A method of automatically diagnosing media handling defects on sheets, the method including receiving a first image of a first sheet, determining that the first image includes a detected media handling defect, determining that the detected media handling defect matches one or more known media handling defects in a database, and displaying a rectifying action.

In some examples, a processing machine for processing a substrate includes at least one shaping unit. The at least one shaping unit includes at least one forme cylinder and at least one impression cylinder. A processing point for processing a substrate is arranged between the at least one forme cylinder and the at least one impression cylinder. The processing machine includes a control unit for correcting a processing length of the substrate, and which controls a speed of at least one of the at least one forme cylinder or the at least one impression cylinder. The at least one forme cylinder and the at least one impression cylinder have a speed ratio with respect to one another that is changeable at the processing point as a function of the processing length of the substrate, and the speed ratio differs at least once within a full cylinder revolution.

In some examples, a processing machine for processing a substrate includes at least one shaping unit and/or at least one application unit. The at least one application unit and/or the at least one shaping unit in each case includes at least one forme cylinder and at least one impression cylinder. The at least one forme cylinder of the application unit includes at least one application forme including at least one application surface and/or the at least one shaping unit includes at least one shaping tool including at least one working surface. The application surface and/or the working surface are arranged to cover at least a portion of the outer cylindrical surface of the at least one forme cylinder. A speed of the at least one forme cylinder and a speed of the at least one impression cylinder have a speed ratio with respect to one another.

In an example of the disclosure, first and second print jobs are received at a printer. The first and second print jobs each include production frames. The first and second print jobs are printed with a media roll change occurring during printing. A first finishing device information nonproduction (FDIN) frame and a second FDIN frame are printed. The first and second FDIN frames include coded information regarding the first print job and the second print job, respectively. The coded information is for reading by a scanner at a finishing device. A press calibration nonproduction (PCN) frame that includes a printer calibration diagnostic is printed. A scanner at the printer is caused to capture the printer calibration diagnostic. A calibration operation is performed at the printer utilizing data or attributes captured from the printer calibration diagnostic.

Systems and methods for laser assisted deposition of a material includes a printing unit configured to print individual dot-like portions of a material from a donor substrate onto a receiving substrate, and a vacuum shuttle configured to be positionable in two or three dimensions between the printing unit and the donor substrate and to engage the donor substrate upon application of a vacuum to the vacuum shuttle. The printing unit may include a coating system and a laser. The vacuum shuttle includes a vacuum channel about its periphery and an open window through which the laser irradiates the donor substrate. The vacuum channel is fluidly coupled to a vacuum inlet for receiving a vacuum suction, thereby to engage the donor substrate and hold it taught against the bottom of the vacuum shuttle in operation. The vacuum shuttle may also include one or more distance measuring sensors and fiducial markers.

An inspection apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure includes a reception unit configured to receive print data, a registration unit configured to register an image included in the print data as a reference image, an extraction unit configured to extract information relating to a barcode inspection from the received print data, and an inspection unit configured to inspect, when a scanned image generated by scanning a print product is received, a barcode in the scanned image, based on the extracted information relating to the barcode inspection.

A substrate is printed with front side and back side markings in a first color ink. The front side when viewed with reflected light includes a first marking printed in a first saturation and a first symbol printed in the first saturation. The back side when viewed with reflected light includes: a second marking printed in a second saturation; a second symbol printed in the second saturation; a third marking printed in the first saturation; and a third symbol printed in the first saturation. The first marking, the second marking, and the third marking are printed to provide an interlocking pattern of low saturation color and high saturation color when viewed with transmitted light. The second symbol is visible, and the first symbol and the second symbol are not distinguishably visible, when viewed with transmitted light.

A device and method for use with an image recording device. The device having a background target and a first surface including the background target recessed therein. The device further including a substrate stabilizer configured to move a substrate having an image printed therein in closer proximity to the background target and below the first surface when activated.

A can decorator comprising a spindle disc, a blanket drum, a transfer wheel, a pin chain drive, and a controller. The spindle disc is adapted for (i) receiving beverage cans from an infeed and (ii) carrying and rotating each can body on a corresponding spindle. The blanket drum is adapted for (i) applying ink to printing cylinders and (ii) rotating the print cylinders in registration with beverage cans on the spindle disc to decorate the cans. The transfer wheel is adapted for receiving beverage cans from the spindle disc after decoration by the blanket drum. The pin chain drive is adapted for receiving cans from the transfer wheel and transporting the cans on a chain through an oven. The controller adapted for receiving encoder information and matching or adjusting speeds of a spindle disc motor, a blanket drum motor, a transfer wheel motor, and a pin chain drive motor.

A printing apparatus includes a reading unit, having a detection surface, that reads an image on a print medium, and a fixing unit that fixes a relative position between the detection surface and the print medium in one of a first state, in which the detection surface is in contact with the print medium, and a second state, in which the detection surface is not in contact with the print medium. A control unit stops conveyance and fixes the relative position between the detection surface and the print medium to the first state, using the fixing unit, in a case in which the reading unit reads the image, and changes the relative position between the detection surface and the print medium from the first state to the second state, using the fixing unit, and resumes conveyance after image reading by the reading unit is complete.