Abstract: A printing device and method is described comprising: selectively generating a negative fluid pressure between one of one or more printing fluid supplies and a first one of first and second ports of a printhead; selectively generating a positive fluid pressure between one of said printing fluid supplies and a second one of the first and second ports of the printhead; and providing a first pulsed signal to a first priming pump associated with a first one of the first and second ports, wherein the first one of said first and second ports of the printhead is opened under the control of said first priming pump, such that printing fluid within the printhead exits the printhead through the first one of the first and second ports.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a print head maintenance assembly, a printing device and a method of cleaning a print head. The print head maintenance assembly comprises a maintenance cartridge comprising a wiping subsystem with a wiper for wiping a print head; a scraper assembly with a scraper for cleaning the wiper; and a positioner to adjust a relative position between the scraper and the wiper in a first direction depending on a relative position between the maintenance cartridge and the scraper assembly in a second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a print head maintenance assembly, a printing device and a method of controlling a print head maintenance assembly in a printing device. The print head maintenance assembly comprises a maintenance cartridge comprising a positioning flag, wherein the maintenance cartridge is movable along a maintenance path in a direction of movement; and a sensor to detect the positioning flag to determine the position of the maintenance cartridge along the maintenance path.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of calibrating a printing device, a detector for use in a printing device and a printing device. The method is for calibrating a printing device having a nozzle that is to eject a drop of a printing fluid and a sensor that is to detect a drop of the printing fluid at a detection position. The method comprises ejecting a drop of the printing fluid from the nozzle; determining a measurement signal during a detection window with the sensor; extracting an arrival time of the drop from the measurement signal; and determining an adjusted detection window by adjusting the detection window based on the arrival time.

Abstract: A printing device and method is described comprising: selectively generating a negative fluid pressure between one of one or more printing fluid supplies and a first one of first and second ports of a printhead; selectively generating a positive fluid pressure between one of said printing fluid supplies and a second one of the first and second ports of the printhead; and providing a first pulsed signal to a first priming pump associated with a first one of the first and second ports, wherein the first one of said first and second ports of the printhead is opened under the control of said first priming pump, such that printing fluid within the printhead exits the printhead through the first one of the first and second ports.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a print head maintenance assembly, a printing device and a method of controlling a print head maintenance assembly in a printing device. The print head maintenance assembly comprises a maintenance cartridge comprising a positioning flag, wherein the maintenance cartridge is movable along a maintenance path in a direction of movement; and a sensor to detect the positioning flag to determine the position of the maintenance cartridge along the maintenance path.

Abstract: A method of removing ink from a film includes unrolling the film from a first roll, exposing the film to a cleaning composition, and scraping the cleaning composition from the film. The film and the cleaning composition pass adjacent a first nonabrasive cloth to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and adjacent at least one additional nonabrasive cloth to scrub the ink from the film. The film may be polymeric, metallic, or a metalized polymer. A system includes a means for unrolling a film, at least one nozzle configured to expose the film to a cleaning composition, and a blade configured to scrape the cleaning composition from the film. The system also includes a first nonabrasive cloth configured to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and at least one additional nonabrasive cloth configured to scrub the ink from the film.

Abstract: A smart energized tape configured to avoid problems with foreign object damage (FOD) includes: one or more of microdots and radio frequency identification (RFID) nanochips, the one or more of microdots and nanochips configured to facilitate one or more of FOD tracking, cost control, location tracking, and asset tracking. A smart, predominantly red energized tape configured to avoid problems with FOD includes: one or more of microdots and RFID nanochips, the one or more of microdots and nanochips configured to facilitate one or more of FOD tracking, cost control, location tracking, and asset tracking, wherein the smart energized tape is one or more of fluorescent and translucent, wherein the smart energized tape is one or more of internally lit, electrically lit, and chemically detectable.

Abstract: A method of removing ink from a film includes unrolling the film from a first roll, exposing the film to a cleaning composition, and scraping the cleaning composition from the film. The film and the cleaning composition pass adjacent a first nonabrasive cloth to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and adjacent at least one additional nonabrasive cloth to scrub the ink from the film. The film may be polymeric, metallic, or a metalized polymer. A system includes a means for unrolling a film, at least one nozzle configured to expose the film to a cleaning composition, and a blade configured to scrape the cleaning composition from the film. The system also includes a first nonabrasive cloth configured to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and at least one additional nonabrasive cloth configured to scrub the ink from the film.

Abstract: The invention is a process for repairing a coating having a precise thickness damaged in a specific area. In detail, the process includes the steps of: 1) removing the damaged coating from the specific area; 2) placing a scrim material having a thickness equal to the required thickness of the coating in the specific; and 3) filling the specific area with coating material to the thickness of the scrim material.

Abstract: the invention is a spray nozzle assembly for use with spray guns for coating in remote locations. In detail, the spray coating assembly nozzle assembly includes a tubular member having first and second ends, said first end coupled to the spray gun. A spray nozzle housing is coupled to the second end of the tubular member, the spray nozzle housing containing a spray nozzle. A first device is coupled the housing to observe the remote location coupled, the first device having an optical viewing port. A second device is coupled to the optical view port for providing air under pressure thereto to prevent paint spray from the spray nozzle contacting the optical viewing port.

Abstract: A coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating fasteners ends protruding from a surface of a structure, the fasteners extending a specific distance above the surface. In detail, the applicator assembly includes a handle. A coating member made from open celled compressible foam having a coating transfer surface in a generally W shape is attached to the handle. Preferably, the central V of the W shaped surface has an included angle of between 40 and 50 degrees and a depth of between 65 and 85 percent of the specific distance and the outer surfaces of the W shaped surface extending outward at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees and the depth of coating member is at least 4 times the depth of the central notch.

Abstract: The invention is a process for repairing a coating having a precise thickness damaged in a specific area. In detail, the process includes the steps of: 1) removing the damaged coating from the specific area; 2) placing a scrim material having a thickness equal to the required thickness of the coating in the specific; and 3) filling the specific area with coating material to the thickness of the scrim material.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for mixing particles in fluid is provided. The system includes a container defining a chamber. The chamber has a narrowing region and is operable to be pressurized. The system also includes an agitator that has one or more flexible edges positioned in contact with the surface of the narrowing region. The agitator is operable to sweep the surface of narrowing region using the one or more flexible edges to agitate the particles. The system also includes an opening that is positioned at the narrowing region.

Abstract: The invention is a coating applicator assembly for coating a structure. In detail the invention is a spring-loaded a syringe having an outlet port. A semi-flexible tube having first and second ends is coupled by its first end to the outlet port of the syringe. A coating applicator for applying the coating material to the structure in the form of brush or contoured foam.

Abstract: An air pollution control apparatus usable for capturing airborne pollutants present in a relatively confined environment. The apparatus is a portable airborne-pollutant capturing device movable to a site of pollutant origin and having at least one airborne-pollutant collector member, a vacuum system, and a filter system. The filter system can include one filter or more than one identical or different filters chosen for enhanced filtration capabilities in relation to pollutants present. Preferably, more than one type of filter can be accommodated simultaneously to thereby capture multiple pollutants. Fugitive particulate is captured by positioning the airborne-pollutant collector member proximate the activity causing pollution, and operating the collector member simultaneously with the polluting activity to thereby cause particulate to be captured by the filter system.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a balanced high volume, low pressure paint spray gun. The spray gun is provided with a spray gun body connectable to a paint source and an air source. The spray gun is provided with a head insert engaged with the spray gun body. The head insert has a paint atomization chamber formed therein, a paint passage formed therethrough extending into the paint atomization chamber for receiving paint from the paint source, an atomization air passage and a shaping air passage for receiving air flow from the air source therethrough, and a balancing air passage formed therein extending into the paint atomization chamber. The spray gun further has a shaping air chamber defined by the spray gun body.

Abstract: An air pollution control apparatus for capturing airborne pollutants present in a relatively confined environment. The apparatus includes a portable airborne-pollutant capturing device movable to a site of pollutant origin and having at least one airborne-pollutant collector member which can be non-limitedly exemplified as a collection hood positionable at the site of pollution for pollutant collection or a painting tray upon which items can be placed and painted and beneath which resultant pollutant can be collected. A vacuum system is present within the capturing device and is in communication with the one or more collector members to draw airborne pollutants into the capturing device through the pollutant collector member. Actual capture of pollutants is accomplished by a filter system within the capturing device. The filter system can include one filter or more than one identical or different filters chosen for enhanced filtration capabilities in relation to pollutants present.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a high volume, low pressure paint spray gun connectable to a paint source, an atomization air source and a shaping air source. The paint spray gun is provided with a spray gun body which is in fluid communication with the paint source, the atomization air source for atomizing paint and the shaping air source for shaping paint spray patterns. The spray gun is further provided with a nozzle which defines a paint atomizing zone for discharging atomized paint and a paint spray pattern shaping zone shaping atomized paint spray patterns. The spray gun is further provided with a paint hose, atomization air hose, and shaping air hose each having an inlet end which is connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end which is connected to the nozzle. The spray gun is further provided with a bendable, shape-retaining paint conduit having an inlet port which is connectable to the spray gun body and an outlet port which is connectable to the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cleaning of spray guns and components thereof, and more particularly, a preferably portable and compact apparatus including an enclosed cabinet structure for the contained cleaning of paint spray guns and various accessories thereof in order to minimize the emission of volatile organic compounds from cleaning solvents.