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.

Abstract: A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of the label stock; a movable element which defines a portion of a web path between the supply spool and the take-up spool support; a sensor configured to produce a sensor signal indicative of the position of the movable element; a controller configured to receive the sensor signal and output a brake assembly control signal based upon the sensor signal; and a brake assembly configured to apply a braking force to one of said spool supports based upon the brake assembly control signal, the braking force resisting rotation of said one of said spool supports. The controller is configured to control the brake assembly based upon the sensor signal so as to cause the moveable element to move towards a desired position.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head (10), including: an ink droplet generator (116) configured to emit an ink droplet (158) along an undeflected droplet flight path (30); a charge electrode (118) configured to impart a charge to the ink droplet; deflector plates (120A, 120B) adjacent the undeflected droplet flight path, downstream from the charge electrode, and configured to deflect the ink droplet to a deflected droplet flight path that lies within a range of deflected flight paths bounded by at least deflected droplet flight path and a most deflected droplet flight path; a gutter (122) configured to receive an ink droplet traveling along the undeflected droplet flight path; and an ink buildup sensor (102) configured to detect an accumulation of ink (140) relative to a droplet flight path disposed within the range of deflected flight paths.

Abstract: A tape drive comprising: first and second motors; first and second spool supports, respectively receiving first and second spools of tape, the first spool support being driveable by the first motor and the second spool support being drivable by the second motor; a sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of linear movement of tape between the tape spools along a predetermined tape path; a controller arranged to control energization of said first and second motors for transport of the tape in at least one direction between the first and second spools of tape along the predetermined tape path; wherein the controller is arranged to generate data indicating the diameter of said first and second spools of tape based upon said signal provided by the sensor and data indicating rotation of each of said first and second spools.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet ink composition includes at least 50% by weight volatile organic solvent selected from C1-C4 alcohols, C3-C6 ketones, C3-C6 esters, C4-C8 ethers, and mixtures thereof; a colorant; a humectant present in an amount from about 1% to about 30% by weight; from 0.3% to 8% by weight of a binder resin; and not more than 5% by weight water; wherein the ink composition is compatible with components of a thermal ink jet printer.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer, including first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first support to the second spool support; a printhead for selectively transferring ink from the ribbon to a substrate; an electromagnetic sensor arranged to sense electromagnetic radiation and to generate data indicative of a property of the ribbon based upon sensed electromagnetic radiation; and a controller for processing data generated by the electromagnetic sensor.

Abstract: A droplet generator for a continuous stream ink jet printhead includes an elongate cavity for containing ink and nozzle orifices in fluid communication with the cavity for passing the ink from the cavity to form jets. The nozzle orifices extend along a length of the cavity. A mounting plate provides a wall of the cavity opposite the nozzle orifices. A plurality of actuators is disposed in the cavity to vibrate the ink in the cavity such that each jet breaks up into ink droplets at substantially a same predetermined distance from the wall. Each of the plurality of actuators is integrally connected to the mounting plate by a membrane.

Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.

Abstract: A labelling machine comprising a supply spool support (12) adapted to receive a supply spool (28), a takeup spool support (14) adapted to form a takeup spool (32) of web (30) from which at least some labels (74) have been removed, a motor (40) arranged to turn the takeup spool, and a controller to control operation of the motor. A web path (16) is defined between the supply spool and the take-up spool, and the controller is arranged to control the motor to turn the take-up spool so as to cause controlled predetermined linear movement of a web along the web path and onto the take-up spool, furthermore comprising a sensor (50) operable to sense linear displacement of the web and/or displacement of the web in a direction other than the direction of the web, a printer (34) movable between a first position and a second position, and a separator surface (24) comprising a first portion inclined relative to the web path.