Abstract: A device for the alphanumeric labeling of printed products comprises a shaft mounted in a frame, and around which shaft at least one wheel-shaped or ring-shaped labeling tool is rotatably mounted, which tool carries a number of alphanumeric characters, one behind the other, on its outer circumference. A drive motor, in the form of, for example, a stepper motor, is provided and by which the labeling tool can be rotated around the shaft. The drive motor is linked for signals transmission to one of a data processing and a data storage of a control device, in which an assignment specification between the working positions of the alphanumeric characters or the fields carrying the alphanumeric characters, and step numbers of the stepper motor, is provided. The drive motor is or can be controlled by the control device in terms of a number of steps to be traveled, using this provided assignment specification, to move an alphanumeric character to be printed or the relevant field into a working position.

Abstract: A sensor is provided to include: a sampling clock circuit generating a sample clock signal with a predetermined sample clock period; a system clock circuit generating a system clock signal with a predetermined system clock period, wherein a value of the system clock period is less than a value of the sample clock period; a sensor circuit generating, during each sample clock period, a sensor signal representing a position of an object; a sampling circuit receiving the sensor signal and generate sample signal value in response; an interpolation circuit determining a first difference between a current sample signal and a previous sample signal, determining a second difference between a switchpoint threshold value and the previous sample signal, and determining a delay count based upon a ratio of the first difference and the second difference; and a switchpoint signal circuit generating a switchpoint signal based upon the delay count.

Abstract: A print job received by a printing system has subsets of items. Multiple items are printed on each sheet. Finishing devices of the printing system are limited to processing a single subset of the items at a time, causing printing devices to wait skipped-pitch delays. An unadjusted number of machine-hours to complete the print job is determined based on continuous printing without interruption. A skipped-pitch delay is assigned to each of the subsets of items based on the number of sheets used to print each of the subsets of items. A revised number of machine-hours to complete the print job is calculated by adding the total skipped-pitch delay for the print job to the unadjusted number of machine-hours. The number of the printing devices and the finishing devices to use to complete the print job is determined based on the revised number of machine-hours.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for printer driver management in an enterprise network. Each requested printer driver is tested in a controlled environment to determine if the driver is compatible with at least one other driver in a set of drivers. The tested printer driver is conditioned for inclusion in a central repository that stores a plurality of sets of versioned drivers, if the printer driver is determined to be compatible. The tested driver and at least one associated file are packaged and stored in the central repository. The tested driver and associated file are deployed to at least one server hosting a distributed file share. The tested driver and associated file are downloaded to at least one print server. Driver files are touched with a date and time stamp so that workstations will automatically download updated printer drivers from the print server.

Abstract: There is described a sheet numbering process involving feeding of individual sheets (S) in succession, which individual sheets (S) each carry a plurality of imprints (P) that are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, and providing unique serial numbers to multiple ones of the plurality of imprints (P) carried by the individual sheets (S). The sheet numbering process comprises numbering of at least some of the individual sheets (S), wherein numbering of the individual sheets (S) is selectively commutable between a first numbering scheme (N1) and at least a second numbering scheme (N2; N2?; N*), different from the first numbering scheme (N1), without interruption of the numbering process. The first numbering scheme (N1) involves providing all imprints (P) of a first subset (S0) of individual sheets (S) with a unique serial number (SN1) of the first numbering scheme (N1).

Abstract: A method, system and program product for printer driver management in an enterprise network. Each requested printer driver is tested in a controlled environment to determine if the driver is compatible with at least one other driver in a set of drivers. The tested printer driver is conditioned for inclusion in a central repository that stores a plurality of sets of versioned drivers, if the printer driver is determined to be compatible. The tested driver and at least one associated file are packaged and stored in the central repository. The tested driver and associated file are deployed to at least one server hosting a distributed file share. The tested driver and associated file are downloaded to at least one print server. Driver files are touched with a date and time stamp so that workstations will automatically download updated printer drivers from the print server.

Abstract: A machine for decorating products, including an area for printing products and an area for supporting products arranged beneath said printing area, including a moveable frame to which the support area and the printing area are integrally joined, the support area including a first conveyor, directly positioned of the printing area, and a second conveyor positioned beneath the first conveyor.

Abstract: The ink jet printing apparatus, wherein, to print images on a printing medium, a plurality of print heads, each of which includes an ejection port array provided by arranging multiple ink ejection ports in a widthwise direction of the printing medium, are arranged in a conveying direction of the printing medium, including: a unit for detecting a printing position displacement with respect to a printing position of a reference print head on the printing medium for each of remaining print heads excluding the reference print head which is one of the plurality of print heads; and a unit for adding non-image data corresponding to the printing position displacement to print data to be printed by the plurality of print heads, so as to align the printing positions of the plurality of print heads.

Abstract: Communication port powered printers and methods of powering of printers that support high speed printing and/or data intensive printing are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a power storage unit within the printer device that is able be charged during non-priming periods and provide for necessary energy bursts to support such higher powered processes. Some embodiments may provide for devices and methods that allow for printers to operate with main power provided by conventional power mains and for back-up or secondary power to be supplied by the communication port. Some embodiments may further provide for configuration settings in printer control electronics based on the available power from the communication port.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling the position of numbering wheels (7) of a numbering device (1), which numbering device (1) is of the type comprising a plurality of independently-driven numbering wheels (7) disposed adjacent to one another for rotation about a common rotation axis, the method comprising actuating the numbering wheels (7) between successive numbering iterations, whereby each numbering wheel (7) which has to be rotated to a new target position is driven into rotation until it reaches its new target position. The method further comprises, at least during actuation of the numbering wheels (7), compensating for external factors acting on the numbering wheels (7), such as friction induced by adjacent rotating numbering wheels, by electronically regulating the position of each numbering wheel (7) which is not rotated or which has reached its new target position. Also described is a device for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A shoe platen to securely hold a shoe so that graphics, including custom graphics, can be printed on the shoe automatically. The platen comprises a shoe plate 102 configured to receive shoes such as high-top shoes or low top shoes. Adjusters 104, 106 can also be used to accommodate shoes of various styles and sizes.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a pallet configured to receive a print substrate, a conveyer mechanism configured to convey the pallet, and a working device configured to conduct a processing operation for printing on the print substrate on the pallet. The printing apparatus further includes a locating mechanism configured to stop the pallet at a first holding position and a first holding mechanism configured to hold the pallet, stopped at the first holding position by the first locating mechanism, to be spaced apart from the conveying mechanism. After the pallet being conveyed by the conveying mechanism is stopped by the first locating mechanism, the pallet is held to be spaced apart from the conveying mechanism by the first holding mechanism and the processing operation is conducted by the working device relative to the print substrate on the pallet thus held.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling the position of numbering wheels (7) of a numbering device (1), which numbering device (1) is of the type comprising a plurality of independently-driven numbering wheels (7) disposed adjacent to one another for rotation about a common rotation axis, the method comprising actuating the numbering wheels (7) between successive numbering iterations, whereby each numbering wheel (7) which has to be rotated to a new target position is driven into rotation until it reaches its new target position. The method further comprises, at least during actuation of the numbering wheels (7), compensating for external factors acting on the numbering wheels (7), such as friction induced by adjacent rotating numbering wheels, by electronically regulating the position of each numbering wheel (7) which is not rotated or which has reached its new target position. Also described is a device for carrying out this method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sequential printing of characters. The apparatus is a numbering box with a plurality of numbering wheels viz., unit wheel, tenth wheel, 100th wheel, 1000th wheel, 10000th wheel and 100000th wheel which are provided with a combination of ratchet and groove profiles on side-surfaces, numbers engraved on the periphery and are operably interconnected. The 100th and 1000th wheels provided with a combination of uniquely designed multiple grooves and ratchets. The numbering boxes are arranged in the form of a matrix of maximum rows (mr) and maximum columns (mc), to print first sheet. Thereafter, printing of characters on the second sheet till the next 99 sheets occurs. Finally printing from 101st sheet onwards till desired number of sheets is performed after assigning suitable value to first numbering box of 101st sheet by using the character profile of 100th and 1000th wheels.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for operation of a printing press includes the steps of generating unique individual signature identification information, tracking printing press operation information and associating the printing press operation information with the unique signature identification information. For use in a printing press arrangement, a system for tracking printing press operation, including: a plurality of sensors arranged in a preselected configuration in the printing press arrangement to sense preselected Printing press operation information; and a press control and tracking controller coupled to each of the plurality of sensors, the press control and tracking controller arranged and configured to receive inputs from the plurality of sensors to generate unique individual signature identification information, track printing press operation information and associate the printing press operation information with the unique signature identification information.

Abstract: A front cover structure is used in a label printer, including a back board forming a paper roll support device; a front board coupled to the back board and defining a first hole and including a first cross bar, a second cross bar and a third cross bar, of which the second and third cross bars are parallel to and positioned against the first cross bar; a pressing board defining two second holes in two side projections thereof and a third hole, and being coupled to the front board with a first connection bar extending through the first hole and the second holes; and a lock board defining a plurality of fourth holes in opposite edge portions and being coupled to the pressing board with a second connection bar extending through the third hole and the fourth holes.

Abstract: The numbering box for typographic numbering in sheet or web fed printing machines, said box numbering with p digits k*n items on said sheets or web for allowing a sequential collecting of said items in the finishing and collating process of layers of q sheets or of web cut into layers of q sheets, wherein said box carries out a purely sequential actuation for digits 1 to s, where 10S is smaller or equal to q, a purely individually settable actuation for digits s+1 to r, where the maximum number printable by digits 1 to s and s+1 to r is smaller or equal to k*n*q, and a sequential actuation for digits r+1 to p.

Abstract: A security document or other device including a substrate (2), a smooth highly reflective layer (1) applied thereto and having a reflectivity of at least 60 gloss units, and a raised printed image (3) applied to said reflective layer by a printing process such as the gravure process, the raised printed image having a height of at least 10 microns and being printed using a translucent ink having a large value of 85 to 95 as measured on an XL 211 Hazegard haze measuring instrument, which render it substantially transparent or translucent while causing scattering of the light reflectance and transmittance in at least a partially specular manner. A method of producing a document is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lumber processor includes slowdown conveyor to transition lumber pieces from one processing device to a subsequent processing device where the movement of lumber pieces changes from lineal to lateral motion; a printer station includes a printer boom which includes a lateral translation device to move a symbol printer over the path of travel of the conveyor to allow the printer to mark pieces of lumber that are passing beneath the printer station.

Abstract: The current invention is directed to micro-stencil devices and methods. A micro-stencil, in accordance with this invention, comprises a patterned stencil membrane formed from a polymeric layer patterned with stencil features preferably having lateral dimensions in a range of 10 micron to 100 nanometers or less. The micro-stencil preferably includes a porous backing membrane coupled to the stencil membrane to control the flow of print fluids, to allow for two-way flow of print fluids and/or curing gases during a printing operation. The stencil membrane is preferably configured to directly print the stencil features onto a suitable print medium surface. The micro-stencil of the instant invention, is preferably utilized for printing structures comprising interconnected layers, such as micro-circuits, and/or structures comprising polymer arrays.

Abstract: A method for producing precise, complex patterns on a glass or plastic substrate using a writing system capable of dispensing high viscosity materials at a volume rate synchronous with the rate of movement of a flexural member relative to said substrate, is disclosed.