Abstract: 3-D printing transfers build material and support from an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) to a platen. The build material is the same as the support material, except that the build material includes a photoinitiator and the support material does not. The platen moves to make contact with the ITB, and the ITB transfers successive layers of build material and support material each time the platen contacts the ITB. The platen and a portion of the ITB that is adjacent the platen are heated prior to the platen contacting the ITB, and the same is exposed so as to crosslink polymers of build material, without crosslinking polymers of support material. The polymers of build material being crosslinked and the polymers of support material not being crosslinked makes the support material selectively soluble in a solvent.

Abstract: 3-D printers include a transfuse station having at least one roller on one side of an ITB supporting the ITB, and a transmission device on the same side of the ITB. A charge neutralizer is included on a second side of the intermediate transfer surface. The charge neutralizer outputs an opposite charge to neutralize existing static charge on a layer of the build material and the support material on the ITB, before the layer reaches the transfer station. Additionally, the intermediate transfer surface transfers the layer to a platen each time the platen contacts the second side of the intermediate transfer surface, at the transfer station, to successively form layers of the build material and the support material on the platen. Also, the transmission device outputs acoustic waves to cause the layer to move from the intermediate transfer surface to the platen, or to the layers on the platen.

Abstract: A printing engine prints an electronic document in a first printing pass to produce a printed media sheet having first markings. Additionally, a processor determines the amount of the clear marking material to print on top of the previously printed media sheet (which already has those first markings). The processor determines different amounts of clear marking material to print on first and second areas of the printed media sheet, based on different darkness levels of first and second colors in the first and second areas of the sheet. After the first printing pass, the printing engine prints (on the previously printed media sheet which has the first markings) those different amounts of clear marking material on the first area and the second area in a second printing pass, and this produces a printed media sheet having gloss markings.

Abstract: A printer is configured to clean material from rails on which a cart rolls. The printer includes an ejector head configured to eject a material in a print zone, a first cylindrical member extending through the print zone, an actuator operatively coupled to the first cylindrical member and configured to axially rotate the first cylindrical member, a platform configured to move in a process direction along a surface of the first cylindrical member and receive material ejected by the ejector head in the print zone, and a first cleaner positioned to engage the surface of the first cylindrical member as the first cylindrical member is rotated by the actuator to remove material accumulated on the surface of the first cylindrical member.

Abstract: Embossing methods and systems include a substrate (e.g., a sheet of paper or other material) delivered through a rendering device (e.g., a printer). An array of time-delayed pins can be driven into the substrate as the substrate travels through an in-line path provided by the rendering device to produce a latent embossed image composed of a combination of shapes depressed in the substrate. An ATA (Acoustic Transfer Assist) system can transfer an image to the substrate. The substrate with the latent embossed image is then transferred to the ATA system and the substrate is rendered with an embossed image based on the latent embossed image.

Abstract: A printing engine prints an electronic document in a first printing pass to produce a printed media sheet having first markings. Additionally, a processor determines the amount of the clear marking material to print on top of the previously printed media sheet (which already has those first markings). The processor determines different amounts of clear marking material to print on first and second areas of the printed media sheet, based on different darkness levels of first and second colors in the first and second areas of the sheet. After the first printing pass, the printing engine prints (on the previously printed media sheet which has the first markings) those different amounts of clear marking material on the first area and the second area in a second printing pass, and this produces a printed media sheet having gloss markings.

Abstract: A cart that helps eliminate contaminants from a printing system with a rail support track includes a platform, a first bearing, and a first blade. The first bearing is operatively connected to the platform, and is positioned and configured to roll along a first cylindrical rail of a rail support track of a printing system to enable the platform to move along the first cylindrical rail. The first blade has a leading edge oriented at an acute angle relative to a curved surface of the first cylindrical rail, and is configured to engage the curved surface to remove contaminant as the cart moves along the first cylindrical rail.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system evaluating performance of a printing device. In accordance with the method a diagnostic routine is executed on the printing device. The diagnostic routine evaluates performance of the printing device using a set of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The set of instructions are configured to identify a fault in the performance of the printing device based on an artifact identifiable on at least one diagnostic output. The diagnostic output is generated by the printing device with the identifiable artifact in accordance with the diagnostic routine for identifying the artifact and associated fault of the printing device.

Abstract: A method of operating a three-dimensional object printer has been developed. The method receives image data corresponding to at least one three-dimensional object. The method generates image data corresponding to at least one member that extends from the at least one three-dimensional object corresponding to the received image data. The method operates an ejector head of the three-dimensional object printer with a controller referencing the received image data and the generated image data to eject drops of a build material onto a platen to form the at least one three-dimensional object and the at least one member extending from the at least one three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A printer is configured to clean material from rails on which a cart rolls. The printer includes an ejector head configured to eject a material in a print zone, a first cylindrical member extending through the print zone, an actuator operatively coupled to the first cylindrical member and configured to axially rotate the first cylindrical member, a platform configured to move in a process direction along a surface of the first cylindrical member and receive material ejected by the ejector head in the print zone, and a first cleaner positioned to engage the surface of the first cylindrical member as the first cylindrical member is rotated by the actuator to remove material accumulated on the surface of the first cylindrical member.

Abstract: A cart that helps eliminate contaminants from a printing system with a rail support track includes a platform, a first bearing, and a first blade. The first bearing is operatively connected to the platform, and is positioned and configured to roll along a first cylindrical rail of a rail support track of a printing system to enable the platform to move along the first cylindrical rail. The first blade has a leading edge oriented at an acute angle relative to a curved surface of the first cylindrical rail, and is configured to engage the curved surface to remove contaminant as the cart moves along the first cylindrical rail.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer automatically removes parts formed on a platen in the printer. The printer includes a platen having a surface and a planar member disposed upon the surface of the platen. The printer further includes an actuator configured to deform the planar member and an ejector head having at least one ejector configured to eject material onto the planar member. The printer further includes a controller operatively connected to the actuator and the ejector head. The controller is configured to operate the ejector head to eject material onto the planar member to form a three-dimensional object, and to operate the actuator to deform the planar member and release the three-dimensional object from the planar member.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an ejector head configured to eject a material, a platen having a first surface configured to receive material ejected by the ejector head and support an object formed with the ejected material, a vibrator configured to vibrate, and a controller operatively connected to the vibrator. The controller is configured to operate the vibrator to vibrate and loosen material adhering to the first surface of the platen to enable the object to be removed from the platen.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object operates a platen configured to facilitate the release of objects produced by a three-dimensional object printer. The method includes moving a first plate and a second plate to form a platen, the first plate having a plurality of parallel members and the second plate having a plurality of parallel members, the first plate and the second plate being moved to interlock the plurality of parallel members of the first plate with the plurality of parallel members of the second plate to form the platen, at least one of the first plate and the second plate being independently movable. At least one of the first plate and second plate is moved to release a three-dimensional object formed by the printer from the platen.

Abstract: A system that includes a three-dimensional (3D) printing device, processor and computer-readable memory a 3D barcode and prints a three-dimensional object containing information embedded in the 3D barcode by: (i) receiving information to be embedded in the 3D barcode; (ii) determining a barcode symbology, wherein the barcode symbology includes at least one symbol character in a z-dimension; (iii) generating a build sequence that will cause the 3D-printing device to print the 3D barcode that embeds the received information in the 3D barcode in accordance with the barcode symbology; and (iv) using the build sequence to print the 3D object so that each symbol character of the symbology that is to appear in the z-dimension is printed as a physical representation in the z-direction on the 3D object.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatus and method for supplying uninterrupted flow of solid-ink pellets to an image-forming device. The apparatus includes a container for retaining solid-ink pellets, and a selectably-inflatable bladder disposed within the container. Further, the apparatus includes a tube communicating the bladder with a pressure supply.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a thermally conductive endless belt configured to carry media past at least one printhead with a plurality of inkjets that are configured to eject ink onto a first surface of the media, a plurality of micro-heaters configured to direct heat to a second surface of the media, and a controller. The controller is operatively connected to the at least one printhead and the plurality of micro-heaters, and is configured to operate the inkjets in the at least one printhead to eject ink onto the first surface of the media and to operate the micro-heaters to direct heat into the thermally conductive endless belt to transmit heat to different positions on the second surface of the media selectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatus and method for supplying uninterrupted flow of solid-ink pellets to an image-forming device. The apparatus includes a container for retaining solid-ink pellets, and a selectably-inflatable bladder disposed within the container. Further, the apparatus includes a tube communicating the bladder with a pressure supply.

Abstract: A printing device, including a fuser section for printing operations and first and second fuser rollers for the fuser section arranged to: displace a plurality of sheets of print material in a process direction; and substantially simultaneously disengage from a trailing edge of a first sheet from the plurality of sheets; and engage a leading edge of a second sheet from the plurality of sheets. A printing device, including: a fuser section for printing operations and including first and second fuser rollers; a motor arranged to rotate the first and second fuser rollers to displace a plurality of sheets of material in a process direction; and a control system configured to measure a torque produced by the motor and according to a value of the measured torque, control a speed at which the first and second fuser rollers displace the plurality of sheets of print material in the process direction.

Abstract: When performing a printing operation, methods and devices automatically increase a marking material quantity setting when an excessive speed variation condition of a transfer surface is present and an excessive background marking condition is absent. Alternatively, the methods and devices automatically increase tension of the transfer surface and decrease a marking material quantity setting when the excessive speed variation condition is present and the excessive background marking condition is also present. Otherwise, these methods and devices automatically provide a message on the graphic user interface of a printing device when the excessive speed variation condition is present, the marking material quantity setting is at a marking material quantity maximum setting, and the tension of the transfer surface is at a tension maximum. The message provides instructions to use a different type media or initiate a service call.