Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.

Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.

Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.

Abstract: An image transfer mechanism includes a pressure element and a lever system. The lever system has a load attachment point with a range of position that depends on the thickness of a print medium positioned between the imaging element and the pressure element. A load mechanism includes a load connector with a distal end attached to the lever system load attachment point so that displacement of the lever system attachment point causes longitudinal movement of the load connector. The load mechanism applies a load that is substantially constant throughout the range of position of the lever system load attachment point. The load mechanism includes a spring and a crank attached to the spring and to the proximal end of the load connector. The crank is configured so that a change in the spring force produces a lesser change in the load force at the distal end of the load connector.

Abstract: An articulated flag body member permitting bi-directional passage of an object. The articulated flag body member has a flag body pivotably connected to a flag foot. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in one direction, the flag body rotates by engagement of a recess of the flag foot with a stop member extending along a projecting leg of the flag body. As the flag body rotates, a notch at the upper portion of the flag body changes positions such that light, or other signals, may no longer pass through the notch. Thus, positional indication of an object detected by rotation of the flag body. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in an opposite direction, an object may be extricated or removed.

Abstract: An articulated flag body member permitting bidirectional passage of an object. The articulated flag body member has a flag body pivotably connected to a flag foot. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in one direction, the flag body rotates by engagement of a recess of the flag foot with a stop member extending along a projecting leg of the flag body. As the flag body rotates, a notch at the upper portion of the flag body changes positions such that light, or other signals, may no longer pass through the notch. Thus, positional indication of an object detected by rotation of the flag body. As rotation of the flag foot occurs in an opposite direction, an object may be extricated or removed.

Abstract: A media guiding apparatus and related method for reliably directing a media sheet from a media tray to a transport nip are provided. In one embodiment the media guiding apparatus includes at least one guide member that extends from a first guide surface adjacent to the transport nip to the sheet separator in the media tray. The guide member cooperates with a second guide surface to create a substantially uninterrupted media path between the sheet separator and the transport nip. The guide member is also extendible as the sheet separator moves relative to the first and second guide surfaces within the media tray. In another embodiment, the media guiding apparatus comprises a fan that creates a positive air pressure that urges the sheet against a guide surface as the sheet advances toward the transport nip.

Abstract: A stripper blade assembly for an ink jet offset printer has a thin blade fixedly mounted on a top surface of a blade holder. The blade holder includes at a trailing edge flexible eyelet portions that extend downwards to snap over protuberances on mechanical connectors overmolded onto a rotatable shaft in order to secure the blade holder to the shaft. The thin blade engages the surface of an offset drum of the ink jet offset printer along the width of the drum at an appropriate point in the print process to strip the leading edge of a print medium from the offset drum surface, minimizing damage to the offset drum surface and to the printed image on the print medium while also minimizing the risk of a jam.

Abstract: An improved method for providing a continuous supply of liquid ink to an ink jet print head is provided. The method maintains an estimate in a memory source of the amount of liquid in a reservoir that is available to the print head. The estimate is periodically updated by information received from an ink sensor in the reservoir. By comparing the estimate to a plurality of ranges, the method determines whether additional ink may be added to the reservoir.

Abstract: An ink jet array print head (101) includes four media-width linear ink jet arrays (100). Ink flows from four sets of manifolds (106) through acoustically matched inlet filters (116), inlet ports (117), inlet channels (118), pressure chamber ports (120), and ink pressure chambers (122). Ink leaves the pressure chambers through outlet ports (124) and flows through oval outlet channels (128) to orifices (108), from which ink drops (110) are ejected. The ink pressure chambers are bounded by flexible diaphragms (130) to which piezo-ceramic transducers (132) are bonded. To minimize inter-jet cross-talk caused by pressure fluctuations in the manifolds, compliant walls (150) form one wall along the entire length of each manifold. An improved ink feed system (210) supplies four colors of ink to the print head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deskewing a sheet of media traveling through a paper path in a printer is provided. A buckle is formed in the sheet of media by over-driving the sheet into stationary deskew rollers that form a deskew nip downstream. A deskewing bias element includes a plurality of articulated segmented surfaces that contact the buckle and urge the leading edge of the sheet into the deskew nip. The buckle force combined with the biasing force from the deskewing bias element aligns the leading edge of the sheet with the deskew nip across the full width of the sheet, thereby removing any skew.

Abstract: A particulate filter (16) is provided within an inlet channel (22) of an ink jet (14). The filter is oriented generally in the direction of ink flow to provide a greater filter surface area. Positioning the filter within the inlet channel results in reduced acoustic crosstalk, more effective filtering, and more efficient purging of the filter itself because of the relatively high ink pressure drop across the filter in the channel. Positioning the channel vertically assists the buoyancy of the bubble movement during operation and purging.

Abstract: An ink jet printer (10) having a print head (14) for directing an ink jet toward a sheet of paper (16) includes automatic print head spacing apparatus (80) that holds the print head apart from the sheet of paper by a preselected distance. In a preferred embodiment, the printer includes a rotatable drum (20) for supporting the sheet of paper and media securing system (24) of a first predetermined thickness for securing the paper to the drum. The print head is positioned at the preselected distance after a major surface (130) of the print head engages and is pushed back by the media securing system.

Abstract: An ink jet print head cleaning and maintenance system has a purge chamber for applying a vacuum to a nozzle orifice surface. A specialized baffle diverts ink entering the purge chamber away a vent port through which the vacuum is drawn. An elongated wipe engages and wipes the orifice surface and is preferably moved at an extremely slow rate across the surface to enhance the wiping operation. An air knife directs a narrow stream of air across a portion of the nozzle orifice surface with air from the air stream being scanned across the surface for cleaning purposes. A specialized drip edge is positioned beneath the orifice surface for directing drops of ink away from the ink jet print head, the drops of ink being generated during the cleaning procedures. A mechanically simple cam mechanism coupled to a rotatable drum of the printer may be used to shift the maintenance system against the nozzle orifice surface for cleaning purposes.