An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the surface, so as to leave only a substantially single particle layer adhering to the surface on exiting the apparatus.

An apparatus is disclosed for coating a surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the surface, so as to leave only a substantially single particle layer adhering to the surface on exiting the apparatus.

Continuous additive manufacturing apparatuses are provided. An apparatus includes an actinic radiation-transparent substrate having a major surface and an irradiation source configured to direct actinic radiation through the actinic radiation-transparent substrate at predetermined dosages at predetermined locations. The apparatus further includes a means for depositing a composition onto the major surface of the actinic radiation-transparent substrate and a means for conveying the actinic radiation-transparent substrate or the irradiation source with respect to each other.

A method for direct transfer printing is disclosed. The method for direct transfer printing includes applying a fountain solution to an imaging blanket in a negative imagewise manner using an inkjet printhead, contacting the imaging blanket with a printing substrate, transferring the fountain solution from the imaging blanket to the printing substrate, contacting the printing substrate with an inking station, and depositing an ink film from the inking station to the printing substrate in one or more locations on the printing substrate where there is no fountain solution. A module for a direct transfer marking process and a direct transfer printing system are also disclosed.

A method for direct transfer printing is disclosed. The method for direct transfer printing includes applying a fountain solution to an imaging blanket in a negative imagewise manner using an inkjet printhead, contacting the imaging blanket with a printing substrate, transferring the fountain solution from the imaging blanket to the printing substrate, contacting the printing substrate with an inking station, and depositing an ink film from the inking station to the printing substrate in one or more locations on the printing substrate where there is no fountain solution. A module for a direct transfer marking process and a direct transfer printing system are also disclosed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing printed material on which active energy ray-curable ink is printed, the method being capable of improving print density without impairing gradation expressivity.

The present invention is a method for producing printed material, the method including, in order: a transfer process of transferring ink to a transfer target surface of a substrate; and an impression process of bringing each of impression cylinders into contact with the transfer target surface to which the ink has been transferred, and at least one of the impression cylinders has a patterned impression part.

There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate, the donor surface returns to the coating station where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

There is disclosed a method of printing onto the surface of a substrate, which method comprises i) coating a donor surface with a monolayer of particles, ii) treating the substrate surface to render at least selected regions tacky, and iii) contacting the substrate surface with the donor surface to cause particles to transfer from the donor surface only to the tacky regions of the substrate surface. After printing on a substrate, the donor surface returns to the coating station where the continuity of the monolayer is restored by recovering with fresh particles the regions of the donor surface exposed by the transfer of particles to the substrate.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for printing an ink pattern on a moving web via die cutting are provided. A die roll including an inked pattern of die blades contacts a substrate to cut or cleave the substrate surface. While the die blades withdraw from the substrate, at least some of the ink transfers from the die blades to the cut substrate to form an ink pattern.

Methods of increasing the particle size of ammonium octamolybdate (AOM) pigment powder are provided. A method can include heating the AOM pigment powder to a temperature above 20° C. for a given amount of time. An ink composition can be produced by formulating AOM pigment powder with increased particle size and incorporating the AOM pigment powder into an ink composition.