Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for handling objects. The apparatus comprises a carrying device (104) that is configured to move along a track (102). A handling device (224) is adapted to hold an object (108) and is mounted to the carrying device (104) such that it is rotatable with respect to the carrying device about a handling axis (226). A drive device (310) is disposed at a position along the track (102) and configured to produce a torque around a drive axis. The carrying device (104) can be moved along the track (102) in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis into and out of a drive position. In the drive position, the handling axis (226) of the handling device (224) is in substantial alignment with the drive axis of the drive device (310) whereupon the drive device induces a torque in the handling device (224) causing the handling device to rotate, thereby causing the object (108) held by the handling device to rotate.

Abstract: A printing system for printing on an outer surface of a tubular object is provided. The printing system comprises at least one printing station for printing on the outer surface of the tubular object (100); and at least one holding device for holding the tubular object during a printing process. The holding device comprises: a substantially annular gripper ring (200) adapted to be partially inserted into a tubular object. The gripper ring comprises a radially compressible portion (201) configured to securely engage with an inner surface of the tubular object. The radially compressible portion exerts a radially outward mechanical restoring force when compressed.

Abstract: A system for transmitting rotational motion between a driving element and a driven element comprises a driving element that is coupled to a torque input that causes the driving element to rotate about a drive axis. The driving element comprises a first magnetic element. A driven element is configured to rotate about a driven axis. The driven element comprises a second magnetic element. Both the first magnetic element and second magnetic element are susceptible to a magnetic field, and at least one of the first and second magnetic element produces a magnetic field. A magnetic interaction between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element couples the rotational motion of the driving element and the rotational motion of the driven element. The driving and driven elements are coupled at a predetermined rotational orientation with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrostatic ink jet printhead, the printhead comprising: one or more ejection tips from which, in use, ink is ejected, the one or more ejection tips defining a tip region; a printhead housing, the printhead housing defining a cavity in which the one or more ejection tips are located; the method comprising the steps of, during a printing operation, passing a vapour into the cavity to reduce evaporation of ink in the tip region.

Abstract: A maintenance cap is provided for in-situ attachment to a printhead of printing apparatus. The maintenance cap comprises a housing defining at least one chamber for receiving a liquid. An opening in the housing provides a path for the liquid to pass from the chamber into a portion of the printhead when the maintenance cap is engaged with the printhead. The maintenance cap also includes a seal disposed around the opening for engagement with the printhead. A transducer coupled to the housing is used to generate ultrasound acoustic waves in the liquid contained in the chamber and printhead so as to clean the printhead.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on cylindrical objects (31) comprises a plurality of printheads (32); and at least one holding device movable relative to the printheads (32) such that, in use, the holding device moves the object between the printheads. The path of the at least one holding device comprises a plurality of vertical sections (34) which are horizontally offset from one another. Each vertical section (34) comprises at least two identically orientated printheads (32) arranged such that they are vertically displaced from one another, with one directly above the others. The at least one holding device moves the object (31) between the at least two printheads (32) such that part or all of its path between the printheads is vertical.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling ink pressure in a printhead, the apparatus comprising: an integrally formed structure having: at least one control reservoir separated into first and second chambers by a weir; at least one inlet passageway, extending from the first chamber to an inlet port on an edge of the structure, for supplying ink from a remote source into the first chamber of the reservoir; at least one fluid outlet passageway, extending from the second chamber to an outlet port on an edge of the structure, for recirculating fluid from the reservoir to the remote source of ink; and at least one ink supply port, in communication with the first chamber, for supplying ink to, or receiving ink from, a printhead.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance cap for attachment to a printhead, the cap comprising: a main body defining a chamber into which rinse fluid passes from the printhead during a cleaning cycle; a seal for engagement with the printhead prior to a cleaning cycle starting; and a venting system for equalizing the pressure in the chamber and the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an electrostatic printhead which has one or more ejection tips from which, in use, ink is ejected, the method comprising: stopping a prior flow of ink to a region around the ejection tip(s) for, in use, printing; causing a pressure differential to occur at the tip region thereby causing the ink meniscus to retreat from the tip; and passing a rinse into the tip region to clean the tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row, the printhead having a row of ejection channels and each ejection channel having associated ejection electrodes to which voltages are applied in use. During printing, in order to cause volumes of fluid to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead for printing, voltage pulses having values of predetermined amplitude and duration as determined by respective image pixel bit values generated by a raster image processor are applied, at a given pulse period, to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels.

Abstract: A method of reducing and/or preventing the accumulation of concentrated ink at an ejection point of a printhead of an electrostatic inkjet printer when ink is not being ejected at the ejection point, the method comprising reversing the electric field at the ejection point of the printhead during a non-printing phase of operation to reduce the concentration of ink at the ejection point.

Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row for printing using a plurality of overlapping printheads or a printhead or printheads indexed through overlapping positions, the or each printhead having a row of ejection channels, each ejection channel having associated ejection electrodes, the method comprising: applying a voltage to the ejection channels sufficient to cause concentration of particles in the printing fluid at the ejection channels, applying voltage pulses of respective predetermined amplitude and/or duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels in order to cause volumes of printing fluid to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the overlapping printheads, thereby forming a pixel of a predetermined optical density, adjusting, for each row of the image, the values of the voltage pulses to be applied to the overlapping printheads to form pixels printed by overlapped ejection chan

Abstract: A method of calibrating a printhead, for printing two-dimensional bit-mapped images having a number of pixels per row, is disclosed for printheads (1) having a row of printing channels (5). During printing, in order to cause volumes of charged particulate concentrations of one of a number of predetermined volume sizes to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead to form printed pixels, control pulse values of respective predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, are applied to the selected printing channels. The calibration method comprises providing an image (50) that causes each channel of the printhead to be driven with the same pulse value, and printing one or more test prints of the image.

Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row for printing is disclosed. The method and apparatus use either a plurality of overlapping printheads (300) or a printhead or plurality of printheads indexed through overlapping positions. The or each printhead has a row of ejection channels (301), each of which has associated ejection electrodes to which a voltage is applied to cause particulate concentrations to be formed from within a body of printing fluid. In order to cause volumes of charged particulate concentrations of one of a number of predetermined volume sizes to be ejected as printed droplets from selected ejection channels of the overlapping printheads, voltage pulses (VE) of respective predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, are applied to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row, the printhead having a row of ejection channels and each ejection channel having associated ejection electrodes to which voltages are applied in use. During printing, in order to cause volumes of fluid to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead for printing, voltage pulses having values of predetermined amplitude and duration as determined by respective image pixel bit values generated by a raster image processor are applied, at a given pulse period, to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels.

Abstract: A process for forming an image on a substrate, comprises depositing ink compositions of at least two colors onto the substrate to form the image, and fixing the image to the substrate, wherein the ink is deposited using an electrostatic printhead, which ejects chargeable marking particles dispersed in a carrier fluid by using an applied electric field to first concentrate and then eject the marking particles, and wherein all of the ink compositions are deposited onto the substrate before the image is fixed. An ink composition suitable for use in the invention comprises: 45-95% by weight of a carrier liquid; 6-40% by weight of insoluble chargeable marking particles; and 0.4-10% by weight of a soluble dispersant, characterized in that the ink does not contain an agent that can fix the marking particles to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row for printing is disclosed. The method and apparatus use either a plurality of overlapping printheads (300) or a printhead or plurality of printheads indexed through overlapping positions. The or each printhead has a row of ejection channels (301), each of which has associated ejection electrodes to which a voltage is applied to cause particulate concentrations to be formed from within a body of printing fluid. In order to cause volumes of charged particulate concentrations of one of a number of predetermined volume sizes to be ejected as printed droplets from selected ejection channels of the overlapping printheads, voltage pulses (VE) of respective predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, are applied to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels.

Abstract: An ink manifold for an inkjet printhead is provided, comprising a number of substantially parallel transverse channels 709,713 connected by one or more connecting passages 719. The resistance to flow provided by the connecting passages is substantially greater than the resistance to flow along the length of a transverse channel. The ink manifold provided by the present invention ensures that the ink pressure and flow rate presented to the ejectors of the printhead is uniform along the entire length of the ejector array and, moreover, does so in a shallower manifold design than has previously been known.

Abstract: A method of preparing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image is disclosed in which the image has n pixels per row for printing using one or more printheads each having a row of ejection locations. Each ejection location has associated ejection electrodes to which a voltage is applied sufficient to cause particulate agglomerations to be formed from within a body of printing fluid. In order to cause charged particulate agglomerations to be ejected as printed droplets from selected ejection locations, voltage pulses of predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by the respective bit values of the individual pixels of rows of the image, are applied to the electrodes of the selected ejection locations.

Abstract: A method of preparing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image is disclosed in which the image has n pixels per row for printing using one or more printheads each having a row of ejection locations. Each ejection location has associated ejection electrodes to which a voltage is applied sufficient to cause particulate agglomerations to be formed from within a body of printing fluid. In order to cause charged particulate agglomerations to be ejected as printed droplets from selected ejection locations, voltage pulses of predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by the respective bit values of the individual pixels of rows of the image, are applied to the electrodes of the selected ejection locations.