Systems and methods for minimizing a total number of cuts to separate media instances imaged onto a media sheet
Granted: January 19, 2021
Patent Number:
10894332
A system and method utilizes strategies, priority rules, specifications, and comparisons to calculate the fewest number of cuts to separate individual instances from an imaged media sheet. Embodiments of the systems and methods may produce an optimal or more efficient arrangement of the media instances on an imaged media to minimize a total number of cuts to separate the instances, and thus reduce an overall cost.
UV dye sublimation decoration of complex-shaped objects
Granted: December 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10875342
Various of the disclosed embodiments concern printing systems configured to deposit flexible dye sublimation inks onto flexible transfer materials. Together, the flexible ink and transfer material allow images to be transferred onto complex-shaped, i.e. non-planar, surfaces of a substrate. The flexible ink may be, for example, a thermoformable UV dye sublimation ink or a superflexible UV dye sublimation ink. In order to transfer an image onto the substrate, the transfer material is…
Variable smoothing in printing
Granted: November 24, 2020
Patent Number:
10846574
Methods, apparatus and systems for printing an image using an array of nozzles are described. In one example aspect, a printer system includes an array of nozzles and a control device coupled to the array of nozzles. The control device is configured to determine a step size for printing a current section of an image based on a set of masks. The set of masks includes one or more masks used for printing previous sections of the image. The control device is also configured to adjust the set…
Inkjet process for three-dimensional relief on tiles
Granted: November 17, 2020
Patent Number:
10836195
A technique is described for the application of three-dimensional (3D) relief to a substrate such as a ceramic tile using digital inkjet technology. In an example embodiment, the introduced technique includes application of binder ink to a portion of the surface of a substrate using a digital inkjet process. This binder ink forms a barrier layer which protects the portion of the surface of the substrate. Next, a brushing process is applied to remove unprotected portions of the substrate,…
Process for generating images with realistic modifications
Granted: September 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10762679
A method for generating an output image with realistic individual text inserts via software loaded on a computer is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a base image in a commercial graphical format with at least one position frame defined within the base image; the position frame defines an area within the base image where a text insert is insertable; providing software loaded on the computer which transforms a low resolution image into a high resolution image; defining…
Multilayer imaging with a high-gloss clear ink layer
Granted: August 25, 2020
Patent Number:
10752022
Various embodiments concern inkjet printing systems designed for multilayer imaging with a high-gloss clear ink layer. More specifically, the inkjet printing systems are designed so that clear, curable inks are provided additional time to level out before being cured. The settling process enables the inkjet printing systems to produce multilayer images having high gloss values. For example, a bracket could be attached to a curing assembly that prevents radiation from striking a certain…
Spot gloss and gloss control in an inkjet printing system
Granted: August 4, 2020
Patent Number:
10730318
Embodiments of the invention provide a technique that effects spot gloss or gloss control and/or variations on one image without requiring clear inks. This is preferably accomplished by use of a multilayer printing process in which an image is first printed using a first set of color print heads and then cured, and in which the image is again printed using a second set of color print head, but where the image remains uncured for a predetermined interval to allow the ink drops applied to…
Oxygen inhibition for print-head reliability
Granted: June 2, 2020
Patent Number:
10668742
Systems and methods of applying a gaseous inhibitor into a printing region to hinder the curing process of ink on the print heads caused by the presence of stray light in the printing environment.
Laser cutting of printed labels
Granted: March 24, 2020
Patent Number:
10599960
Apparatuses and embodiments related to compensated laser cutting of labels. A computer system receives an image of a label, and rasterizes the image. The computer system determines how much of each type of printer ink of a label printer to deposit at each pixel location of the image. The computer system determines which pixels intersect a cut line, and determines the characteristics of the ink of the pixels, such as the quantity or thickness of the ink at the pixel locations. The…
Method and apparatus for controlling lightness in colored inkjet inks by means of a transparent white ink composition
Granted: February 25, 2020
Patent Number:
10570303
A transparent white ink composition is formulated to brighten, lighten and or dilute full-tone primary inkjet colors: cyan; magenta; yellow and black, eliminating the need for ‘light ink’ primary color inks. The transparent white ink is jetted concurrently with reduced amounts of full-tone inks in lighter tonal areas conventionally supported by ‘light ink’ primary inks. Printing ‘light ink’ primary colors using a transparent white ink composition may reduce the number of…
Unitary ink tank for printer system
Granted: January 14, 2020
Patent Number:
10532577
The disclosed embodiments include a system for generating a unitary ink tank with a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. The system includes a processor configured to execute computer instructions that control 3D printing of an ink tank for a printer system. The system further includes a 3D printer coupled to the processor and configured to, based on the computer instructions, print the ink tank in accordance with a selective laser sintering process that sinters a powdered nylon…
Integration of a line-scan camera on a single pass inkjet printer
Granted: December 24, 2019
Patent Number:
10513110
Disclosed is an industrial single-pass inkjet printer/press incorporating an line-scan camera. The line-scan camera enables system software to inspect every sheet for quality assurance purposes. These inspection results are tied back to a digital printer to take one or more of several possible actions. Actions include ensuring a particular number of acceptable prints are generated and sorted. Actions further include performing nozzle checks without pausing or interrupting production…
Replication alignment of components for use in inkjet printing applications
Granted: December 17, 2019
Patent Number:
10507679
Techniques for more accurately and efficiently replicating the alignment of one or more printer components with respect to another printer component are described herein. Replication may be achieved by using a fixture and a connection media to create a near exact replica of features of the fixture, or to temporarily hold multiple printer components in position while a joining layer of the connection media hardens. More specifically, a connection media, such as epoxy, can be used to fill…
Nozzle compensation for shuttle based printers
Granted: December 17, 2019
Patent Number:
10507670
In a color printing environment, functions for printing color management are dissociated. An abstraction layer is also provided to facilitate setting and evaluation of all factors relating to color print and prediction.
Inkjet decoration of architectural materials
Granted: November 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10487231
Embodiments of the invention involve printing a ceramic or metal oxide pigmented ink onto asphalt, bitumen, or rubberoid backed roofing materials. Additionally, embodiments of the invention allow for adhesion of the ink to TPO and PVC roofing substrates.
Low odor radiation curable ink compositions
Granted: November 26, 2019
Patent Number:
10487226
The present invention relates to low odor radiation curable ink compositions. The composition comprises 10-40% w/w of 4-hydrobutylacrylate, 5-25% of a urethane (math)acrylate oligomer, 10-55% of diacrylates, one or more photoinitiators, one or more additives, and one or more pigments. The composition excludes many monofunctional monomers that have distinct odor and are commonly used in an ink jet composition.
UV curable inkjet ink compositions
Granted: October 29, 2019
Patent Number:
10457825
A UV curable inkjet ink composition includes a monofunctional urethane acrylate component consisting of 5-50% by weight of the ink composition, the monofunctional urethane acrylate component comprising either of a monomer and an oligomer; a monomer component consisting of 10-80% by weight of ink composition; a photoinitiator component consisting of 1-15% by weight of ink composition; and an oligomer component, consisting of no more than 20% by weight of the ink composition, in addition…
Elastic bending mechanism for bi-directional adjustment of print head position
Granted: October 22, 2019
Patent Number:
10449792
Mechanisms for adjusting the position of one or more print heads at an extremely fine resolution (e.g., less than 10 ?m) are described herein. The adjustment mechanisms include a differential screw and an indexing wheel through which the differential screw extends. One threaded segment of the differential screw is connected to a threaded feature of a flexible body that is coupled to the print head(s), while another threaded segment of the differential screw is connected to a threaded…
Interactive three-dimensional (3D) color histograms
Granted: October 15, 2019
Patent Number:
10447896
Techniques for interactively determining/visualizing the color content of a source image and how the corresponding image data is mapped to device colors are described herein. For example, the color content of a digital image can be converted between different color spaces to identify gamut limitations of an output device (e.g., a printing assembly), discover color(s) that cannot be accurately reproduced, etc. Color space conversions enable the transformation of the color content of the…
Multilayer white printing with white-balance
Granted: September 24, 2019
Patent Number:
10421289
White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as…
