Abstract: An apparatus and a method for micro-contact printing on a substrate. A roll having very low drag is supported for rotation by air bearings and has a micro-contact printing stamp mounted to its outer surface. Contact between the substrate and the micro-contact printing stamp drives the roll and repeatedly imprints the pattern onto the web. In convenient embodiments, the roll is a sleeve positioned over a core with the sleeve supported for rotation by a layer of air between the sleeve and the core.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a printing press including a plurality of print units and, optionally, a folder. Each print unit has one or more cylinders, a motor for driving the cylinders; an encoder for providing a cylinder position signal, a controller coupled to the encoder, the motor, a bus which interconnects each of the controllers and an input port for designating the controller as either master or slave. Any one of the controllers is selectively set as a master controller and the remaining controllers are set as slave controllers. The master controller generates a control signal based on a signal from the input port and outputs the control signal to the motor via the output port and to the slave controllers via the bus. Each of the slave controllers outputs a signal on the respective output port based on the received control signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high-throughput apparatus for patterning a flexible substrate and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A printing sheet that is adapted for printing in an inkjet printer or the like. The sheet has a plurality of pits in the top surface. The pits accept the ink and hold the ink in place. The bottom surface of the sheet has a permanent electrostatic charge. The sheet may be constructed by etching an electreet compatible plastic sheet and then polling the sheet. Alternatively, the sheet may be constructed by bonding a porous sheet to an electreet sheet.

Abstract: A web capturing device is provided with two cooperating web capture rollers which define a capture gap through which a web passes. The capture gap spacing is made as small as possible by the utilization of a web stabilizing assembly that eliminates fluttering and vibration in the web. This web stabilizer is formed by two generally parallel stabilizer plates that define a clearance space through which the web passes.

Abstract: The format of sheet material being printed is controlled and may be varied during successive printing cycles of a continuously operating printing machine by means of an assembly, preferably including a step-by-step motor for driving the sheet, which assembly is controlled by pulses and moves the sheet during a period within which no printing takes place.