Abstract: The present invention provides a method of non-contact, ink jet print head nozzle plate surface cleaning. The method disclose, enables simultaneous non-contact cleaning of all nozzles of a print head nozzle plate having a major and minor dimension and ink ejecting nozzles spanning most of the major dimension. The simultaneous non-contact cleaning of all nozzles of the print head is achieved by providing a print head cleaning arrangement having a pressurized air flow emerging from an air exit slit of length exceeding nozzle plate major dimension.

Abstract: The present invention is a convex printing table for use with wide-format and super wide-format digital printers, which print on flexible substrate up to 5 meters in width. The convex profile of the table creates contact force between the flexible substrate and the support surface. This contact force lessens the formation of wrinkles in the flexible substrate during the printing process, which permits the print heads to be positioned closer to the flexible substrate than with the flat tables currently in use. The size and number of wrinkles and the distance of the print heads from the flexible substrate impact the overall quality of the finished product. The convex printing table also provides a plurality of flat printable regions, enabling use with a four-color digital printer.

Abstract: A dual-mode printer for printing on both flexible and rigid substrates includes a table providing a substantially planar support surface for supporting a substrate. A flexible-substrate feed system is configured to feed a flexible substrate in a given feed direction across the support surface. The printer has a print head configured for depositing a printing medium on a substrate as part of a printing process. A motion system is configured to generate relative displacement between the print head and the support surface in at least a first direction parallel to the feed direction. This combination of components allows the printer to be used in a flexible-substrate mode in which relative displacement between the substrate and the print head is generated at least in part by the flexible-substrate feed system and in a rigid-substrate mode in which relative displacement between the substrate and the print head is generated exclusively by the motion system.

Abstract: An ink reservoir, for supplying ink to at least one inkjet print head, containing partitions which divide the volume of ink in the reservoir into sub-volumes, which significantly reduce, or eliminate, pressure fluctuations which arise as a result of acceleration of the ink reservoir. Each sub-volume is connected to adjacent sub-volumes via pressure equilibration passages. Lower pressure equilibration passages ensure equal ink height within all sub-volumes, following the discharge of ink from supply outlets and upper pressure equilibration passages ensure equal air pressure above all sub-volumes. A further as aspect involves a reservoir supplying print heads where planes, substantially perpendicular to the primary direction of motion, intersect corresponding reservoir supply outlets and print head supply inlets in order to eliminate supply line pressure fluctuations. A combination of the two aspects eliminate both reservoir and supply line pressure fluctuations.