Abstract: A printing system comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid to a deposition region. A movable support surface, such as a belt, is used to transport print media through the deposition region, with the print media being held against the movable support surface by vacuum suction through holes in the movable support surface. A media registration device loads print media onto the movable support surface and registers the print media to a location of the movable support surface. The movable support surface comprises no-suction-regions in which the vacuum suction through the movable support surface is prevented. The no-suction regions extend across the width of the movable support surface in a cross-process direction and are arranged at predetermined intervals along the process direction. The control system causes the media registration device to register each of the print media relative to a respective one of the no-suction-regions.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device comprises a movable support surface to transport a print medium along a process direction through the deposition region, the media transport device holding the print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction. The air flow control system is arranged to selectively flow air through the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead based on a location of a print medium transported by the media transport device relative to the printhead.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has an extruder and a printhead module with a conveyor for moving between the extruder and the printhead module. The extruder is operated to form a support layer having microneedle protrusions. The conveyor moves the support layer having the microneedle protrusions to a position opposite the printhead module for sharpening of the microneedle protrusions and the application of a medicament to the sharpened microneedle protrusions.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit comprising air flow guide structure extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead to flow air through the opening. The air flow control system controls the air supply unit to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a printhead to eject a print fluid through an opening of a carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit to selectively flow air through the opening based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead. The air supply unit comprises an air guide structure comprising an air outlet portion extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the printhead and the carrier plate, the air outlet portion terminating in an end wall that is angled obliquely relative to the movable support surface towards a reverse-process direction.

Abstract: Devices include first and second frame elements having mounting points connectable to opposite ends (e.g., first end, second end) of the touchscreen. First and second rollers are connected, respectively, to the first and second frame elements. A web of transparent material is supported by and between the first and second rollers. Further, an ultraviolet light device is connected to the second frame element and is positioned to expose the web of transparent material to ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the transparent material between users.

Abstract: A drag force sensor on a fountain solution carrier roller surface measures drag force of a fountain solution layer on the fountain solution carrier roller surface in real-time during a printing operation. The measured drag force is used in a feedback loop to actively control the fountain solution layer thickness by adjusting the volumetric feed rate of fountain solution added onto the imaging member surface during a printing operation to reach a desired uniform thickness for the printing. This fountain solution monitoring system may be fully automated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes, among other components, a frame adapted to be connected to the exterior surface of a device that has a touchscreen. A retractable cover is operatively connected to the frame. The size of the retractable cover is equal to at least the size of the touchscreen, and the retractable cover is positioned to extend so as to cover the touchscreen. At least one ultraviolet light is also operatively connected to the frame. The ultraviolet light is positioned to direct ultraviolet lighting toward the touchscreen when the retractable cover extends to cover the touchscreen.

Abstract: A system and method enable determining a total colorant limit for printing images. The system includes memory which stores instructions for: determining a grain value for each of a set of printed patches printed on a first print media, the grain value being based upon a visual contrast sensitivity function computed for the respective patch, the set of printed patches including patches printed on the print media at different total colorant values; determining a total colorant limit for the first print media, as a function of the total colorant values and corresponding grain values for the printed patches in the set, wherein the total colorant limit is a total colorant value which corresponds to a grain value which does not exceed a threshold grain value for the first print media. A processor executes the instructions.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a removable vessel to reduce the time required for start-up procedures after the printer is serviced. The removable vessel is filled with solid metal that is heated to its melting temperature before the bulk wire is inserted into the vessel to commence printing operations. The melting of the solid metal in the removable vessel requires less time that the melting of an length of bulk wire adequate to produce a volume of melted metal suitable for printer operation. The solid metal in the removable vessel can be metal pellets, metal powder, or a solid metal insert.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a removable vessel to reduce the time required for start-up procedures after the printer is serviced. The removable vessel is filled with solid metal that is heated to its melting temperature before the bulk wire is inserted into the vessel to commence printing operations. The melting of the solid metal in the removable vessel requires less time that the melting of an length of bulk wire adequate to produce a volume of melted metal suitable for printer operation. The solid metal in the removable vessel can be metal pellets, metal powder, or a solid metal insert.

Abstract: A purge cycle is performed with an ink delivery system of an inkjet printer by applying a pressure pulse to a printhead in the printer that is substantially shorter than pressure pulses previously used. A pressure at a predetermined threshold is generated behind a valve and then release to the printhead. The duration of the pressure application is in a range of about 150 milliseconds to about 250 milliseconds. This pressure pulse substantially reduces the amount of ink emitted during the purge. A bidirectional wipe of the printhead face is effective for restoring inkjets in the printhead even though the amount of emitted ink is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An adhesive sign suited to use in retail applications includes a substrate layer. An adhesive layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The adhesive layer defines an exposed region for attachment to an associated structure. The adhesive layer is derived from a photo-curable inkjet composition. An ink layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The ink layer includes an image. The ink layer is derived from a photo-curable inkjet composition. The adhesive layer and ink layer can be formed in the same inkjet printing process and cured in a common photo-curing station. A stack of the adhesive signs can be assembled without interleaving a release liner between each pair of signs.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a glass roll at a lower temperature than the fountain solution. The lower temperature causes the fountain solution to undergo a change in state and in a solid state the fountain solution crystalizes and changes roll opacity with the thickness of the film. When radiated with a light source the opacity is continuously measured through the surface of the roller. The thickness of the crystallized fountain solution can then be determined via the opacity level increase by the crystallization and the impact to the opacity on the glass roll.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a diffractive optical element (DOE) configured with grating surfaces varying in a periodic fashion to hold an amount of fountain solution. When radiated with a light source the combination of the grating surface and the fountain solution therein reduces the scattering of the surface structure (“contrast”) that gives rise to a diffraction pattern. The diffractive optical element can be placed on the printing blanket of the lithography printing system or on a separate substrate.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured by using phase shifted monochromic light to produce optical path differences through the fountain solution film. The intensity of the reflected light through the fountain solution film is very sensitive due to the phase shifted light so interference fringes are easier to delineate and fountain solution thickness measurement more reliable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the thickness of fountain solution (FS) in a Digital Architecture for Lithographic Ink (DALI) printing system by transferring the FS to an optical roller with the properties of a lens and measuring the resulting effect on the refraction of an image captured through the lens. The optical roller may comprise a clear or glass cylinder forming a Fresnel lens cylinder having an engineered surface of known surface roughness and wherein the roller is placed adjacent the image member blanket. A heat source is used to evaporate the FS from the blanket for transfer to the optical roller where the FS wets the roller surface to different degrees based on the FS thickness relative to Fresnel ridge depth. Changes to the optical refraction through the lens varies with the FS thickness. An image sensor (e.g., a CCD camera or image analysis system) evaluates the image through the optical roller for FS thickness determination.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a dryer configured to attenuate the effects of temperature differentials arising in substrates that are caused by holes in a media transport belt and a platen covering a vacuum plenum. The dryer includes a heater, a media transport belt cooler, and a media transport belt. The media transport belt is configured to move substrates past the heater after ink images have been formed on the substrates and the media transport belt cooler is positioned to remove heat energy from the media transport belt after the media transport belt has passed the heater and the substrates have separated from the media transport belt. The substrate cooler is configured to reduce a temperature of the media transport belt to a temperature that attenuates image defects arising from temperature differentials in the media transport belt when the media transport belt is opposite the heater.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer is configured to introduce a liquid metal onto a first part and a second part while the first part and the second part are in contact with one another.

Abstract: A method includes generating relative movement between a first part and a three-dimensional (3D) printer. The method also includes introducing drops of a liquid metal onto the first part and a second part using the 3D printer. The liquid metal solidifies to join the first part and the second part together.