Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising a printhead mounted on a substrate, an elastically deformable pad and an ink removal system mounted on the substrate. The pad has a contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. The pad being linearly moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. In order to provide a cleaning action, the contact surface is configured to progressively contact the face during sealing engagement and peel away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A printing device includes: a processor; a printing cartridge having a housing and a supply of media; a memory storing at least one of: (a) a plurality of values representing various characteristics of the printing cartridge, and (b) a script containing instructions relating to an operation of a printhead of the print device; a data lookup table storing a plurality of first codes, each of the first codes corresponding either one of the plurality of values stored in the memory, or the script; a radio frequency tag embedded within the housing of the printing cartridge and carrying one or more second codes; and a radio frequency tag reader communicating the one nor more second codes to the processor. The processor applies an algorithm to the one or more second codes to identify a first code associated therewith, and further determines a value or a script stored in the memory corresponding to the identified first code.

Abstract: A fluid coupling for establishing a sealed connection between a first conduit and a second conduit. The second conduit has a seal seat and a compression member. The compression member is movable relative to the seal seat. A seal is positioned in the seal seat. An engagement mechanism moves the compression member toward the seal seat to compress the seal to form a sealed fluid connection. The engagement mechanism has an input arm hinged to the compression member at a hinge connection. The input arm has a compression lever fixed at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the input arm. The input arm is arranged to push against the compression member as the input arm rotates about the hinge connection to the compression member.

Abstract: A system of retrieving a product using a print medium with a print media identifier linked to a product. A mobile telecommunications device with a sensor module for determines the print media identifier from the print medium such that the product is retrieved using the mobile telecommunications device and the print media identifier. The print medium is provided with first coded data in a first format and second coded data in a second format. The first coded data encodes first information and the second coded data encodes second information. The first information is indicative of the print media identifier and of size and orientation data of the print medium. The first format is a linear pattern. At least some of the second information is indicative of the print media identifier and a two-dimensional coordinate grid. The second format is a two-dimensional pattern, the first and second coded data each being encoded in a plurality of tags printed on the print medium.

Abstract: A hand operated marking device includes a pair of housings movably interconnected together, a first one of the housings adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to a compression of the housings; a printer located along a bottom surface of the first housing, the printer including a movable printhead exposed through an aperture of the first housing; a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings, the moving mechanism for moving the printhead in a printing direction responsive to the compression of the housings; and a shutter for covering the aperture of the first housing, the shutter adapted to be retracted as the moving mechanism moves the printhead. The moving mechanism includes a pair of arms pivotally mounted at one end to the second housing and at the other end to the printhead, and further comprising an extension return spring extending between the other end of the arms and the first housing.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a body defining a print media path through which print media can pass. A printhead assembly is arranged within the body and is configured to print upon print media passing along the print media path. A user interface is located on the body. A print media input tray is pivotally mounted with respect to the body, to locate the print media in register with the print media path and which can pivot with respect to the body to form a protective cover for the user interface. A print media feed arrangement is configured to feed the print media from the input tray and through the print media path.

Abstract: A method of: enabling an entrant to enter a competition; and limiting subsequent communication between a competition administrator and the entrant; via a sensing device interacting with machine-readable coded data on a printed competition entry form, the method comprising the steps, performed in a computer system, of: receiving interaction data representing the interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data enabling the competition entry to be electronically captured in the computer system; transmitting the competition entry to the competition administrator; and enabling transmission of up to a predetermined number of electronic messages from the competition administrator to the entrant.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has a body mounting first and second gear assemblies. The first assembly cooperating with a motor gear and having a code feature. The second assembly rotatably cooperating with the first assembly and a capper for capping a printhead. The code feature cooperates with a holding feature of a mounting arrangement used to mount the second assembly so that the cooperation maintains the first assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second assembly. The first assembly has first and second gears connected by a common shaft. The first gear meshes with the motor gear and the second gear meshes with the second assembly. The second assembly has a third gear mounted to the body by a pin which meshes with the second gear. The third gear is an eccentric gear.

Abstract: A system for moving robots in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The system includes: a surface having a position-coding pattern which identifies the surface; mobile robots for moving across the surface, each robot being configured for sensing and decoding the position-coding pattern; and a computer system in communication with the mobile robots. The computer system is configured to send instructions for moving each mobile robot relative to the surface in response to position information corresponding to that mobile robot. Further, the computer system is configured to determine instructions for moving each mobile robot using a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm is selected on the basis of the identity of the surface.

Abstract: A method of authenticating an object in which a computer system receives indicating data from a sensing device. The indicating data is generated in response to sensing of coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object and is indicative of an identity of the object and at least part of a signature. The signature is in turn a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The computer system uses the indicating to determine a received identity and a received signature part, before using the using the received identity to determine at least a determined signature part. The determined signature part is then compared to the received signature part to authenticate the object.

Abstract: A system for retrieving contact details using a print medium is disclosed. A sensor module senses data encoded on a surface of the print medium is sensed using. The sensed data encodes a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium, and a two-dimensional position with respect to the surface of the print medium. A processor determines from the sensed data the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module relative to the surface of the print medium. The processor then retrieves contact details referenced by the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module from a database.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with a plurality of nozzle arrangements that each have a nozzle chamber and an ink ejection port that is in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber. The nozzle arrangements also have an actuator configured for rectilinear movement, and an ink-ejecting mechanism configured for angular displacement to eject ink from the ink ejection port. A translation to rotation conversion mechanism is interposed between the actuator and the ink-ejecting mechanism to convert rectilinear movement of the actuator into angular displacement of the ink-ejecting mechanism.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a printer body, a printhead cartridge for installation in the printer body, and an ink cartridge for supplying the printhead cartridge with ink. The ink cartridge has an ink outlet valve and an air inlet, the ink outlet valve engaging an ink inlet valve on the printhead cartridge, and the air inlet engaging a complementary formation on the printer body to open the air inlet and locate the ink cartridge.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a cradle unit of an inkjet printer having a body complementary to a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply and a controller for controlling the operation of the printhead to facilitate printing. The cover assembly has at least one port formed therein through which a refill unit is received for refilling the ink supply of the cartridge; and an actuator member arranged within the cover assembly which operates said refill unit to facilitate refilling of the ink supply of the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of formulating an aqueous ink having minimal visible coloration. The method includes the steps of: providing an aqueous ink formulation containing a sulfonated water-soluble IR-absorbing naphthalocyanine dye having a central metal atom moiety; and adjusting a pH of the formulation to a pH value in the range of 4 to 6.5 so as to minimize visible coloration of the formulation.

Abstract: A mobile phone device configured for overlaying part of a substrate. The substrate contains a printed hyperlink and coded data identifying a plurality of positions on the substrate. The device includes: a mobile telephone transceiver; an optical sensor for reading the coded data; a processor for generating interaction data using the read coded data; and a touch-sensitive display screen for displaying information based on the interaction data. The displayed information includes a displayed hyperlink corresponding to the printed hyperlink. User interaction with the displayed hyperlink via the touch-sensitive display screen causes display of hyperlinked information on the screen.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for removing particulates from an ink ejection face of a printhead. The assembly comprises: pressure means for flooding the face and thereby dispersing the particulates into flooded ink; a first transfer roller having a transfer surface for receiving the flooded ink; a transfer mechanism for rotating the first transfer roller; and an ink removal system for removing ink from the transfer surface. The ink removal system comprises a second transfer roller engaged with the first transfer roller.

Abstract: A system for controlling a communications device is disclosed. A printer prints on a surface visual information relating to at least one operation of the communications device and coded data portions. Each coded data portion encodes a region identifier which uniquely identifies a region on the surface, and a portion identifier which uniquely identifies the coded data portion. A sensing device placed in an operative position relative to the coded data portions, generate indicating data regarding the region identifier and the portion identifier. A computer system receives the indicating data and determines an operation associated with the region identifier and the portion identifier. Finally, the computer system sends one or more commands to the communications device, thereby effecting the at least one operation.

Abstract: A solvent-based ink composition for a thermal inkjet printhead. The ink composition comprises: (a) 20-80 wt. % of a compound of formula (C); wherein: R7 is a C2-12 alkyl group interrupted with 0, 1, 2 or 3 oxygen atoms; (b) 10-70 wt. % of a C1-6 alcohol; and (c) 0.01-25 wt. % of a colorant.

Abstract: A printer for printing packaging associated with a pharmaceutical product. The printer determines visible information to be provided on the packaging and an identity associated with the pharmaceutical product. The printer uses this to generate coded data including a number of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of the identity. The printer then prints the packaging by printing the coded data and the visible information.