Methods, systems, and apparatus for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus (100) including: a band (105) capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers (110) arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate (120); a printhead (125) configured to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate; an ink feed device (135) configured to add hot melt ink to the band, a heating device (140) configured to heat the ink on the band, and a blade (155, 186) proximately located with the heating device and configured to control ink thickness of the ink on the band; and a controller (160) communicatively coupled with the blade, wherein the controller is configured to reposition the blade, in accordance with a viscosity of the ink and a speed of the band, to control the thickness of the hot melt ink on the band after the blade.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus (100) including: a band (105) capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers (110) arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate (120); a printhead (125) configured to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate; an ink feed device (135) configured to add hot melt ink to the band, a heating device (140) configured to heat the ink on the band, and a blade (155, 186) proximately located with the heating device and configured to control ink thickness of the ink on the band; and a controller (160) communicatively coupled with the blade, wherein the controller is configured to reposition the blade, in accordance with a viscosity of the ink and a speed of the band, to control the thickness of the hot melt ink on the band after the blade.

Systems and methods for forming and applying decorations onto substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be formed on a carrier web at a decoration forming station positioned along a web path. The decorations may be transported along the web path to an application station at which the decorations are applied to substrates from the carrier web.

Systems and methods for forming and applying decorations onto substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be formed on a carrier web at a decoration forming station positioned along a web path. The decorations may be transported along the web path to an application station at which the decorations are applied to substrates from the carrier web.

Embodiments provide a substrate for digital printing, a digital print plank obtained based on the substrate, and a method for preparing the digital print plank. In the embodiments, an intermediate structure layer formed of wood plastic or stone plastic is obtained through die extrusion, then an elastic stress layer composed of hot-melt resin is co-extruded or bonded online on the base surface of the intermediate structure layer to obtain the substrate for digital printing; then a pattern simulate layer with a pattern and 3D effect is combined on the decorative surface of the substrate, that is, the digital print plank is obtained.

A thermal transfer device includes a fixture that holds a transfer object, a foil transfer tool that presses a thermal transfer foil placed on the transfer object and a light absorbing film placed on the thermal transfer foil and emits light onto the light absorbing film, a carriage moving mechanism that moves the foil transfer tool relative to the fixture, and a temperature detector that measures a temperature of a portion of the light absorbing film pressed and irradiated with light by the foil transfer tool.

A thermal transfer device includes a fixture that holds a transfer object, a foil transfer tool that presses a thermal transfer foil placed on the transfer object and a light absorbing film placed on the thermal transfer foil and emits light onto the light absorbing film, a carriage moving mechanism that moves the foil transfer tool relative to the fixture, and a temperature detector that measures a temperature of a portion of the light absorbing film pressed and irradiated with light by the foil transfer tool.

The method for printing a three-dimensional shaped object made of one or more materials includes providing an irradiation head configured to emit a laser beam, providing a foil, and providing a coater having a plurality of material dispensers. Further, a respective coating material may be dispensed from each of the plurality of material dispensers to provide a plurality of dispensed coatings. Further, each of the plurality of dispensed coatings may be dispensed onto the foil so as to coat the foil in parallel or series with each other.

The method for printing a three-dimensional shaped object made of one or more materials includes providing an irradiation head configured to emit a laser beam, providing a foil, and providing a coater having a plurality of material dispensers. Further, a respective coating material may be dispensed from each of the plurality of material dispensers to provide a plurality of dispensed coatings. Further, each of the plurality of dispensed coatings may be dispensed onto the foil so as to coat the foil in parallel or series with each other.

A laser-induced dispensing system for material processing is disclosed. The laser-induced dispensing system includes a fiber bundle having optical fibers. The optical fibers have first ends arranged at the first interface and second ends arranged at the second interface. Additionally, optics that direct laser beams transmitted from the second interface by the optical fibers toward a material to be deposited a substrate is provided. The optics is configured to focus the laser beams on the material to be deposited, thereby causing the material to be deposited to be released onto the substrate. Each of the optical fibers having a first end that is adjacent to a first end of another of the optical fibers at the first interface have a second end that is non-adjacent to a second end of the another of the optical fibers at the second interface.