Abstract: A method of assembling a collapsible ink reservoir for a liquid ink printer cartridge comprising the steps of attaching a first sidewall to a frame member along a sealable junction to form an open assembly; assembling a pressure regulator; inserting the pressure regulator of said assembly step into the open assembly of said attaching step; and affixing a second sidewall to the open assembly of said attaching step to form an enclosed assembly.

Abstract: A fluid sampling device for use in obtaining a precise volume of fluid to be sampled from a sealed vessel equipped with a hydraulic fitting to which the fluid sampling device is connectable. The device has a fluid sampling float chamber with an internally sealable top opening which opens into a bottom end of an air channel and a bottom opening which opens into a top end of a fluid channel. A floating ball is located in said fluid sampling float chamber and is sized to be sealingly sealable at the top opening. A vacuum generating means relying on air flow through a venturi to draw air out of the fluid sampling chamber through the air channel is located above the top opening of the float chamber. An air valve is located downstream of the venturi for controlling the direction of air flow though the venturi. A hydraulic coupler is located at a bottom end of the fluid channel which when connected to the hydraulic fitting on the sealed vessel opens, but when disconnected from the fitting closes.

Abstract: A reusable viscous material dispensing system. The system has a sealed pressure cylinder with a rounded upper region with an inert gas inlet, and a rounded bottom region with a viscous material ingress and egress opening. A pressurizing boat is contained in the cylinder. The pressurizing boat has a lower, hull portion which is weighted with ballast, and an upper portion. The lower, hull portion and upper portion join along a circular interface region. The diameter of the circular interface region is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder. The boat floats in the cylinder filled with viscous materials, such as thick lubricating greases. The viscous material forms a gaseous pressure seal between the interface region of the boat and inside of the pressure cylinder. Fins extend radially outwardly from the interface region of the pressurizing boat. These fins prevent the interface region from scraping viscous materials off the sidewalls of the pressure cylinder.

Abstract: A drive control system is disclosed which automatically maintains nozzle drive voltage within a proper range. The control system monitors the state of the "intermediate satellites" positioned between ink drops used for printing. When these satellites are neither forward nor backward merging, a first cardinal point designated C(L) is identified. A second cardinal point, C(H), is determined when the drop breakoff point stops decreasing, relative to said nozzle, with increasing nozzle drive voltage. From the two cardinal values, a desired operating range for a particular ink can be computed and the control system automatically set. The computed value is essentially independent of temperature.

Abstract: A radio transmitter and radio receivers are each connected to microprocessors with non-volatile memories. Binary encoded sequenced pulses are transmitted from the transmitter to program the receivers remotely. A variety of precisely coded signals can be transmitted including a unique transmitter number, a receiver number, data for the receiver, commands for the receiver, and an error detection command. Heterodyne receiver systems with local oscillators, level detectors and noise controllers mix a transmitted 344.035 MHZ signal with a local 333.335 MHZ signal to generate an intermediate frequency of 10.7 MHZ to which the filters are tuned. Over 100 dB of gain is available in the receiver amplifiers making it very sensitive. Single activation, multiple activation, sequencing, and delays are all programmable with a number of receivers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for separating component gases in a gas mixture employing a glassy polymer membrane at temperatures of 5.degree. C. or less so as to achieve superior separation of gas components.

Abstract: A drive control system automatically maintains nozzle drive voltage within a proper range. The control system monitors the state of the "intermediate satellites" positioned between ink drops used for printing. When these satellites are neither forwared nor backward merging, a first cardinal point designated C(L) is identified. A second cardinal point, C(H), is determined when the drop breakoff point stops decreasing, relative to said nozzle, with increasing nozzle drive voltage. From the two cardinal values, a desired operating range for a particular ink can be computed and the control system automatically set. The computed value is essentially independent of temperature.

Abstract: An ink jet nozzle having more than one fluid resonance in the frequency range of interest is achieved through multi-chamber construction techniques. If the dual resonances are sufficiently close together in frequency, a robust printing region is obtained relatively immune to variations in temperature, drive voltage and ink composition.