Abstract: Systems for forming three-dimensional marking material images on moving substrates include a print head arranged about a media path by which the substrate passes the print head at a predetermined media velocity. The jets marking material at a predetermined velocity onto the substrate surface to form a three-dimensional marking material image. A firing time of forming a first layer of marking material may be different with respect to a print run start time than a firing time for ejecting marking material for forming successive layers. The firing time may be adjusted by advancing or delaying the firing time with respect to an initial firing time for forming the first layer. The advance or delay may be calculated by a processor, and the calculation may be fed to a time advance/delay buffer contained by the print head.

Abstract: Fixing systems, printing apparatuses and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing systems includes a pre-heating device for pre-heating a substrate and marking material disposed on a surface of the substrate; a fixing device disposed downstream from the pre-heating device, the fixing device including fixing members which oppose each other and form a fixing nip; and a first thermal energy source for heating at least one of the fixing members; wherein the fixing members apply pressure and thermal energy to the pre-heated substrate and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate; and a conditioning device positioned (a) upstream from the pre-heating device, (b) between the pre-heating device and the fixing device, or (c) downstream from the fixing device. The conditioning device includes conditioning members which oppose each other and form a conditioning nip.

Abstract: A method for applying an image on a concrete substrate wherein the image forms a decorative coating. The method includes depositing the image on the concrete substrate using an inkjet printing device.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to meter ink for electrographic printing. An ink loading mechanism having an anilox roller fills ink from an ink supply into cells in the anilox roller having a plurality of valleys and lands that form the cells. The ink loading mechanism causes the valleys to be full or nearly full with the ink. The anilox roller rotates in a first direction. A blanket roller rotationally engaged with the anilox roller pulls the ink out of the cells and causes the valleys to be partially filled. The blanket roller rotates in a second direction. A first cleaning blade cleans tops of the lands of the cells. Another embodiment is a method and apparatus to meter ink for electrographic printing. An ink loading mechanism having an anilox roller fills ink from an ink supply into cells in the anilox roller having a plurality of valleys and lands forming the cells. The ink loading mechanism causes the valleys to be full or nearly full with the ink.

Abstract: A printing apparatus or printing system that uses multiple print engines to form an image on a substrate. The printing apparatus or printing system may be a surface printing system or a reverse printing system. Each of the multiple print engines has at least one color station. The color stations are arranged in the print engines and between the multiple print engines based on whether the printing system is a surface printing system or a reverse printing system to control the order in which colorant is formed on a substrate. Multiple print engines allow for, among other things, a greater color gamut and therefore assists in expansion of the standard color gamut.

Abstract: A method for applying a uniform coating to a non-uniform substrate, the method including: a) optically characterizing the non-uniform substrate; b) adjusting a thickness and a color of a primer layer to achieve a first target color while depositing the primer layer on the non-uniform substrate; c) optically characterizing the non-uniform substrate comprising the primer layer deposited thereon; and, d) adjusting a thickness and a color of a first paint layer to achieve a second target color while depositing the first paint layer on the non-uniform substrate comprising the primer layer deposited thereon.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing member a second fixing member that are movable to engage and disengage a fixing nip defined by the first and second fixing member. The fixing nip is disengaged to accommodate entry and exit of a cut sheet, and engaged to accommodate warm-pressure fixing a marking material image to the cut sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to meter ink for electrographic printing is disclosed. An ink loading mechanism having an anilox roller fills ink from an ink supply into cells in the anilox roller having a plurality of valleys and lands that form the cells. The ink loading mechanism causes the valleys to be full or nearly full with the ink. The anilox roller rotates in a first direction. In one embodiment, a soft blade positioned slightly below surface of the lands removes ink from the cells and causes the valleys to be partially filled as the anilox roller rotates. A hard blade positioned at the surface of the lands to clean residue of ink on the surface of the lands as the anilox roller rotates. In another embodiment, a blanket roller rotationally engaged with the anilox roller pulls ink out of the cells and causes the valleys to be partially filled. The blanket roller rotates in a second direction. A first cleaning blade cleans tops of the lands of the cells.

Abstract: A method for applying an image on a concrete substrate wherein the image forms a decorative coating. The method includes depositing the image on the concrete substrate using an inkjet printing device.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a fusing roll and a backing roll that define a nip at which toner applied to marking material is fixed to paper under high pressure. A surface of the fusing roll includes a semi-conductive metal-oxide surface. Grounded conductive guides are arranged at the entrance and at the exit of the nip defined by the fusing roll and the backing roll.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for removing a printed image and/or image portion(s) of a printed image from at least one side of a media by one or more optical ablations such that the media can be ready for reuse.

Abstract: Haptic or tactile features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied at varying positions on a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. A plurality of raised image areas are specified for a group of substrates and raised marks are printed in only one raised image area for each substrate in a manner that is evenly distributed between the raised image areas for the group of substrates. The substrates will present a relatively uniform stack avoiding localized large pile heights when the substrates are stacked. A clear marking material is used to print the raised marks so as not to obscure underlying data printed on the substrate. The clear marking material may include a monomer that may become cross-linked in an exposure process to resist deinking of the substrate. The clear marking material may be mixed with a phosphorescing or fluorescing material as an additional security measure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method control fix levels in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a media transport configured to transport a media sheet having marking material on at least a first side of the media sheet. The apparatus can include a media sheet rub module configured to rub a rub material against the first side of the media sheet. The apparatus can include a sensor configured to sense marking material on the rub material, the marking material rubbed from the first side of the media sheet onto the rub material. The apparatus can include a controller configured to determine a fix level of marking material on the media sheet based on the sensed marking material on the rub material, the fix level indicating how well the marking material is affixed to the media sheet.

Abstract: Systems for forming three-dimensional marking material images on moving substrates include a print head arranged about a media path by which the substrate passes the print head at a predetermined media velocity. The jets marking material at a predetermined velocity onto the substrate surface to form a three-dimensional marking material image. A firing time of forming a first layer of marking material may be different with respect to a print run start time than a firing time for ejecting marking material for forming successive layers. The firing time may be adjusted by advancing or delaying the firing time with respect to an initial firing time for forming the first layer. The advance or delay may be calculated by a processor, and the calculation may be fed to a time advance/delay buffer contained by the print head.

Abstract: Haptic security features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied on a surface of a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. The haptic security features are complemented by visual features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features, and/or otherwise to features of an underlying image that is already printed on the substrate. One or more colored ink layers that includes characters or other features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features is embedded into the haptic security features on the surface of the substrate to form a composite security feature that has visual information as well as haptic response. Haptic security features are based on redundantly encoding features that are pre-printed on the substrate in a preliminary step of forming a visual image on the substrate by overprinting portions of the underlying pre-printed image related to the haptic security features.

Abstract: There is described a fuser roller including a surface layer of anodized aluminum oxide impregnated with a fluorine containing sealant. There is also described the method for producing the fuser member.

Abstract: Haptic or tactile features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied at varying positions on a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. A plurality of raised image areas are specified for a group of substrates and raised marks are printed in only one raised image area for each substrate in a manner that is evenly distributed between the raised image areas for the group of substrates. The substrates will present a relatively uniform stack avoiding localized large pile heights when the substrates are stacked. A clear marking material is used to print the raised marks so as not to obscure underlying data printed on the substrate. The clear marking material may include a monomer that may become cross-linked in an exposure process to resist deinking of the substrate. The clear marking material may be mixed with a phosphorescing or fluorescing material as an additional security measure.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a fusing roll and a backing roll that define a nip at which toner applied to marking material is fixed to paper under high pressure. A surface of the fusing roll includes a semi-conductive metal-oxide surface. Grounded conductive guides are arranged at the entrance and at the exit of the nip defined by the fusing roll and the backing roll.

Abstract: Haptic security features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied on a surface of a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. The haptic security features are complemented by visual features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features, and/or otherwise to features of an underlying image that is already printed on the substrate. One or more colored ink layers that includes characters or other features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features is embedded into the haptic security features on the surface of the substrate to form a composite security feature that has visual information as well as haptic response. Haptic security features are based on redundantly encoding features that are pre-printed on the substrate in a preliminary step of forming a visual image on the substrate by overprinting portions of the underlying pre-printed image related to the haptic security features.

Abstract: A dual mode imaging system includes an ink jet device for imaging non-erasable media and a write device for imaging erasable media. A media transport subsystem is provided for supplying non-erasable and erasable media to one of the ink jet device and the write device. A heat source is incorporated into the media transport subsystem, and particularly in connection with a guide baffle of the ink jet device, the heat source heating erasable media to a temperature suitable for imaging at the write device.