Infrared air float bar for use in floating and drying a continuous planar web of a material in a dryer. Direct radiated or reflected infrared electromagnetic energy from an infrared light source in a removable channel assembly accelerates drying, or evaporation of solvents, or curing of web material passing in proximity to the bar, either by infrared electromagnetic energy, or in combination with convention airflow. The infrared source is cooled by pressurized air passing through an interior portion of the removable air bar channel assembly, and the air is further conducted into fluid contact with the web in an air gap between the emitter and web to promote convective heat transfer and to contribute to the air pressure field supporting web flotation. The removable channel assembly is configured for replacement of the infrared emitter and to allow the setting of the pressurized cooling air flow to the optimum level.

A machine for digital printing on tape, which comprises a frame that supports elements of entraining at least one tape along an advancement path and is provided with at least one printing assembly, which comprises at least one ink-jet printing head; downstream of the printing assembly, along the advancement direction of the tape, there is at least one assembly for drying the inks applied to the tape; the drying assembly comprises a temperature-adjustable drum for supporting and entraining the tape, adhesion elements adapted to allow the retention in adhesion of the tape on the outer lateral surface of the drum, and hot air emitter elements which face at least one portion of the outer lateral surface of the drum.

A method for manufacturing laminated printed tapes, comprising the steps of: causing the advancement of a primary tape, making it adhere, with at least one segment thereof, to the lateral surface of an entrainment drum; performing at least one printing operation with application of at least one layer of ink on at least one portion of the segment of the primary tape in adhesion with the lateral surface of the entrainment drum; and subsequently laminating, on the segment of the primary tape in adhesion with the lateral surface of the entrainment drum, a secondary tape by way of the interposition of adhesive material, so as to obtain a laminated printed tape.

Systems and methods are provided for enhanced dryers for printing systems. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a dryer for a continuous-forms printing system. The dryer includes heating elements located within an interior of the dryer that radiate infrared energy onto a web of printed media as the web travels through the interior, and an air knife that is interposed between the heating elements. The air knife includes a shell that directly absorbs infrared energy from the heating elements and also defines a passage for air to travel through the air knife onto the web. The shell directly absorbs infrared energy from each heating element that would otherwise overlap on the web with infrared energy from another heating element.

Methods for drying a substrate. The methods include the following steps: (a) emitting infrared radiation towards a substrate moving through a process space using an emitter unit comprising at least one inflated emitter, (b) generating at least two process gas streams of a process gas directed towards the substrate, (c) drying the substrate by the action of infrared radiation and process gas on the substrate, and (d) extracting moisture-laden process gas from the process space via an extraction duct, forming an exhaust air stream leading away from the substrate. To specify a drying method which is reproducible and effective and leads to an improved result, in particular in terms of homogeneity and speed of drying of the substrate, the at least two process gas streams are guided to the infrared emitter before they act on the substrate, and an exhaust air stream is spatially assigned to each process gas stream.

A heated roller, in particular for a textile printer, comprising: a pair of stationary supports, an elongated tubular element located between said stationary supports and rotatably carried by said stationary supports about a longitudinal axis, a stationary infrared lamp extending inside said tubular element and having opposite ends supported by said stationary supports, a lamp support device extending between said stationary supports inside said tubular element and supporting the infrared lamp between said stationary supports, and an elastic device which applies an elastic tension to said lamp support device between said stationary supports in the direction of said longitudinal axis.

A printing machine for printing on a printing substrate web includes a plurality of inline flexographic printing units which are disposed in a plane accessible to an operator of the machine. Each one of the two flexographic printing units of a respective duplex printing station includes a respective impression cylinder and a dryer disposed between the two impression cylinders along a path of web travel of the web of printing substrate. A method of operating the printing machine is also provided.

Infrared air float bar for use in floating and drying a continuous planar web of a material in a dryer. Direct radiated or reflected infrared electromagnetic energy from an infrared light source in a removable channel assembly accelerates drying, or evaporation of solvents, or curing of web material passing in proximity to the bar, either by infrared electromagnetic energy, or in combination with convention airflow. The infrared source is cooled by pressurized air passing through an interior portion of the removable air bar channel assembly, and the air is further conducted into fluid contact with the web in an air gap between the emitter and web to promote convective heat transfer and to contribute to the air pressure field supporting web flotation. The removable channel assembly is configured for replacement of the infrared emitter and to allow the setting of the pressurized cooling air flow to the optimum level.

Methods for drying a substrate. The methods include the following steps: (a) emitting infrared radiation towards a substrate moving through a process space using an emitter unit comprising at least one infrared emitter, (b) generating at least two process gas streams of a process gas directed towards the substrate, (c) drying the substrate by the action of infrared radiation and process gas on the substrate, and (d) extracting moisture-laden process gas from the process space via an extraction duct, forming an exhaust air stream leading away from the substrate. To specify a drying method which is reproducible and effective and leads to an improved result, in particular in terms of homogeneity and speed of drying of the substrate, the at least two process gas streams are guided to the infrared emitter before they act on the substrate, and an exhaust air stream is spatially assigned to each process gas stream.

Systems and methods for adjustable path length of print media in a dryer of a printing system. In one embodiment, the dryer includes a drum that applies heat to a web of print media. The dryer also includes first rollers positioned in an arc around the drum to define a path of travel of the web along the arc when the web is between an entrance of the dryer and the drum. The dryer further includes second rollers positioned inside the arc from the first rollers to reverse the path of travel of the web inside the arc when the web is between the drum and an exit of the dryer. A first roller and a second roller transport the web around the drum. A location of the first roller and the second roller relative to the arc defines a length of the web inside the dryer.