Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink. In some embodiments, an intermediate transfer member (ITM) comprising a silicone-based release layer surface is employed. For example, the release layer surface satisfies at least one of the following properties: (i) a receding contact angle of a drop of distilled water deposited on the silicone-based release layer surface is at most 60°; and (ii) a 10-second dynamic contact angle (DCA) of a drop of distilled water deposited on the silicone-based release layer surface is at most 108°. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein.

A recording method includes a colored ink adhering step of adhering a colored ink composition to an intermediate transfer medium by an ink jet method to form a recording region A, a clear ink adhering step of adhering a clear ink composition to at least a portion of a recording medium to form a region B, and a transfer step of transferring an image formed in the recording region A to the region B of the recording medium by heating in a state where the recording region A of the intermediate transfer medium faces the region B of the recording medium. The colored ink composition contains a sublimation dye, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, and the intermediate transfer medium has a peeling layer containing a resin having a glass transition point of 100° C. or more and 200° C. or less.

To provide a printing apparatus of high printing quality for decreasing a transport amount of a film-shaped medium used in the printing apparatus, and suppressing skew of the film-shaped medium, a control section 100 that controls a transport section 49 for transporting a film-shaped medium 46 controls a transport amount of the film-shaped medium 46, corresponding to information on whether or not to print on only one side of a recording medium in detecting a type and/or Empty of the film-shaped medium 46, based on a mark detection result in initializing operation of the film-shaped medium 46.

An emulsion ink includes a carrier fluid, pigment particles, and a liquid resin. The carrier fluid is a dielectric, non-aqueous carrier fluid. The pigment particles are within the carrier fluid. The liquid resin is in a dispersed phase within the carrier fluid. The liquid resin is to be polymerized after the ink is applied to a substrate.

According to some examples in the disclosure, a method may comprise providing a first stream of discrete volumes of material; and directing a pulsed laser beam at a first discrete volume of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system are also disclosed.

The present disclosure is directed to a multilayer imaging blanket for a variable data lithography printing system, including: a multilayer base having a lower contacting surface configured to wrap around or to be mounted on a cylinder core of the variable data lithography printing system; and a platinum catalyzed fluorosilicone surface layer opposite the lower contacting surface; wherein the multilayer base is a sulfur-free carcass including: a top layer including a sulfur-free rubber substrate such as an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber substrate, a bottom layer including the lower contacting surface; and a compressible layer disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, the compressible layer being attached to a surface of the top layer opposite the platinum catalyzed fluorosilicone surface layer and a surface of the bottom layer opposite the lower contacting surface, optionally the top layer further comprises a reinforcing fabric layer, the reinforcing fabric layer attached to a surface of the compressible layer opposite the bottom layer.

Disclosed are examples for printing a one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterial for use in stretchable electronic devices. An ink comprising a nanomaterial solution is dispersed from a pneumatic dispensing system of a printing device. The 1D nanomaterial is printed in a predefined pattern on an underlying substrate positioned on a ground electrode. A voltage is applied between the printing nozzle and the ground electrode to cause the ink to form into a cone during the printing. The substrate can be modified to increase the wettability of the substrate to enhance adhesion of the ink to the substrate.

A printing apparatus prints by discharging ink to a transfer member from a first printhead, discharging a transfer accelerator to the ink from a second printhead, and transferring an image formed on the transfer member to a print medium. When inspecting a discharge state of each of plural nozzles provided in each of the first and second printheads, the apparatus controls the second printhead so as to discharge the transfer accelerator from at least one nozzle of the second printhead to a discharge area of the transfer member to which the ink is discharged by the first printhead for inspection of the discharge states of the plural nozzles of the first printhead, while inspecting a discharge state of a nozzle different from the at least one nozzle of the second printhead by discharging the transfer accelerator from the nozzle.

Some embodiments relate to printing system is described that has an intermediate transfer member (ITM) in the form of a seamed endless belt for transporting an ink image from an image forming station, at which an ink image is deposited on ITM, to an impression station, where the ink image is transferred onto a printing substrate. Two drive members are provided for movement in synchronism with one another. Rotation of the drive members during installation of a new ITM serves to thread the strip through the printing system by pulling the strip from its leading end. Alternatively or additionally, indirect printing system comprising the ITM and an image forming station at which droplets of ink are applied to the ITM to form ink images thereon is disclosed. One or more blowing mechanisms (e.g. associated with the image forming station) are disclosed herein.

A printing system for printing on a substrate, comprises a movable intermediate transfer member in the form of a flexible, substantially inextensible, belt guided to follow a closed path, an image forming station for depositing droplets of a liquid ink onto an outer surface of the belt to form an ink image, a drying station for drying the ink image on the belt to leave an ink residue film on the outer surface of the belt, first and second impression stations spaced from one another in the direction of movement of the belt, each impression station comprising an impression cylinder for supporting and transporting the substrate and a pressure cylinder carrying a compressible blanket for urging the belt against the substrate supported on the impression cylinder, and a transport system for transporting the substrate from the first impression station to the second impression station. The pressure cylinder of at least the first impression station is movable between a first position in which the belt is urged towards the impression cylinder to cause the residue film on the outer surface of the belt to be transferred onto the front side of the substrate supported on the impression cylinder, and a second position in which the belt is spaced from the impression cylinder to allow the ink image on the belt to pass through the first impression station and arrive intact at the second impression station for transfer onto the reverse side of the substrate supported on the second impression cylinder.