Provided are a manufacturing method for a foamable printed matter, a manufacturing method for a foam and a foaming inhibition ink. The manufacturing method for a printed matter is a manufacturing method for a foamable printed matter that foams to form an irregular pattern on its surface, the method including a printing step of inkjet-printing a foaming inhibition ink on a printing medium having a layer of a foamable resin composition containing a chemical foaming agent, under a temperature condition lower than a softening temperature of the foamable resin composition, the foaming inhibition ink containing: a foaming inhibitor that deteriorates a heat decomposing ability of the foamable resin composition; and a solvent that dissolves the foaming inhibitor when the foaming inhibitor is solid, is compatible with the foaming inhibitor when the foaming inhibitor is liquid, and is able to move the foaming inhibitor into the foamable resin composition.

Methods for manufacturing articles, including articles of footwear, apparel, and sporting equipment are provided. The methods comprise decorating a plurality of foam particles. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles, or embossing or debossing the foam particles, or both. The decorating can comprise applying a coating on the foam particles by printing, painting, dyeing, applying a film, or any combination thereof. The plurality of foam particles are affixed utilizing aspects of additive manufacturing methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Ink compositions and methods of use for reliably printing on alkaline and readily oxidizing surfaces comprise one or more pigments, one or more solvents for adjusting viscosity, surface tension, and/or heat tolerance, and water, the pigments being “loaded” in the ink sufficiently to meet the relevant color and optical density requirements for the ink while such ink composition still also meets the duty cycle requirements of the application.

A system and method for positioning a food product with respect to a print head for printing on a surface thereof. The system is incorporated into a printer. The system has a movable support surface for supporting the food product thereon, the support surface being vertically and horizontally moveable with respect to the print head. A sensor is provided for detecting a position of a surface of the food product positioned on the moveable support surface with respect to the print head. The sensor provides a signal to the printer indicative of a position of the surface of the food product and wherein the moveable support surface is adjustable in response thereto. The sensor is a position sensor configured to detect the position of a top surface of the food product.

A printer and corresponding method of printing an image on a surface of a plurality of food products by providing a system having a printer with an extendable and retractable receiving arm and a rotating food product delivery tray for continuously and automatically providing delivery of unprinted food products which are retracted into the printer, printed on, and returned by the receiving arm to the rotatable delivery tray and the tray further moves to deliver subsequent food products for printing.

An ink maintenance system for a printer comprising a first tray having a base and a plurality of side walls, the first tray having a first length and an open top along the length and a second tray having a base and a plurality of side walls, the second tray having a second length and an open top along its length. The system also includes a fan and a filter. To use the system, a print head is positioned in a standby or cleaning position within the printer and ink is ejected from one or more print nozzles into an ink maintenance system within the printer such that the ejected ink is collected in at least one of a catch tray or a filter of the ink maintenance system. The system is then removable from the printer for cleaning.

A printer and corresponding method of printing an image on a surface of a plurality of food products by providing a system having a printer with an extendable and retractable receiving arm and a movable food product delivery tray for continuously and automatically providing delivery of unprinted food products which are retracted into the printer, printed on, and returned by the receiving arm to the rotatable delivery tray and the tray further moves to deliver subsequent food products for printing. A motorized base spaced apart from the printer supports the delivery tray during and printing processes.

A system and method for capturing media and for printing the captured media onto an article of merchandise. The system includes a mobile application that overlays one or more print dielines corresponding to the printable areas of one or more types of merchandise onto an associated camera display. In this way, the system provides, prior to the capturing of the photograph, a visual indication of the subject matter within the photograph (e.g., within the overlaid print dielines) that will be cropped and printed onto the merchandise. As such, a user may properly arrange the subject matter of the photograph (e.g., people) within the print dieline prior to capturing the photograph. The system subsequently communicates the portion of the photograph within the print dieline to a printing system to print the portion onto the merchandise. The system derives the print dielines from graphic files that correspond to the merchandises' printable areas.

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 method for manufacturing a floor panel having a substrate and a top layer. The top layer may have a decorative layer that includes a digital print and a transparent or translucent wear layer. The method may involve providing the substrate with the digital print by jetting one or more inks from a set of inks using a digital inkjet printer. The ink may include a binding agent and/or a primer or adhesion layer may be provided between the digital print and the transparent or translucent wear layer. The digital print may be performed directly on the substrate. The transparent or translucent wear layer may be laminated on top of the printed substrate.