Abstract: A method to print indicia on a substrate comprises attaching a portable printer to an automated arm. The method includes detecting the substrate using a sensor. The method comprises printing indicia on a first face of the substrate using the portable printer. The method includes the steps of causing the automated arm to move the portable printer and printing indicia on a second face of the substrate using the portable printer.

Abstract: An example of an additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The example disclosed herein comprises a build material distributor, a preheating source, and a controller. The build material distributor is to form build material layers from an intended build material having a color. The preheating source is to emit energy at a wavelength related to the intended build material color so that at least a 40% of the energy is absorbed by the build material. The controller is to receive printing instructions to print a 3D object, wherein the printing instructions define an area to be fused in a build material layer. The controller is also to instruct the build material distributor to form the build material layer. The controller is further to control the preheating source to emit energy to preheat a zone comprising the area to be fused.

Abstract: Examples systems and methods of this disclosure include a threshold corresponding to a vapor density, and a circuit or method step to compare an incoming signal that corresponds to a detected vapor density with the threshold.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a printing unit, and a heating unit provided on a downstream side with respect to the printing unit in the conveyance direction, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a printing medium along a conveyance direction. The printing unit ejects ink onto the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The heating unit heats the printing medium on which ink has been ejected by the printing unit while being in contact therewith. The control unit controls the printing apparatus such that a first surface of the printing medium passes through the same heating unit a plurality of times, wherein the first surface includes ink having been ejected by the printing unit onto the first surface.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a drive output member configured to, when driving a member to be driven, receive a first force from the member to be driven in a direction in which the drive output member comes off a rotation shaft of a motor, and when driven by a drive transmission member, receive a second force from the drive transmission member in a direction opposite to that of the first force. The second force is equal to or greater than the first force.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a discharge head configured to discharge a liquid toward a medium, a head control board configured to control the discharge head, a circuit case having a box-like shape configured to house the head control board, and a carriage configured to reciprocate in a scanning direction while supporting the discharge head and the circuit case. The circuit case includes an air intake port in one surface of the circuit case, with the one surface intersecting with the scanning direction, and an exhaust port in another surface of the circuit case, with the other surface intersecting with the scanning direction. At the exhaust port, an exhaust fan configured to exhaust, to outside of the circuit case, heat that is inside the circuit case is installed, the heat being generated by the head control board.

Abstract: A method directs a self-driving cargo vehicle to take an alternate route based on cargo sensor readings from another cargo vehicle. One or more processors receive output from a cargo sensor and a camera, which describe an amount of movement of first cargo being transported by a first cargo vehicle on a first cargo vehicle. The processor(s) evaluate a profile of a controller on a second cargo vehicle, which is a self-driving vehicle, and which is transporting second cargo that is a same type of cargo as the first cargo. The processor(s) determine an alternate route for the second cargo vehicle, and then transmit instructions to the controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the alternate route.

Abstract: Curing apparatus, image forming apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example curing apparatus includes a curing unit to heat an area adjacent a substrate travel path, the curing unit having a width less than a width of the substrate travel path, and a controller to reciprocate the curing unit within the substrate width.

Abstract: Examples systems and methods of this disclosure include a threshold corresponding to a vapor density, and a circuit or method step to compare an incoming signal that corresponds to a detected vapor density with the threshold.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a plurality of heating members, a press roller, and an intermediate temperature control unit. The plurality of heating members are each in contact with an inside of a rotating body. The rotating body also has a width which is equal to or greater than a width of a recording medium to be printed. The intermediate temperature control unit has a medium width detecting unit configured to detect a width of the recording medium and a print width detecting unit configured to detect a print width of recording data and control a portion of the heating member corresponding to an intermediate heating area. The intermediate heating area is maintained at a set intermediate temperature which is lower than a set temperature of a printing heating area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes determination means for determining the size of an image forming area of a medium, heating means for including an endless rotating body, plural heat-generating members which are formed in a perpendicular direction to a transporting direction, inclined by a predetermined angle, and divided by a predetermined length, and are disposed so as to come into contact with an inner side of the rotating body, and a switching unit which switches individual conduction, and heats the medium, pressing means for forming a nip by performing pressing and contact at a position of the plural heat-generating members, and nipping and carrying the medium in the transporting direction along with the heating means, and heating control means for controlling the switching unit to select and conduct heat-generating members and controlling the heating means to heat the medium.

Abstract: Individually controllable ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to cure ink and generate different effects. The UV LEDs only expose specified areas to generate the different effect and can create multiple effects on the same substrate by exposing different areas to varying amounts of time or by performing a curing stage and post-dosage curing stages. The different effects include generating a glossy surface, a matte surface, and sharper images.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and an opposed rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base, a first thermal conductor sandwiched between the base and the fixing rotator and having a first thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base, and a bulge projecting from the first thermal conductor toward the opposed rotator at a downstream end of the first thermal conductor in a recording medium conveyance direction.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is provided and includes: a carriage on which a recording head for discharging ink droplets onto the recording medium is mounted and that moves relative to the recording medium; a platen that supports the recording medium at a predetermined position; and heating means for heating the recording medium, in which heating means includes a platen heater that is mounted on the platen and heats the recording medium from a lower side of the recording medium, a carriage heater that is mounted on the carriage and heats the recording medium from an upper side of the recording medium, and an upper heater that is disposed on a downstream side of the carriage in a moving direction of the recording medium and heats the recording medium from the upper side of the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording medium includes a supply part that supplies a recording medium; a recording medium conveyance part that has a support surface to support the recording medium and conveys the recording medium; an ejection head that ejects liquid toward the recording medium supported by the recording medium conveyance part; a recording medium collecting part that collects the recording medium; and a heater block as a drying part that is placed between the recording medium conveyance part and the recording medium collecting part and dries the ink applied to the recording medium. A part that is on the most recording medium conveyance part side of the contact surface of the heater block is positioned higher than a part that is on the most heater block side of the support surface in a vertical direction.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus including: a rotatable belt having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface partially coming into contact with a sheet; a plurality of rollers being arranged in a direction of movement of the sheet and including a first roller and a second roller adjacent to each other, the plurality of rollers being pressed against the outer surface and the moving sheet being nipped between the plurality of rollers and the outer surface; a blowing mechanism configured to blow hot air from between the first roller and the second roller toward the sheet; and a heating unit including a heater and a contact surface coming into contact with the inner surface, the heating unit being configured to be able to set the contact surface thereof to have a predetermined non-uniform temperature distribution.

Abstract: An exemplary system for managing the deployment of a seismic data acquisition system uses a module configured to execute a plurality of task in the field by receiving one or more seismic devices. The module may include a power source that provides electrical power to the seismic devices. The module may also include a processor programmed to retrieve data stored in the seismic devices, perform diagnostics, facilitate inventory and logistics control, configure seismic devices and update data or pre-programmed instructions in the seismic device.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a newspaper production system, having the structure of a system that is provided with a supply unit for a continuous web provided at an upstream side of a printing unit for printing on one surface and the other surface of a continuous web, and a processing unit for carrying out cutting and folding processing of a continuous web after printing at a downstream side, by making the area of an installation flat region for the printing unit for printing on one surface and the other surface of a continuous web, having an ink jet printing device group for printing one side of the continuous web and an ink jet printing device group for printing the other side of the paper sheet, small, and with which it is easy for a single person to carry out a newspaper production operation of monitoring the entire system.

Abstract: A tachograph for a motor vehicle comprises a guide element for guiding a paper strip in relation to a printing group. The guide element requires no pretensioning means and is connected to the printing group via a carrier. As a result, the paper strip is reliably aligned in relation to the printing couple.

Abstract: A method including attempting to provide a first amount of power to a component of an image forming system during a first time period and determining a second amount of power applied to the component during the first time period using a first power measurement made during the first time period and at least a second power measurement made during a second time period outside of the first time period is provided.

Abstract: A deep water subsea tree completion having a distributed temperature sensing system. In a described embodiment, a method of installing an optical fiber in a well includes the steps of: conveying an optical fiber section into the well; and monitoring a light transmission quality of the optical fiber section while the section is being conveyed into the well.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for recording motion of a vehicle or a fixed structure with a self-contained motion recorder apparatus. The self-contained motion recorder apparatus is a sealed unit that contains a power source together with controller, sensor and recording devices. The controller device includes a power consumption manager that manages and conserves the overall power consumption of the apparatus. A sensor device is further included in operable communication with the controller device that produces signals that represent the motion of the vehicle or structure as a function of time. Additionally, a recording element is provided in operable communication with the controller for storing data that corresponds to the signals. A communication interface is further provided such that data may be read from the apparatus and commands and data may be written into the apparatus, from an external device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a recording head and a recording medium conveying apparatus for conveying the recording medium from one position to another position. The recording medium conveying apparatus includes a rotary body pair capable of holding the recording medium, a driving device for rotatably driving the rotary body pair, and a rotary body moving device for moving the rotary body from one position to another position. The rotary body moves to a first position for receiving the recording medium from the recording head in a first route and conveying it to a second route, and a second position for conveying the recording medium from the first route to a fixing section in a third route.

Abstract: A fixing mechanism for fixing a ink on a recording medium which is discharged by a recording device includes a first fixing area onto which heat sufficient to fix the ink is applied to the recording medium, a second fixing area which is closer to the recording device than the first fixing area and where a lower heat than the heat applied to the recording medium in the first fixing area is applied to the recording medium, and a conveyor for conveying the recording medium into the second fixing area and conveying it out of the first fixing area.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a fixing unit which heats a recording medium at a location in a conveyance route following recording to fix the recorded image. The fixing unit has a first heating member which heats a recording surface of a recording medium, a second heating member which heats a reverse surface of the recording medium, and a fan which blows air from the first heating member location in the conveyance route. A timer delays turning on the fan after energization of the first heating member.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and method for heat absorption which include between about 35 percent and about 45 percent by weight of an between about 35 percent and about 45 percent by weight of an N,N'-ethylenebis-stearamide wax having a melting point of between 232.degree. C. and 240.degree. C. and between about 65 percent and about 55 percent by weight of an N,N'-ethylenebisstearamide wax having a melting point of about 140.degree. C., and thermally protected enclosures including the same.

Abstract: A control method for a paper-driven type automatic drafting machine carries out a predetermined drafting operation by use of ink writing instruments. The automatic drafting machine has on its machine frame an ink dry time setter. The machine is made to wait or halt for a set time after an ink drawing completion, during which time a roll paper for the drafting machine is not rolled-up. The remaining portion of the set ink drying time for the drafting machine is displayed, so the operator can use the waiting time effectively.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating and air evacuation system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A medium advancement system advances the print medium from an input tray to the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater whose position is fixed in relation to the printer body heats the medium to cause accelerated drying of the ink deposited on the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing. The duct system includes an elongated inlet opening fixed in position relative to the printer body and disposed along the extent of the printer housing. The air and ink carrier vapors are drawn into the inlet opening and away from the print zone.

Abstract: The drier consists of a plurality of nozzles that direct a small volume of air onto the printed image at as high a velocity as possible without disturbing the wet image. The air so delivered while it must be dry, does not have to be heated to effectively dry the image, however, the drying time can be reduced by increasing the air temperature if desired. The use of high velocity air creates what is known is "skin effect" to dry the ink where the outer surface of the ink is quickly dried.

Abstract: A fixater has a fixing unit for expediting the fixation of an image recorded on a recording medium, a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium and a coupling unit detachably mountable in the mounting section of a cassette for stacking the recording medium for the recording apparatus. The fixater is mountable in place of the cassette for stacking the recording medium.

Abstract: A heating element (30) for a device for fixing images in photocopiers or information printed by a printer on media (12) having different formats is formed by a layer of resistive material having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC), so that, in the portion of the heating element (30) not covered by a medium of any smaller format, the quantity of heat supplied and the temperature of the heating element are automatically adjusted without the use of a special control circuit.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. A radiant print heater heats the medium at the print area to increase the ink carrier evaporation rate. The heater includes a wire heating element placed in a reflectorized cavity beneath the printing area, and radiant heat energy is directed onto the lower surface of the print medium through a grill. The heating element is energized by a low voltage signal. The print heater heats the portion of the medium disposed at the print area during print operations to cause accelerated drying of ink deposited on the medium.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating and air evacuation system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A medium advancement system advances the print medium from an input tray to the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater whose position is fixed in relation to the printer body heats the medium to cause accelerated drying of the ink deposited on the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing. The duct system includes an elongated inlet opening fixed in position relative to the printer body and disposed along the extent of the printer housing. The air and ink carrier vapors are drawn into the inlet opening and away from the print zone.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer having improved print quality and full color printing capability on plain paper media. A media advancing mechanism advances the print medium through a media path during print operations. Electrically energized heater elements heat a portion of the print medium at the print area. A power supply supplies electrical power to the heater elements and the media advancing mechanism. A single fan airflow system with multiple ducts evacuator air from the printer, including the print area. The airflow system evacuates excess ink spray and carrier vapor from the print area, provides cooling for the power supply and other electronics, and actively ventilates the preheater and print heater to avoid runaway temperatures.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a sheet conveying and drying device having a plurality of flexible, resilient yet stiff fingers connected in a cantilevered manner to a drive chain which moves the fingers from a printed sheet receiving tray to a sheet stacking tray. After sheets are printed by a conventional ink jet printing head, the sheets are picked off of the printed sheet receiving tray and fed to a sheet stacking tray. The printed sheets are dried while being fed from the printed sheet receiving tray to the sheet stacking tray. After the printed sheets are picked off of the fingers at the sheet stacking tray, the chain drive continues to move the fingers in a counterclockwise direction along the chain path. The resilient, flexible fingers are deformed by upper and lower guide rollers, a stacking tray and a rear separating wall and are flicked back into a sheet receiving position at the printed sheet receiving tray.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer for printing MICR images by liquid ink droplets. The ink contains a magnetic pigment, magnetic particles, or a combination of both. An external magnetic field in the printing zone orients the magnetic pigment in a preferred direction while the printed ink droplet is still wet, so that the magnetic pigment is mobile in a liquid medium. The printed droplet is allowed to dry under the influence of the magnetic field, thereby permanently preserving the specific orientation. As a result, the remanence of the magnetic material in the images are increased and less magnetic pigment is needed for the necessary signal for MICR. This reduction in magnetic material enables the printing by a thermal ink jet printer, because nozzle clogging is avoidable.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition is indirectly applied to a substrate by raising the temperature of the phase change ink composition to form a liquid phase change ink composition, applying droplets of the phase change ink composition in a liquid phase to a liquid intermediate transfer surface on a solid support in a pattern using a device such as an ink jet printhead, solidifying the phase change ink composition on the liquid intermediate transfer surface, transferring the phase change ink composition from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to the substrate, and fixing the phase change ink composition to the substrate. The phase change ink composition is malleable when the ink is transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the substrate and is ductile after the ink has been transferred to the substrate and cooled to ambient temperature to preclude the ink from crumbling and cracking.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that enhances light transmittance of overhead projector (OHP) sheets while preventing any deterioration in printing speed. The apparatus can compare a divider assembly located between a printing unit and a printed paper tray. The divider assembly feeds print media selectively to an OHP processing unit or to the printed paper tray. An OHP sheet printed in color is fed by the divider assembly to the OHP processing unit which prepares the sheet for OHP applications. An OHP sheet printed in monochrome is fed by the divider assembly to the printed paper tray without passage through the OHP processing unit.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A printer enables discrimination of the kind of a printing medium and automatically controls whether the medium is to be thermally processed or not by the result of the discrimination, while enabling reversal of the execution or inexecution of the heating process if necessary. A control portion is able to discriminate the kind of a printing paper based on a signal output from a detector and changeover automatically, whether the printing paper is to be thermally processed or not, in moving a diverter from a first position to a second position by controlling a solenoid. A user can reverse the execution or inexecution of a heating process of a printed paper in operating the diverter by the operation of a reverse key provided in a control panel.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling the quality of pen markings on a plotting medium by qualifying each pen based on optically sensing across a sample line drawn on an actual medium. During each subsequent plotting task of a particular pen which has been qualified, an actual line plot is optically sensed across a selected point to make a comparison with the sample line. If the actual line plot is unsatisfactory, the deficient pen is replaced and the plot is restarted from the beginning, or retraced from the last good verification, or is stopped to allow the user to select an appropriate corrective procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting optical elements of an optical ink drop detector that detects the presence of an ink drop in a drop detection zone, and for maintaining an aperture plate used in conjunction with the ink drop detector. The apparatus includes a movable plate having an apertured region and a non-apertured region. The plate is movable relative to the optical elements of the drop detector and is configured to have the aperture region adjacent a drop detection zone of the optical ink drop detector when in a first position and to have the non-apertured region adjacent the detection zone when in a second position. Cleaning brushes are provided for cleaning ink from the aperture region of the movable plate when the plate is moved between the first and second positions, and an enclosure is provided for enclosing the aperture region of the plate when said plate is in the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing process which comprises applying in imagewise fashion to a substrate an ink composition which comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, and an ionic compound at least partially ionizable in the liquid vehicle, said ink composition having a conductivity of at least about 10 milliSiemens per centimeter, and subsequently exposing the substrate to microwave radiation, thereby drying the images on the substrate.

Abstract: An adaptive dryer for a printing system obtains values representing mass of ink and/or area coverage of ink on each page to be printed prior to drying and based on the determined mass-area coverage varies one or both of feed rate of the pages through the dryer and temperature of the dryer to more closely adapt the drying parameters of the dryer with the particular drying criterion each page requires for optimal quality, highest average throughput and minimal heating power requirements.

Abstract: A plurality of fixing heaters for heating recording paper after printing to speed up drying of ink are disposed side by side in a direction at right angles to the direction in which recording paper is fed. The total number of printed dots by region corresponding to each of the fixing heaters is stored for every one or a plurality of lines of the recording paper. Each of the fixing heaters is driven by power proportional to the total number of printed dots in a corresponding region on the basis of the total number of printed dots by region corresponding to each of the fixing heaters for one or a plurality of lines of the recording paper which is in a position to be heated by the fixing heaters. According to the present invention, even when the printing density in the line direction varies, an inkjet recording apparatus is obtained in which no unfixed portion of ink occurs and the driving efficiency of the fixing heaters is high.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head for ejecting recording liquid to perform recording operation on a recording medium; a laser source, disposed facing to the recording medium, for projecting a laser beam on the recording medium; and a control device responsive to a record signal supplied to the recording head for the recording operation to control the laser source to project the laser beam from the laser source onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A compact ink jet printer is described utilizing a small drum for carrying a sheet of record medium during the printing operation. In one embodiment, the drum has an exterior surface with a high coefficient of friction with a contact roller retaining the record medium against the drum as the drum is rotated. Printing is accomplished as by jetting ink from an ink jet print head onto the medium while the medium is backed up by a fixed platen. A fusing mechanism may be utilized to flatten ink drops on the printed medium. A drive mechanism for an ink jet printer may include a stepper motor coupled by timing belt sprockets and a timing belt to the drum of the printer. These components may be selected such that the drum is incremented a multiple of a pixel height during each step of the stepper motor. The record medium may also be clamped to a drum by a clamping mechanism and rotated through plural revolutions of the drum during respective printing and fusing steps.

Abstract: A hot melt ink jet apparatus is disclosed which heats a normally solid ink into a molten state and then ejects the molten ink toward a printing sheet. When printing is performed on the printing sheet, the ink ejected onto the printing sheet quickly solidifies. After the printing operation, the printed sheet is fed between a supporting member and a pressing member. An intervention member is provided between the printed sheet and pressing member. The intervention member includes a layer which has a low cohesiveness and is softer than lumps of solidified ink on the printing sheet.

Abstract: An ink jet printer is disclosed having a rotatable intermediate drum having a thermally conductive surface on which the ink droplets are printed from the printhead. The drum surface material is a suitable film forming silicone polymer having a high surface energy and surface roughness to prevent movement of the droplets after impact thereon. The printhead is located relative to the intermediate drum surface so that the ink droplets impact the drum surface with a large contact angle and the ink droplet image is transferred at a second location spaced from the printhead to minimize contaminating particles from the recording medium from reaching the printhead nozzles. The intermediate drum surface is heated to dehydrate the ink droplets prior to transfer from the intermediate drum to the recording medium.