An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents 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 excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

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.

A method, a panel and equipment to form a digital print by applying dry ink, preferably including particles of pigment coated wood fibres, on a surface, bonding a part of the particles with a liquid blank ink drops and removing the non-bonded particles from the surface. A panel having a surface with a wood grain dcor, the panel including a first surface portion that is formed by a continuous basic layer including wood fibres having a first color, and a second surface portion that is formed by wood fibres having a second color, wherein the wood fibres having the second color are applied on and bonded to the continuous basic layer, and wherein the second surface portion covers a part of the first surface portion.

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.

A method, a panel and equipment to form a digital print by applying dry ink (15), preferably including particles of pigment coated wood fibres (61), on a surface (2), bonding a part of the particles with a liquid blank ink drops (57) and removing the non-bonded particles from the surface (2).

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.

Examples disclosed herein relate to application of a coating fluid. Examples include an apparatus including a first coating applicator to apply a coating fluid to a plurality of first rollers; a first transfer roller in contact with the plurality of first rollers to receive coating fluid; and a media path to apply coating fluid from the first transfer roller to a first side of a media, wherein the plurality of first rollers are shorter than the first transfer roller and are individually movable along its longitudinal axes such that they may positioned to apply a variable width of coating fluid onto the first transfer roller.

A method of forming a digital print on a surface by applying powder of dry ink including colourants on the surface, bonding a part of the dry ink powder to the surface by a digital heating print head such that the digital print is formed by the bonded dry ink colourants and removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface.

A method of forming a digital print on a surface by applying powder of dry ink including colourants on the surface, bonding a part of the dry ink powder to the surface by a digital heating print head such that the digital print is formed by the bonded dry ink colourants and removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface.

A device for producing a pattern combination on a clothing includes the following: a rotary screen, a cylindrical jacket surface with a perforation pattern that defines a first pattern component. Material in the liquid or pasty state is pressed through the perforations of the jacket surface of the rotary screen and deposited on the surface of the clothing in order to produce the first pattern component on a surface of the clothing, while the rotary screen, rotating several times about a longitudinal axis thereof, rolls on the surface of the clothing in at least one path that continuously revolves on the surface of the clothing at least once. At least one device produces, synchronously and/or simultaneously, a second pattern component, which device is connected indirectly or directly to the rotary screen. The device for producing the pattern combination also includes a post-run system.