Abstract: A catcher device is provided for a continuous ink jet printer of the kind for generating a row of parallel selectively charged drop streams catches charged ink drops. The catcher device combines the attributes of two different materials, specifically a polymer and a metal, and two different processes, to eliminate high cost, material limitations, and geometry constraints associated with prior art catcher constructions.

Abstract: A catcher design is provided wherein vacuum channels are added to both sides of the catcher to remove ink from the face of the catcher and from the eyelid seal. An additional fluid port on the catcher allows the additional vacuum channels to maintain an increased level of vacuum. A restriction on the catcher line balances the fluid flow between the catcher and the additional vacuum channels. A scoop can be machined into the catch pan to remove fluid from below the catcher face. A manifold can be used to maintain a vacuum source for the catcher throat and the additional channels, while pulling the unprinted ink back to the fluid system. Finally, a wider eyelid seal can allow purge fluid used during shutdown to clear the channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reproducing image data from a press output on another device. The present invention mimics color, resolution and frequency of dots used by varying the color saturation (amplitude) of the dots used to mimic the defining characteristics of the source output. By allowing adjustments in both frequency and amplitude to vary from the original output device, it becomes possible to match the resolution and color of the source device.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the creation and use of a non-linearized, paper specific, digital workflow independent color profile which can be used to create proofs based on the raw output data of the source process. Such a profile would have the advantage of not having to have account for the intermediate workflow steps such as linearization, color correction, sharpening, ink limiting, color separation, dithering or color transformation because the gamut mapping would utilize the discrete output tones of the resulting data sent to the source device.

Abstract: An automatic start-up sequence is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. At startup, colorless flush fluid is employed to remove in the drop generator and from the exterior of the orifice plate and from the charge plate. Jets of the flush fluid are established. Stimulation is applied to the jets and charge voltage is applied to the associated charging electrodes to deflect the jets toward the catcher. Concurrent with the jets being so deflected, the jetting fluid is changed from flush fluid for cleaning to the ink for printing. The ability to control the jets of fluid with charge voltage prevents splattering of fluid on the charge leads during the transition from make-up fluid to ink.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the reformatting of a digital “ready to print” data file into a continuous tone (32 or 24 bit) file whereby discrete values in the tone range are uniquely assigned to specific binary combinations. The purpose for this transform is to facilitate further manipulation of preprocessed data. One application of the present invention is to exist as a critical piece of proofing workflow for a technology that reduces continuous tone data into a binary form representing droplet selection prior to output.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for correcting printed color and tone of a library of similar digital images. A single image is selected from a library of similar images, and manipulated with a set of unique transformations. Each of the manipulated images is processed for printing. Printer settings for actual job data are identified, and multiple reproductions of the selected image are printed at the identified printer settings for the job. Optimum transformations are determined by visual inspection of a full array of images, each of the full array of images having been manipulated by a different transformation prior to printing.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving the reliability for operation of the eyelid associated with the ink jet printhead of a continuous ink jet printer. The eyelid actuation technique of the present invention solves the problem of ink jet fluid residue drying in or around the seal region between the eyelid and the catcher. This is accomplished by opening the eyelid at least once during the shutdown sequence of the printhead, while maintaining vacuum on the catcher throat. By opening the eyelid in this manner, the capillary forces that had held the ink jet fluid at the seal region are eliminated. The vacuum on the catcher throat then causes air to rush in through the gap between the catcher pan and the eyelid. Residual ink jet fluid at the seal region on both the eyelid and the catcher pan is then removed by the high velocity air moving through the gap.

Abstract: An automatic start-up for a continuous ink jet printer provides a dyeless flush fluid to the printhead to remove any particles or ink residue from the printhead and to wet the orifice plate before jets form. The pressure of the flush fluid is then raised to cause the flush fluid to begin jetting from the drop generator. Once jets are established, ink is supplied to the drop generator at the pressure of the jetting flush fluid. The flow of flush fluid is stopped. Since the printhead is being supplied with ink, ink replaces the flush fluid as the fluid being jetted from the drop generator. An ink heater is then turned on, increasing evaporation of solvent from the ink jetted from the drop generator. The solvent vapors condense on the relatively cool charge plate and catcher face. The condensate forming on these surfaces provides one final rinse of these surfaces to remove conductive ink from the charge leads and catcher face.

Abstract: A shutdown procedure is provided for removing all solvent ink from the printhead of an ink jet printer system that uses volatile ink for printing a shutdown method is provided for an inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. Initially, a colorless flush fluid is provided which readily dissolves the ink. The flush fluid is crossflushed through the drop generator and caused to weep out of the orifices in the drop generator to dissolve and rinse away ink residues from the charge plate and the exterior of the orifice plate. The flush fluid is used to rinse off charging electrodes of the charge plate, the catcher face, and the catcher return line. Fluid crossflushed through the drop generator cleans the interior of the drop generator and cleans the crossflush valve.

Abstract: The use of the lowest all catch voltage for deflecting the charged droplets onto the catcher surface enhances the reliability of the startup sequence for ink jet printers. Going from a state where all of the droplets are hitting in the eyelid seal and catch pan assembly to a state where all of the droplets are deflected and caught on the catcher face will help eliminate the possibility of splatter on the charge plate electrodes and/or the charge short detect level circuitry, ink on top of the eyelid seal, and wicking of ink out of the eyelid.

Abstract: A technique for sealing a printhead of an ink jet printer system on startup, opening the seal to print, and opening further on an arbitrary path for service, is provided for by the present invention. The ink jet printhead has an ink drop generator, a catcher located adjacent to the ink drop generator, and a catcher pan located below the catcher. An eyelid seals ink within the printhead on startup of the printer system. An actuator mechanism transmits movement to the eyelid along a predetermined path, having multiple positions for the eyelid. The eyelid is moved between open and closed positions by means of a dc motor. The open position is defined by the actuator means contacting a print position stop. Shifting the position of the print position stop allows the eyelid to open to a service position.

Abstract: An eyelid positioning technique is provided for an ink jet printer to precisely position the eyelid relative to the catcher to properly seal the print head. The eyelid seals against the catcher to contain ink within the printhead on startup and shutdown of the printer system. An eyelid actuator assembly moves the eyelid into a sealed position for startup and shutdown and into an open position for print, so that ink jets can exit an array of orifices and pass between the catcher and the eyelid to print on a print media. At least one alignment flexure capability allows for precise positioning of the eyelid relative to the catcher or the drop generator during assembly of the printer system.

Abstract: A substrate coating is provided for application in association with ink jet ink imaging on the substrate. The coating material, for application on a printable substrate for use with an ink jet printing system, includes a substrate property enhancing component, a surfactant, and deionized water. When the coating material is applied to the printable substrate, prints are produced which have improved print quality. The coating can result in enhanced permanence of black and specialty non-black color ink jet prints, when the substrate enhancing component is a polymer. The coating material of the present invention can also be applied to the porous substrate as a pre-print coating to reduce paper cockle and curl, when the substrate enhancing component is a polyhydroxy compound.

Abstract: An ink additive, specifically 1,4 butanediol, is added to color inks. When 1,4-butanediol is added to the inks, curl and cockle of the printed substrate is significantly reduced without reducing surface tension of the ink. Surface tension of process color inks for some printers are kept high to eliminate color-to-color bleed and to reduce showthrough on the opposite side of the paper. The 1,4-butanediol additive provides an anti-cockling advantage without adversely affecting the surface tension of the ink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing contaminates from ink jet printer components. The normal output from a Nd-YAG laser is frequency multiplied to be capable of removing particulates and films from ink jet printer components. The laser cleaning technique provides a dramatic effect on yields.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a catcher and eyelid seal for sealing against the catcher during startup and shutdown. A wicking means is provided for removing excess ink from a fluid channel of the catcher having an associated catcher plate, in an area of the eyelid seal. The wicking means is positioned in an area at a bottom surface of the fluid channel, without bridging a height of the fluid channel, above the catcher plate, and in close proximity to the eyelid seal, while maintaining a consistent pressure at an entrance to the fluid channel.

Abstract: A method is provided for transitioning from a lower pressure state to a final operating pressure state. Initially, an eyelid is used to divert ink into a fluid channel associated with the catcher assembly. Pressure of the ink is reduced to a low ink pressure level that will allow the ink to be removed by the fluid channel. Pressure of the ink is increased to at least one incremental step, before reaching a final ink operating pressure. A charge voltage is turned on to deflect ink into catch in a time interval short enough to prevent ink backup between the eyelid and the catcher assembly.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving the reliability for shutting down high resolution ink jet printheads for continuous ink jet printers. The shutdown technique fo the present invention solves the problem of ink and/or flush fluid drying in or around orifice holes on higher resolution printheads. This is accomplished with pulse modulation of air pressure used to blow and dry the printhead filters while balancing air flow and negative pressure across the droplet generator and the orifice array.

Abstract: A minimum period circuit is used to process incoming encoder pulses for an imaging system that prints on a recording media in response to pulses from an encoder. The system using the minimum period circuit receives pulses from an encoder and generates output pulses that can by employed by the imaging system to define pixel locations. A difference between the number of pulses received from the encoder and the number of output pulses is determined, and it is further determined if this difference is positive. A minimum period is defined between output pulses. Finally, the output pulse generation is prompted to produce a pulse when the difference is positive and the time since the last output pulse exceeds the minimum period.