Abstract: A printing press is comprised of at least one dry offset printing unit. At least two different webs can be fed through the dry offset printing unit. In a first production mode “C” of the printing press, a first web is fed through the dry offset printing unit without a subsequent drying process. In a second production mode “H” of the printing press, a second web is fed through the dry offset printing unit and through an active dryer. In both the first and second production modes “C”, “H”, an inking unit of the printing unit is filled with the same ink.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a printed layer. In one embodiment, a process for forming the electronic device includes placing a workpiece over a chuck within a printing apparatus. A temperature difference is established between the workpiece and a liquid composition. The process further includes continuously printing the liquid composition over the workpiece. A viscosity of the liquid composition is allowed to increase at a rate significantly higher than an ambient viscosity increase rate. In another embodiment, the workpiece is allowed to cool to a temperature significantly below an ambient temperature before printing occurs. In still another embodiment, a printing apparatus is used for continuously printing the liquid composition over the workpiece. The printing apparatus includes the chuck, a printing head, a container, a feed line, and a first temperature-adjusting element thermally coupled to the chuck, the printing head, the container the feed line, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination silk screen and heat press apparatus, which is configured such that silk screening and heat pressing operations may be performed on an article, such as a garment, using the same apparatus without the need to remove or reposition the article.

Abstract: A system and method for at least partially demetallizing a metallized film that has a metallized side and an opposite support side.

Abstract: In a line art transfer free hand colouring printing technique, a design outline is first generated on a transfer substrate using a glutinous ink and is then applied to a surface, for example the front of a T-shirt. A user then applies colouring and/or texturing in and/or around the design in accordance with personal choice to create an image and thereafter a finishing is applied. The finishing comprises a sheet releasably carrying decorative transfer elements which upon application to the image highlights the outline only, the remainder of the image remaining unaffected by the finishing.

Abstract: An imprinting method is provided that, according to an embodiment, involves contacting an imprintable medium on a substrate with a template to define an imprint area in the medium, removing at least some of any imprintable medium present outside the imprint area, and separating the template from the medium.

Abstract: Printed placemats, potholders, and oven mitts, and process for producing same using a high definition color sublimation printing technique. The sublimation printing technique applies a high quality image onto a print receiving layer that is incorporated into a printed placemat, potholder, or oven mitt. The print receiving layer can be adhesively bonded to the printed placemat, potholder, or oven mitt.

Abstract: A web-fed rotary press (10) for printing on a web substrate (12) using heat-set inks in an offset printing process, having at least one print unit (14) and one dryer (16), and at least one additional device (18) for inputting heat into the web substrate (12) which is positioned upstream from the print unit (14), in particular. Fluting in the web-fed rotary press (10) may be minimized by supplying heat to the web substrate (12) at least at one location along the path (36) through the web-fed rotary press (10), in particular before the printing operation.

Abstract: A printing press and a method of drying printed or varnished sheets in a printing press include heating printed and/or varnished sheets, before the sheets enter a dryer, to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, through the use of a heatable impression cylinder in the last printing and/or varnishing unit upstream of the thermal dryer device.

Abstract: A transparent ink and a method for printing the same are provided. The transparent ink is made by mixing a hardening agent and a thinner with a two-liquid type ink. The transparent ink is printed on a surface of an object on which a color paint is printed. The transparent ink may be printed using a pad printer or a silk screen printer. The transparent ink changes the refractive angle of light which is incident upon the transparent ink so that the color paint printed on the object represents different textures.

Abstract: The technique of the present invention reads job management data including an ID allocated to a printing apparatus receiving each print job and an ID allocated to a printing apparatus executing the print job from each of printing apparatuses 50a and 50b at regular intervals. The technique calculates profit distributions, cost distributions, and charge distributions at preset division rates to the printing apparatus receiving each print job and the printing apparatus executing the print job, based on the job management data. The technique then notifies each printing apparatus or each administrator of printing apparatuses of the calculated profit distributions, cost distributions, and charging distributions.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure; a method of processing a substrate media having an image injected thereon is provided and includes the step of passing the substrate media through a nip defined between a heated fuser drum and a pressure roll. A fixer subsystem, for use in a system for printing on a substrate media, where the subsystem includes a rotatable, heatable fuser drum defining an axis of rotation; and a rotatable pressure roll operatively associated with the fuser drum and defining an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the fuser drum. The pressure roll is rotatable about the axis of rotation of the fuser drum to vary a length of contact of substrate media and image with fuser drum.

Abstract: A color filter (100) includes a substrate, a black matrix formed on the substrate, and a plurality of color stripes. The black matrix defines a plurality of spaces therein, and the black matrix includes carbon black in a proportion by weight from 5% to 55%, polymer in a proportion by weight from 15% to 95%, and additives in a proportion by weight of less than or equal to 40%. The plurality of color stripes are formed by a ink-jet process in the spaces. A method for manufacturing a color filter is also provided.

Abstract: A planarizing element is described for use in a thermal imaging process. The planarizing element includes a support; a planarizing layer comprising a crosslinkable binder having a weight average molecular weight of about 20,000 to about 110,000.

Abstract: A method for silk screen printing a design on a visor of a cap using high-density ink is disclosed. The method of the present invention includes the steps of: (1) loading a fabric from which a visor of a cap will be fabricated onto a template formed in the shape of the visor of the cap; (2) printing the design on the visor of the cap using a flat panel silk screen printing apparatus and at least one high-density ink which can withstand the wear and tear experienced by the visor of the cap during normal usage; (3) curing the high-density ink by heating the ink to a predetermined temperature; (4) cutting the fabric to form the visor of the cap; and (5) assembling the cap by stitching together the fabric of the visor, inserting a visor board, and attaching the assemble visor to a headpiece.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a medium in sheet form that can be used for the sublimation transfer of an ink onto an imprintable medium; the medium in sheet form comprises at least one supporting layer, at least one adhesive coating and a plurality of granular or elongated elements designed to be applied to the adhesive coating; the method comprising the steps of preparing the granular or elongated elements so as to render them sensitive to the action of an electromagnetic field and applying the granular or elongated elements to the adhesive coating with the interposition of the electromagnetic field having lines of force f that are substantially perpendicular to the supporting layer, so as to arrange a monolayer of granular or elongated elements according to a predefined distribution.

Abstract: A ceramic decal assembly containing a ceramic substrate, a layer of adhesive contiguous with the substrate, and a ceramic decal contiguous with the layer of adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of treating a recording element are provided. The apparatus includes a carrier removal station adapted to remove a predetermined percentage of carrier present in the recording element. A converting station is positioned downstream from the carrier removal station and is adapted to increase a durability characteristic of the recording element. A controller is electrically connected to at least one of the carrier removal station and the converting station so that an operating parameter of at least one of the carrier removal station and the converting station is individually adjustable.

Abstract: A method for registering patterns on a web to provide independent scale control in both the lateral and longitudinal directions is provided. The method includes routing the web over a first roller; routing the web over a second roller and stabilizing the web; applying a pattern to the web using process hardware; measuring registration of the pattern and providing an error signal; controlling lateral position error using the error signal; controlling longitudinal position error using the error signal; controlling lateral scale error using the error signal; and controlling longitudinal scale error using the error signal. The method provides independent scale control in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. Independent scale control avoids non-linear distortions otherwise imposed by attempting to accomplish both corrections by stretching the web in both directions.

Abstract: A rotary press is provided that prevents a print from contamination with a color different from a printing color. The rotary press comprising a printing unit made of a set of printing cylinders such as plate and blanket cylinders or plate and impression cylinders for printing paper; and a dryer disposed downstream of the printing unit for drying the paper printed, has a guide roller included therein for guiding the printed paper from the printing unit into the dryer wherein the guide roller has a diameter which is equal to, or a an integral multiple of, a diameter of a printing cylinder in the printing unit and is adapted to rotate synchronously with the printing cylinder and at a peripheral speed that is identical to that at which the printing cylinder is rotated.

Abstract: The invention is of an improved method and process for printing plastic tag blanks for producing plastic identifier tags (such as cattle ear tags). By printing images on tag blanks using conventional ink jet printer technology and thereafter “welding” the image to be plastic of the printed tag blank, a durable image is provided all the tag without the need for undertaking conventional hot stamp printing with its associated costs, inconveniences, and even safety hazards as associated with the heated metallic print blocks of such conventional method.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for aqueous multicolor gravure printing which can print at a high speed without color drift, which is formed of plural printing unit processes, each of which contains a printing process, a drying process and a cooling process, wherein the quantity of heat supplied in the drying process in each printing unit is removed in the cooling process to render the temperature of the printed web uniform before the next printing process, and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a formed object, comprising the steps of printing a desired high quality photo or near photo like image on a forming material at a resolution substantially equal to the resolution of an original digital image used to form the high quality image, and forming the formed object by a forming process in which the temperature and pressure across the object are varied.

Abstract: A method of printing design seamlessly on clothing, and clothing obtained thereby are provided. The method includes steps of placing a cylindrical cover around a print cylinder, placing a print medium, on which a design is printed, around the cylindrical cover, placing a cloth around print medium, and heating the print medium so that the print medium and the cloth are heated and the design is transferred from the print medium to the cloth. The transfer of the design is done by sublimation of dye, which forms the design, induced by the step of heating. The cloth is subsequently cooled and flipped.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating the surface of substrates such as printed sheets, with improved surface quality. The apparatus includes a first roller (2, 7) rotatable in a first direction and forming a placement surface for traveling printed sheets, one or more second rollers (4, 5, 6) mounted parallel to the first roller (2, 7) for defining a roller nip with the first roller through which the sheets are directed and for exerting a predetermined radial pressing force against the sheets, the second rollers (4, 5, 6) being rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first roller (2, 7) and at least some of the second rollers (4, 5, 6) having a heating device for heating the printed sheet in the area of the roller nip between the first and second rollers.

Abstract: An ink drying system for high speed printing. A plurality of plenums are in fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas, mediated by respective fast acting valves. In a first embodiment of the invention, each plenum contains a plurality of small orifices grouped to define a localized drying area. The localized drying areas of the plenums form a substantially continuous drying region that, preferably, spans the entire lateral extent of the largest printed image. In a second embodiment of the invention, the plenums are spaced apart along the direction of travel of the sheet, and orifices of each plenum are distributed over the entire drying region.

Abstract: The plate-making printing press is constructed by installing a plate-making apparatus in a printing press that supplies ink and dampening water to a printing plate and performs printing on a medium. In order to realize a high-precision plate-making operation, the printing press is equipped with a target disposed on the printing cylinder and a sensor for detecting the target and provided on the writing device, and the zero point of the encoder is corrected. Furthermore, at the time of plate-making, the adjustment mechanism is operated so that the printing cylinder is returned to the position of the point of origin.

Abstract: In a drying apparatus equipped with a light source to dry a drying matter of a print by irradiating light of the light source to the print, a correlation between information relating to the time for which the light source is lit and information relating to the amount of light of the light source is preset. Then, the information relating to the elapsed time for which the light source is lit during the light source is lit is detected so that light of the light source is controlled to a constant amount, regardless of the elapsed time for which the light source is lit, based on information relating to a reference amount of light, which information is obtained from the preset correlation between the information relating to the time for which the light source is lit and the information relating to the amount of light with reference to the information relating to the elapsed time at the time of the detection.

Abstract: A printing device for seamless printing on a cloth is provided. A design is transferred from a print medium to the cloth. The device includes a print cylinder and a heater heating the print cylinder. The print medium is wrapped around the print cylinder, and the cloth is wrapped around the print medium. The heating of the print cylinder transfers the design to the cloth. The cloth is also seamless. The transfer of the design is done by sublimation of dye, which forms the design, induced by heating of the print cylinder. The print medium is a sublimation paper. An optional cylindrical cover is also provided. The cylindrical cover is placed around the print cylinder, and the print medium and the cloth are wrapped around the cylindrical cover.

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: In order to create preconditions, in a web-fed rotary press, for good format variability of the printed products and economic utilization of the printing material, at least two printed pages of different heights are arranged in the circumferential direction on a form cylinder.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention is to provide fabric for use in ink-jet printing that can prevent not only “ink bleeding”, but also “white exposure”, “nonuniform coloration” and “back staining”. A further object of the present invention is the provision of fabric for use in ink-jet printing, consisting of two textures—napped and ground, which can be evenly ink-jet printed with no variation in color between both, while preventing the occurrence of “white exposure”, “nonuniform coloration” and “back staining”.

Abstract: An apparatus for remoistening a product web includes at least one applicator for applying a remoistening agent to a printed and at least partly dried product web. A device increases the temperature of the remoistening agent so that contaminants are removed by vaporization from the remoistening agent. A combination of the apparatus with a dryer and a cooling device and a method for remoistening the product web are also provided.

Abstract: An image processing system wherein a data processing apparatus and a plurality of image processing apparatuses are connected through a network. The data processing apparatus transmits a print job that is received through the network from a client and first instruction data that instructs to calculate a printing cost for the print job to each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, and receives response data with respect to the transmission from each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, and selects one of the plurality of image processing apparatuses based on a plurality of response data received. The image processing apparatus responds to reception of the print job and the first instruction data from the data processing apparatus, calculates a printing cost based on an image processing capability of the apparatus itself, and transmits the print cost calculated to the data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A device for cooling a material web in a web-fed rotary printing machine, includes a heating device for producing waste heat for evaporative cooling of a cooling medium, and a cooling configuration through which the cooling medium is directable for web cooling. A first quantity of the cooling medium is evaporated and a second quantity is cooled by removal of heat of evaporation. A vapor generator produces vapor at least partly by the waste heat from the heating device. At least one vapor-jet vacuum nozzle is operatable by the vapor for producing a negative pressure. The cooling medium is to be subjected to negative pressure in a negative-pressure chamber for at least partial evaporation and for cooling. A dryer including the cooling device, a printing machine including the cooling device or the dryer and a cooling method are also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and method for forming coated toner images on a web are disclosed. The coating unit can be employed off-line or in-line with a digital printing system. The coating is applied on already fused toner images and is subsequently cured by means of UV radiation. The resulting coated fused toner images have a reduced sensitivity towards mechanical interaction, e.g., rubbing, and towards water, solvents and sunlight. In addition, they yield a smooth surface with an even tunable gloss, independent of the amount of superimposed toner layers.

Abstract: A computer controlled power saving automatic zoned dryer for a printing press has a dryer head facing the substrate travel path, having a multiplicity of IR lamps connected individually or in groups to form a plurality of heating zones running longitudinally and each extending laterally side by side across the substrate travel path. The radiant heat output of each heating zone is controlled separately by means of a control unit connected to a power supply. The control unit individually regulates output of the heating zones. Unneeded zones are turned off to reduce cost of power and conserve energy. A plurality of heat sensors spaced laterally across the substrate path measure the surface temperature of substrate heated areas corresponding to the heating zones being operated and maintain an automatic set point temperature.

Abstract: A ceramic decal assembly containing a ceramic substrate, a layer of adhesive contiguous with the substrate, and a ceramic decal contiguous with the layer of adhesive.

Abstract: This invention relates to an offset printing method in which the picture to be printed is formed on a plate-holder-cylinder (3), the said picture is transferred onto a blanket (4) carried by a blanket-holder-cylinder (5), then transferred onto a paper compressed between the blanket (4) and a back pressure cylinder (7). The temperature T3 of the blanket-holder-cylinder (5) is regulated. The invention also relates to an offset printing device comprising an inking unit (1), a plate-holder-cylinder (3), a blanket-holder-cylinder (5), a backpressure cylinder (7). It comprises means (8) for regulating the temperature T3 of the blanket-holder-cylinder (5).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit having a print head for applying ink to a surface layer of a recording medium transported thereto; a loop-forming unit capable of temporarily storing the recording medium discharged from the printing unit; and a heating unit for heating the recording medium fed from the loop-forming unit for fixing the ink applied to the surface layer onto its fixing layer. The heating unit includes a preliminary heating subunit for heating the recording medium from a normal temperature level to a ink fixing temperature level, a main heating unit for heating the recording medium at the ink fixing temperature level and a slow cooling subunit for slowly cooling the recording medium to the normal temperature level.

Abstract: In a drying apparatus equipped with a light source to dry a drying matter of a print by irradiating light of the light source to the print, a correlation between information relating to the time for which the light source is lit and information relating to the amount of light of the light source is preset. Then, the information relating to the elapsed time for which the light source is lit during the light source is lit is detected so that light of the light source is controlled to a constant amount, regardless of the elapsed time for which the light source is lit, based on information relating to a reference amount of light, which information is obtained from the preset correlation between the information relating to the time for which the light source is lit and the information relating to the amount of light with reference to the information relating to the elapsed time at the time of the detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for printing an extruded sheet in which ink is applied over the extruded sheet. The extruded sheet is at an elevated temperature. The ink cures immediately upon contact with the extruded sheet having an elevated temperature. In one embodiment, at least one print roller applies a background color to the sheet and a plurality of print rollers apply one or more additional colors for forming a pattern or image on the sheet. For example, the pattern or image can have a wood grain appearance. The extruded sheet can be sized for use as a vinyl siding product.

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 ceramic decal assembly containing a ceramic substrate, a layer of adhesive contiguous with the substrate, and a ceramic decal contiguous with the layer of adhesive.

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: Apparatus and methods for the use of shrinkable print media. Various embodiments generate image data accounting for a desired size of an output image and an expected extent of shrinkage of the shrinkable print media. The image data is adapted for use by an imaging device to produce the output image having a size such that an output image having that size prior to shrinking would be expected to have the desired size after shrinking. Further embodiments provide a shrinkable print media having an adhesive attached to at least a portion of one surface. Still further embodiments provide print media kits having shrinkable print media and one or more templates adapted to impart a texture and/or shape to the shrinkable print media in a softened state.

Abstract: An offset and screen combination printing method for IMD (In-Mold Decoration) hot press and injection molding application includes the steps of (1) primary offset printing; (2) color pattern offset printing; (3) third offset printing; (4) screen printing; (5) baking; (6) shape rolling; and (7) injection-molding.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making bas-relief surfaces applied to downy fabrics such as bedspreads, carpets and blankets, the proposed process being part of the proper logical sequence of the steps for making a downy fabric through the use of silk screen techniques and the equipment known as “tufting machine” and shredding machine, the proposed process being basically defined by the replacement of ink in at least one of the silk screen printing frames with a glue solution homogenized with a dye and the insertion of an intermediate step for drying the thus-printed fabric in the dryer after it leaves the vaporizer and before it is moved to the washer.

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: A ceramic decal assembly containing a ceramic substrate, a layer of adhesive contiguous with the substrate, and a ceramic decal contiguous with the layer of adhesive.