Abstract:
A printing system includes a pair of encoders to compensate for encoder noise in the velocity of a media transport as the transport moves past a plurality of printheads. One encoder monitors a roller that positioned at a location of low thermal stress and the signal generated by this encoder is used by a controller to maintain a constant velocity for the media transport. The second encoder monitors a roller used to drive the media transport and is positioned close to the print zone opposite the printheads. The signal from the second encoder is used to identify a corrected distance between each tic in the tics generated by the second encoder and the corrected distance is used to count a firing distance for generation of a dot clock signal to activate ejectors in a printhead when a substrate has traveled the firing distance.
Abstract:
A method of forming a chemical delivery device with an active chemical includes generating halftoned image data using a stochastic halftone screen and with reference to a concentration parameter for the active chemical. The method also includes ejecting a chemical carrier including the active chemical into a portion of a plurality of cavities formed in the chemical delivery device based on the halftoned image data to produce the chemical delivery device with a concentration of the active chemical corresponding to the concentration parameter.
Abstract:
A method of forming a chemical delivery device with an active chemical includes generating halftoned image data using a stochastic halftone screen and with reference to a concentration parameter for the active chemical. The method also includes ejecting a chemical carrier including the active chemical into a portion of a plurality of cavities formed in the chemical delivery device based on the halftoned image data to produce the chemical delivery device with a concentration of the active chemical corresponding to the concentration parameter.
Abstract:
A method of forming a three-dimensional printed object having a printed surface image includes ejecting drops of a build material to form the three-dimensional printed object from a plurality of layers of build material on a support member and applying a leveler to a surface of each layer of the build material. The method further includes ejecting drops of a marking agent on a surface of the three-dimensional printed object to form a printed image, ejecting drops of a transparent material over the printed image to form a layer of transparent material over the printed image, and applying the leveler to a surface of the layer of transparent material but not to the printed image.
Abstract:
An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing. The apparatus operates the printhead or printheads in the printer to form test pattern on a thermal substrate. The heat of the materials used to form the test pattern increase the optical density of the areas where the materials land. The area where the test pattern is formed is imaged and the image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.
Abstract:
A method of forming an image on a three-dimensional printed object includes operating first plurality of ejectors to form a first layer of a blocking material having an opacity level that prevents transmission of incident visible light to another layer in the three-dimensional printed object, operating a second plurality of ejectors to form a second layer of a primer material over the first layer, and operating a third plurality of ejectors to form a printed image from at least one marking agent over the primer material. The layers of blocking material and primer material reduce or eliminate hue shift in the image.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional object printer ejects drops of a build material from a plurality of ejectors in a first printhead to form an object on a first region of a member and ejects drops of a support material from a plurality of ejectors in a second printhead to support the object on the first region of the member. The second printhead ejects drops of the support material onto a second region of the member that is separate from the first region to form a substrate layer. The first printhead ejects drops of the build material onto the substrate layer to form a printed test pattern. An image sensor generates image data of the printed test pattern to identify an inoperable ejector in the first printhead.
Abstract:
A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density.
Abstract:
A printing system includes a pair of encoders to compensate for encoder noise in the velocity of a media transport as the transport moves past a plurality of printheads. One encoder monitors a roller that positioned at a location of low thermal stress and the signal generated by this encoder is used by a controller to maintain a constant velocity for the media transport. The second encoder monitors a roller used to drive the media transport and is positioned close to the print zone opposite the printheads. The signal from the second encoder is used to identify a corrected distance between each tic in the tics generated by the second encoder and the corrected distance is used to count a firing distance for generation of a dot clock signal to activate ejectors in a printhead when a substrate has traveled the firing distance.
Abstract:
A method of forming a chemical delivery device with an active chemical includes generating halftoned image data using a stochastic halftone screen and with reference to a concentration parameter for the active chemical. The method also includes ejecting a chemical carrier including the active chemical into a portion of a plurality of cavities formed in the chemical delivery device based on the halftoned image data to produce the chemical delivery device with a concentration of the active chemical corresponding to the concentration parameter.