The present disclosure is drawn to printing systems. In one example, a printing system can include a pretreatment head, an inkjet print head, and a post-treatment head. The pretreatment head can include a first plasma generator to apply a plasma treatment to a media substrate. The inkjet print head can be positioned with respect to the pretreatment head to form a printed image on the media substrate after the plasma treatment. The post-treatment head can include a second plasma generator positioned with respect to the inkjet print head to treat the printed image on the media substrate.

A method of transfer printing comprises globally heating an array of stamps, where each stamp comprises a shape memory polymer with a light absorbing agent dispersed therein, and pressing the array of stamps to a donor substrate comprising a plurality of inks. Each stamp is thereby compressed from an undeformed adhesion-off configuration to a deformed adhesion-on configuration. The array of stamps is then cooled to rigidize the shape memory polymer and bind the plurality of inks to the stamps in the deformed adhesion-on configuration. The plurality of inks remain bound to the stamps while the array of stamps is positioned in proximity with a receiving substrate. A selected stamp in the array is then locally heated using a concentrated light source. The selected stamp returns to the undeformed adhesion-off configuration, and the ink bound to the selected stamp is released and transfer printed onto the receiving substrate.

A method of transfer printing comprises globally heating an array of stamps, where each stamp comprises a shape memory polymer with a light absorbing agent dispersed therein, and pressing the array of stamps to a donor substrate comprising a plurality of inks. Each stamp is thereby compressed from an undeformed adhesion-off configuration to a deformed adhesion-on configuration. The array of stamps is then cooled to rigidize the shape memory polymer and bind the plurality of inks to the stamps in the deformed adhesion-on configuration. The plurality of inks remain bound to the stamps while the array of stamps is positioned in proximity with a receiving substrate. A selected stamp in the array is then locally heated using a concentrated light source. The selected stamp returns to the undeformed adhesion-off configuration, and the ink bound to the selected stamp is released and transfer printed onto the receiving substrate.

Controlling power delivered to a heating device occurs using a phase control, wherein the phase control includes changing a cut-off phase of an alternating current electrical signal delivered to the heating device. The power delivered to the heating device is increased from zero to an operational level using the phase control. The level of the power delivered to the heating device is maintained at the operational level using both the phase control and an integral half cycle control. The integral half cycle includes selectively removing a plurality of half cycles from the alternating current electrical signal delivered to the heating device.

A label modification unit may receive a label modification input that indicates a label modification associated with content being written to a label or erased from the label. The label modification unit may identify an area of the label that is associated with the label modification according to the label modification input. The label modification unit may determine, based on a size of the area, a spot size of a light beam that is configured to be emitted by a laser printhead to modify the content within the area. The label modification unit may determine, based on the spot size and the content, an optical path configuration for the laser printhead. The label modification unit may operate the laser printhead according to the optical path configuration to write the content to the area or erase the content from the area.

A label modification unit may receive a label modification input that indicates a label modification associated with content being written to a label or erased from the label. The label modification unit may identify an area of the label that is associated with the label modification according to the label modification input. The label modification unit may determine, based on a size of the area, a spot size of a light beam that is configured to be emitted by a laser printhead to modify the content within the area. The label modification unit may determine, based on the spot size and the content, an optical path configuration for the laser printhead. The label modification unit may operate the laser printhead according to the optical path configuration to write the content to the area or erase the content from the area.

A laser marking system for marking a product comprising a laser source for providing a laser beam, a marking head for projecting the laser beam on to the product, a housing comprising an extraction device configured to generate a flow of extraction fluid for extracting matter generated by an interaction between the laser beam and the product, and a controller for controlling the laser source and the marking head. The laser marking system further comprises an umbilical assembly connecting the housing to the marking head.

A laser marking system for marking a product comprising a laser source for providing a laser beam, a marking head for projecting the laser beam on to the product, a housing comprising an extraction device configured to generate a flow of extraction fluid for extracting matter generated by an interaction between the laser beam and the product, and a controller for controlling the laser source and the marking head. The laser marking system further comprises an umbilical assembly connecting the housing to the marking head.

Pattern transfer printing (PTP) systems and methods are provided to improve the quality, accuracy and throughput of pattern transfer printing. PTP systems comprise a tape handling unit for handling a tape with pattern transfer sheets sections and for controllably delivering the pattern transfer sheets one-by-one for paste filling and consecutively for pattern transfer, with the tape moving from an unwinder roll to a re-winding roll. PTP systems further comprise a paste filling unit which enables continuous paste filling using a supporting counter roll opposite to the paste filling head, a wafer handling unit controllably delivering wafers for the pattern transfer in a parallelized manner that increases throughput, a paste transfer unit with enhanced accuracy and efficiency due to exact monitoring and wafer alignment, as well as a print quality control unit.

Pattern transfer printing (PTP) systems and methods are provided to improve the quality, accuracy and throughput of pattern transfer printing. PTP systems comprise a tape handling unit for handling a tape with pattern transfer sheets sections and for controllably delivering the pattern transfer sheets one-by-one for paste filling and consecutively for pattern transfer, with the tape moving from an unwinder roll to a re-winding roll. PTP systems further comprise a paste filling unit which enables continuous paste filling using a supporting counter roll opposite to the paste filling head, a wafer handling unit controllably delivering wafers for the pattern transfer in a parallelized manner that increases throughput, a paste transfer unit with enhanced accuracy and efficiency due to exact monitoring and wafer alignment, as well as a print quality control unit.