Abstract: A method implemented on a processor for operating an industrial printer comprises obtaining first data that indicates a representative industrial printer used on a production line at a facility and a product to be output by the production line; obtaining second data that indicates a target start time and a target number of the product and a target duration for producing the target number of the product; and upon a condition precedent, determining a line report that indicates productivity of the production line based on the count of print operations and the second data.

Abstract: A marking unit configured for marking variable data content on a product or product packaging, the marking unit including a plurality of interface modules configured to be connected to a global computer network. The plurality of interface modules includes a wired Ethernet connection module, a wireless WI-FI module, and a cellular data module. The marking unit includes instructions for sending or receiving communications, each communication defined by a category selected from the group consisting of: sending telemetric data over a global computer network to a telemetric data collection/remote support node, receiving updates the machine-readable instructions, and receiving variable data content. The included instructions are also for selecting which of the plurality of interface modules to use for sending or receiving each communication based on the category of the communication and whether each of the plurality of interface modules is available.

Abstract: A method of operating a continuous inkjet printer (1). The printer comprise a printhead. The printhead comprises a droplet generator (16) comprising a printing nozzle (17) for ejecting an ink jet for printing, at least one electrode (22, 23) for steering the inkjet, and a gutter (18) having an ink receiving orifice (24) for receiving parts of the ink jet which are not used for printing. The method comprises performing a cleaning operation. Said cleaning operation comprises: ejecting a solvent jet from the printing nozzle towards the gutter; and causing at least a portion of the solvent jet to contact at least a part of the gutter (18) surrounding the orifice (24) for cleaning said part of the gutter surrounding the orifice.

Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method comprising, receiving data associated with an industrial printer, the industrial printer operating on a print line and executing a print job, determining, based on the data associated with the industrial printer, an issue associated with the industrial printer, determining, based on the issue, whether the industrial printer requires remedial action or if the industrial printer can continue to be operated with the issue.

Abstract: A binary array ink jet printhead assembly includes a cavity for containing ink, nozzle orifices in fluid communication with the cavity for passing the ink from the cavity to form droplets, the nozzle orifices extending along a length of the cavity, and an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a front face configured to be disposed generally parallel to a plurality of droplet paths of droplets from the nozzle orifices. A plurality of charge electrodes are disposed on the front face, each charge electrode corresponding to a droplet path and disposed parallel to the droplet path. Circuitry is disposed on the electrode assembly, wherein each electrode is electrically connected to the circuitry. The circuitry is further in electrical connection to a connector for connecting the electrode assembly to a controller for the printhead.

Abstract: There is a print head connector assembly for a printer, the print head connector assembly providing at least one continuous fluid and/or electrical connection between a first port and a second port, the at least one continuous connection being provided by at least one conduit. The print head connector assembly comprises: a first component connectable to an umbilical conduit at the first port; a second component connectable to a print head at the second port, wherein one of the first component and the second component comprises a print head connection axis at the second port and the other of the first component and the second component comprises an axis of rotation, the first component and the second component housing the at least one conduit; adjustment means between the first component and the second component for adjusting the print head connector assembly into a plurality of configurations.

Abstract: A system having a plurality of marking and/or coding devices and a computing system coupled to the devices and having processor configured to: receive sensor data associated with each device; and store printer metadata and batch job metadata in a backup file for each device. The processor is configured to classify a fault condition of a respective one device based on one or more of received sensor data, device self-test data, current operational data and historical device condition data. The processor is configured to determine autonomously a repair process recommendation in response to the classified fault condition and based on an estimated time to repair (ETR) the device using a self-repair recovery process relative to a line recovery time (LRT) threshold. The processor is configured to recommend as the repair process recommendation the self-repair recovery process in response to the ETR being less than or equal to the LRT threshold.

Abstract: This invention relates to metal complex dyes that are free of chromium, are not carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxins. These dyes have good solubility and conductivity in organic solvents, chemical stability, and light stability. The invention also relates to a method of inkjet printing comprising using the ink compositions and ink cartridges.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous ink jet printing, comprising: an ink system comprising an ink storage tank (15) operable to supply ink to a print head associated with the apparatus; a single cartridge connection (9) for releasable engagement with a fluid cartridge (8), the cartridge connection (9) comprising: a fluid connector (10) for engaging an outlet of a fluid cartridge; and a conduit configured to allow fluid to flow along a fluid pathway from a cartridge engaged with the cartridge connection, via the fluid connector, to the ink storage tank. The apparatus has a first configuration in which a solvent cartridge is engaged with the cartridge connection and in which the apparatus is configured to receive solvent from the engaged solvent cartridge, and a second configuration in which an ink cartridge is engaged with the cartridge connection and in which the apparatus is configured to receive ink from the engaged ink cartridge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high adhesion ink with good abrasion resistance, useful for inkjet printing. These inks include a first resin comprising a polymer comprising vinyl chloride or a polymer comprising vinyl acetate, the first resin having a weight average molecular weight between about 20 kDa and about 80 kDa, a second resin comprising a tackifier resin with a weight average molecular weight between about 200 Da and about 2.5 kDa, and a third resin with a weight average molecular weight between about 500 Da and about 40 kDa.

Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method comprising, receiving data associated with an industrial printer, the industrial printer operating on a print line and executing a print job, determining, based on the data associated with the industrial printer, an issue associated with the industrial printer, determining, based on the issue, whether the industrial printer requires remedial action or if the industrial printer can continue to be operated with the issue.

Abstract: A cartridge for storing and dispensing liquid for use with an inkjet printer includes a reservoir for storage of the liquid and an outlet for dispensing the liquid. The reservoir has a reinforcing structure and maintains a predetermined separation. The reinforcing structure separates an internal space of the reservoir into a first and second chamber. The reinforcing structure provides a fluid communication path between the chambers. The reinforcing structure has first and second portions of wall that partially defining the first and second chambers. The reinforcing structure has a wall partially defining the fluid communication path. The first and second portions of the wall have an arcuate profile. The first and second chambers have respective first and second widths. The fluid communication path has a third width which is less than the first or second widths.

Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.

Abstract: A method for operating a thermal transfer printer includes providing a ribbon, providing at least one spool configured to take up the ribbon, and providing a printhead. The substrate is moved relative to the printhead at a speed. The ribbon is moved relative to the printhead at a speed that is less than the speed of the substrate while using the printhead to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to the substrate to print an image on the substrate. Data is captured from the ribbon after ink has been transferred to the substrate. The data is processed to control at least one property of the printer.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet ink composition includes one or more volatile organic solvents, wherein the one or more volatile organic solvents are selected from C1-C4 alcohols, C3-C6 ketones, C3-C6 esters, C4-C8 ethers, and mixtures thereof; one or more binder resins; and one or more dyes. The ink composition is suitable for use in a thermal ink jet printer and the ink composition has a slow rate of kogation such that it is capable of being printed at least 10 million drops per nozzle from the thermal ink jet printer before drop weight of the ink composition is reduced by more than 10%.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head, including: a droplet generator (32, 32?, 32?) for generating ink droplets (64); a charging electrode (22, 22?, 22?) having a passageway (74, 74?, 74?) through which the ink droplets travel to receive a charge; a deflection electrode (60, 60?, 60?) for deflecting the charged ink droplets; a gutter (50, 50?, 50?, 50??) having a gutter entrance (52, 52?, 52?, 52??); wherein the passageway is aligned with the gutter entrance through which uncharged droplets enter; and a mounting deck (10, 10?, 10?) configured to secure the gutter entrance into a fixed, nonadjustable gutter entrance position (56, 56?, 56?, 56??) and to secure the charging electrode into a fixed, nonadjustable charging electrode position (24, 24?, 24?) relative to the gutter entrance.

Abstract: A method for controlling a thermal printhead of a printer. The printhead comprises an array of printing elements. The method may comprise performing a plurality of printing operations, each printing operation comprising energization of one or more printing elements. A respective energization value is determined for each printing element based upon energizations of that printing element during said printing operations. A printhead control signal is generated for the printhead for a subsequent printing operation based upon the energization values of a predetermined subset of the printing elements.

Abstract: A method of providing coding instructions to a printer includes creating artwork design for a package and creating coding instructions associated with the artwork design, the coding instructions for printing a code on the package. The coding instructions are associated with the artwork design and transferred to a remote storage location. An identifier is provided with the package, package materials, or a component thereof to allow a user to retrieve the coding instructions for printing the code on the package.