Abstract: A temperature control system, the system comprising a cooling block configured to be in conductive communication with a heat source, said cooling block comprising a stem and a base, a cooling fluid configured to circulate through the base of the cooling block, and an electrical barrier formed in the base of the cooling block between the heat source and the cooling fluid.

Abstract: A method for applying flame treatments to a print surface on an object in an inkjet printer includes activating a hydrogen torch within the inkjet printer to generate a flame through a nozzle of the hydrogen torch and operating an actuator to move at least one of the print surface or the nozzle in a predetermined direction to apply the flame from the nozzle to the print surface. The method further includes adjusting a rate of fuel flow to the nozzle of the hydrogen torch to change a thermal output level of the flame with reference to a change in distance between the nozzle of the hydrogen torch and the print surface during the operating of the actuator.

Abstract: A switchable mirror system and method includes a laser imaging module including one or more lasers and one or more DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices), and a switchable mirror component located in a path upstream from the DMD (or DMDs) to direct a laser from the DMD when there is pause in a printing operation facilitated by said laser imaging module. A non-mechanical and electronic switchable mirror is thus located in the laser path between an LDA (Laser Diode Array) and a DMD to divert energy out of the system and away from the DMD during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or power down the laser system.

Abstract: A laser imaging system and method for printing includes a digital micromirror device and a switchable mirror element that acts as a clear lens element during the printing by the laser imaging system. A laser diode array provides a laser to the switchable mirror element in a laser path, wherein the switchable mirror element is located in the laser path between the laser diode array and the digital micromirror device to divert energy out of the system and away from the digital micromirror device during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or powering down the laser system.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the second surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate p

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.

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: A system and method are provided for implementing localized and directed laser welding joining techniques in a process of building up laminate layers to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components (3D objects). A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of laminate cutting (with lasers or other cutting devices); laminate transport between processing stations (including using one or more of conveyors, robotic pick and place devices and the like); laminate stacking, clamping and adhering through a targeted laser welding technique; and mechanical surface finishing (via CNC machining or other comparable process).

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a sensor array arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A cooling control system and method comprise a power meter for measuring a power of a laser, a temperature controller configured to adjust a temperature of fluid circulating through a cooling block, and a chip connected to the cooling block wherein the temperature controller regulates said temperature of the coolant in order to prevent the chip from overheating or from developing condensation on the chip.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: A real-time surface energy treatment system for a printable substrate including a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the printable substrate to enhance wetting and adhesion of an ink to the printable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to measure at least one print quality characteristic of the ink on the substrate, and a system control in communication with the surface energy modification device and the full width array sensor and arranged to adjust an input power to the surface energy modification device based on the at least one print quality characteristic.

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the system including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy of the first surface to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one first full width printhead array arranged to deposit a first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one second full width printhead array arranged to deposit a second portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the first surface of the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation pinning device positioned proximate the first surface and arranged to partially cure the first portion of the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate pr

Abstract: A system for printing at least one stretchable ink on a thermoformable substrate including an unwinder arranged to feed the thermoformable substrate from a first roll into a web drive subsystem, a surface energy modification device arranged to alter a substrate surface energy to enhance wetting and adhesion of the at least one stretchable ink to the thermoformable substrate, at least one full width printhead array arranged to deposit the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, at least one radiation curing device arranged to cure the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, a full width array sensor arranged to monitor the at least one stretchable ink on the thermoformable substrate, and a rewinder arranged to receive the thermoformable substrate and to form the thermoformable substrate into a second roll.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an image processing method and system for recognizing barcodes and/or product labels. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses a multifaceted detection process that includes both image enhancement of a candidate barcode region and other product label information associated with a candidate barcode region to identify a product label, where the candidate barcode region includes a nonreadable barcode. According to one exemplary application, a store profile is generated based on the identifications of the product labels which are associated with a location of a product within a store.

Abstract: Eliminate or reduce the impact of glare in printed information tag recognition applications using single- and multi-pose external illumination coupled with intelligent processing. A shelf imager can acquire shelf images for printed information tag localization and recognition. An external illuminator can provide at least one illumination condition/pose for shelf image acquisition in addition to lighting associated with the enclosed environment. A glare region of interest (ROI) detector can analyze all or a portion of the acquired shelf images for glare to determine whether additional images need to be acquired using different illumination conditions provided by the single- or multi-pose external illuminator or whether full or portion of acquired images need to be analyzed by a printed information tag locator and recognizer. A printed information tag locator and recognizer can analyze all or a portion of the acquired images to localize and recognize data printed on the printed information tags.

Abstract: An imager apparatus useful for a digital architecture lithographic printing system includes a first imager bank having at least one imager configured to produce a first output beam; and a second imager bank having at least one imager configured to produce a second output beam, the second imager bank being located at a first angle with respect to the first imager bank, the first output beam and the second output beam being separated by a second angle which is less than the first angle.

Abstract: A configuration system generates a calibration target to be printed, the target including a set of machine-readable and visually-identifiable landmarks and associated location-encoding marks which encode known locations of the landmarks. A plurality of test images of the printed calibration target is acquired by the system from an image capture assembly. Positions of the landmarks in the acquired test images and the location-encoding marks in the acquired test images are detected by the system. The system decodes the locations of the landmarks from the detected location-encoding marks and spatially characterizes the image capture assembly, based on the detected positions of the landmarks in the acquired test images and their decoded known locations.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing medications, including: a portable cassette including with a body portion including a plurality of cassette compartments and at least one lid displaceable with respect to the body portion to enable access to the cassette compartments in a predetermined sequence; and a pill-dispenser including at least one dispensing compartment arranged to store respective pills of at least one respective medication; a dispensing element configured to release the respective pills from the at least one dispensing compartment; and a cassette element arranged to receive the portable cassette and displace the portable cassette so that at least one of the in respective pills falls into each cassette compartment. After the at least one of the respective pills fall into said each cassette compartment: the portable cassette is removable from the pill-dispenser; and the lid is displaceable to control access to the cassette compartments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for use in a retail store. An example system includes a mobile base, a printer, an image capture subsystem on the mobile base and coupled to the printer, the image capture system including at least one image capture device and at least one image processor, the image capture device configured to obtain images of items in the retail store, the image processor configured to derive item identification data from the images of items, and a control subsystem coupled to the printer and to the image capture subsystem, where the control subsystem is configured to receive information identifying items requiring signage, acquire item identification data from the image capture subsystem, determine, based on the information identifying items requiring signage and on the item identification data, items requiring signage, and to direct the printer to print signage for the items requiring signage.