Abstract: A compressed air purification apparatus includes a cover, an outer drum configured such that compressed air supplied through the inlet swirls downwards between the cover and the outer drum, a discharge pipe inserted into the insertion port to couple the outer drum to the cover, an inner drum configured such that the downwardly swirling compressed air flows upwards between the outer drum and the inner drum and again swirls downwards between the discharge pipe and the inner drum, a collector drum formed in an integrated manner with the inner drum, and a drain cover configured such that impurities separated from the compressed air are collected therein. The compressed air can separate water, oil and minute foreign substances from compressed air by rotating compressed air two times in a double cyclone.

Abstract: A sublimation furnace has a first endless conveyor belt extending along a first axis through the furnace, with a chamber extending above and along that first conveyor belt. Vacuum trays placed on the first belt have products abutting sublimation images to be transferred to the product as the trays pass through the furnace. The furnace has a first sidewall with a slot extending along the sidewall and along the first conveyor belt. A second endless conveyor belt extends along but offset from the first axis. A plurality of vacuum pumps are connected to the second conveyor belt and move with that belt, with each pump connected by a hose passing through the slot during use of the furnace to a different vacuum tray on the first conveyor in order to evacuate the vacuum trays and press the images against the product for sublimation transfer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a tray which supports a material for textile printing, and can move in a movement direction; a printing unit which performs printing on the material for textile printing supported by the tray; and a contact unit which is provided at a position of being in contact with the material for textile printing supported by the tray, before performing printing by the printing unit. By adopting the printing apparatus with such a configuration, it is possible to improve a printing condition when performing printing on the material for textile printing.

Abstract: A booklet processing mechanism is described that includes a spine guidance system that is configured to hold the area adjacent to the spine of an opened, multiple sheet booklet against a backing plate during processing on a page of the booklet, for example by a laser or during vision verification. The spine guidance system is configured so that it resides closely adjacent to the spine of the booklet, below the field of lasing by the laser or other processing operation, so that it does not interfere with the processing operation.

Abstract: In an example, an edge holder may include a strap, a first end cap fixed to the strap, and a second end cap fixed to an opposite end of the strap from the first end cap. The second end cap may include a fixed end and a cam engaged with the fixed end. The cam may adjustably tension the strap between the first end cap and the second end cap.

Abstract: A medium supporting unit includes a supporting portion that includes a first surface supporting a medium, a second surface recessed more than the first surface, and a first side surface connecting the first surface to the second surface, and a pressing portion that includes a pressing surface pressing the medium supported by the first surface at a position facing the second surface, and a facing side surface which faces the first side surface, in which in the supporting portion and the pressing portion, at the time of a holding state in which the medium is supported by the first surface and is pressed by the pressing surface, a part of the medium positioned between the first side surface and the facing side surface is capable of being held in a state of being separated from the second surface.

Abstract: A platen device can easily change where suction is applied widthwise to a recording medium. A printer has the platen device. A platen device 50 opposite a printhead 41 applies suction to conveyed roll paper P, and has a platen 34 divided perpendicularly to the conveyance direction of the roll paper P into a plurality of individual suction zones 75 with round suction holes 83 in the surface on the side that contacts the roll paper P; and a plurality of shutters 85 disposed to the platen 34 and respectively opening or closing the round suction holes 83 in the plural individual suction zones 75 according to the width of the conveyed recording medium.

Abstract: In one example, a device for use in a printer includes a flexible piece and a holder configured to removably attach the piece to a platen that has a surface over which a print substrate is moved through the print zone for printing on the substrate. The piece and the holder are configured to place the piece in tension along the platen surface such that, when the piece is attached to the platen, the piece becomes sufficiently rigid to counter substrate edge curl.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for transporting a substrate media sheet along a process path through a marking zone. The apparatus includes a marking zone, an air bearing support rail and a media cart. The marking zone marks the substrate media sheet. The air bearing support rail extends from a first location upstream of the marking zone to a second location downstream of the marking zone. The media cart conveys the sheet along the process path. The media cart includes a platen for holding the sheet thereon as the media cart translates through the marking zone. The media cart is supported along the process path between the first and second locations by the air bearing support rail. The air bearing support rail includes a gaseous layer providing a non-contact bearing support between an outer surface of the air bearing support rail and a non-contact support surface of the media cart.

Abstract: A template is provided to stretch socks out slightly so the surface of the socks are smooth and flat for printing. In order to make the process cost effective, the templates are designed to print either 2 or 3 pairs of socks at one time, the template comprises: a planar registration portion configured to assist a user to align the printing template with a printer tray; and first and second receiving portions orthogonally extending from the registration portion, each receiving portion configured to receive a garment opening and having a width configured to flatten a portion of the received sock for printing, wherein the first and second receiving portions extend in opposite direction of the planar registration portion.

Abstract: A transport table, comprising a transport web; an unwinding roller for unwinding the transport web therefrom; a first return element; a second return element; a winding roller for winding thereon the unwound transport web; a first frame with which the first and the second return element are connected; and a second frame with which the unwinding roller and the winding roller are rotatably connected, wherein the unwinding roller, the winding roller and the return elements together are designed for stretching the transport web such that between the first and the second return element a surface of the transport web is available as transport surface, and wherein the second frame is movable along a path substantially parallel to said transport surface with respect to the first frame. The invention also discloses a method for the use of the transport table.

Abstract: Pallets for flat-printing multiple areas of a 3-dimensional object, especially in a single print job as received by the printing system, and methods for printing the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

Abstract: A pad printing machine including at least one pad holder and an object carrier which is positionally displaceably relative to the pad holder and is designed to receive one or more objects, where said pad printing machine further comprises a setup print image receiving element at a fixed distance from the object carrier, further an image recorder to generate an image of at least one zone of the setup print image receiving element, a position deviation detector ascertaining the deviation of the actual position of a print image situated on the print image receiving element from a reference position defined by reference data, and a position shift ascertaining element to ascertain the shift of the object carrier relative to a reference position, as well as a method for printing objects using a pad printing machine.

Abstract: A medium holding device that includes a frame unit for holding a medium on a tray after the medium is set on the tray, and that includes a base frame capable of being fitted onto the outer side of the tray on which the medium has been set and a moving member which is provided in the base frame and is movable in an inside-outside direction of the base frame.

Abstract: A surface has a vacuum and a vacuum relief.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

Abstract: A printer accessory comprises a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an ink absorber having a thickness in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. The ink absorber rests on the top surface and includes an absorbent material to retain excess ink from a printing operation. Furthermore, the accessory includes print media supports connected to the base and extending beyond the thickness of the ink absorber, wherein when print media is present, the print media spans the print media supports without contacting the ink absorber. An attachment clip is connected to the base having a resiliently flexible portion to releasably secure the printer accessory to a printer.

Abstract: A surface has a vacuum and a vacuum relief.

Abstract: A digital printer is provided with an automated printing sheet transport system, operating in an intermittent manner of feeding a printing sheet to the digital printer, halting the transport to allow printing onto the printing sheet while the printing sheet is maintained in a fixed position, and removing the printed sheet from the digital printer after printing. The digital printer may be combined with a screen print station, both operating on top of a single printing sheet transport system, to form an integrated multifunctional and hybrid printing press.

Abstract: A hat pallet for use in a printer which prints an image onto a hat of the type having a cap and a bill attached thereto includes a bottom plate and a top plate mountable in a closed position over the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a printing plate and a bill support fixedly mounted thereon. The top plate has an opening exposing at least a portion of the printing plate when the top plate is in the closed position. The bill support is positioned relative to the printing plate such that when the hat is mounted in the pallet with the top plate in the closed position, a portion of the cap on which the image is to be printed is supported on the printing plate and exposed through the opening of the top plate and the underside of the bill of the hat is supported by the bill support.

Abstract: Platens for digital garment printing are provided. The platens include cutouts or depressions configured to conform to areas of increased height on garments. The garments may then be placed onto the platens such that the garments have a substantially uniform horizontal printing surface, thus providing high quality printing on the garments.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed in which printing material is printed upon a tray surface and transferred to a sheet supported by the tray surface. A cleaning device removes residual printing material from the tray surface.

Abstract: A recording device includes a workpiece stage that holds by suction a recording region of an elongated workpiece fed in a first feed direction, a recording unit that carries out recording in the recording region, a workpiece-holding unit arranged on a downstream side of the workpiece stage in the feed direction, and immovably holds or releases a part of the workpiece, an advancing/retracting unit that causes the workpiece stage and the workpiece-holding unit to travel relatively apart in an extension direction of the workpiece, and a control unit that controls the individual configurations. The control unit performs a recording operation, a holding operation for immovably holding part of the workpiece, and an advancing/retracting operation for retracting from the workpiece stage the recording region where recording has been completed and advancing onto the workpiece stage the recording region where recording has yet to occur.

Abstract: Pallets for flat-printing multiple areas of a 3-dimensional object, especially in a single print job as received by the printing system, and methods for printing the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing-table arrangement in which a printing table is formed in such a way that a substrate that is to be printed on can be supplied by means of a supply device, the substrate can be adjusted in position relatively with respect to a printing copy, the printing copy and the substrate can be moved relatively towards each other in the mutually adjusted position, a printing medium can be brought onto the substrate with the aid of the printing roller, the printing copy and the substrate that has been printed on can be moved relatively away from each other again, if necessary the substrate that has been printed on can be tested, and the substrate that has been printed on can be discharged again, in which in particular in a common frame (2) at least two printing tables (3, 4) are arranged side by side in such a way that corresponding substrates (11, 12) can be supplied, printed on and discharged again in parallel.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body that performs image forming processing to a recording sheet; a sheet receiving member provided on a top surface of the apparatus main body and provided with a sheet receiving surface; a sheet discharge port through which a recording sheet bearing thereon a formed image is discharged toward the sheet receiving surface; and a swinging mechanism that allows the sheet receiving member to swing. The swinging mechanism allows the sheet receiving member to swing for the sheet receiving surface to change a posture between a first state where the sheet receiving surface sinks on the sheet discharge port side and a second state where the sheet receiving surface on the sheet discharge port side is closer to horizontal than in the first state.

Abstract: A hat pallet for use in a printer which prints an image onto a hat of the type having a cap and a bill attached thereto includes a bottom plate and a top plate mountable in a closed position over the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a printing plate and a bill support fixedly mounted thereon. The top plate has an opening exposing at least a portion of the printing plate when the top plate is in the closed position. The bill support is positioned relative to the printing plate such that when the hat is mounted in the pallet with the top plate in the closed position, a portion of the cap on which the image is to be printed is supported on the printing plate and exposed through the opening of the top plate and the underside of the bill of the hat is supported by the bill support.

Abstract: A printing stage includes a stage surface having a plurality of suction holes, and fixes an object to be printed on the stage surface by vacuum contact. A printing mask is employed for forming a predetermined electrode pattern on the object to be printed fixed to the printing stage. A squeegee applies a predetermined amount of pressure to a metal paste spread on the printing mask, to print the electrode pattern on the object to be printed. A porous body is provided between the object to be printed and the printing stage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for labeling a container comprising (a) first winder capable of unwinding a heat transfer label from a heat transfer label roll, (b) first vacuum box capable of containing at least a portion of the heat transfer label unwound from the first winder, (c) vacuuming means, (d) heater plate, and (e) heat label applicator. The use of one or more vacuum boxes enables containers to be labeled at a greater speed.

Abstract: A device is provided for holding down textile material (on which images or text are to be printed) on the platen of a digital printing machine. The device includes facing flexible rubber pads or seals mounted on the periphery of the platen. The seals have opposed gripping surfaces which touch or have a selected limited spacing there between. The textile material is pushed and tucked in between the seals. The seals grip and hold the material in position, to provide a smooth material surface on which the ink is applied. After the printing operation, the textile material is pulled out from the seal grip.

Abstract: A pallet assembly for use in simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture. The assembly includes a pallet having a support surface, a carrier mountable onto the pallet and conforming with the pallet surface features (e.g., individual article of manufacture platforms) such that individual articles of manufacture may be place on the support surface(s) of the pallet yet the carrier substantially covers the remaining areas of the top surface of the pallet to protect the pallet from unintentional application of ink by the printer. The carrier also includes supports which allow a carrier loaded with articles of manufacture to be lifted off of the pallet and carried away for further processing. The assembly may also include a positioner which is mountable over the carrier on the pallet. The positioner operates as a jig for aligning each of the articles of manufacture in proper position on the support surface of the pallet.

Abstract: A medium support member has a first surface for supporting a print medium and a second surface opposite to said first surface. The medium support member includes a plurality of recesses formed in the first surface and a plurality of protrusions formed in the second surface such that each recess has an associated protrusion opposite thereto. Each recess has an air passage connecting the recess with an interprotrusional space formed between the protrusions. A printing system includes a device for image-wise application of marking material to a print medium, base member and the medium support member. A method of forming the medium support member includes supporting a sheet of base material, pressing a first punch to form the recess and the protrusion in the sheet of base material, and pressing a second punch such that a perforation is applied into the sheet of base material.

Abstract: A platen for use in printing on an object, wherein the platen has an adjustable area of a working surface on which to place the object. The platen surface includes a plurality of elements, wherein each element includes a flat surface that can be positioned at a working level at which the object is to be placed, and wherein an operator can insert or remove each element and thereby the corresponding flat surface of that element from the working level as required in order to provide a desired area of the working surface. In one embodiment, the platen includes a base plate and a plurality of elements which can be positioned on the base plate or removed to form a desired configuration of the working surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting the movement of plates within a plate stack (11) where the plate stack (11) is positioned on a plate pallet (13) during plate handling in a computer-to-plate (CTP) imaging device. The apparatus includes a plate pallet adapter (17) configured to carry the plate stack (11) which is positioned on the plate pallet (13), and the plate pallet (13) is positioned on the plate pallet adapter (17). At least one limiter (19, 51) is attached to at least one facet of the plate stack wherein the limiters are configured to limit movement of the plate stack (11).

Abstract: An imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates includes a plate imaging bed for exposing radiation to a printing plate. The bed includes an input section for receiving a printing plate and an output section for transferring the printing plate to a chemical processing unit. The system further comprises a loading device for loading the printing plate from a multiple plate stack to the input section of the plate imaging bed. The input section is adjustable with respect to the output section to adjust the position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack. The latter is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by providing the plate imaging bed with a pivot axle near the output section.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a pattern of minute surface structures, using a pair of press members which are located opposingly for movements toward and away from each other. One press member is adapted to support thereon a mold having on a transfer surface a master pattern of minute structures to be transferred, while the other press member is adapted to support thereon an annular substrate plate having a curable resin layer coated thereon and to press the resin layer against the transfer surface of the mold to transfer said minute structures to the resin layer. The mod is provided with a circular center hole defining at least three small-diameter segments and three large-diameter segments alternately and at uniform angular intervals along an inner periphery of the mold. The annular substrate plate has an inside diameter exactly matching with the small-diameter segments at the inner periphery of the mold.

Abstract: A fixing mechanism (2) includes a base (50), an air pump (70) and an air pipe assembly (60). The base defining a connecting hole (522) and a locating groove (542) therein. The air pipe assembly (60) includes a first pipe (62) communicating with the connecting hole, a second pipe (64) connected to the pump and communicating with the first pipe, and a third pipe (66) communicating with the first pipe and the second pipe.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for performing printing on printing base materials comprises a holding device for holding a plurality of printing base materials at the same time and an image forming part for forming an image on a plurality of printing base materials held by said holding device. The holding device comprises a base on which a plurality of printing base materials are placed at the same time and an arrangement reference part for positioning a plurality of printing base materials placed on the base in a direction orthogonal to a transfer direction of the printing base materials. The arrangement reference part has a plurality of reference members which come into contact with different ones out of the printing base materials.

Abstract: A device for correcting the lateral position of a printing substrate, preferably a sheet of paper, held by a gripper bar and conveyed in a transporting direction has a linear drive that includes a first primary part and a first secondary part configured as a first carriage and associated with the first primary part, and a second secondary part configured as a second carriage. The first carriage and the second carriage are arranged on the same side of the printing substrate in the lateral direction and—to correct the position of the printing substrate in the lateral direction—are movable relative to each other in the direction of transport. Such a device may be used for transporting printing substrates and for correcting the register position of printing substrates in machines for processing printing substrates, preferably printing presses or machines for the further processing of printed products.

Abstract: A carrier for supporting a media in a printing device for printing thereon includes a support portion configured to support the media, a tapered portion contiguous with the support portion, and at least one tab protruding from a surface of the tapered portion and extending beyond a leading edge of the tapered portion.

Abstract: A multi-station screen printing apparatus includes a base member; a plurality of platens, each for supporting a substrate to be printed, the platens mounted radially in a rotatable manner about the base member; and a plurality of print heads mounted radially and non-rotatably about the base member above the platens. A first print head is mounted in a vertically pivotable manner and a second print head is mounted in a non-pivotable manner.

Abstract: An inkjet type fabric printing apparatus is provided with an inkjet head, a platen and a positioning member. The inkjet head reciprocally moves in main scanning direction and auxiliary scanning direction relative to a fabric (e.g., clothes). The platen holds the fabric to extend on a plane parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction with a first predetermined distance spaced from the inkjet head. On the positioning member, the fabric is set. The fabric is positioned on the platen in place in a direction parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction. The positioning member supports at least one of a neck portion and a shoulder portion of the fabric such that the neck portion and/or a shoulder portion is spaced from the inkjet head by a second predetermined distance.

Abstract: A device is provided for holding down textile material (on which images or text are to be printed) on the platen of a digital printing machine. The device includes facing flexible rubber pads or seals mounted on the periphery of the platen. The seals have opposed gripping surfaces which touch or have a selected limited spacing there between. The textile material is pushed and tucked in between the seals. The seals grip and hold the material in position, to provide a smooth material surface on which the ink is applied. After the printing operation, the textile material is pulled out from the seal grip.

Abstract: An inkjet type fabric printing apparatus is provided with an inkjet head, a platen and a positioning member. The inkjet head reciprocally moves in main scanning direction and auxiliary scanning direction relative to a fabric (e.g., clothes). The platen holds the fabric to extend on a plane parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction with a first predetermined distance spaced from the inkjet head. On the positioning member, the fabric is set. The fabric is positioned on the platen in place in a direction parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction. The positioning member supports at least one of a neck portion and a shoulder portion of the fabric such that the neck portion and/or a shoulder portion is spaced from the inkjet head by a second predetermined distance.

Abstract: Provided is a fixture assembly for printing image graphics on a slat set of a window blind. The slat set is comprised of a plurality of substantially identically configured slats. Each one of the slats has a slat length and a slat width. The fixture assembly comprises a horizontally extending panel having an upper panel surface with opposed panel ends and opposed panel sides respectively defining a panel length and a panel width. The fixture assembly further comprises a plurality of substantially identically configured elongate inserts mounted on the upper panel surface in parallel spaced relation to one another. Each one of the inserts is configured to receive and support one of the slats in a generally horizontal orientation. The inserts are spaced complementary to the slat width such that the slats are supported on the inserts in abutting contact with one another.

Abstract: An arrangement for printing flat workpieces is provided and includes an application roller which rolls on the workpiece surface 6 to be printed and thereby applies a printed image to the workpiece surface 8, the application roller forming a printing cylinder 5 or a transfer roller 1 cooperating with a printing cylinder 5, a counter-roller 2 which forms in cooperation with the application roller a printing gap 3, through which the workpiece 4 passes during the printing process, and a transport device 7 for feeding the workpiece 4 into and out of the printing gap 3 formed by the application roller and the counter-roller 2.

Abstract: An inkjet type fabric printing apparatus is provided with an inkjet head, a platen and a positioning member. The inkjet head reciprocally moves in main scanning direction and auxiliary scanning direction relative to a fabric (e.g., clothes). The platen holds the fabric to extend on a plane parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction with a first predetermined distance spaced from the inkjet head. On the positioning member, the fabric is set. The fabric is positioned on the platen in place in a direction parallel with the main scanning direction and the auxiliary scanning direction. The positioning member supports at least one of a neck portion and a shoulder portion of the fabric such that the neck portion and/or a shoulder portion is spaced from the inkjet head by a second predetermined distance.

Abstract: A system and method for processing large area substrates. In one embodiment, a system for processing large area substrates includes prep station, a stamping station and a stamp that is automatically moved between the stamping station and the prep station. The stamping station is adapted to retain a large area substrate thereon. The stamp has a patterned bottom surface that is adapted for microcontact printing. The prep station is for applying a precursor to the patterned bottom surface of the stamp. In one embodiment, a method for processing large area substrates includes the steps of disposing a large area substrate on a platen, inking a stamp adapted for microcontact printing, and automatically contacting a bottom of the stamp to the large area substrate supported on a platen.

Abstract: A pallet (10) for use with a screen printing apparatus having arms (12) extending outwardly from the printing machine supports an article against a printing force supplied by the screen printing machine. A base portion (14) of the pallet (10) is attachable to the arm (12) of the printing machine and includes a support structure extending therefrom to stabilize and reduce deflection against the printing force.