plurality of resistors in the variable electrical resistance network to connect the laser diodes in the dryer selectively to the current source through the plurality of resistors using the identified ink coverage densities and a speed of the substrate through the dryer.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. A heated evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to evaporate an ink-compatible liquid to form a water and/or solvent vapor and supply the water and/or solvent vapor to the sealed space to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. An insulator thermally insulates the heated evaporator from the printhead. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. A heated evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to evaporate an ink-compatible liquid to form a water and/or solvent vapor and supply the water and/or solvent vapor to the sealed space to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. An insulator thermally insulates the heated evaporator from the printhead. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.

Abstract: Ink stabilizing material is applied to rotatable panels within a cap of an inkjet cartridge resting structure. The rotatable panels then rotate to contact an inkjet printhead when the printhead contacts the cap. Continuous periodic flushing of the printhead is performed while the rotatable panels are contacting the printhead by periodically and repeatedly alternating between ejecting a mixture of the ink stabilizing material and ink from the nozzles, and drawing the mixture of the ink stabilizing material and the ink back into the nozzles.

Abstract: A print system and a method for curing marking material on an object using an active LED array in a three dimensional (3D) object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) that are independently addressable, a movable member to hold an object, and a controller to control movement of the movable member to move the object past the array of printheads, to operate the plurality of printheads to eject the marking material onto the object as the object passes the two-dimensional array of printheads, to control movement of the movable member and to operate each one of the plurality of LEDs of the curing light source to apply energy in accordance with a shape of the object to cure the marking material.

Abstract: A printing module and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. For example, the printing module includes a plurality of printheads, a transport belt located below the plurality of printheads to transport print media below the plurality of printheads, wherein the transport belt comprises a plurality of vacuum openings, and a positive pressure plenum system, wherein the positive pressure plenum system provides a positive air flow to create an air interface between a top surface of the positive pressure plenum system and a bottom surface of the transport belt, wherein the positive pressure plenum system provides a negative air flow to create a vacuum through the plurality of vacuum openings of the transport belt to hold the print media against the transport belt.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. An evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to control evaporation a water-incompatible or solvent-incompatible liquid into the sealed space to condense an ink-blocking film on the surface of the liquid ink in the nozzles to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured with capping stations for storing printheads in the printer during periods of printer inactivity so the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the inkjets of the printheads does not increase significantly. Each capping station has a printhead receptacle that encloses a volume, a planar member configured to move between a first position at which the planar member is located within the printhead receptacle and a second position at which the planar member is external of the printhead receptacle, a first actuator operatively connected to the planar member, the first actuator being configured to move the planar member from the first position to the second position, and a controller configured to operate the first actuator to move the planar member from the first position to the second position to mate the planar member with a face of a printhead.

Abstract: A printer prints label data on a self-adhesive label that has a tabbed backing to produce a printed label on the tabbed backing. Also, a label feeder is positioned relative to the printer to transport the printed label on the tabbed backing away from the printer. A label applicator is positioned, relative to the feeder, to remove the printed label on the tabbed backing from the feeder. The tabbed backing includes a first section, covering an adhesive area of the printed label, and a tab extending from the first section. The label applicator includes a holder, that is shaped to grasp the tab of the tabbed backing, and a moveable element that is configured to remove the printed label from the tabbed backing and affix the adhesive area of the printed label to an item.

Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes an anti-curl fluid applicator that applies anti-curl fluid to a side of a substrate that is opposite a side that bears or will bear an ink image. The anti-curl fluid applicator includes a switching network that is configured to independently and selectively bias segments of a pressure member electrically. The segments are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the pressure member. The pressure member forms a nip with a anilox roller partially immersed in a reservoir of anti-curl fluid. As the switching network is operationed to selectively and independently bias the segments electrically using data corresponding to the ink image, anti-curl fluid migrates from the anilox roller onto the substrate in areas opposite the electrically biased segments.

Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes a moisture applicator that applies moisture to a side of a substrate that is opposite a side that bears or will bear an ink image. The moisture applicator includes a switching network that is configured to independently and selectively bias the tile segments electrically. The tile segments contiguously cover a surface of the roller. As the switching network is operated to electrically bias the tile segments using data corresponding to the ink image, they transition from being hydrophobic to hydrophilic so the electrically-biased hydrophilic tile segments attract moisture from water in a trough or from water vapor produced by an ultrasonic transducer in the trough. The moisture is carried by the electrically-biased tile segments to the substrate at areas where the amount of ink in a portion of the substrate on the other side of the substrate exceeds a predetermined ink coverage threshold.

Abstract: A process for applying a release agent and pressure sensitive adhesive to cut sheet media to thereby eliminate a separate release liner. A silicone oil plus additive release layer is applied during fusing on a top surface of cut media and then UV cured. A pressure sensitive adhesive layer is applied next. The cut sheets are then stacked and a compressive force is applied that transfers the pressure sensitive adhesive from one sheet to another and helps hold the stack together.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. A heated evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to evaporate an ink-compatible liquid to form a water and/or solvent vapor and supply the water and/or solvent vapor to the sealed space to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. An insulator thermally insulates the heated evaporator from the printhead. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. A flexible blade is positioned to contact the printhead when the printhead is not in contact with the cap. The flexible blade is adapted to fold over to spread a liquid solution on the nozzles in a first direction, and the flexible blade is adapted to remove excess amounts of the liquid solution from the nozzles in a second direction. A humidifier is connected to the cap and adapted to supply a moisture form of the liquid solution to the sealed space. A moisture sensor is connected to the cap. The humidifier is adapted to vary supply of the moisture to the sealed space based on the amount of moisture detected by the moisture sensor.

Abstract: Ink stabilizing material is applied to rotatable panels within a cap of an inkjet cartridge resting structure. The rotatable panels then rotate to contact an inkjet printhead when the printhead contacts the cap. Continuous periodic flushing of the printhead is performed while the rotatable panels are contacting the printhead by periodically and repeatedly alternating between ejecting a mixture of the ink stabilizing material and ink from the nozzles, and drawing the mixture of the ink stabilizing material and the ink back into the nozzles.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. An evaporator is connected to the cap and is adapted to control evaporation a water-incompatible or solvent-incompatible liquid into the sealed space to condense an ink-blocking film on the surface of the liquid ink in the nozzles to protect the liquid ink in the nozzles. This prevents the ink in the nozzles from drying and prevents the nozzles from clogging.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured with capping stations for storing printheads in the printer during periods of printer inactivity so the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the inkjets of the printheads does not increase significantly. Each capping station has a printhead receptacle that encloses a volume, a planar member configured to move between a first position at which the planar member is located within the printhead receptacle and a second position at which the planar member is external of the printhead receptacle, a first actuator operatively connected to the planar member, the first actuator being configured to move the planar member from the first position to the second position, and a controller configured to operate the first actuator to move the planar member from the first position to the second position to mate the planar member with a face of a printhead.

Abstract: A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink onto print media. A dispenser dispenses an ink stabilizing material into the cap. A blocking structure is positioned in the cap to contact vent openings of the inkjet printhead when the inkjet printhead is in the cap and is in a location to submerge the nozzles in the ink stabilizing material in the cap. An ink control device draws the ink stabilizing material into nozzles of the inkjet printhead when the vent openings are blocked by the blocking structure. The ink control device subsequently draws the ink stabilizing material into the vent openings when the vent openings are separated from the blocking structure.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured with capping stations for storing printheads in the printer during periods of printer inactivity so the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the inkjets of the printheads does not increase significantly. Each capping station has a printhead receptacle that encloses a volume, a planar member configured to move between a first position at which the planar member is located within the printhead receptacle and a second position at which the planar member is external of the printhead receptacle, a first actuator operatively connected to the planar member, the first actuator being configured to move the planar member from the first position to the second position, and a controller configured to operate the first actuator to move the planar member from the first position to the second position to mate the planar member with a face of a printhead.

Abstract: A print job received by a printing system has subsets of items. Multiple items are printed on each sheet. Finishing devices of the printing system are limited to processing a single subset of the items at a time, causing printing devices to wait skipped-pitch delays. An unadjusted number of machine-hours to complete the print job is determined based on continuous printing without interruption. A skipped-pitch delay is assigned to each of the subsets of items based on the number of sheets used to print each of the subsets of items. A revised number of machine-hours to complete the print job is calculated by adding the total skipped-pitch delay for the print job to the unadjusted number of machine-hours. The number of the printing devices and the finishing devices to use to complete the print job is determined based on the revised number of machine-hours.