Abstract: A self-regulating on-demand gas generator. Generation of gas produced from a reaction is selectively, variably, and spontaneously controlled. A variable volume liquid chamber in communication with the pressure pot allows the volume of liquid reactant in the pressure pot to be varied. The amount of product gas generated in the pressure pot depends on the degree of contact between the solid-like reactant and the liquid reactant. The pressure of the product gas regulates the level of liquid in the pressure pot and thereby regulates the degree of contact between the solid-like reactant and the liquid reactant. A sealed gas chamber sharing a flexible diaphragm with the liquid chamber controls the expandability of the liquid chamber. Manipulating the pressure in the sealed gas chamber or the volume of the liquid reactant affects the pressure at which contact by the reactants will be initiated or terminated and thereby provides the ability to control the reaction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has been developed that prints inkjet images on a continuous web with a configurable number of distinct ink colors.

Abstract: The present invention is an articulating hand power tool with a main housing having a longitudinal axis, a head portion rotatably engaged with the main housing for placement at a plurality of angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main housing, an integrated circuit board located within the main housing and at least one controller accessible from outside of the main housing for controlling the integrated circuit board.

Abstract: A system enables a printhead to be aligned independently of other printheads in a printhead assembly. The system includes a printhead configured to eject ink onto an image receiving member, a plate to which the printhead can be rigidly mounted and selectively removed, and a translation carriage to which the plate is rigidly mounted and locked into position with reference to a distance between the plate and the image receiving member, a pitch position, and a yaw position, the translation carriage being coupled to an actuator for movement of the translation carriage, plate, and printhead in a cross-process direction across the image receiving member.

Abstract: A method for performing duplex printing enables increased throughput in an indirect printing system. The method includes measuring a coverage parameter for image data to be printed, and transforming operation of the printer from a first printing process timing sequence to a second printing process timing sequence in response to the coverage parameter exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method enables an inkjet printing system to attenuate image noise in an image of a test strip obtained as print media bearing the test strip travels over a roller in the printing system.

Abstract: A power tool in one embodiment includes a latch hold mechanism, a swing arm pivotable about a pivot along a swing arm path, at least one alignment plate positioned adjacent to a portion of the swing arm when the swing arm is in a first position, a latch pin movable between a first latch pin position whereat the swing arm is biased against the at least one alignment plate and a second latch pin position whereat the swing arm is not biased by the latch pin, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the swing arm resulting in a bias on the latch pin in a direction toward the second latch pin position, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer a force to the swing arm when the swing arm is maintained at the first swing arm position.

Abstract: A power tool in one embodiment is a table saw which includes a swing arm assembly movable along a swing path, an actuator configured to force the swing arm assembly away from a first swing arm position and toward a second swing arm position, and a riving knife positioned outwardly of the swing arm assembly when the swing arm assembly is in the first swing arm position, the riving knife including a channel with a first end portion and a second end portion, a first curved channel portion with a first center of curvature and located between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a second curved channel portion with a second center of curvature and located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first center of curvature is not coincident with the second center of curvature.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a plurality of inkjet ejector arrays having corresponding ink receptacles. Each inkjet array is formed from a plurality of inkjet stack layers that are bonded to a single aperture layer, and the inkjet arrays are positioned with a predetermined alignment about a curved image receiving surface.

Abstract: A pneumatic nailer for use with a high pressure fluid source is disclosed. The pneumatic nailer includes a housing defining a storage chamber positionable in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid source, a cylinder positioned within said housing, a piston having a piston head, said piston head being movable within said cylinder, said cylinder and said piston head defining a return chamber on side of said piston head, a sleeve movable with respect to said cylinder between a first sleeve position and a second sleeve position, said sleeve and said cylinder defining a sleeve space therebetween, wherein, when said sleeve is positioned in said first sleeve position, said sleeve space is isolated from fluid communication with said return chamber, and wherein, when said sleeve is positioned in said second sleeve position, said sleeve space is positioned in fluid communication with said return chamber.

Abstract: An imaging device includes print media and a plurality of ink jets for ejecting drops of substantially clear ink onto the print media. One of the print media and the substantially clear ink has a fluorescent characteristic and the other of the print media and the substantially clear ink is substantially non-fluorescent. The imaging device includes a fluorescence sensor having (i) a light emitter for illuminating the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media by the plurality of ink jets with light of an activating wavelength, and (ii) a light detector for detecting a fluorescence intensity of light received from the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media in an emission wavelength. A controller is configured to modify an operating parameter of the imaging device based on the fluorescence intensity detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A system for recycling waste phase change ink in a phase change ink imaging device includes a printhead having an on-board phase change ink reservoir and a waste ink collector for receiving ink from an ejecting face of the printhead. The printhead is supplied ink from a remote ink reservoir, which is also fluidly connected to the waste ink collector by a waste phase change ink conveyor, which is configured to convey melted waste phase change ink from the waste ink collector to the remote ink reservoir.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a pair of large surface area planar electrodes. The method includes forming a first template above a first substrate, the first template having a first plurality of pores, coating the first plurality of pores of the first template with a first layer of conducting material to form a first electrode, placing the first plurality of pores of the first electrode in proximity to a second electrode, thereby forming a gap between the first plurality of pores and the second electrode, and filling the gap with an electrolyte material.

Abstract: A solid ink stick for use in solid ink printers is provided that enables adjacent ink sticks to be separated and retained at a predetermined location in the feed channel.

Abstract: A continuous web inversion system for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a first turn bar positioned to receive a substantially continuous web moving in a first direction with a first surface facing in a printing direction and to flip the web and direct it in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A second turn bar is positioned to receive the continuous web from the first turn bar to flip the web and direct it in a third direction opposite the first direction. A third turn bar is positioned to receive the continuous web from the second turn bar to flip the web and direct it in the first direction with a second surface of the web facing in the printing direction. The second and the third turn bars are coupled together and supported for translation along an axis perpendicular to the first direction. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a lateral position of the continuous web exiting the third turn bar.

Abstract: A printer is configured with a controller that transforms operation of the printer to increase throughput. The printer includes an image receiving member, a printhead configured to eject ink drops onto the image receiving member to form an ink image, a transfix roller configured to move towards and away from the image receiving member to form a transfixing nip with the image receiving member selectively, a release agent applicator configured to engage the image receiving member selectively to apply release agent to the rotatable imaging member, and a controller configured to generate firing signals that operate the printhead from image data and to transform operation of the printer from a first printing process sequence to a second printing process sequence in response to a coverage parameter for image data to be printed being less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A solid ink loading system for a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink loader having a first end, a second end, and at least one feed channel extending between the first and the second end. The at least one feed channel includes an insertion region intermediate the first and the second end where ink sticks enter the at least one feed channel. The at least one feed channel is configured to guide ink sticks in a feed direction from the insertion region toward the second end. An ink stick retractor is configured for movement between a forward position and a rearward position substantially parallel to at least a portion of the at least one feed channel. The forward position is closer to the second end of the feed channel than the first position. The ink stick retractor is configured to selectively move ink sticks in the at least one feed channel in a retraction direction toward the first end.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer enables printheads mounted on print bars to be operated to compensate for misalignment of printheads in the process direction. The method includes identifying a position in the process direction for each printhead in a plurality of printheads, selecting one of the identified printhead positions as a reference printhead position, identifying a printhead timing parameter for each printhead mounted to at least one print bar, generating a firing signal for the printheads mounted to the at least one print bar, and adjusting delivery of the firing signal by the identified printhead timing parameter for each corresponding printhead mounted to the at least one print bar to coordinate actuation of inkjet ejectors in the printheads mounted to the at least one print bar and compensate for misalignment of the printheads in the process direction.

Abstract: A stripper blade system has been developed for high throughput inkjet printers. The stripper blade system includes a metallic blade having a leading edge that is less than 0.06 mm in thickness, a blade holder to which the metallic blade is mounted, and an actuator that is associated with the blade holder to move the metallic blade into and out of contact with an intermediate imaging member.