Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of jigs (broadly, inserts) for use when sublimation printing on socks, production ready sublimation printable socks with preinstalled jigs therein, and related systems and methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a jig includes an upper portion and a lower portion. A first transition or rounded shoulder portion is along a first side of the jig between the upper portion and the lower portion. A second transition or rounded shoulder portion is along a second side of the jig between the upper portion and the lower portion.

A high speed tabletop and industrial printer is disclosed with integrated high speed RFID encoding and verification at the same time. The industrial printer simultaneously prints on and electronically encodes/verifies RFID labels, tags, and/or stickers attached to a continuous web. The industrial printer comprises a lighted sensor array for indexing the printing to the RFID tags; and a cutter powered from the industrial printer for cutting the web that the RFID tags are disposed on. The industrial printer comprises two RFID reader/writers that are individually controlled. Specifically, one of the RFID reader/writers comprises the ability to electronically encode the RFID tags while the web is moving; and the second RFID reader/writer uses an additional RFID module and antenna on the printer for verifying the data encoded to the RFID tags.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new polymer coating for low temperature plastics and plastic foams that allows for the application of disperse dyes in a sublimation process that preserves the original properties of the underlying plastic substrate. The composition includes an optically clear synthetic organic polymer base holding two layers, a first reflective layer supported by the low temperature plastic substrate that includes IR radiation reflecting additives, and a second layer supported by the first layer having light scattering particulate additives. The disperse dyes utilized in the invention may include additives to absorb IR radiation provided by an external IR source positioned above the disperse dyes causing the dyes to sublimate and diffuse quickly into the light scattering layer. The combination of these layers allows for diffusion of the disperse dye ink into the light scattering layer while protecting the low temperature plastic below.

Techniques are described for reducing or eliminating a bow in a plastic card that results from applying radiation, such as UV radiation, to a surface of the plastic card to cure radiation curable material that has been applied to the surface. In one embodiment, after printing of all radiation curable material on the plastic card is completed, radiation is applied to both surfaces of the plastic card. After applying the radiation, the plastic card complies with ISO 7810:2019, Clause 8.10.

Printing multi-color images on non-vinyl plastic identification documents in identification document printing systems. A non-linear pixel density adjustment curve is used to adjust the pixel density data of a multi-color image to be printed which adjusts the power applied to the thermal print head. The use of a non-linear pixel density adjustment curve to adjust the pixel density data improves the quality of the resulting multi-color printed image, reduces mass transfer of the dye donor layer, and reduces breaking of the carrier film of the print ribbon.

A digital printed fabric includes a base cloth and a digital printing ink disposed on the base cloth, and a manufacturing method for the digital printing ink includes the following steps. A first thermal process including mixing a dye, a crosslinking agent, and a polyol is performed, such that a polymer dye is formed, in which a reaction temperature of the first thermal process is between 70° C. and 90° C. A second thermal process including mixing the polymer dye and an aqueous bridging agent is performed, such that a first mixture is formed, in which a reaction temperature of the second thermal process is between 90° C. and 120° C. A third thermal process including mixing the first mixture and a chain extender is performed, such that the digital printing ink is formed, in which a reaction temperature of the third thermal process is between 120° C. and 150° C.

Use of a laser-activatable component in a composition and/or use of a composition that includes the laser-activatable component, during laser transfer printing, characterized in that the laser-activatable component is activated by laser irradiation during use in such a way that the viscosity and/or the elasticity and/or the tack of the composition increase(s) due to an increase in temperature of the composition, wherein the laser-activatable component is a polymer made up of the groups comprising polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylate, polyester, or copolymers of these polymers or blends.

Examples relate to methods to print a garment and sublimation devices. A sublimation device comprises a heating system to heat an air flow and a holder to receive a garment. The holder comprises an outer surface to contact an inner side of the garment opposite to an outer side of the garment in which a print agent is to be deposited and an opening on the outer surface in fluid communication with the heated air flow.

A double-sided sublimated article and method for producing the same is provided. The article may be a golf flag and is made up of a single piece of a three layer twill weaving fabric. The fabric is woven such that horizontal threads are visible and a vertical thread is not visible. Each side of the article may be simultaneously sublimated with an ultraviolet resistant ink to produce a double-sided sublimated article having images on each side in a correct orientation.

A printer includes a printing head that includes a plurality of heating elements arranged in a first direction and a processor, wherein printing data representing an image to be printed on a printing medium are divided into a plurality of line data, each of the plurality of line data representing a corresponding line segment of the image, extending in the first direction, by a series of dots constituted of printing dots to be printed on the printing medium and non-printing dots that are not printed on the printing medium, and wherein, for each of the line data, the processor obtains distribution information of the printing dots in the line data, and sets an energizing time, during which the selected heating elements are energized continuously, or intermittently by pulses, to print the corresponding printing dots, in accordance with the distribution information of the printing dots in the line data.