Abstract: An apparatus and method for embossing a substrate are disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes an embossing platform, a printhead to dispense ink on the embossing platform in a desired raised pattern on the embossing platform, a press to apply a load against a substrate placed on the desired raised pattern and the embossing platform to emboss the desired raised pattern onto the substrate, and an ink removal device to remove the ink that is dispensed on the embossing platform in the desired raised pattern.

Abstract: A print system and a method for detecting and correcting underperforming LEDs in-line of a 3D object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads arranged in a two-dimensional array, a curing light source, an inline detection and correction (IDC) system, a movable member to hold an object and a test plate and a controller to control movement of the movable member to move the object and the test plate past the array of printheads, to operate the plurality of printheads to eject a marking material onto the object as the object passes the two-dimensional array of printheads, to operate the curing light source apply energy to the test plate and to cure the marking material, and to operate the IDC system to read the test plate to confirm that the curing light source is operating correctly based on a reading of the test plate.

Abstract: A print system and a method for curing marking material on an object using an active transparent display in a three dimensional (3D) object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, a movable member to hold an object, an active transparent display 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, to control the active transparent display and to operate the curing light source to apply energy to cure the marking material, wherein the amount of energy that is applied to the object is controlled by a mask that is displayed on the active transparent display.

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 print system and a method for curing marking material on an object using an active transparent display in a three dimensional (3D) object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, a movable member to hold an object, an active transparent display 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, to control the active transparent display and to operate the curing light source to apply energy to cure the marking material, wherein the amount of energy that is applied to the object is controlled by a mask that is displayed on the active transparent display.

Abstract: A print system and a method for curing marking material on an object using an active transparent display in a three dimensional (3D) object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, a movable member to hold an object, an active transparent display 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, to control the active transparent display and to operate the curing light source to apply energy to cure the marking material, wherein the amount of energy that is applied to the object is controlled by a mask that is displayed on the active transparent display.

Abstract: A print system and a method for detecting inline failure of a curing light source of a 3D object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, an inline failure detection (IFD) system, a movable member to hold an object, a heat resistant member coupled to the movable member that holds a thermal paper for testing operation of the curing light source 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 operate the curing light source to apply energy to the thermal paper and to cure the marking material, and to operate the IFD system to read the thermal paper to detect a failure of the curing light source.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for embossing a substrate are disclosed. For example, the apparatus includes an embossing platform, a printhead to dispense ink on the embossing platform in a desired raised pattern on the embossing platform, a press to apply a load against a substrate placed on the desired raised pattern and the embossing platform to emboss the desired raised pattern onto the substrate, and an ink removal device to remove the ink that is dispensed on the embossing platform in the desired raised pattern.

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 print system and a method for detecting inline failure of a curing light source of a 3D object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, an inline failure detection (IFD) system, a movable member to hold an object, a heat resistant member coupled to the movable member that holds a thermal paper for testing operation of the curing light source 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 operate the curing light source to apply energy to the thermal paper and to cure the marking material, and to operate the IFD system to read the thermal paper to detect a failure of the curing light source.

Abstract: A print system and a method for detecting and correcting underperforming LEDs in-line of a 3D object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads arranged in a two-dimensional array, a curing light source, an inline detection and correction (IDC) system, a movable member to hold an object and a test plate and a controller to control movement of the movable member to move the object and the test plate past the array of printheads, to operate the plurality of printheads to eject a marking material onto the object as the object passes the two-dimensional array of printheads, to operate the curing light source apply energy to the test plate and to cure the marking material, and to operate the IDC system to read the test plate to confirm that the curing light source is operating correctly based on a reading of the test plate.

Abstract: A print system and a method for curing marking material on an object using an active transparent display in a three dimensional (3D) object printer are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, a movable member to hold an object, an active transparent display 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, to control the active transparent display and to operate the curing light source to apply energy to cure the marking material, wherein the amount of energy that is applied to the object is controlled by a mask that is displayed on the active transparent display.

Abstract: A print system and a method for curing marking material on an object using a mask screen are disclosed. For example, the print system includes a plurality of printheads, a curing light source, a movable member to hold an object, a mask screen 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 to catch the mask screen and to operate the curing light source to cure the marking material, wherein the amount of energy that is applied to the object is controlled by the mask screen.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for reducing contamination on a decurler in a printer are disclosed. For example, the method includes printing, by a marking engine, an image on a paper on a first side, inverting, by a first inverter, the paper so that the image on the first side is facing in an opposite direction than when passing through the marking engine and decurling, by the de-curler, the paper such that the image on the first side contacts a soft roller of the upstream de-curler.

Abstract: Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a substrate, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including an outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which is received a pre-heated substrate on which marking material is disposed; a release agent applicator system including a supply of a release agent having a viscosity of from about 10 cST to about 300 cST, and a release agent applicator for applying the release agent to the outer surface of the first roll; and a thermal energy source for heating the outer surface of the first roll to a temperature of less than a boiling point of the release agent. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and a pressure of at least about 500 psi to the pre-heated substrate and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the substrate.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a substantially continuous web of media, and a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path. A print station is positioned along the web path and is configured to apply ink to the continuous web. A temperature leveling ink spreader is disposed along the web path downstream from the print station. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a leveler roller including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a spreading temperature. The leveler roller is positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the leveler roller as the continuous web is being transported to equalize the temperatures of the web and ink on the web to within a predetermined range about the spreading temperature.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a substantially continuous web of media, and a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path. A print station is positioned along the web path and is configured to apply ink to the continuous web. A temperature leveling ink spreader is disposed along the web path downstream from the print station. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a leveler roller including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a spreading temperature. The leveler roller is positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the leveler roller as the continuous web is being transported to equalize the temperatures of the web and ink on the web to within a predetermined range about the spreading temperature.

Abstract: A release agent applicator applies release agent to an imaging drum and absorbs release agent metered from the drum to extend the operational life of an image drum maintenance unit. The applicator includes a reservoir for storing release agent, the reservoir having a plurality of perforations for enabling release agent to seep from the reservoir, a containment membrane for wicking release agent from the perforations of the reservoir, and a delivery layer for delivering release agent from the containment membrane to an imaging drum, the delivery layer having pores in a range of about 50 ?m to about 200 ?m.

Abstract: A folding system includes a media pathway configured to transport a print substrate having phase change ink thereon. The folding system includes a folding apparatus disposed along the media pathway configured to fold the print substrate. A folding heater is configured to heat the phase change ink on the print media to a folding temperature. The folding temperature is above ambient temperature and below a melting temperature for phase change ink.

Abstract: A process transfers an image from an intermediate imaging member onto a sheet of recording media while preserving the ability to duplex print on the sheet. The process includes generating an image on an intermediate imaging member as the intermediate imaging member rotates in a first direction, synchronizing a sheet of recording media with the image on the intermediate member as the intermediate imaging member continues to rotate in the first direction, transferring the image from the intermediate imaging member onto the sheet of recording media as the intermediate imaging member continues to rotate in the first direction, and limiting release agent on the intermediate imaging member to a level that preserves duplex printing capability on the sheet of recording media.