Abstract: A digital flatbed cutter includes a flatbed on which a printed workpiece can be positioned. A head unit of the digital flatbed cutter is movable laterally along an x-axis direction and along a perpendicular y-axis direction in a parallel plane above the flatbed. A primary cutter head is mounted to the head unit and includes a primary cutter assembly with a primary knife or blade for cutting the workpiece. The primary cutter assembly movable along a z-axis direction that is normal to the plane and perpendicular to the x- and y-axes. A selected cutter plate is removably mounted to the primary cutter assembly and optionally to a secondary cutter assembly of the digital flatbed cutter. The cutter plate includes at least one mounting means, each mounting means being configured to mount a respective secondary knife or blade for cutting the workpiece in parallel with the primary knife or blade.

Abstract: A digital flatbed cutter is described. The cutter includes a flatbed on which a printed workpiece can be positioned. A head unit is movable laterally along an x-axis direction and a perpendicular y-axis direction in a parallel plane above the flatbed. The head unit includes a cutter head and a printer head. The printer head includes at least one printhead for overprinting at least part of the printed workpiece with a UV-curable ink or other coating material to provide a raised printing finish, for example. The printer head also include a UV exposure unit configured to expose the applied UV-curable ink or coating material to UV light to cure it.

Abstract: A digital flatbed cutter is described. The cutter includes a flatbed on which a workpiece can be positioned. A head unit is movable in a plane above the flatbed. A tape applicator head and a cutter head are mounted to the head unit. The tape applicator head includes an applicator roller for applying a strip of tape to the workpiece that is rotatable about an axis that is normal to the plane so that strips of tape can be applied to the workpiece in any direction. The cutter head includes a knife or blade for cutting the workpiece. A creaser head that includes a creaser wheel for creasing the workpiece can also be mounted to the head unit.

Abstract: A vertical printer apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a base and a printhead unit support frame extending substantially vertically above the base. A support frame actuator is configured to move the printhead unit support frame relative to the base along a longitudinal axis. A printhead unit is mounted to the printhead unit support frame and a printhead unit actuator is configured to move the printhead unit relative to the printhead unit support frame along a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a workpiece support frame fixedly mounted to the base and configured to support a workpiece so that the normal of the workpiece is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes. The workpiece support frame comprises at least one mounting unit for temporarily fixing the workpiece to the workpiece support frame.

Abstract: A tape applicator head is described. The tape applicator head includes an applicator roller for applying a strip of tape to a workpiece positioned on a flatbed of an apparatus such as a flatbed digital cutter. A support of the tape applicator head supports a tape roll. A plurality of guides are each configured for guiding a different tape width. The tape applicator head includes a guide mount configured for removably mounting a selected one of the plurality of guides. The mounted guide is positioned to guide tape from the tape roll to the applicator roller.

Abstract: A digital flatbed cutter is described. The cutter includes a flatbed on which a workpiece can be positioned. A head unit is movable in a plane above the flatbed. A tape applicator head and a cutter head are mounted to the head unit. The tape applicator head includes an applicator roller for applying a strip of tape to the workpiece that is rotatable about an axis that is normal to the plane so that strips of tape can be applied to the workpiece in any direction. The cutter head includes a knife or blade for cutting the workpiece. A creaser head that includes a creaser wheel for creasing the workpiece can also be mounted to the head unit.

Abstract: A laminator is described. The laminator includes a laminating roller. A cylindrical outer surface of the laminating roller comprises a reflective (e.g., chrome plated) surface region and a non-reflective surface region. A non-contact temperature sensor is spaced apart from the laminating roller in the radial direction and aligned with the non-reflective surface region of the laminating roller in the axial direction to provide accurate temperature measurements of the non-reflective surface region.

Abstract: A process is described comprising the steps of applying a pattern of toner to the surface of a substrate, and adhering a layer of substantially transparent transfer material to the toner to define a matching pattern of transfer material. The process can be used to create raised or textured effects over a colour image.

Abstract: A flatbed laminator is described that can be used for flatbed lamination and roller lamination of a workpiece. The flatbed laminator comprises a flatbed. The flatbed laminator also comprises a first roller and a second roller. The second roller is mounted to be movable over the flatbed for flatbed lamination of the workpiece. The second roller is movable to a pre-determined laminating position where the first and second rollers are mounted in parallel for counter rotation and define a gap therebetween through which the workpiece is capable of being fed for roller lamination.

Abstract: A flatbed laminator is described that can be used for flatbed lamination and roller lamination of a workpiece. The flatbed laminator comprises a flatbed. The flatbed laminator also comprises a first roller and a second roller. The second roller is mounted to be movable over the flatbed for flatbed lamination of the workpiece. The second roller is movable to a pre-determined laminating position where the first and second rollers are mounted in parallel for counter rotation and define a gap therebetween through which the workpiece is capable of being fed for roller lamination.

Abstract: A sheet feeder comprises a roller configured to rotate about an axis and an input drive configured to deliver single sheets to the roller such that a leading edge of each sheet is substantially parallel to the axis. The roller comprises a plurality of flexible fins extending along the axis. As the roller rotates, one of the sheets can be lifted by the rotating fins to pass over the roller, while the leading edge of a following sheet is delivered to the roller in an underlapping relationship with the first sheet.

Abstract: A laminator comprises first and second rollers mounted in parallel for counter-rotation. One of the rollers is supported on a pair of pneumatic cylinders, which can be operated to adjust the gap between the rollers. When a desired gap is reached for the thickness of workpiece to be laminated, locks can be operated to prevent further movement of the first roller towards the second roller. Preferably the locks do not prevent movement of the first roller away from the second roller. After the locks have been engaged to protect the workpiece against crushing, the pressure applied to the first roller during the laminating process can be changed.

Abstract: A flatbed laminator comprises a roller arranged parallel to and spaced from a flatbed. The roller is mounted on a frame that is arranged to rotate the roller over a surface of a workpiece positioned on the flatbed. The roller is supported on a pair of pneumatic cylinders, which can be operated to adjust the gap between the roller and the flatbed. When a desired gap is reached for the thickness of workpiece to be laminated, locks can be operated to act on the cylinders and prevent further movement of the roller towards the flatbed. Preferably the locks do not prevent movement of the roller away from the flatbed. After the locks have been engaged to protect the workpiece against crushing, the pressure applied to the roller during the laminating process can be changed.

Abstract: A central strip of the inside surface of the cover of a book, ledger or the like is left exposed from laminating material applied elsewhere to the surface so as to bond better to the stack of pages or to a glue strip binding the left-hand edges of the pages of the book. In a preferred embodiment a central strip is cut from a sheet of laminating material as it is drawn from a roll by a pair of cutters the spacing apart of which is adjustable to be not less than the height of the stack or glue strip.