Systems and methods for printing a plurality of images on a substrate include, for each of the plurality of images: determining whether that image is a removable image or a permanent image, identifying, based on the determination, at least one layer to be used for printing that image in addition to a marking material layer that forms the image. The at least one layer may be a pre-coat layer applied under the marking material layer and/or a post-coat layer applied over the marking material layer. The marking material layer and the at least one layer are then printed on the object.

The system and methods for marking an optical fiber with color-coded marks disclosed herein include forming closely spaced multiple ink streams, with at least two of the ink streams having different colors. The optical fiber moves over a fiber path that resides adjacent the ink streams. The fiber path and the ink streams are made to briefly intersect so that the ink streams form on the outer surface of the optical fiber a group of spaced apart individual marks, wherein the group of individual marks constitute a color-coded mark. Repeating this marking process at different times as the fiber moves over the fiber path forms spaced apart color-coded marks along the length of the fiber. Subsequent drying and overcoating of the marks fixes and protects the color-coded marks.

A method for printing a three-dimensional object includes printing a first color layer having a first color in a first region of a three-dimensional object, printing a second color layer having a second color in a second region of the three-dimensional object, printing a first structural layer directly onto the first color layer, the first structural layer having a first structural thickness which in combination with a first color thickness forms a first target thickness, and printing a second structural layer directly onto the second color layer, the second structural layer having a second structural thickness which in combination with a second color thickness forms the first target thickness. The first color thickness and the second color thickness are different, and the first structural thickness and the second structural thickness are different.

A printing device is provided and includes: a table attaching portion, replaceably attaching a respective table of a first table for mounting a three-dimensional object and a second table including a mounting surface for mounting a medium and a plurality of pass-through holes passing through the mounting surface and a back surface on an opposite side of the mounting surface; an ejecting unit, ejecting a shaping material for shaping the three-dimensional object and a coloring material for coloring the three-dimensional object and the medium toward the table attached to the table attaching portion; a relative moving portion, relatively moving the table attaching portion and the ejecting unit in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction; and a suction portion, decompressing a side of the back surface of the second table when the second table is attached to the table attaching portion to adsorb the medium to the mounting surface.

An ink jet liquid composition contains an organic solvent, a polymerizable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and a polyether-modified siloxane compound having a weight-average molecular weight of 3,000 or more, and the content of the organic solvent is 40% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the composition. In addition, an ink jet recording method using the ink jet liquid composition is provided.

A surface treatment support structure assembly for treating a contoured surface includes a support structure array formed from a plurality of base structures, each base structure being operably coupled with respect to one another and configured to slide along a longitudinal axis and rotate about a laterally translating axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The support structure array further includes at least one applicator head coupled to each base structure of the support structure array, each of the at least one applicator head being configured to treat the contoured surface. Additionally, a base structure actuator is operatively coupled to and configured to manipulate each base structure along the longitudinal axis and the laterally translating axis such that the support structure array is adjusted relative to the contoured surface.

A method is disclosed in which an identifier is to be printed on a surface of a part to be additive manufactured. The identifier is utilized during post-processing of the part at the manufacturing facility, then the identifier is modified so as to no longer be visible before leaving the facility.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

An inkjet printing method for manufacturing a decorative surface comprising staggered decorative laminate panels including the steps of: i) digitally dividing a first master image (15, 30) into decorative laminate panel images (16); ii) digitally staggering neighbouring decorative laminate panel images (18) over a selected staggering distance (17) having a value between L/2 and L/20 with L representing the length of a decorative laminate panel; iii) digitally composing a second master image (19, 33) from the neighbouring staggered decorative laminate panel images (18); iv) printing the second master image (19, 33) with one or more inkjet inks on a substrate, wherein the substrate is a paper substrate and the one or more inkjet inks are aqueous pigmented inkjet inks printed on the substrate before or after impregnation with a thermosetting resin; or wherein the one or more inkjet inks are UV curable inkjet inks and the substrate is a thermoplastic substrate based on a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and combinations thereof.

The disclosure relates to ink compositions for digital printing on an external surface of a plastic article. The ink compositions comprise an ink removal-promoting additive. In some aspects, the ink removal-promoting additive can facilitate the separation or loosening of the image from the external surface of the article when the image is exposed to a liquid-based solution at an elevated temperature. Also disclosed are recyclable plastic articles having an external surface with an image printed thereon using the disclosed ink composition and methods for removing cured ink from a plastic container. 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 invention.