Techniques for scrambling residual images left behind on print ribbons due to printing on plastic cards or passports. A string of characters to be printed onto a plastic card is divided into character subsets. Metadata is assigned to each character subset, with the metadata defining the print sequence and location on the plastic card of each character subset. The character subsets are then printed on the plastic card in the sequence and the locations determined by the metadata. The sequence of characters in a residual image left on the print ribbon after printing of the character string differs from the sequence of the characters in the character string printed on the plastic card or passport.

An inkjet printing machine for printing individual sheets comprises at least one printing station and a transport system defining a transport track (101) for transporting the individual sheets through the printing station, along a transport direction. The transport system comprises a plurality of gripper conveyors (150) running along the transport track (101) for holding the individual sheets during a printing process in the printing station. At least one of the plurality of gripper conveyors (150) comprises a gripper mechanism (175) for gripping a leading edge of one of the individual sheets and at least one of the plurality of gripper conveyors comprises a gripper mechanism (175) for gripping a trailing edge of the individual sheet. The transport system further comprises a linear motor (116, 165) being controllable in such a way that movement of each of the gripper conveyors (150) along the transport track (101) is individually controllable. The printing machine allows for efficient and flexible handling of individual sheets, in particular large format sheets of materials such as corrugated cardboard or other materials that have a certain degree of inherent stability.

A method of preparing a packaging box (50) wherein late stage customization (20) is provided on the inside of the packaging box. Late stage customization is provided on a folded packaging box. Late stage customization is provided by an imaging technique selected from laser marking, laser engraving, thermal printing and inkjet printing. The packaging box includes an image-receiving layer adapted to the imaging-technique.

The present invention includes a plurality of substrate stages which are provided under a head unit, on which substrates are loaded, and which move along a rail, a head unit is controlled to perform first printing on a substrate at a first position, and after the substrate stage moves, perform second printing on the one substrate at the first position or a second position, and thus a total tact time can be decreased and productivity can be improved.

The present invention includes a plurality of substrate stages which are provided under a head unit, on which substrates are loaded, and which move along a rail, a head unit is controlled to perform first printing on a substrate at a first position, and after the substrate stage moves, perform second printing on the one substrate at the first position or a second position, and thus a total tact time can be decreased and productivity can be improved.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge unit and a contact detection unit. The liquid discharge unit has a liquid discharge port from which a liquid is discharged toward an object. The liquid discharge unit is movable along at least one of a first axis and a second axis intersecting the first axis and movable along a third axis intersecting the first axis and the second axis. The third axis is parallel to a direction in which the liquid is discharged from the liquid discharge port toward the object. The contact detection unit detects contact of the liquid discharge unit with the object. The contact detection unit is detachably attached to the liquid discharge unit.

In a printing method, at least one image of a substrate supported in a printing system is acquired. An actual position of a first alignment feature on the substrate in a frame of reference of the printing system is determined based on the at least one image. Expected positions of second alignment features on the substrate are determined based on the actual position of the first alignment feature. Actual positions of the second alignment features in the frame of reference of the printing system are determined based on the at least one image and the expected positions of the second alignment features. Target positions of print regions on the substrate are determined based on the actual positions of the second alignment features. Ejection of print material onto the substrate in the print regions is controlled based on the target positions of the print regions.

An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a gas cushion substrate support having a metal support surface; a print assembly with a dispenser having ejection nozzles facing the support surface; a gas source fluidly coupled to the gas cushion substrate support by a gas conduit; and a thermal control system coupled to the gas conduit.

The invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing print objects, comprising a machine base body which has a width side and a longitudinal side and is designed to accommodate at least one print object, a guide device which is arranged above the machine base body and extends over the print object over the width of the machine base body, and a printing device which is designed to print the print object and is moveably arranged on the guide device over the width of the machine base body. The printing device comprises at least one first print head unit and a second print head unit, which can be independently moved relative to each other over the width of the machine base body on the guide device, wherein each print head unit has at least one print head which is designed to print the print object with at least one printing ink. In addition, the invention relates to a print method for printing textile surfaces, in particular with the apparatus, according to the invention, in which at least one print object is held on a machine base body and a printing device is delivered to the at least one print object. The first print head unit and at least one second print head unit of the printing device are independently moved over the width of the holding base body relative to each other along a guide device and print the at least one print object with a printed image.

The invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing print objects, comprising a machine base body which has a width side and a longitudinal side and is designed to accommodate at least one print object, a guide device which is arranged above the machine base body and extends over the print object over the width of the machine base body, and a printing device which is designed to print the print object and is moveably arranged on the guide device over the width of the machine base body. The printing device comprises at least one first print head unit and a second print head unit, which can be independently moved relative to each other over the width of the machine base body on the guide device, wherein each print head unit has at least one print head which is designed to print the print object with at least one printing ink. In addition, the invention relates to a print method for printing textile surfaces, in particular with the apparatus, according to the invention, in which at least one print object is held on a machine base body and a printing device is delivered to the at least one print object. The first print head unit and at least one second print head unit of the printing device are independently moved over the width of the holding base body relative to each other along a guide device and print the at least one print object with a printed image.