Abstract: An ink delivery system of an inkjet printer selectively injects flushing fluid into a supply tube for ink into a printhead to form a mixture of flushing fluid and ink prior to a period of inactivity for the printhead. The ratio of the flushing fluid to the ink is determined by a controller using environmental conditions, ink characteristics, and a duration for the period of inactivity.

Abstract: A dryer for use in an aqueous ink printer adequately dries coated substrates printed with aqueous ink images before discharge of the substrates. The dryer has a housing, a plurality of laser diodes, a current source, a variable electrical resistance network having a plurality of resistors, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a plurality of ink coverage densities for a plurality of areas in an ink image that passes through the dryer, select and vary an electrical resistance of one or more of the resistors in the variable electrical resistance network using the identified ink coverage densities, and operate the plurality of resistors in the variable electrical resistance network to connect the laser diodes in the dryer selectively to the current source through the plurality of resistors using the identified ink coverage densities and a speed of the substrate through the dryer.

Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes a dryer that enables coated substrates printed with aqueous ink images to be adequately dried before discharge of the substrates. The dryer has a housing, a plurality of laser diodes, and a controller configured to operate the laser diodes with reference to ink coverage densities in an ink image and a speed of a media transport moving the substrate bearing the ink image as the substrate passes the plurality of diodes. The controller varies the intensity of the radiation emitted by the laser diodes to correspond with the ink coverage density opposite each laser diode as the ink image passes through the dryer.

Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes two drying stages that enable coated substrates to be printed with aqueous ink images. The first drying stage dries substrates uniformly in the cross-process direction and the second drying stage dries substrates non-uniformly in the cross-process direction to enable only predetermined portions of the printed substrates to be dried. The predetermined portions of the printed substrates are aligned in a process direction with nip rollers or other printer components that engage the substrates after the substrates exit the second drying stage.

Abstract: A registration system for a printing device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. For example, the registration system includes at least one sensor to detect a position of a print media, at least one laterally adjustable nip, wherein the laterally adjustable nip moves along an inboard direction and an outboard direction, a motor coupled to the at least one laterally adjustable nip to move the at least one laterally adjustable nip a desired amount of movement based on the position of the print media and a width of the print media, and a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the motor to calculate a desired amount of movement based on the position of the print media and control the motor to move the at least one laterally adjustable nip by the desired amount of movement.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for applying an image shear to correct a digital image-paper registration error are disclosed. For example, the method, performed by a processor of a printing device, includes detecting an amount of skew of a paper traveling through a registration system of a printing device, determining that the amount of skew is greater than a predefined threshold, applying an image shear to a digital image that will be printed on the paper, and controlling a plurality of printheads of the printing device to print the digital image on the paper with the image shear that is applied.

Abstract: A laser imaging system and method. In an example embodiment, one or more laser diode arrays are associated with a digital micro-mirror device. A shutter-like device can be positioned upstream in the light path of the laser diode array (or arrays) such that the shutter-like device diverts energy out of the laser imaging system and away from the digital micro-mirror device during periods of extended non-imaging. A homogenizer module can be provided wherein the shutter-like device is located.

Abstract: An ink reservoir in an ink delivery system of an inkjet printer is selectively pressurized and depressurized to fluctuate an ink meniscus at the nozzle of each inactive inkjet in the printhead connected to the ink reservoir. The cycle of pressurization and depressurization is repeated for a predetermined number of times to replenish ink at the nozzles and reduce the likelihood of the ink at the nozzles obtaining a high viscosity.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured with capping stations for storing printheads in the printer during periods of printer inactivity so the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the inkjets of the printheads does not increase significantly. Each capping station has a printhead receptacle with an opening corresponding to a perimeter of a printhead, a pair of members pivotably mounted to the printhead receptacle so the members can move between a first position where the members expose the opening of the printhead receptacle and a second position where the members cover the opening of the printhead receptacle, and an actuator operatively connected to the pair of members to move the members between the first position and the second position. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator to operate the first actuator to move the members between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes two drying stages that enable coated substrates to be printed with aqueous ink images. The first drying stage dries substrates uniformly in the cross-process direction and the second drying stage dries substrates non-uniformly in the cross-process direction to enable only predetermined portions of the printed substrates to be dried. The predetermined portions of the printed substrates are aligned in a process direction with nip rollers or other printer components that engage the substrates after the substrates exit the second drying stage.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead assembly which applies an ink composition to print media to form printed media. A dryer, downstream of the printhead assembly, at least partially dries the printed media. A transport mechanism conveys the printed media in a downstream direction between the printhead assembly and a dryer and between the dryer and an output device. The transport mechanism includes at least one electric field-generating transport member including a drive roller which is rotated about an axis of rotation to advance the print media in the downstream direction. The drive roller includes spaced electrical conductors, first portions of the electrical conductors being sequentially brought into proximity with the print media as the roller is rotated. A commutator is positioned to sequentially contact and apply a voltage to second portions of only a subset of the conductors that are in proximity with the print media.

Abstract: An aqueous ink printer includes a dryer that enables coated substrates printed with aqueous ink images to be adequately dried before discharge of the substrates. The dryer has a housing, a plurality of laser diodes, and a controller configured to operate the laser diodes with reference to ink coverage densities in an ink image and a speed of a media transport moving the substrate bearing the ink image as the substrate passes the plurality of diodes. The controller varies the intensity of the radiation emitted by the laser diodes to correspond with the ink coverage density opposite each laser diode as the ink image passes through the dryer.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system operates at least one ejector and an extruder to form three-dimensional objects with photopolymer material and thermoplastic material. The system operates to deposit the two materials in a layer-by-layer manner. The photopolymer material provides high resolution finishes on the objects and the thermoplastic material enables strong and stable formation of internal portions of the objects.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for applying an image shear to correct a digital image-paper registration error are disclosed. For example, the method, performed by a processor of a printing device, includes detecting an amount of skew of a paper traveling through a registration system of a printing device, determining that the amount of skew is greater than a predefined threshold, applying an image shear to a digital image that will be printed on the paper, and controlling a plurality of printheads of the printing device to print the digital image on the paper with the image shear that is applied.

Abstract: A method for printing including disposing a first ink onto a substrate to form a first ink layer on the substrate in an area where a diagnostic image will be printed; disposing a second ink onto the first ink layer to form a second ink diagnostic image, wherein the first ink has a first color density and the second ink has a second color density that is different from the first ink color density, wherein the second ink drops hit and displace areas of the first ink layer creating holes which provide a density contrast; curing or drying after forming the second ink diagnostic image; wherein the second ink diagnostic image is rendered visible by the contrast between the second ink diagnostic image and the substrate as compared to the first ink layer and the substrate.

Abstract: Alignment apparatuses include a frame and contact elements connected to the frame. The contact elements contact items that are to be transported in a processing direction relative to the frame. The contact elements are in permeant fixed positions relative to the frame, and do not move relative to the frame. Adjustable mounts are connected to the frame and move the frame in the processing direction and in a perpendicular cross-processing direction. A controller is electrically connected to the adjustable mounts, and the controller is adapted to control the adjustable mounts to simultaneously move the frame and all the contact elements in the cross-processing direction and the processing direction while rotating the frame. Methods laterally shift imaging on sheets that have had rotational correction performed by such alignment apparatuses.

Abstract: An object surface treatment system facilitates the treatment of articles of manufacture before they are printed. The system includes a chamber having walls and a lid configured to close the chamber, a flexible member mounted to the lid of the chamber, a vacuum source operatively connected to an interior volume of the chamber, and a plurality of actuators. A controller is configured to operate the actuators and vacuum source to move the applicator to apply a chemical to the flexible member, move the lid to close the chamber, produce a vacuum within the chamber and move a portion of the surface of the flexible member into engagement with a surface of an object within the chamber, cease operation of the vacuum source to enable the flexible member to return to a position adjacent the lid, and remove the lid from the chamber for removal of the object from the chamber.

Abstract: A method for printing including disposing a first ink onto a substrate to form a first ink layer on the substrate in an area where a diagnostic image will be printed; disposing a second ink onto the first ink layer to form a second ink diagnostic image, wherein the first ink has a first color density and the second ink has a second color density that is different from the first ink color density, wherein the second ink drops hit and displace areas of the first ink layer creating holes which provide a density contrast; curing or drying after forming the second ink diagnostic image; wherein the second ink diagnostic image is rendered visible by the contrast between the second ink diagnostic image and the substrate as compared to the first ink layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A solid blanket receives a flood layer of very thin (e.g., about 10 ?m or less) image receiving UV curable coating, which may be a clear, substantially clear, or tinted UV ink. A lower viscosity digital ink image may then be printed on top of the flood layer, for example by jetting UV ink on top of the flood layer. The lower viscosity UV digital ink sits on top of the thicker UV curable coating and maintains its location by surface tension interaction with the coating. The combination of ink and coating is then partially cured to a tacky state at which point it is transferred to print media via a conformable pressure nip. Since the lower viscosity jetted inks are not responsible for directly wetting the media, media latitude widens greatly. Further, no dampening fluid or fountain solution is needed to aid the transfer or the imaging.

Abstract: The present teachings include a process, system and article for forming a printed image on a textile. The process includes coating the solution of an orthosilicate to form a silica network on the textile. The process includes applying an ink composition to the textile having the silica network on the textile, forming an image.