Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink jet print head (9) has an ink pressure chamber (22) coupled to a source of ink (11) and an ink drop ejecting orifice (103) with an ink drop ejection orifice outlet (14). An acoustic driver (36), in response to a drive signal (100), produces a pressure wave in the ink and causes the ink to pass outwardly through the ink drop ejecting orifice (103) and the ink jet ejection orifice outlet (14) of the ink jet print head (9). In accordance with the present invention, controlling the operation of the ink jet print head (9) with a particular drive signal reduces print quality degradation resulting from rectified diffusion, which is the growth of .air bubbles dissolved in the ink from the repeated application of pressure pulses to the ink residing within the ink pressure chamber (22) of the ink jet print head (9), such pressure pulses causing the application of pressures below ambient pressure.

Abstract: Reactive ink compositions of the present invention utilize at least two reactive components, a base ink component and a curing component, that are applied to a receiving substrate separately. The base ink component includes an ink carrier, a compatible colorant, and a cross-linkable constituent, and the curing component is a cross-linking agent. Upon exposure of the base ink component to the curing component, at least a portion of the ink is cross-linked to provide a printed image that is durable and abrasion-resistant.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition is indirectly applied to a substrate by raising the temperature of the phase change ink composition to form a liquid phase change ink composition, applying droplets of the phase change ink composition in a liquid phase to a liquid intermediate transfer surface on a solid support in a pattern using a device such as an ink jet printhead, solidifying the phase change ink composition on the liquid intermediate transfer surface, transferring the phase change ink composition from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to the substrate, and fixing the phase change ink composition to the substrate. The phase change ink composition is malleable when the ink is transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the substrate and is ductile after the ink has been transferred to the substrate and cooled to ambient temperature to preclude the ink from crumbling and cracking.

Abstract: A rotating print medium retaining clamp is disclosed which securely clamps the print medium or printed image final receiving surface to prevent horizontal or X-axis misregistration while drawing the print medium in a generally circular path through the nip between the platen and the print head. Only the retaining clamp assembly rotates while the support guide remains stationary. The support guide has space for a printing platen to be positioned along the print medium guide path.

Abstract: An improved iontophoretic cigarette substitute device is disclosed having a driver unit and a disposable mouthpiece. The mouthpiece has a drug coating applied to its external surface which is iontophoretically driven into the mucous membranes of the user's lips upon use. Nicotine is a preferred drug to be administered to the user through an electrode employed on the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum is rotatable about a drum axis for supporting a print medium during printing. A print head has a plurality of printing elements for printing image elements of a predetermined color at a predetermined image-element printing rate. The drum is rotated about the drum axis at a predetermined speed such that alternate image-element locations are addressed by each printing element during each rotation of the drum at the predetermined printing rate. The drum rotates two revolutions at each print-head location along the axis, and all image-element locations are addressed.

Abstract: A bidirectional chopper transconductance amplifier for driving a motor winding provides a duty cycle signal as an input to an H bridge circuit that provides a voltage output across the motor winding. The amplifier also provides a direction input that determines the polarity of the voltage output across the motor winding. An RS flip-flop is set by the pulses of a cyclical chopper sync input signal and is reset as a function of the current in the motor winding and a command current input to produce the duty cycle signal. A first pair of flip-flops, one clocked by the trailing edges of the chopper sync input signal pulses and the other clocked by the trailing edges of the chopper sync input signal pulses delayed by a specified time, detects whether the RS flip-flop is reset prior to pulse trailing edge of the current cycle and prior to the specified time of the prior cycle.

Abstract: A modular automatic refill system using a plurality of individual microprocessor controlled modules to control a plurality of liquid chemical temperature controllers is provided wherein replenishing liquid chemical is automatically supplied from a chemical bulk supply unit to a plurality of bubbler ampules in the corresponding liquid chemical temperature controllers based on sensed level depths in a manner that avoids contamination of the replenishing chemical and permits separate and independent operation of the individual microprocessor controlled modules.

Abstract: A method and system for treating liquid chlorine to remove inert gases therefrom. Liquid chlorine is treated by passing it through a molecular sieve having a molecular pore diameter greater than the molecular diameter of the inert gases and smaller than the molecular diameter of chlorine so that the inert gases are adsorbed by the sieve while the liquid chlorine passes therethrough. The sieve may be regenerated by heating the sieve and evacuating by vacuum, followed by a purging with a gas and then a further vacuum evacuation.

Abstract: An elongated, generally vertically extending cocurrent reactor vessel for the production of hypochlorous acid by the mixing and reaction of a liquid alkali metal hydroxide and a gaseous halogen is provided wherein an atomizer is mounted near the top of the reactor vessel to atomize the liquid alkali metal hydroxide into droplets in the vessel. The vessel has a spraying and reaction zone immediately beneath the atomizer and a drying zone beneath the spraying and reaction zone to produce a gaseous hypochlorous acid and a substantially dry solid salt by-product.

Abstract: A process of operating an electrochemical cell with a particular catholyte flow pattern is disclosed wherein the cell is angled from the horizontal and the catholyte is fed into a gap in the cathode compartment between the liquid metal cathode and the membrane on the lower first end and exits the gap on the opposing higher second outlet end.

Abstract: A process for producing chlorine dioxide is provided which reacts an aqueous solution of chloric acid and an alkali metal chlorate with a solution of a non-oxidizable acid in the presence of an oxygen-evolving catalyst in a reaction zone to produce a gaseous mixture of chlorine dioxide gas, oxygen, water vapor and an aqueous solution of the non-oxidizable acid and an alkali metal salt of the non-oxidizable acid. The gaseous mixture of chlorine dioxide gas and oxygen are separated from the aqueous solution of the non-oxidizable acid and alkali metal salt of the non-oxidizable acid, while the aqueous solution of the non-oxidizable acid and alkali metal salt of the non-oxidizable acid is fed to the anode compartment of three compartment electrolytic cell having at least one ion exchange compartment between an anode and a cathode compartment.

Abstract: An elongated, generally vertically extending cocurrent reactor vessel for the production of hypochlorous acid by the mixing and reaction of a liquid alkali metal hydroxide and a gaseous halogen is provided wherein a nozzle is mounted near the top of the reactor vessel beneath the gas injector to spray the liquid alkali metal hydroxide in droplets so that the halogen gas can be absorbed into the surface of the droplets simultaneously with water evaporation in the vessel. The vessel has a spraying and reaction zone immediately beneath the atomizer and a drying zone beneath the spraying and reaction zone.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is disclosed having a cell bottom or baseplate that has at least one drain hole therein which is fed by drain canals adjacent an end of the catholyte chamber such that the drain holes are gradually inclined to increase in depth laterally downwardly from the opposing sides of the cell toward the center and longitudinally downwardly from the opposing end of the cell toward the drain hole to permit removal or the addition of the liquid metal cathode from the angled electrolytic cell without requiring disassembly of the cell.

Abstract: A composite beam having a constant stress geometry is provided wherein a varying fiber content in a fiber impregnated resin is employed across the beam's cross section to cause the neutral axis of the beam to shift toward the compressive side. The design provides the maximum deflection in the direction of the load before compressive failure occurs for a given size and shaped beam of equivalent stiffness.

Abstract: A particular side frame design for use in an electromechanical cell with a catholyte flow pattern is disclosed wherein the cell is angled from the horizontal and the catholyte is fed into a gap in the cathode compartment between the liquid metal cathode and the membrane on the lower first end and exits the gap on the opposing higher second outlet end. The side frame is obliquely angled on the interior of the cell to prevent the escape of the flowable liquid metal cathode and to prevent contact of the acidic catholyte with the cell bottom.

Abstract: In a backup mode of operation a process control program sends messages, via a local area network, to a process control program running in an active mode for the purpose of obtaining current values of process control data and configuration information. If the active process control program fails to respond to an interrogation by the backup process control program the backup program automatically activates itself to assume the active role. The activation procedure includes a sequence that transmits a control pulse of predetermined width on a line of an associated process control bus to a novel digital data switch. The receipt of a valid control pulse causes the digital data switch to allow access by the backup (now active) data processor to process control I/O unit(s) while simultaneously isolating the active (now backup) data processor from the I/O units.

Abstract: A particular side frame design for use in an electrochemical cell with a catholyte flow pattern is disclosed wherein the cell can be generally horizontal or angled slightly from the horizontal and the catholyte is fed through a transition area into a gap in the catholyte compartment between the liquid metal cathode and the membrane on a first end and exits the gap on an opposing second outlet end. The side frame has opposing sides that are obliquely and downwardly angled in the corners to support the membrane in a wrinkle free manner so that the membrane is obliquely positioned between the liquid metal cathode and the anode. The membrane is above the level of the catholyte where the catholyte enters and exits the catholyte compartment, but drops to a level below the entry and exit points.

Abstract: A hydrated calcium hypochlorite agglomerated particle is provided that is produced in a turbine agglomerator and has a plurality of connecting links of recrystallized material bridging the small particles forming the agglomerate which has therein a plurality of pores created by the substantial evaporation of the layer of surface liquid. The surface tension and adhesion forces of the layer of surface liquid at least partially holds the agglomerated particle together prior to drying.

Abstract: A process for electrochemically treating an aqueous solution containing inorganic oxyhalide species is disclosed in which the aqueous solution is fed into the catholyte compartment of an electrochemical reduction cell using a high surface area cathode separated from an anolyte compartment to electrochemically reduce substantially all of the oxyhalide species to halide ions and produce a purified water product.