Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink formulation applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein.

Provided are an ink jet image forming method and an ink jet image forming apparatus in which a complex elastic modulus (Pa) before an intermediate image comes into contact with a liquid absorbing member is 4.0 or more in the common logarithm, and a complex elastic modulus (Pa) before the intermediate image comes into contact with the recording medium is 7.0 or less in the common logarithm.

A printing system is disclosed for thermal transfer printing onto a surface of a substrate. The system comprises a transfer member having opposite front and rear sides with an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which energy is applied by a thermal print head via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the imaging surface to render particles coating the selected regions tacky, and a transfer station at which the imaging surface of the transfer member and the substrate surface are pressed against each other to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of the particles that have been rendered tacky.

A printing system is disclosed which comprises a writing module, and a member having an imaging surface configured to carry a polymer and movable relative to the writing module. The writing module is configured to direct onto the imaging surface a plurality of individually controllable light beams that are spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the imaging surface, incidence of a light beam on a spot on the imaging surface serving to soften or liquefy the polymer carried by the imaging surface at the spot. The polymer softened or liquefied at the spot can transfer to a substrate or serve as an adhesive on the imaging surface. The writing module comprises a plurality of integrated electronic modules each having an array of individually controllable light sources, each light source producing a respective one of the light beams. In the invention, each light source comprises at least two Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) light-emitting semiconductor junctions connected in series with one another and configured to direct light onto the imaging surface at the same spot as one another.

There is disclosed a layered article that can be used in indirect printing, in analog or digital processes. The layered article, when configured as a transfer member, may serve to receive an ink in any form, allow the ink to be treated so as to form an ink image, and permit the application of the ink image on a substrate. The transfer member comprises a support layer and an imaging layer, which may be formed of a silicon matrix including dispersed carbon black particles. Methods for preparing the same are also disclosed.

An intermediate transfer member (ITM) for use in a printing system to transport an ink image from an image forming station to an impression station for transfer of the ink image from the ITM onto a printing substrate, wherein the ITM is an endless flexible belt of substantially uniform width which, during use, passes over drive and guide rollers and is guided through at least the image forming station by means of guide channels that receive formations provided on both lateral edges of the belt, wherein the formations on a first edge differ from the formations on the second edge by being configured for providing the elasticity desired to maintain the belt taut when the belt is guided through their respective lateral channels.

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.

A system and method which allows for a pre-constructed article of clothing to having printing on substantially all of its external surface area. Specifically, an image may be simultaneously printed across multiple components of a clothing article. The method generally provides for transfer of a digital image, such as a digital photograph, to be applied to an article of clothing in a manner that prints an entire two-dimensional surface of the clothing with a coherent image that maintains coherency when the article of clothing is worn. There is also provided an article of clothing produced using the systems and methods.

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 printing process that reduces the amount of flash that occurs when printing to a surface of a plastic card. The printing can occur by a retransfer printing process. The printing process includes generating an image canvas that has rounded corners instead of the conventional right angle corners. The use of rounded corners on the image canvas reduces the amount of printing in the image canvas at the corners compared to an image canvas that has right angle corners, thereby reducing the amount of printing that is present that could form flash at the corners of the card surface.