Abstract: A printer is configured with a surface treatment system having a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a plurality of surface treatment devices. Each surface treatment device is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder differently than each of the other surface treatment devices in the plurality of surface treatment devices. Thus, the printer is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by the direct-to-object printer.

Abstract: Provided is a surface treatment method, including: jetting a first component of a primer composition over a substrate, wherein the first component includes a crosslinking agent; jetting a second component of the primer composition over the substrate, wherein the second component includes a crosslinking activator; and mixing the first component and the second component to form a primer layer, wherein the jetting of the first component and the second component is from at least one printhead.

Abstract: A flexible plasma surface treatment device is configured to conform to an irregular surface of an object to enable treatment of the surface with plasma formed by an electrode in the device. The flexible plasma treatment device includes a layer of flexible dielectric material having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first flexible electrode completely encapsulated within the layer of dielectric material, a second flexible electrode mounted to the lower surface of the layer of dielectric material, and a second layer of flexible electrically insulating material mounted to the lower surface of the layer of flexible dielectric material to expose a first portion of the second electrode and to cover a second portion of the second electrode at the lower surface of the dielectric material layer.

Abstract: Provided is a printing method, including: depositing a first curable material on a substrate; at least partially curing the first curable material to form an under-layer, wherein the under-layer has a first surface energy; modifying the under-layer's surface energy from the first surface energy to a second surface energy; and depositing a second curable material on the under-layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a base for supporting a three-dimensionally printed object includes operating at least one ejector of a three-dimensional object printer to form the base. At least one ejector is operated to eject build material to form a planar layer of build material on a platen, and to form a first plurality of anchoring portions on the planar layer. At least one ejector is operated to eject support material to form a plurality of second anchoring portions interlocked with the first anchoring portions so that the first and second anchoring portions form a planar anchoring layer, and to form a planar layer of support material on the anchoring layer that defines a planar base for supporting a three-dimensional object.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for printing directly onto Infra-Red (IR) transparent material (print media) such as Mylar using a method that is capable of using medium to high viscosity materials such as those needed for printed electronics. The proposed method would be able to print with variable data/imaging. A proposed method uses an IR receptor of which a print media is placed or passed over. Prior to irradiation the print media is coated with a sub-micron layer of dampening solution such as silicone oil that is then selectively evaporated off via a laser imaging device which passes IR energy thorough the dampening solution, print media and onto the receptor to evaporate dampening solution in areas that will be inked.

Abstract: A system and method are provided implementing advanced stripping of image receiving media substrates, including substrates involved in any cut-sheet image forming process in an image forming device that includes a pressure nip necessitating an ability to reliably remove the sheets of image receiving media substrate from a conformable belt and/or roller surface. An appropriate peel force is applied to and opposite side of the image receiving media substrate that effectively peels an image receiving media substrate and image combination from an intermediate transfer belt downstream of a conformable transfer nip. A relatively small diameter stripper roller is positioned downstream of, and in close proximity to, the conformable transfer nip as an apparatus by which to effect application of the appropriate peel force. The small diameter stripper roller has a contact surface formed of an appropriately tacky material, including certain silicone materials, to apply the peel force.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing an improved inker unit surface cleaning and conditioning system, including in a single anilox chamber blade system, for improving image quality, including eliminating ghosting, in a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. Techniques are provided to remove acquired oil from an inking member. A particularly-configured containment encloses a cleaner (disturber) roller to emulsify the acquired oil on the inking roller. The cleaner roller is preferably configured with a pliable surface including a silicon roller surface over a porous base. The silicon roller (1) absorbs dampening solution oil; and (2) agitates ink that may be still held in certain cells/cavities of the inking member or roller. In embodiments, a vacuum pressure is applied to the inside of the hollow cleaner roller to better remove the residual ink and dampening solution from the inking roller.

Abstract: A system and method are provided implementing advanced stripping of image receiving media substrates, including substrates involved in any cut-sheet image forming process in an image forming device that includes a pressure nip necessitating an ability to reliably remove the sheets of image receiving media substrate from a conformable belt and/or roller surface. An appropriate peel force is applied to and opposite side of the image receiving media substrate that effectively peels an image receiving media substrate and image combination from an intermediate transfer belt downstream of a conformable transfer nip. A relatively small diameter stripper roller is positioned downstream of, and in close proximity to, the conformable transfer nip as an apparatus by which to effect application of the appropriate peel force. The small diameter stripper roller has a contact surface formed of an appropriately tacky material, including certain silicone materials, to apply the peel force.

Abstract: An aqueous inkjet printer includes a media conveyor having an endless belt to which media sheets adhere. The endless belt is entrained around a transfer roller and a roller. The transfer roller forms a nip with an image member in the printer and the media sheets on the endless belt pass through the nip to transfer images from the image member to the media sheets. After the media sheets exit the nip, they follow the endless belt to the roller where the radius of the roller enables a force to be applied perpendicularly to the media sheets to separate the media sheets from the endless belt.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing an improved inker unit surface cleaning and conditioning system, including in a single anilox chamber blade system, for improving image quality, including eliminating ghosting, in a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. Techniques are provided to remove acquired oil from an inking member. A particularly-configured containment encloses a cleaner (disturber) roller to emulsify the acquired oil on the inking roller. The cleaner roller is preferably configured with a pliable surface including a silicon roller surface over a porous base. The silicon roller (1) absorbs dampening solution oil; and (2) agitates ink that may be still held in certain cells/cavities of the inking member or roller. In embodiments, a vacuum pressure is applied to the inside of the hollow cleaner roller to better remove the residual ink and dampening solution from the inking roller.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured to capture image data of a bare rotating imaging surface and use the image data of the bare rotating imaging surface to remove noise from subsequent images of printed ink on the rotating imaging surface. A controller in the printer is configured to measure cross-correlations between margins in the bare rotating imaging surface image data and margins in the subsequent images of printed ink to identify areas of alignment between the image data of the bare rotating imaging surface and the subsequent images of printed ink. The data in the areas in the image data of the bare rotating imaging surface that are aligned with areas in the subsequent images are used to remove the background noise produced by structure in the rotating imaging surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured to capture image data of a bare rotating imaging surface and use the image data of the bare rotating imaging surface to remove noise from subsequent images of printed ink on the rotating imaging surface. A controller in the printer is configured to measure cross-correlations between margins in the bare rotating imaging surface image data and margins in the subsequent images of printed ink to identify areas of alignment between the image data of the bare rotating imaging surface and the subsequent images of printed ink. The data in the areas in the image data of the bare rotating imaging surface that are aligned with areas in the subsequent images are used to remove the background noise produced by structure in the rotating imaging surface.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark decoding via spectral analysis of an image. According to one exemplary method, spectral analysis is performed to decode a watermark within an image, where the pixel spacing associated with the image was modulated to encode the watermark.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark encoding via pixel spacing modulation. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method modulates the pixel spacing associated with an image to encode a watermark.

Abstract: An image printing system configured to minimize two-dimensional image quality non-uniformities on printed documents is provided. The image printing system includes a marking engine, a linear array sensor, an image analyzer, and a controller. The marking engine is constructed to print toner images on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction. The marking engine comprising of a toner development system. The linear array sensor is adjacent the image bearing surface and is extending in a cross-process direction. The linear array sensor is configured to scan the toner image on the image bearing surface. The image analyzer is configured to detect a two-dimensional non-uniformity in the toner image. The controller is configured to control at least one control parameter of the toner development system based on the two-dimensional image quality non-uniformity in the toner image that is detected by the linear array sensor.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark encoding via pixel spacing modulation. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method modulates the pixel spacing associated with an image to encode a watermark.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark decoding via spectral analysis of an image. According to one exemplary method, spectral analysis is performed to decode a watermark within an image, where the pixel spacing associated with the image was modulated to encode the watermark.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a printing device in the presence of reload defects. According to a first embodiment, a controller is provided to manage the printing of scheduled control patches immediately after an image of a print job. Accordingly to a second embodiment, a controller is configured to manage the printing of an image or a print job immediately after a control patch.

Abstract: A systems and methods for providing an image forming machine capable of monitoring the absolute charge to mass ratio of toner and dielectric thickness of a photoconductor layer on a photoconductor in an image forming device, and for providing warnings, alerts and process controls when the absolute charge to mass ratio of toner in an image forming device or the dielectric thickness of a photoconductor layer falls outside a predetermined range.