Abstract: A print head has a jet stack, a jet stack heating and temperature measuring element thermally connected to the jet stack, the jet stack heating and temperature measuring element including: a first, etched copper layer having heat spreading characteristics and including a resistive heat source electrically connected in series to a voltage source and a switch; an electrically insulative on a back side of the first copper layer; and a second, etched copper layer on a side of the electrically insulative layer opposite the first copper layer, the second copper layer having a temperature sensing element to sense a temperature of the print head without a thermistor, the temperature sensing element connected in series with a voltage source and a transistor. A print head may use a thermistor but the heat spreading layer eliminates the need for a heat sink to attach to the print head.

Abstract: Reduction of the size of the droplet in 1-drop ejection is easily performed. A liquid jet head according to an example of the disclosure includes a nozzle adapted to jet a liquid, a piezoelectric actuator having a pressure chamber communicated with the nozzle and filled with the liquid, and adapted to vary a capacity of the pressure chamber, and a control section adapted to apply a pulse signal to the piezoelectric actuator to thereby expand and contract the capacity of the pressure chamber so as to jet the liquid filling the pressure chamber. The control section applies the pulse signal adapted to expand the capacity in the pressure chamber when jetting 1 drop of the liquid so as to include a first pulse signal having a pulse width one of equal to or shorter than an on-pulse peak, and a second pulse signal disposed with a predetermined time interval from the first pulse signal.

Abstract: In a method to active print nozzles of an inkjet printer including a print head having print nozzles and respective actuators associated with each of the print nozzles, one or more conveying pulses are generated to eject respective droplets of ink from the respective print nozzle; and the actuator is activated with one or more intermediate pulses having an amplitude and/or a duration that is less than an amplitude and/or a duration of the one or more conveying pulses. The one or more intermediate pulses can be configured such that no ink is ejected from the respective print nozzle with the one or more intermediate pulses.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film is formed by adding a donor element to lead zirconate titanate. In the piezoelectric thin film, a molar ratio of lead to a total sum of zirconium and titanium is 105% or higher, and, when positive and negative coercive electric fields in polarization and electric field hysteresis are referred to as Ec (+) and Ec (?), respectively, a value of |Ec (+)|/|Ec (?)| is 0.5 or more and 1.5 or less.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid ejection head includes a first base having a plurality of nozzles from which liquid can be ejected, a second base on the first base and having a plurality of pressure chambers in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles, and a third base located on the second base, with the second base being interposed between the first and third bases, the third base having a common chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of pressure chambers, an inner wall of the common chamber has an uneven surface portion shaped so as to trap air bubbles entrained in the liquid to be ejected from the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: In one example, a print bar structure includes a beam having two flanges connected by a web and a planar surface along a longitudinal edge of each flange, a printhead mounting structure attached to the beam along the planar surfaces to mount a printhead, and a fluid flow structure positioned between the flanges to carry printing fluid to the printhead mounting structure.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes: a substrate including an energy-generating element; a flow path forming member including a discharge port and having a liquid flow path formed between the flow path forming member and the substrate; and a plurality of through-passages passing through the substrate, each of the through-passages including a first through-passage part serving as a common liquid chamber and a plurality of second through-passage parts communicating with the first through-passage part, wherein a separation wall separating the adjacent first through-passage parts includes a plate-shaped member separating the adjacent first through-passage parts and approximately vertical to a substrate in-plane direction and, at least one protrusion protruding from the plate-shaped member in the substrate in-plane direction and contacting a bottom portion of the first through-passage part.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure generating unit in order to eject liquid from a nozzle that is provided on a nozzle surface, a case in order to accommodate the pressure generating unit, and a guide portion that is provided on a side surface of the case, in which in a case of being viewed from a first direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface, the guide portion has projecting portions facing one end side in a second direction along the nozzle surface, and recessed portions facing the other end side in the second direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles; a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle; and a pressure generating element, in which each of the nozzles is formed by communicating a first opening portion and a second opening portion, when two nozzles adjacent to each other are represented by a first nozzle and a second nozzle, the second opening portion of the first nozzle and the second opening portion of the second nozzle are disposed along a first direction, each of the second opening portions extends in a second direction, and an inner diameter of the second opening portion in the second direction is larger than an inner diameter of the first opening portion, the first opening portion of the first nozzle and the first opening portion of the second nozzle are disposed so as to be shifted from each other in the second direction.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a recessed pocket. A fluid droplet ejection die is within recessed pocket.

Abstract: A print element substrate that includes a plurality of heaters and a plurality of temperature sensors provided in correspondence with a plurality of nozzles, comprises: a selecting unit that selects one temperature sensor from the plurality of temperature sensors and output a temperature signal; a determining unit that determines a discharge state of the nozzle based on the temperature signal output by the selecting unit; an outputting unit that, based on a determination result output from the determining unit, externally outputs a signal indicating the discharge state of the nozzle corresponding to the selected temperature sensor; and a masking unit that, in accordance with a change in selection of the temperature sensor by the selecting unit, masks the determination result output from the determining unit to the outputting unit during a predetermined time from a timing of the change.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reservoir and a printhead. The printhead includes a support structure including a deformable portion defining at least a top surface of a pumping chamber, a flow path extending from the reservoir to the pumping chamber to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the pumping chamber, and an actuator disposed on the deformable portion of the support structure. A trench is defined in a top surface of the actuator. Application of a voltage to the actuator causes the actuator to deform along the trench, thereby causing deformation of the deformable portion of the support structure to eject a drop of fluid from the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A piezoelectric film includes a plurality of laminated main baking unit PZT layers. A first seed layer is present at a lower surface side of a lowermost main baking unit PZT layer. A second seed layer is interposed between two adjacent main baking unit PZT layers at an intermediate position between the lowermost main baking unit PZT layer and an uppermost main baking unit PZT layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a patterned film on a substrate includes: step of patterning a mask material on the substrate, thereby covering, with the mask material, the region except a patterned film forming region on a substrate surface on which the patterned film is to be formed; step of covering, with a protective member, at least a part of the surface of the mask material opposite to the substrate so as to allow the patterned film forming region to communicate with outside air, thereby forming a workpiece to be subjected to film formation in following step; step of forming a film on at least the patterned film forming region of the surface of the workpiece communicating with the outside air; step of releasing the protective member from the mask material; and step of removing the mask material and a part of the film on the mask material.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid ejection head includes a step of providing a positive photosensitive resin layer on a substrate, a step of heat-treating the positive photosensitive resin layer on the substrate, and a step of forming a mold material having a pattern of the flow path by subjecting the heat-treated positive photosensitive resin layer on the substrate to exposure and development. In the method, the positive photosensitive resin layer includes a light absorbing agent that is nonvolatile at a temperature of the heat treatment of the positive photosensitive resin layer, the light absorbing agent has a light absorbance (a1) at a wavelength of 365 nm and an average light absorbance (a2) in a wavelength range of 280 nm or more to 330 nm or less, and an absorbance ratio A is 1.0 or less where the absorbance ratio A is the ratio a2/a1.

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a liquid discharge apparatus including: forming a photoresist film made of a photoresist on a silicon substrate; exposing the photoresist film; forming a nozzle in the photoresist film by exposing the photoresist film and then developing the photoresist film; forming a channel hole in communication with the nozzle by carrying out an etching process from a surface of the substrate on the opposite side from the photoresist film after forming the nozzle; and joining a channel member to the surface of the substrate on the opposite side from the photoresist film, the channel member including a pressure chamber in communication with the channel hole and a piezoelectric element formed as a film to correspond to the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A method for producing a flow path member including a laser processing step for forming the flow path member by laser processing by cutting a base plate, the laser processing step includes: a first cutting step for cutting a region to be formed as the flow path member by laser processing without separating the region from the base plate; and a second cutting step for cutting the region to be formed as the flow path member by laser processing to separate the region from the base plate, wherein the first cutting step is performed while the region to be formed as the flow path member is not supported, and the second cutting step is performed while the region to be formed as the flow path member is supported.

Abstract: An automatic inkjet head cleaning method for a powder bed and inkjet 3D printer is provided, and the method includes steps: controlling a powder-laying module and a plurality of the inkjet heads of the powder bed and inkjet 3D printer to print a 3D physical model according to 3D printing data; retrieving a status value continuously or intermittently during printing; executing the first cleaning procedure for cleaning all or parts of the inkjet heads when determining the status value satisfies the first cleaning configuration value; and executing the second cleaning procedure for cleaning all or parts of the inkjet heads when determining the status value satisfies the second cleaning configuration value. The method automatically cleans the inkjet heads during the printing process, which effectively improves printing quality and reduces printing failure rates.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit having nozzles able to eject a first liquid to a medium; and a fluid ejecting device having ejection ports able to eject a fluid including a second liquid to the liquid ejecting unit, in which the fluid ejecting device performs, as a maintenance operation of the liquid ejecting unit, a first fluid ejection of ejecting a fluid including small droplets of the second liquid that are smaller than a nozzle opening to an opening region in which the nozzles of the liquid ejecting unit open, and a second fluid ejection of ejecting a fluid including droplets of the second liquid in which the smallest droplets are larger than the small droplets to the liquid ejecting unit.

Abstract: A print bar assembly includes: a mounting frame having a pair of opposite first and second sidewalls extending parallel to a media feed direction, the first sidewall having an upwardly extending first guide slot defined between opposite first bearing surfaces; a print bar carriage slidably received within the mounting frame and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the print bar carriage for lifting and lowering the print bar carriage relative to the mounting frame. The print bar carriage includes a chassis, a printhead and a pair of first bearings rotatably received in the first guide slot. During sliding movement of the print bar carriage, the pair of first bearings travel within the first guide slot and bear against the first bearing surfaces to constrain rotational movement of the print bar carriage.

Abstract: A cleaning liquid for rinsing an ink adhering to an article includes water and a first organic solvent, wherein a liquid mixture of the water and the first organic solvent has a Hansen solubility parameter including a hydrogen bond term of 10.0 (cal/cm3)1/2 or less, wherein the ink includes water, a second organic solvent, a polyurethane resin particle, and a polysiloxane surfactant having an HLB value of 8 or less, wherein the polyurethane resin particle accounts for 5 percent by mass or more of a total amount of the ink.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid consuming apparatus including: a liquid consuming section; a tank having a liquid storage chamber and an inlet port; a cap; and a casing having a cover movable with respect to the tank between a closed position and an open position. The cover has an inner surface and a projection projected from the inner surface toward the tank. The projection of the cover is provided with a pressing portion facing the outer surface of the cap at a predetermined spacing distance, under a condition that the liquid consuming apparatus is in a normal state in which the cover is in the closed position and that the cap is installed in the inlet port, and the pressing portion abuts firstly against the outer surface, under a condition that the cap is moved in the insertion direction for allowing the cap to be removed from the inlet port.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid, and a liquid storage section that stores the liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head. The liquid storage section includes a storage tank of which at least part is provided with a flexible section having flexibility, a liquid feed port to feed the liquid to the liquid ejecting head, and a liquid filling inlet to refill the liquid. The liquid filling inlet is capable of opening and closing and capable of being sealed. Moreover, the storage tank has a volume that can be changed by the flexible section deforming.

Abstract: In conventional liquid jet apparatuses, improvement in usability is desired. A liquid jet apparatus including a liquid jet head, a liquid container that can store liquid, a housing that covers the liquid jet head and the liquid container, and an operation unit can be operated by a user, a liquid injection port that enables liquid to be injected is formed in the liquid container, when the operation unit is viewed from the front, the first liquid container is arranged between the operation unit and one side wall of the housing, and the second liquid container is arranged between the other side wall opposite to the one side wall of the housing and the operation unit, the housing includes a first cover that covers at least a portion of the first liquid container, and a second cover that covers at least a portion of the second liquid container, and the first cover and the second cover are independently configured to be openable/closable relative to the housing.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a back pressure control unit including a back pressure control element that has a first opening, a second opening, a first liquid flow channel that enables the first opening and the second opening to communicate with each other, and a valve body that controls the flow of liquid in the first liquid flow channel, and a housing that houses the back pressure control element and in which a liquid introduction opening that communicates with the first opening and a discharge channel that communicates with the second opening are formed, and a head unit including a third opening connected to the discharge channel of the back pressure control unit, a second liquid flow channel that communicates with the third opening, a first filter disposed in the second liquid flow channel, a pressure generation chamber, a nozzle, and a pressure generation element.

Abstract: A liquid circulation device includes a circulation path through which a liquid circulates to and from a liquid discharging head, the circulation path including a supply flow path on a first side of the liquid discharging head and a collection flow path on a second side of the liquid discharging head, a first tank in the circulation path on the first side of the liquid discharging head, the first tank supplying liquid to the liquid discharging head via the supply flow path and receiving liquid from the liquid discharging head via the collection flow path, a filter in the supply flow path, the filter including an air bubble filter and a before-filter chamber between the first tank and the air bubble filter, and a bypass flow path having a first end fluidly connected to the before-filter chamber and a second end fluidly connected to the collection flow path.

Abstract: White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tablet printing device 1 includes: a conveyer 10 configured to convey a tablet T; a laser displacement meter 30 configured to emit laser beams to the tablet T conveyed by the conveyer 10 and receive the laser beams reflected by the tablet T; a determination unit 81 configured to determine whether there is a split line on the upper surface of the tablet T conveyed by the conveyer 10 based on an output value of the laser displacement meter 30; and a printing unit 50 configured to perform printing on the tablet T conveyed by the conveyer 10 based on a determination result obtained by the determination unit 81.

Abstract: A recording medium has recorded a program causing a computer of a label image preparing apparatus to perform: a function of causing a display to display a preparation screen in which a plurality of label images are arranged such that a length of a first side in a first direction of one label image of the plurality of label images corresponds to a length in a width direction of a printing medium, lengths of second sides in a second direction crossing the first direction of the plurality of label images coincide with each other, and positions of the first sides in the first direction are aligned; a function of arranging at least one part image as a printing object in the plurality of label images in the preparation screen; and a function of detecting that the at least one part image is arranged over at least two label images of the plurality of label images.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs printing on a medium and a heating unit that heats the medium in a heating region. The heating region includes a first portion and a second portion having a height lower than the first portion in a direction of gravity, and the heating unit is configured such that an amount of heat per unit area applied to the second portion is greater than an amount of heat per unit area applied to the first portion.

Abstract: A scanning inkjet printing method comprises arranging a recording medium on a print surface; moving a carriage supporting at least one inkjet print head over the recording medium on the print surface in a scanning direction, while image-wise applying droplets of a liquid to the recording medium to form a first swath of printed dots on the recording medium; moving the recording medium and the carriage relative to each other in a transport direction, wherein the transport direction is transverse to the scanning direction; moving the carriage over the recording medium on the print surface in the scanning direction, while image-wise applying droplets of the liquid to the recording medium to form a second swath of printed dots on the recording medium; detecting a position of the first swath; determining a sub-carriage movement relative to the carriage in response to the detected position of the first swath to position the second swath relative to the first swath, wherein the sub-carriage is supported by the carria

Abstract: A printer performs a multi-pass printing including: (a) pass process executed with Ka number of nozzles; (c1) pass process executed with Kc1 number of nozzles; (c2) pass process executed with Kc2 number of nozzles; and (b) pass process executed with Kb number of nozzles. Kc1 and Kc2 are greater than or equal to Kb and smaller than Ka. An upstream gradient of dot recording rates of (c1) pass process is greater than a gradient of (a) pass process. A downstream gradient of (c1) pass process is the same as the gradient of (a) pass process. An upstream gradient of (c2)-pass process is the same as a gradient of (b) pass process. A downstream gradient of (c2)-pass process is greater than the gradient of the (a) pass process. Kc1 is greater than Kc2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum system for securing items in printing machines, comprising a printing table (2) with a perforated surface and, in relation thereto, a vacuum system for securing the items to be printed, which comprises a box structure (8) connected to a suction system and provided with a perforated wall in relation to the surface of the printing table (2), said box structure (8) having lateral panels that vertically close the interior thereof, which panels can be moved in order to adjust the gap between them in relation to the width of the items to be printed.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a transporting roller; a driven roller provided opposite the transporting roller to sandwich the recording medium between the driven roller and the transporting roller, while moving in an approaching-departing direction based on a thickness of the recording medium; a first biasing member biasing the driven roller to the transporting roller; a platen; a recording portion configured to jet ink droplets from nozzles; and a cooperative portion moving along with the movement of the driven roller in the approaching-departing direction to move the platen.

Abstract: A hot fuse printer system includes a feeder module adapted to spool a continuous substrate and cut the substrate to a desired length; a sheeting module adapted to feed the cut substrate to a printer module, which includes a hot fuser unit adapted to print on the cut substrate. The feeder module may include at least one sensor configured to determine a length of the substrate. The feeder module, the sheeting module and the printer module are each operatively connected to a controller which is configured to cause the feeder module to cut the substrate in a desired location, the sheeting module to feed the cut substrate to the printer module, and the printer module to print onto the cut substrate in a desired manner.

Abstract: A printer comprises a linerless label operation mode and a linered label operation mode as operation modes. When a cutter unit is coupled to a coupling portion, a control unit of the printer detects the operation mode of the printer based on whether the cutter unit is a cutter unit configured to cut the linerless label or a cutter unit configured to cut the linered label, and sets the operation mode of the printer to a linerless label operation mode or a linered label operation mode.

Abstract: A printer includes an image forming station; a first media transport path arranged to convey printed media from the image forming station to an output port; a second media transport path branching off from the first media transport path and arranged to convey printed media to a reject port; a switch for directing printed media into the second media transport path; an image inspection device for inspecting images printed onto the media; and a decision unit arranged to decide, on the basis of an inspection result obtained from the image inspection device, whether a printed image shall be rejected, and arranged to control the switch. The printer is a roll-to-sheet printer having a roll from which the media are supplied into the first media support path in the form of an endless web.

Abstract: A method of aligning a first image on a first side of a medium and a second image on a second side of a medium, the first side and the second side facing away from each other, includes using an imaging device for printing the first image and a discrimination feature including a discriminatory edge perpendicular to an alignment direction in a coordinate system of the medium on a first side of the medium while controlling the position of the medium with respect to a coordinate system of the imaging device based on a first set of feed parameters and using the imaging device for printing the second image and a plurality of features on the second side of the medium while controlling the position of the medium in the coordinate system of the imaging device based on a second set of feed parameters, the plurality of features including a first feature, a second feature and a third feature.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that has a plurality of functions including a printing function and is capable of executing printing with resolution of 300 dpi or more includes a plurality of operating units including a printing unit and a power supply unit. The power supply unit includes a substrate, an input terminal that receives an alternating voltage, a smoothing capacitor that smooths the alternating voltage, a thermistor that detects a temperature, and a comparator that compares a signal output from the thermistor with a standard signal and outputs a notification signal. The input terminal, the smoothing capacitor, the thermistor, and the comparator are mounted on the substrate. The supply of power from the power supply unit is stopped based on the state of the notification signal. A gap between the input terminal and the thermistor is longer than a gap between the input terminal and the smoothing capacitor.

Abstract: A printing device includes a processor, a print head configured to perform a printing, and a sensor configured to detect a moving direction and a moving distance of the printing device. The processor is configured to perform processing of, while the printing device moves in a first direction, disabling the print head from performing the printing, and acquiring a first moving distance of the printing device in the first direction detected by the sensor, processing of, while the printing device moves in a second direction which is different from the first direction, determining that the print head has reached a printing start position when moving of a second moving distance based on the first moving distance of the printing device is detected by the sensor, and processing of, when it is determined that the print head has reached the printing start position, enabling the print head to start the printing.

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: Provided is a method for carrying out printing on the inner and outer surfaces of a building, the method printing print text on the inner and outer surfaces of a building by using a printing apparatus (1) in which a printing ink to be used for a piezo method or a printing ink made of a UV curable material can be placed in a spray means (2) according to a user's selection, a piezo method or a UV curing method can be selected according to the type of printing ink placed in the spray means (2), and spraying of a printing ink of a piezo method or a UV curing method, curing and spraying of a coating agent are sequentially carried out during driving since the spray means (2), a curing means (11) and a coating agent application means (14) are sequentially arranged.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing polymeric decorative panels includes, in order, the steps of a) inkjet printing an image on a first thermoplastic foil using an aqueous pigmented inkjet ink; b) applying a second thermoplastic foil on the inkjet printed image; c) heat pressing the first and second thermoplastic foils into a decorative laminate; and d) cutting the laminate into a decorative panel; wherein the aqueous pigmented inkjet ink contains polymeric resin particles and a self-dispersing colour pigment; and at least one of the first and second thermoplastic foils is a transparent foil.

Abstract: This invention relates to razor blades, and more particularly to laser produced markings on razor blades and processes thereof.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer recording sheet including a base material and a colorant layer, the colorant layer includes a yellow dye layer containing a yellow dye, a magenta dye layer containing a magenta dye, and a cyan dye layer containing a cyan dye, and the cyan dye includes a compound represented by Formula (Ia) or Formula (Ib): where R1 to R7 are substituents, X? is an anion, and the compound of Formula (Ib) has at least one anionic substituent.

Abstract: A print data creation device creates, from two-dimensional image data, three-dimensional print data to be printed on a thermally distensible sheet. The device includes a processor programmed to receive the two-dimensional image data of prescribed gradations; divide the two-dimensional image data of prescribed gradations into a plurality of density layers that expand to different respective expansion heights when printed on the thermally distensible sheet; create, from the plurality of density layers, an expansion data set having a plurality of layer images to be printed on the thermally distensible sheet; and causes the expansion data set to be output to a printing unit that prints on the thermally distensible sheet.

Abstract: A cloth holder includes a base and a platen to hold a cloth. The platen is movable and includes a flange. A flange cover sandwiches the cloth together with the flange of the platen. The flange cover includes a supported end in a longitudinal direction of the cloth holder that is pivotally supported by the base. The flange cover is opened and closed relative to the base. A cloth stretcher stretches the cloth placed on the platen while the flange cover is moved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digitally imageable, photopolymerizable flexographic printing element for producing flexographic printing formes, comprising, disposed one above another in the order stated, at least (A) a dimensionally stable support, (B) at least one photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer having a layer thickness of 300 to 6000 ?m, comprising at least one elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and a photoinitiator or a photoinitiator system, (C) an oxygen-blocking barrier layer which is transparent to UVA light and has a layer thickness of 0.3 to 5 ?m, (D) a laser-ablatable mask layer having a layer thickness of 0.3 to 5 ?m, comprising at least one elastomeric binder and a material which absorbs UV/VIS light, and (E) a removable outer film, wherein the layers (B), (C) and (D) are soluble or dispersible in an organic solvent, and the barrier layer (C) comprises at least one oxygen-blocking binder and an oligomeric or polymeric basic adhesion component.

Abstract: A template for imprint lithography can include a body. The body can include a base surface and a recession extending from the base surface. The recession can have steps and a feature. The steps can include a distal step that is farther from the base surface as compared to any other step, each step having a corresponding height. The feature can include the distal step includes a rounded or tapered sidewall; a surface along a deepest part of the recession is non-planar; or the height corresponding to the distal step is different from an average height corresponding to remaining steps. The template can be used in an imprint lithography apparatus. The template can be used in manufacturing articles when patterning different layers at the same time. The template is well suited for forming 3D memory arrays.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a transfer printing plate assembly, which includes a transfer printing plate for transfer printing of aligning agent, and a printing cylinder for fixing the transfer printing plate. The transfer printing plate includes a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a first connection element at each of the first side and the second side. The printing cylinder includes a second connection element for engaging with the first connection element to prevent the transfer printing plate from shrinking in an axial direction of the printing cylinder when the transfer printing plate is fixed to the printing cylinder.