Abstract: The invention relates to a method of cleaning a fluid circuit in an inkjet printer that comprises a print head connected to the fluid circuit through an umbilical (19), and also comprises means (50) of recovering fluid from the print head (1), this method comprising at least sending solvent to said fluid recovery means (50), without making this solvent flow in the umbilical or in the print head.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for mounting a printing apparatus to a structure includes an attachment part, which is attachable to the structure, and a support member upon which a printing apparatus is supportable. The support member enables the printing apparatus to be located in a desired position along a first axis, which extends in a first direction relative to the structure, and wherein at least a part of a footprint of the support member defined in a first plane, which is substantially transverse to the first axis, overlaps at least a part of a footprint of the printing apparatus defined in a second plane, which is substantially transverse to the first axis.

Abstract: A device for continuously measuring a level of an ink in a tank (10) of a continuous ink-jet (CIJ) printer, including: a first pair of electrodes (24, 26) and part for connecting this pair of electrodes in series, for measuring the impedance of a first predetermined height of the ink, in the tank, a second pair of electrodes (16, 18) and part for connecting this second pair of electrodes in series, for measuring a second height of the ink in the tank, this second height being included between this first height and a maximum level; part for calculating the second height, from the resistive components of the 2 impedances measured, independently of the ink conductivity.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an ink circuit of an inkjet printer, including at least one reservoir, called the main reservoir, at least one ink cartridge, a first pump to pump ink from the cartridge, a first fluid connection to transfer ink from the ink cartridge to the reservoir, a second pump to pump ink from the reservoir (10), a second fluid connection to transfer ink to the ink cartridge, and a controller. The method includes a) a step in which ink is transferred from the main reservoir as far as the cartridge, through the second pump and the second fluid connection, and b) a step to pump at least part of the ink transferred during step a) to the main reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink and/or solvent cartridge (10) for an industrial printer, such a cartridge including at least one semi-rigid or deformable volume (14), being provided with an aperture (16), and having a given maximum capacity VCmax, and holding a hermetically enclosed volume of liquid comprising an ink and/or a volatile solvent, and a gas volume, the sum of these 2 volumes being lower than the maximum capacity VCmax, and in the whole temperature range between 10° C. and 35° C. and for a 1 bar pressure.

Abstract: A method of controlling tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool and a second spool by a tape drive, the tape drive having a motor control system which includes two DC motors and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, the tape drive also having two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors, the method including only one tension setting step during a printing operation.

Abstract: A method of operating a tape drive which includes a pair of tape spool supports, upon one of which a supply spool is mountable and upon a second one of which a take up spool is mountable, each tape spool support being driveable by a respective motor to transfer tape between the spools, the tape drive further including a controller to control each of the motors, wherein the method includes reducing tension in tape extending between the two spools during a period when the tape is substantially stationary.

Abstract: A method of detecting a reduction in tension in a tape, wherein the tape is transferable between a first spool (15) and a second spool (17) by a tape drive (11), the tape drive (11) having a motor control system (25) which includes two DC motors (16, 18) and a controller (24) for controlling the operation of the motors (16, 18), the tape drive (11) also having two spool supports (12, 14), each of which is suitable for supporting a spool (15, 17) of tape, and each of which is driven by a respective one of the motors (16, 18), the method including storing a value relating to the current required to be supplied to each motor (16, 18) to maintain tension in the tape, and comparing a value relating to the current being supplied to each of the motors (16, 18) during tape transfer with the respective stored values.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a tape drive for transferring a tape carrying a marking medium, and a printhead which is operable to transfer marking medium from such a tape to print an image, the tape drive including a pair of tape spool supports, upon one of which a supply spool is mountable and upon a second one of which a take up spool is mountable, each tape spool support being drivable by a respective motor, the tape drive further including a controller to control each of the motors, wherein the tape drive is operable to position a tape adjacent the printhead such that a spacing between adjacent portions of tape from which ink is removed in successive printing operations is less than 0.5 mm.