Abstract: A method of making a printing plate in which the uncoated surface of a substrate is treated with a pre-treatment solution prior to the deposition of ink on the surface. The pre-treatment liquid comprises a polyvalent metal salt, and at least one of an organic swelling reagent and/or a coalescence reagent. The pre-treatment liquid is applied to form a thin, homogenous layer of approximately 4 ?m to the entire upper surface of the recording plate. The swelling reagent and/or the coalescence reagent and the polyvalent metal cations are physically well localized in the porous structure of the plate's surface. After partial drying of the pretreated anodized aluminum plate, CTP liquid is deposited onto the surface to form an image. The CTP liquid solids react with the pre-treatment liquid and are, therefore, chemically bound to the surface. This allows all data to be deposited in a single pass of the inkjet head without the problem of clustering.

Abstract: The surface treatment for printing applications using water-based ink of the present invention comprises a surface pretreatment of the recording media prior to the deposition of the ink on the surface, wherein the pretreatment liquid is an aqueous and/or alcoholic solution or emulsion containing a polyvalent metal salt, and at least one of an organic swelling reagent and a coalescence reagent. The pretreatment liquid is applied with a rubbing motion in a thin layer of approximately 4 &mgr;m to the entire upper surface of the recording media. The swelling reagent and/or the coalescence reagent cause the upper 3-5 &mgr;m to swell and the polyvalent metal cations become embedded in the surface. After partial drying of the pretreated media, ink composition is deposited onto the surface to form an image. The ink solids precipitate in response to the embedded cations deposited in the pretreatment, and form interactions above and below the surface of the media to give a mechanically stable ink dot.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection device, which includes a number of liquid ejection nozzles, a liquid supply layer including porous material, with the liquid supply layer featuring holes related to the nozzles, and a number of transducers related to the holes for ejecting liquid droplets out through the nozzles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for flattening a substrate against a surface of a platform is provided. The method comprising positioning guides within a platform so that opposite edges of a substrate placed on the platform do not come in contact with at least one print head in close proximity over the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for protecting print heads from uncontrolled movement and vibration is provided. The apparatus includes at least one print head, a movable component attachable to a flexible cable carrier, the flexible cable carrier being coupled to at least one print head, and an isolating component attachable to the movable component, for isolating uncontrolled movement and vibration of the flexible cable carrier from the at least one print head.

Abstract: A method for eliminating reflected waves from a vibrating diaphragm surface within an acoustic chamber of an inkjet printer piezo-crystal driver. The first step involves generating an electro-acoustical driven pressure waveform from the piezo-crystal driver, the diaphragm initially acting on ink to release it, wherein the waveform is reflected from a nozzle plate disposed remotely from the diaphragm. Further steps include determining an instant when the reflected pressure waveform returns to the diaphragm surface and producing a matched pulse waveform causing a reverse motion in the diaphragm exactly at that instant, whereby the reverse motion reverses the initial diaphragm action, such that the matched pulse waveform absorbs and eliminates the reflected pressure waveform at the exact instant.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus for adjusting the height of a platform having a substrate thereon in order to adjust the distance between the substrate and an ink-jet print head located above is provided. In other embodiments, an apparatus for the step-wise conveyance of materials is provided. It comprises a support structure for the material being conveyed and movable and fixed elements for applying forces for temporarily engaging the conveyed material to the support structure.

Abstract: A printing method and system, which includes at least one printing apparatus, is provided. Each printing apparatus includes an ink jet device comprising at least one ink jet nozzle to eject droplets of ink according to image data, a printing member having ink-attracting areas each located within an ink repelling area. One or more of the ink attracting areas may receive the droplets of ink ejected from the ink jet device in a pattern corresponding to the image data. Each printing apparatus also includes a transfer system to transfer the inked pattern from the printing member onto a printing substrate.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a connectable electronic component-carrying board is provided. The connectable electronic board comprises at least one resilient conductive element integrally molded onto at least part of a contact of the connectable board. The resilient conductive element is able to provide an electrical pathway between the contact it is molded to and a corresponding contact on another electronic component-carrying board. A method of fabricating the connectable electronic component-carrying board is also provided.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is provided which includes a rigid housing and a flexible ink storage bag inserted within the housing. The storage bag, which is connectable to the ink supply line of a printer by a hollow needle, is impenetrable by the needle or similar when the storage bag is depleted of ink.

Abstract: A method for reducing undesired variations of print density in a printed output is implemented by selectively increasing the number of drops of ink deposited in rows traveled by nozzles corresponding to a reduced-output region of the print head compared to the pattern of drops which would be deposited if all nozzles were operating normally.

Abstract: A vacuum suction force control apparatus is disclosed by way of a duct, having an entrance port and at least one exit port. Flow of suction force is controlled by moving a piston-like plunger inside the duct, connecting the entrance port to one, or simultaneously, multiple, adjacent exit ports. The present invention achieves known vacuum distribution without utilizing prior art electromechanical vacuum valves and associated electrical control cabling and power supply equipment. Therefore, the present invention is inherently capable of maintaining a particular, temporary distribution configuration without requiring electrical nor mechanical energy.

Abstract: A service station system for cleaning printheads, particularly inkjet printheads is provided. The service station includes a body having a seal attached thereto and at least one pressure operated sprayer attached to the body within an area demarcated by the seal. Each sprayer includes a bent cap, which enables spraying a cleaning agent at a predetermined spray angle. The sprayers are positioned so that substantially all of the nozzle plate will be wetted by the cleaning agent when the seal, the body and the nozzle plate are positioned to form an enclosed volume. The service station also includes a pressure release valve to keep the pressure within the enclosed volume at atmospheric level during spraying.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, an ink supply system is provided. The system may include a first stationary fluid storage unit, a second stationary fluid storage unit coupled to the first stationary fluid storage unit and an air lung. The system may also include a collapsible fluid level bag positionable lower than nozzles of one or more print heads and a movable fluid pressure damper coupled to the fluid level bag and to the print heads. The system is configured such that when printing, ink is exposed to the ambient atmosphere only at the nozzles.

Abstract: A method for producing an apparatus for ejecting liquid droplets includes the steps of providing a porous medium having a plurality of pores therein, forming a plurality of holes through the porous medium and assembling with the porous medium a plurality of transducers and nozzles. At least some of the plurality of pores are in the porous medium, and enable a liquid to flow into a liquid cavity prior to the liquid droplet ejection. Each transducer corresponds to a corresponding liquid cavity, a corresponding nozzle and a corresponding hole, generally disposed along the same axis. Each transducer is operative to eject liquid droplets through the corresponding nozzle via the corresponding hole.

Abstract: A printing device including a laser for generating at least one laser beam, a controller, a print head having a plurality of orifices, and an ink supply for supplying ink to the print head. The controller modulates the at least one modulated laser beam according to image data to be printed. The at least one modulated laser beam selectively generates a directional acoustic wave within the print head, thereby inducing an ink droplet to exit a selected one of the orifices onto a printing substrate. A print head including a single buffer chamber, a body, and a single ink chamber. The buffer chamber stores a buffer liquid therein with the body forming one wall of that chamber. The ink chamber shares the body as a wall. The ink chamber stores ink therein and has a plurality of orifices on a wall opposite to the body.

Abstract: The invention teaches a paperback book-finishing apparatus comprising a collator, a cover trimmer (with optional scorer), a glue cutter, and a binder. The apparatus can automatically finish books of different thicknesses. The operations of cover trimming, glue cutting and placement, and collating are all carried out by aligning to a common alignment edge. The glue cutter cuts glue strips of variable width and the collator collates printed sheets by synchronized tamping. The apparatus can be used with in-line, on-demand page printers and in-line, on-demand cover printers. The apparatus can be used in book vending machines.

Abstract: A thermal stencil sheet for use in a laser stencil printing system comprising a stencil sheet comprising a base layer, a radiation absorbing layer, and a thermal film overlying the radiation absorbing layer. The base layer comprises a porous fibrous material which is saturatable with liquid.

Abstract: An inkjet printing head including an ink supply layer formed with a plurality of connecting bores aligned so as to connect between ink cavities in a cavity layer on its rear side and corresponding ejection nozzles in a nozzle layer on its front side. The ink supply layer is formed from a porous material having a multitude of small interconnected pores so as to allow passage of ink therethrough. The ink supply layer features a number of ink inlet bores passing from its rear surface to its front surface and in direct fluid communication with a pattern of ink distribution channels formed in the front surface. The ink distribution channels and ink inlet bores together define part of an ink flow path along which ink supplied from an external ink supply passes from the rear surface through the ink inlet bores to the pattern of ink distribution channels on the front surface, and through the porous material to the ink cavities.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber for connection within an ink supply line which is connected so as to supply ink from a stationary ink reservoir to at least one moving inkjet print head. The shock absorber includes a conduit having at least one wall defining an inlet, an outlet and a contained volume. At least part of the wall is readily deformed by variations in a pressure differential across the part of the wall so as to vary the contained volume. The shock absorber also includes a collapse prevention element, deployed within the conduit, which is configured to prevent deformation of the part of the wall in a manner which would obstruct passage through the conduit from the inlet to the outlet.