Abstract: A zoned UV curing system for drying UV inks and coatings in printing presses. A plurality of linear UV lamps are spaced apart laterally across the travel path of substrates in a press. The axis of each lamp is aligned generally with the travel path, but may be slanted slightly so that every point on the travel path passes directly under at least one lamp. Power supply and control means allow selection of which lamps are powered, so that unneeded lamps may be turned off to save power. The power level of each lamp is variable. One transverse UV lamp may be placed upstream to initiate curing before substrates pass the zoned system. An IR heater may be placed upstream to preheat UV ink and coatings to enhance curing and to smooth coatings.

Abstract: A zoned UV curing system for drying UV inks and coatings in printing presses. A plurality of linear UV lamps are spaced apart laterally across the travel path of substrates in a press. The axis of each lamp is aligned generally with the travel path, but may be slanted slightly so that every point on the travel path passes directly under at least one lamp. Power supply and control means allow selection of which lamps are powered, so that unneeded lamps may be turned off to save power. The power level of each lamp is variable. One transverse UV lamp may be placed upstream to initiate curing before substrates pass the zoned system. An IR heater may be placed upstream to preheat UV ink and coatings to enhance curing and to smooth coatings.

Abstract: A zoned UV curing system for drying UV inks and coatings in printing presses. A plurality of linear UV lamps are spaced apart laterally across the travel path of substrates in a press. The axis of each lamp is aligned generally with the travel path, but may be slanted slightly so that every point on the travel path passes directly under at least one lamp. Power supply and control means allow selection of which lamps are powered, so that unneeded lamps may be turned off to save power. The power level of each lamp is variable. One transverse UV lamp may be placed upstream to initiate curing before substrates pass the zoned system. An IR heater may be placed upstream to preheat UV ink and coatings to enhance curing and to smooth coatings.

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (30), and a printing press (30). The printing substrate (14) is moved along a path (16) through the printing press (30) and printed on by at least one printing ink (114) at a first position (18) of the path (16). At a second position (124) of the path (16), in a conditioning apparatus, a treatment agent (118) is applied to the printing substrate (14) to accelerate the drying of the printing ink (114) on the printing substrate (14) and includes, in particular, an infrared absorber which has an absorption wavelength that is essentially resonant to the wavelength of the light (12) of the radiant energy source (10). The printing substrate (14) may be dried by the action of radiant energy at a chronologically later point in time, at at least one third position (116) of the path (16), by a drying device, in particular by a narrow-band radiant energy source (10).

Abstract: Drying equipment for a printer for aiding drying of a printed image on a web of print media includes a feed path through which the print media containing the printed image is fed after printing of the image on the print media. A drive arrangement drives the web through the feed path at a predetermined rate. A fluid supply duct is in communication with the feed path for supplying drying fluid over at least one surface of the web.

Abstract: A method for conveying sheets, which have been printed in a printing machine, through a sheet delivery system above a sheet deposit pile by a sheet conveying device and, at the same time, dusting the sheets with a powder, and preventing uncontrolled spread of excess powder, includes interrupting a powder-laden air flow extending in a direction towards the printing machine along an empty strand of the sheet conveying device in a housing of the sheet delivery system at least at one interruption location between a free end of the sheet delivery system and the printing machine, so that transport of entrained powder in a direction towards the printing machine is prevented; a prevention device for performing the method; a sheet delivery system including the prevention device; and a sheet-fed printing machine in combination with the sheet delivery system.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a printing press. The cleaning apparatus of the present invention allows for effective removal of contaminants from printing press print plates while the printing press is running. Furthermore, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention effectively applies and removes cleaning fluids such as water from the printing plate without resulting in the formation of water drops and streaks on the printed substrate.

Abstract: A printing press dryer having an excimer radiant heater adapted for high energy output and compact mounting within the printing press. The heater includes a housing (1) within which a plurality of radiant tubes (2,3) are arranged in parallel relation to each other, and the radiant tubes (2,2) each have a respective adjacent reflector section (4,5) for directing a predetermined radiation distribution on passing printed sheet material.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (10) for printing an image on a receiving substrate (20), the printing apparatus including: ink application means (11) for imagewise applying liquid ink to a side of the receiving substrate; a drying section (12) for drying the receiving substrate after the ink application; transportation means (13, 14, 15) for transporting the receiving substrate along a path (30-36) past the ink application means (11) and through the drying section (12); wherein the path (30-36) has a path section (30-36) between a first position (P1,P2) at the ink application means (11) and a second position (P3-P7) downstream the first position (P1,P2), the path section (30-36) having first (30) and second (32) substantially straight portions and a convex curve (31) between the first (30) and second (32) substantially straight portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for adjusting the temperature of a printing press, which can effectively adjust the temperature of plate cylinders and rollers in each inking arrangement in a press for multicolor printing on cylindrical bodies and make it possible to conduct the printing, without the appearance of scumming even in waterless offset printing presses. A first system conduit 25 for adjusting the temperature of rollers with an ink feed function in each inking arrangement and a second system conduit 26 for adjusting the temperature of rollers with an ink distribution function are provided, the temperature can be adjusted separately in the first system conduit and second system conduit, and plate cylinders 2 are cooled by blowing cooling air whose temperature is set to a prescribed temperature from axially extending portion of the plate cylinders in the axial direction of the plate cylinders.

Abstract: Screen printing to an edge of an object without the flow of print ilk over the edge and to a supporting platen is realized by applying a flow of gas from the platen over the edge of the object and opposing the flow of print ink. The platen can have a support surface including a groove or a plurality of holes arranged to match the edge of the wafer. The wafer can include a semiconductor wafer such as a photovoltaic cell, and the gas can include air, nitrogen, or an inert gas.

Abstract: An extendable auto printing and drying machine is constructed to include two end tables, and adjustable number of rectangular machine tables alternatively reversely arranged between the end tables, each rectangular machine table having a printer and dryer unit formed of a printing module and a drying module at two sides, a transmission chain loop provided in the rectangular machine tables and the end tables rotatable by an external motor drive, and a plurality of carriages respectively installed in transmission chain loop, the carriage each having a workpiece carrier adapted to carry a respective workpiece for printing and drying by the printing modules and drying modules of the printer and dryer units of the rectangular machine tables when the transmission chain loop rotated.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for enhancing the effectiveness of a water spray (30) to cool and/or remoisten a web (12) of material. The apparatus includes a web dryer, preferably a flotation dryer (100), an electrostatic charge generating device (31) or devices, a water spray (30), an integrated power supply (20) to supply high voltage power to the charge device, and a drainage system (35) for handling excess liquid generated during the cooling and/or remoistening of the web. The cooling apparatus is capable of a modular arrangement to optimize spacing and facilitate the addition of cooling capacity where needed, such as with faster web speeds or heavier web weights. One or more temperature sensors can be used to optimize the amount of and rate of fluid fed to the spray nozzles. The spray nozzles and charge bars can be retractable with respect to the web to facilitate web-up procedures.

Abstract: A UV curing module for use with a label printer. UV curing lamps/radiation emitters are located to cover the label media path. The UV curing module may be integrated into the label printer or similar devices including a label applicator or a label rewinder.

Abstract: An auto screen-printing method for use in IMR and injection molding is disclosed to include the steps of: (a) printing a layer of transparent hardening agent on a roll of PET material by means of an auto screen printing press and then drying the printing, (b) printing four different color mixtures of ink and hardening agent one after another on the dried transparent hardening agent and drying the four color mixtures respectively after each color printing, (c) screen-printing a layer of backing ink on the color mixtures of ink and hardening agent and then drying the layer of backing ink, and (d) setting the printed roll of PET material thus obtained in an injection-molding machine for injection-molding with a plastic material into the desired finished product.

Abstract: A printing press with an infrared dryer unit is provided with a safety system for detecting overheating and sheet jamming conditions. The safety system has a temperature sensor disposed to directly detect the temperature of a passing printed sheet and to generate an output signal proportional to the detected temperature. As the printed sheets pass by the sensor, the sensor output signal contains a pulse for each passing sheet. A controller monitors temperature readings derived from the output signal of the temperature sensor for identifying a sign of overheating. The controller also determines whether there is an interruption in the flow of sheets by monitoring the pulses in the sensor output signal. In the case the sensor fails to provide pulses for a predetermined time, the controller generates a control signal indicating the detection of an interruption in the sheet flow.

Abstract: A printing press includes first and second impression cylinders and a varnish supply unit. The first impression cylinder has a gripper unit for holding a sheet-like object, and is rotatably supported. The varnish supply unit supplies varnish to the sheet-like object held by the first impression cylinder. The second impression cylinder is in contact with the first cylinder, and has a gripper unit for receiving the sheet-like object held by the first impression cylinder. The sheet-like object held by the gripper unit is transported such that its varnish-coated surface opposes a surface of the second impression cylinder. A fluorine-contained polymer layer is formed on that surface of the second impression cylinder which is in contact with the varnish-coated surface of the sheet-like object.

Abstract: An extendable auto printing and drying machine is constructed to include two end tables, and adjustable number of rectangular machine tables alternatively reversely arranged between the end tables, each rectangular machine table having a printer and dryer unit formed of a printing module and a drying module at two sides, a transmission chain loop provided in the rectangular machine tables and the end tables rotatable by an external motor drive, and a plurality of carriages respectively installed in transmission chain loop, the carriage each having a workpiece carrier adapted to carry a respective workpiece for printing and drying by the printing modules and drying modules of the printer and dryer units of the rectangular machine tables when the transmission chain loop rotated.

Abstract: Device to produce electronic circuits of the type comprising at least a base support (12) on which electrically conductive material is deposited able to embody the conductor tracks, said device comprising at least a printing station (13) able to deposit said electrically conductive material on said base support (12), a drying oven (14) and first feed means (35, 60) to feed each base support (12) from said printing station (13) to said drying oven (14), stacking means (52) being provided to stack the base supports (12) one on top of the other so that said base supports (12) can be introduced in vertical piles into said drying oven (14), spacer means (18, 20) being provided to keep said base supports (12) separate from each other when stacked.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for spot coating on printing substrates in large size printing machines producing printed images by application of an ink layer on the printing substrates. The invention provides a method and apparatus for spot coating of printing substrates also applicable in large size printing presses. The present invention uses a universally applicable offset plate to coat substantially the entire area of a printed image, wherein the coating reacts with ink layers of at least two ink systems thereby changing the printed image so that areas of varying gloss degrees are created. The present invention uses a conventional printing press comprising at least two printing units for printing at least two ink systems, an optional dryer allocated to the printing units, and a coating unit for application of the final coating layer succeeding the printing units.

Abstract: In a printing machine processing printing material along a processing path, an atmospheric changing device for altering atmospheric conditions in surroundings of the printing material includes a connection module, and a slide-in unit having a module end. The slide-in unit is to be joined to the connection module to form a functional unit. The functional unit is to be slid in an insertion direction into a working position in a printing machine and, in the working position, the functional unit extending transversely with respect to a processing path over printing material running through the processing path. For easy handling of the functional unit, the module end, pointing in the insertion direction, couples with the connection module as the slide-in unit is slid into the working position.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) to aid in fixing dye to fabric having housing (15) having a portion (20) to receive and support a printer (25) to apply dye to the fabric (40) as it passes a predetermined location (50). A first set of rollers to provide for movement of the fabric (40) through the housing (15) so as to pass the location (50); a steamer (55) within the housing (15) and through which the fabric (40) passes after the location (50), the steamer (55) being adapted to aid in fixing the dye to the fabric (40); means (75) to deliver steam to the space; and wherein the apparatus (10) further includes: a second set of rollers to provide for the passage of the fabric (40) from the predetermined location (50) to the steamer (55).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing varying degrees of gloss on printed matter in printing machines producing printed images on printed matter by application of an ink layer. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing varying degrees of gloss on printed matter with only one coating tower which comprises only one coating unit and no especially manufactured coating plate. The method according to the present invention comprises applying an ink layer from at least two ink systems on a substrate to be printed to produce a printed image. The printed image is subsequently coated with a coating, whereby each ink system changes degree of gloss in reaction with the coating layer.

Abstract: A printing press with an infrared dryer unit is provided with a safety system for detecting overheating and sheet jamming conditions. The safety system has a temperature sensor disposed to directly detect the temperature of a passing printed sheet and to generate an output signal proportional to the detected temperature. As the printed sheets pass by the sensor, the sensor output signal contains a pulse for each passing sheet. A controller monitors temperature readings derived from the output signal of the temperature sensor for identifying a sign of overheating. The controller also determines whether there is an interruption in the flow of sheets by monitoring the pulses in the sensor output signal. In the case the sensor fails to provide pulses for a predetermined time, the controller generates a control signal indicating the detection of an interruption in the sheet flow.

Abstract: Drying equipment for a printer for aiding drying of a printed image on a web of print media includes a feed path through which the print media containing the printed image is fed after printing of the image on the print media. A drive arrangement drives the web through the feed path at a predetermined rate. A fluid supply duct is in communication with the feed path for supplying drying fluid over at least one surface of the web.

Abstract: The present invention is for a method and associated apparatus whereby low viscosity flexograhic printing inks having a viscosity controlling diluent are used in implementing wet trapping of sequentially applied ink layers by controlling the time between ink layer applications such that sufficient diluent evaporates from an applied layer to increase the first applied layer viscosity sufficiently to wet trap a subsequently applied superposed ink layer.

Abstract: A sheet offset printing method and a sheet offset printing press includes altering flow relationships in an interior of a housing of a sheet delivery of a sheet-fed printing machine to prevent uncontrolled spread of powder in the housing by extracting powder-laden air from the housing and/or feeding air into the housing from outside at a point along a return belt of a sheet conveying device. Air currents are channeled inside the housing by feeding air not laden with powder into the housing and/or leading the air into an air flow path along the return belt downstream of the point with respect to a return belt motion direction to transport the unladen air toward a printing unit by a drag effect of the return belt and/or impeding/blocking a supply of powder-charged air from around a conveyor belt of the sheet-conveyor or a powder-scattering device into a flow path along the return belt.

Abstract: Device to produce electronic circuits of the type comprising at least a base support (12) on which electrically conductive material is deposited able to embody the conductor tracks, said device comprising at least a printing station (13) able to deposit said electrically conductive material on said base support (12), a drying oven (14) and first feed means (35, 60) to feed each base support (12) from said printing station (13) to said drying oven (14), stacking means (52) being provided to stack the base supports (12) one on top of the other so that said base supports (12) can be introduced in vertical piles into said drying oven (14), spacer means (18, 20) being provided to keep said base supports (12) separate from each other when stacked.

Abstract: A powder apparatus for a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a nozzle, valve, state detection unit, arithmetic operation unit, and controller. The nozzle sprays powder onto a printed surface of a sheet delivered after printing. The valve adjusts a quantity of powder sprayed from the nozzle. The state detection unit detects a quantity of powder attaching to the sheet. The arithmetic operation unit and controller control the valve on the basis of data output from the state detection unit and indicating a powder quantity.

Abstract: A multistage printing machine is disclosed with a vacuum conveyor between stages, and in which supplemental air is provided adjacent at least one printing cylinder.

Abstract: A delivery of a machine for processing flat printing materials, having a sheet guide surface over which the sheets are drawn during operation, with forcible guidance of an edge of the sheets extending in a processing direction, respectively, includes nozzles opening into the sheet guide surface and providing flow therethrough during operation, and a blown air curtain, formed during operation, which extends over the sheet guide surface transversely with respect to the processing direction and is aimed at a target region on the sheet guide surface. The nozzles are arranged on the sheet guide surface in accordance with a first mode and a second mode, the nozzles arranged in accordance with a first of the modes outputting during operation a flow which counteracts a volume flow, from the blown air curtain, which is deflected downline with respect to the processing direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for marking items by orienting the items so that ink may be printed on the desired area of the items. The items are fed to a printing station and ink of a first color is printed on the items and then dried. The ink is then cured by providing heat to the ink. Also provided is an apparatus for marking differently-shaped items comprising a printing station having an ink printer and a dryer. The apparatus also has a curing tunnel for curing the ink onto the items.

Abstract: A machine for printing on flat supports of a type equipped with one or more printing heads (12) fed by respective ink reservoirs (13), where the printing heads (12) are supported by a device (14) movable in at least two perpendicular directions. In this printing machine (10), the printing heads (12) are associated with at least one ultraviolet lamp (UV) (20, 21) also movable by the device (14).

Abstract: A device for supplying radiant energy of a wavelength in the near infrared onto a printing substrate (14) in a planographic printing press, including at least one radiant energy source (10) whose light (12) impinges on the printing substrate (14) on the path (16) of the printing substrate (14) through the printing press at a position (116) downstream of at least one printing nip (18) in a printing unit is described which has the feature that the radiant energy source (10) emits light (12) only in a narrow band, the wavelength of the light being non-resonant to absorption wavelengths of water and preferably being between 700.00 nm and 2500,00 run. Also disclosed is a method for supplying radiant energy. By supplying energy in this frequency range while avoiding absorption resonances of water, an unwanted drying or unnecessary heating of the printing substrate are advantageously reduced while providing energy to the printing ink for its particular drying process.

Abstract: The present invention is a puff heat transfer, a puff transfer composition, and a method of applying a puff heat transfer. The puff transfer composition, i.e., ink, is actually loaded with the color. In particular, the transfer composition comprises a puff base material and at least one pigment concentrate. The puff base material is preferably included in an amount of at least about 85% by weight. On the other hand, the pigment concentrate is preferably in a total amount of about 15% by weight or less. The transfer composition is deposited on a transfer sheet to make the heat transfer. The transfer sheet is a substrate that is preferably treated with quillon. By using a substrate sheet that is treated with quillon, the puff of the present invention has an improved, velvet-like feel when the transfer sheet is removed.

Abstract: Drying equipment for a printer for aiding drying of a printed image on a web of print media includes a feed path through which the print media containing the printed image is fed after printing of the image on the print media. A drive arrangement drives the web through the feed path at a predetermined rate. A fluid supply duct is in communication with the feed path for supplying drying fluid over at least one surface of the web.

Abstract: A printing-unit accessory engaged with a printing unit of a printing press, in an operating position of the accessory, and removed from the vicinity of the printing unit, in at least one maintenance position of the accessory, includes a pivoting mechanism securing the accessory to the printing press, the pivoting mechanism being disposed in a region of a side wall of the printing unit in a manner that the accessory is movable into a vertical position adjacent the side wall, and at least one linear guide disposed in front of the side wall so that the accessory is displaceable into a horizontal position thereof distal from the printing unit.

Abstract: A dryer for a material web having a surface to which ink is applied, including a housing subdivided into sections, through which a web travel plane extends wherein the material web is transportable, and a cooling and conditioning unit integrated in the housing, the cooling and conditioning unit having an inlet for admitting therethrough fresh air to the housing, includes at least one chill roll in the cooling and conditioning unit, over which the material web is guidable, the at least one chill roll being disposed and the fresh air being conductable through the cooling and conditioning unit in a manner for promoting post-evaporation of solvent inside the cooling and conditioning unit, and for preventing solvent vapors harmful to operating personnel from escaping to the outside from the housing; and a method of operating the dryer.

Abstract: Improved label printing and applying apparatus (10) is provided which includes an improved digital printing assembly (12) having a rotatable impression drum (18) presenting an outer surface (20), as well as at least one digital print head (22) adjacent the drum outer surface (20). The overall apparatus (10) also includes a downstream label cutting and application assembly (14) having an adhesive applicator (32), laser cutter (40) and a label applying device (96). In use, a web (16) traverses the drum (18) with essentially no relative movement between the web (16) and drum surface (20), and the print head(s) (22) are actuated to form images on the web (16), which may be identical or varied. Thereafter, the printed web passes into and through the assembly (14) where adhesive is applied, the individual images are laser cut, and the labels are thereupon applied to products (54).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a safety device for a manual cure unit for use during screen printing. The present safety device includes a proximity sensor, a timer, and a voltage reduction mechanism. A programmable logic controller is used to control the device. The safety device is constructed and designed so that the power supply to the radiation source of the manual cure unit is automatically reduced when an object is detected in the scorch zone of the cure unit for a pre-selected duration of time.

Abstract: In a printer, liquid ink is applied to a print medium as the medium is passed through the printer. A low pressure zone is generated along one surface of the print medium to hold a portion of the print medium substantially flat for a period of time during and after the liquid ink is applied to the print medium. By subjecting the portion of the print medium to the low pressure zone, cockling of the print medium is prevented.

Abstract: A flexographic printing press is provided which is particularly suited for printing thin, elastic webs. The web is imprinted by a plurality of printing decks which are positioned around a central impression cylinder. A between color dryer is located between each pair of adjacent printing decks and one or more additional dryers are located downstream of the last printing deck for drying the web before it leaves the central impression cylinder. The web does not pass any dryers after it leaves the central impression cylinder.

Abstract: Product is printed in a combined printing process with two ink systems. The printing material is first printed with a solvent-based or radiation-curing ink and then with at least one offset-typical ink. The printing machine for the inline implementation of the novel process is a hybrid press, having a flexo printing unit and a downstream offset printing unit. A UV, electron-beam or air-stream dryer is integrated into the flexo printing unit, or a UV, electron-beam or air-stream drying unit is arranged between the flexo printing unit and the offset printing unit.

Abstract: A drying unit with a control unit for use with small sheet-feed printing presses. The drying unit has a shell, with infrared heat elements positioned in the open bottom of the unit, at least one fan in the top of the unit, and a reflector between the heat elements and fan that reflects heat down onto the paper being dried and allows air being moved by the fans to circulate through openings in the reflector and onto the heat elements and paper. The heat elements are screwed into a socket on one end, and the sockets are secured to the reflector. The control unit allows the press operator to turn on and off and control the speed of the fans, and to turn on and off and control the heat of the heat elements in the drying unit. In another arrangement of the invention, one or more externally mounted adjustable speed fans connected to the drying unit by a blower hose are used instead of fans mounted integrally to the drying unit.

Abstract: An infra-red dryer utilizes high velocity air jets which scrub and break up the moist air layer which clings to the surface of a freshly printed and/or coated sheet. The high velocity air jets are directed through multiple air flow apertures across an array of infra-red lamps onto the freshly printed and/or coated sheets. An extractor exhausts the moisture-laden air from an exposure zone while short wave infra-red radiation heats the ink and/or protective coating. The effective exposure to pressurized air is increased by the air jets which produce a balanced pressure air blanket along the sheet travel path. The moist air layer is displaced from the printed and/or coated sheet and is extracted from the press as the sheet moves through the exposure zone.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention increases the operating envelope for large format thermal ink jet printing via a directed fluid flow from specially-designed orifices which promote fluid flow on a printed surface adjacent a printing zone in a large format ink jet printer where in addition to the optimized fluid flow one or more heating elements are inserted directly into the fluid flow to thereby promote drying of said printed surface. In one embodiment, a single dual-duct plennum spans the width of a roll-fed large format ink jet print engine and a first duct distributes heated air downward (in the direction of media web movement) and a second duct evacuates a printing space so that any potentially harmful ink vapors or other air-borne contaminant is appropriately fluidly coupled to either a remote exhaust vent or vapor capture vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying printing composition on a print medium are disclosed. A method embodiment for use in a printing device includes depositing printing composition onto a print medium and enclosing the print medium in a sealed environment. The method additionally includes reducing a pressure in the sealed environment below an ambient pressure and heating the print medium in the sealed environment to dry the printing composition on the print medium. An apparatus embodiment for use in a printing device having a print engine for depositing printing composition onto a print medium includes an enclosure configured to provide a sealed environment around the print medium. The apparatus additionally includes a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the enclosure and configured to reduce a pressure in the sealed environment below an ambient pressure and a heater configured to apply heat energy to the print medium in the sealed environment to dry the printing composition on the print medium.

Abstract: A machine for printing a plurality of colored patterns on the surface of a contact lens has a plurality of parallel oriented print stations each of which has an image die and an ink cup for applying ink into the image in the die. A slide is moveable between the plurality of the print stations such that a contact lens on the slide can receive printing at each of the stations. The slide also carries a vertically moveable print pad for applying printing to a lens and an indexing cleaning tape for cleaning the print pad. Each of the print stations has a separate control for independently setting a dwell time for the print pad before applying ink to the contact lens.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention increases the operating envelope for large format thermal ink jet printing via a directed fluid flow from specially-designed orifices which promote fluid flow on a printed surface adjacent a printing zone in a large format ink jet printer where in addition to the optimized fluid flow one or more heating elements are inserted directly into the fluid flow to thereby promote drying of said printed surface. In one embodiment, a single dual-duct plennum spans the width of a roll-fed large format ink jet print engine and a first duct distributes heated air downward (in the direction of media web movement) and a second duct evacuates a printing space so that any potentially harmful ink vapors or other air-borne contaminant is appropriately fluidly coupled to either a remote exhaust vent or vapor capture vessel.

Abstract: Device to produce electronic circuits of the type comprising at least a base support (12) on which electrically conductive material is deposited able to embody the conductor tracks, said device comprising at least a printing station (13) able to deposit said electrically conductive material on said base support (12), a drying oven (14) and first feed means (35, 60) to feed each base support (12) from said printing station (13) to said drying oven (14), stacking means (52) being provided to stack the base supports (12) one on top of the other so that said base supports (12) can be introduced in vertical piles into said drying oven (14), spacer means (18, 20) being provided to keep said base supports (12) separate from each other when stacked.