Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a permanent or semi-permanent inkjet pen containing small glass beads for ink containment and to provide backpressure to the ink. The inkjet pen walls are transparent, and the printer has an optical sensor that detects changes in reflectivity in the glass beads. The glass beads change in reflectivity depending on whether or not they are saturated with ink. The change in reflectivity therefore functions as an effective out-of-ink detector. When an out of ink indication is made, the printer executes a refill of the pen. Two embodiments of refill mechanisms are disclosed: a trailing tube design, and a take-a-sip design.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel multi-chamber ink-jet print cartridge (pen) that is formed of a main body member divided into three sections, a center section, and two side sections. Cover members are attached to this main body section to define three ink chambers. Each ink chamber contains a synthetic foam member that receives a respective one of three primary colored inks. The main body member is molded to be a single unitary part, so that the only ink-to-ink sealing interface between inks of different colors occurs at the interface between the main body member and the printhead. The main body member is formed to have a center ink pipe that extends upwardly into compressive contact with the foam member in the center chamber, and two side ink pipes that extend outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the center ink pipe into compressive contact with the foam held in the side ink chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing system and method are disclosed which convert monitor-based RGB images to an image represented in CMYLcLmK, in which Lc is a low-dye-load cyan and Lm is a low-dye-load magenta. The method provides a color cube matrix in RGB color space, with a finite set of control points within this color cube. Each control point has a corresponding set of parameters in the CMYLcLmK color space. The control points provide transition points between use of high-dye-load inks and low-dye-load inks to enhance the color image, especially in areas where high-dye-load inks would cause graininess. Based on this set of control point an interpolation is made to arrive at CMYLcLmK parameters of any point in the cube.

Abstract: An ink-jet pen is disclosed that has a body of resilient felted polyurethane foam mounted in an ink chamber for ink retention and backpressure. A rectangular ink pipe extends from a bottom wall of the ink chamber between the walls of the ink chamber. A wire mesh filter is mounted to the ink pipe. The ink pipe and mesh filter extend into compressive contact with the foam to locally increase the capillarity of the foam. Any air that comes out of solution collects as a bubble in the rectangular ink pipe. This bubble does not block ink flow to the printhead, however, because the corners of the rectangular ink pipe provide a fluid capillary path. The bubble tends to form in a spheroid shape and does not extend into the corners of the ink pipe. In addition, rectangular filters are used, which reduces waste and expense compared to circular filters.

Abstract: An improved print mode and system for alleviating wait-banding is disclosed. In the disclosed print mode, the delay between print scans may be increased or decreased at the full swath boundaries. Within a full swath, the delay between passes is set at a standard default delay. At the full swath boundary, if a low-memory condition is sensed or if there is a need to perform a service routine, the delay is ramped up. If there is currently not a low-memory condition or if there is not a need for a pen service, the delay is ramped down. This print mode provides that the print passes are more uniformly distributed in time, thus alleviating wait-banding. This print mode is particularly advantageous for glossy medium and transparencies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel inkjet print cartridge (pen) in which a body of polyurethane foam is inserted into an ink chamber of the pen for ink containment and backpressure. The ink chamber has a tall narrow aspect ratio. The body of polyurethane foam is felted in the width direction of the pen to have a width less than 20% of its pre-felted width. After felting, the body of foam is cut to have a "near net size" as the interior volume of the ink chamber. Specifically, the pre-insertion volume is less than about 130% of the interior volume of the ink chamber. The substantial felting in the width direction provides sufficient stiffness to the foam that it can be inserted into the tall, narrow aspect ratio ink chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel ink jet print cartridge (pen) in which polyurethane foam is used for ink containment and backpressure. The disclosed pen uses a flexible film of low friction material wrapped around the foam before insertion into the ink chamber. Once inserted, the film covers the two major faces of the foam and a portion of the bottom face of the foam. The disclosed pen has a tall narrow aspect ratio. The low friction film minimizes problems due to wrinkling and other compression anomalies in the foam, with the associated problems of ink stranding and reduction in the positive seal with the ink pipe. One embodiment of the film is absorbent and expands when exposed to ink.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved printer and carriage drive mechanism. The carriage motor is mounted at a first side of the printer chassis, and an idler pulley is mounted at a second side of the chassis. The carriage also has a pair of idler pulleys. A single flat smooth belt is attached to the first side of the chassis. From there, it passes over to and around one of the idler pulleys on the carriage, back to and around the motor pulley, across the print zone and around the idler pulley on the second side of the chassis, back to and around the other carriage idler pulley, and then back to the second side of the chassis, where it is attached. The motor is movably attached to the chassis and is tensioned by a spring. This mechanism provides for substantial mechanical advantage over common simple carriage drive mechanisms. A smaller, less expensive motor and a quieter flat smooth belt can be used. The motor is allowed to run at more optimal speeds and expensive ball bearings can be avoided in the motor and pulleys.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel multi-chamber ink-jet print cartridge (pen) that is formed of a main body member divided into three sections, a center section, and two side sections. Cover members are attached to this main body section to define three ink chambers. Each ink chamber contains a synthetic foam member that receives a respective one of three primary colored inks. The main body member is molded to be a single unitary part, so that the only ink-to-ink sealing interface between inks of different colors occurs at the interface between the main body member and the printhead. The main body member is formed to have a center ink pipe that extends upwardly into compressive contact with the foam member in the center chamber, and two side ink pipes that extend outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the center ink pipe into compressive contact with the foam held in the side ink chambers.

Abstract: An improved print mode and system for alleviating wait-banding is disclosed. When printing multiple passes over the same swath, such as when printing secondary colors in a color image, a hue shift can occur if the time between when the two passes are deposited are laid down is not regulated. This is true because the secondary color that results depends on how dry the ink from the first pass is when the second pass is deposited. These variations in color result in undesirable horizontal bands, a problem referred to as "wait-banding." Typical ink-jet printers compose in page sectors, but print in scans or passes. The time that it takes to compose the page sectors varies from sector to sector. These variations can cause differences in the time intervals between when overlapping passes will be printed, thus resulting in wait-banding. The disclosed method creates a running average for the passes based on past experience with when passes were made.

Abstract: A method of generating an image on a printable surface from a stream of incoming print data containing data of a first data type for generating an image of a first image type and containing data of a second data type for generating an image of a second image type, the method comprising the following steps. While printing in a first mode, depositing a first partial density image swath having a first swath width on the printable surface to overlap at least a portion of a partial density image swath previously printed on the surface, thereby generating a shingle tab extending from the previous swath having a first length. After depositing the first swath, the surface is advanced by a first amount. While printing in the first mode, incoming print data is scanned to determine whether the incoming print data includes the second data type.