Abstract: A maintenance apparatus for a media width printhead is provided. The printhead has rows of fluid ejection nozzles extending along the media width for ejecting fluid onto media as the media travels past the printhead along a media travel direction. The apparatus has a seal for sealing against the printhead surface having the nozzle rows and forming a sealed space about the nozzle rows, a wick element positioned within the seal for wicking fluid ejected by the nozzles from the sealed space, and an alignment mechanism for aligning the seal with the printhead so that a portion of an outer surface of the wick element sloped in the media travel direction closest to the printhead is positioned upstream with respect to a centerline along the length the nozzle rows and a portion of the sloped outer surface of the wick element furthest from the printhead is positioned downstream.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead having the steps of bringing a porous material within a predetermined distance from fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead at a non-printing phase of the printhead; and holding the porous material at the predetermined distance during the non-printing phase, wherein the predetermined distance is selected to allow a fluid flow path to form between the nozzles and porous material which causes transfer of fluid egested by the nozzles to the porous material and then induces the flow path to break off.

Abstract: A method of wiping a printhead, the method having: controlling a lift mechanism to lift a wiper module from a supporting sled to position a porous material of the wiper module against the printhead; controlling a rotation mechanism to rotate a shaft of the wiper module about which the porous material is provided so that the porous material rotates against the printhead, the porous material being configured to absorb fluid from the printhead during the rotation; and controlling a sliding mechanism to slide the sled relative to the printhead so that the rotating porous material is wiped across the printhead.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus for a printhead, the apparatus having a rotatable shaft; a porous material about the shaft; and a mechanism for rotating the shaft so that the porous material rotates against the printhead, the porous material being configured to absorb fluid from the printhead during the rotation.

Abstract: A printing assistance apparatus for a media width printhead is provided. The printhead has rows of fluid ejection nozzles extending along the media width, The apparatus has an elongate platen having a surface for supporting media across the media width as the media travels past the printhead along a media travel direction, the platen having an elongate slot along the media width, a wick element positioned within the slot for wicking fluid ejected by the nozzles from the supporting surface, and an alignment mechanism for aligning the platen with the printhead so that the opposed longitudinal edges of the slot are respectively positioned upstream and downstream of the media travel direction with respect to a centerline along the length the nozzle rows with the upstream edge being closer to the centerline than the downstream edge such that the wick element has a smaller upstream surface area.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus for a printhead, the apparatus having a seal for sealing against a surface of the printhead which has fluid ejection nozzles, the seal being configured to form a sealed space about the nozzles; and a porous material positioned within the seal to be in proximity of the nozzles in the sealed space, fluid egested by the nozzles contacting, and being transferred to, the porous material in the sealed space.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead and the method having when printing with the printhea, translating a modular sled relative to the printhead so as to align a media platen module supported by the sled with the printhead after printing with the printing, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a wiper module supported by the sled with the printhead and operating a wiper roller of the wiper module so as to wipe a printing face of the printhead; and after the wiping and prior to commencement of printing with the printhead, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a capper module supported by the sled with the printhead so as to cap the printing face of the printhead.

Abstract: A maintenance apparatus for a printhead, the apparatus having a first porous member for contacting the printhead to absorb fluid from the printhead; and a second porous member for contacting the first porous member to absorb fluid from the first porous member.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead, the method having, when printing with the printhead, translating a modular sled relative to the printhead so as to align a media platen module supported by the sled with the printhead; after printing with the printing, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a wiper module supported by the sled with the printhead and operating a wiper roller of the wiper module so as to wipe a printing face of the printhead; and after the wiping and prior to commencement of printing with the printhead, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a capper module supported by the sled with the printhead so as to cap the printing face of the printhead.

Abstract: A system for shaping media for printing by a media width printhead is provided having a media width printhead of fluid ejection nozzles defining a media width print zone, input rollers disposed for transporting media into the print zone at an angle to a plane parallel with the print zone, output rollers for transporting media out of the print zone at an angle to a plane parallel with the print zone, and an elongate platen for supporting and shaping the media as the media is transported through the print zone. The platen has a series of ribs disposed upstream of the print zone and a series of ribs disposed downstream of the print zone. The ribs are configured so that the transported media adopts a constrained curved path past the nozzles through contact with the ribs in the print zone.

Abstract: A printing assistance apparatus for a media width printhead, the apparatus having: an elongate platen having a surface for supporting media across the media width during printing on the media by fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead; and a wick element positioned within the platen for wicking fluid ejected by the nozzles from the supporting surface, the wick element having an elongate body positioned within the platen and a plurality of pads projecting from the body along the longitudinal length body toward the printhead, the pads being separated by notches.

Abstract: A maintenance system for a printhead, the system having a sled slidably arranged with respect to the printhead a media platen module supported by the sled a capper module supported by the sled a wiper module supported by the sled; and a selection mechanism for selectively sliding the sled to align one of the platen, capper and wiper modules with the printhead, and for moving the aligned module to a position in proximity of the printhead.

Abstract: Method of shaping media for printing by a media width printhead, the method having transporting media into a print zone defined by a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles of the printhead with input rollers at an angle to a plane parallel with the print zone; transporting media out of the print zone with output rollers at an angle to said parallel plane; and supporting and shaping the media as the media is transported through the print zone with an elongate platen, the platen having a series of upstream ribs disposed upstream of the print zone with respect to the media transport direction and a series of downstream ribs disposed downstream of the print zone with respect to the media transport direction, wherein the ribs are configured so that the transported media is in contact with the ribs in the print zone and adopts a constrained curved path past the nozzles.

Abstract: A medication dispenser includes a thermal drop generator ejector head. Medication is maintained in a pressurized container connected to a valve under the control of control electronics and to a compliant chamber. Fluid flows from the container to the chamber and to the ejector head. In a first mode the dispenser is operable to dispense aerosolized medication. In a second mode the ejector head is purged with fluid from the container to maintain the ejector head.

Abstract: Systems, including apparatus and methods, for microfluidic processing and/or analysis of samples. The systems include a microfluidic device having a substrate and a thin-film layer formed on the substrate. The thin-film layer may be included in electronics formed on the substrate. The electronics may provide electronic devices configured to sense or modify a property of the sample. The thin-film layer defines an opening for routing movement of fluid and/or sample within the device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for refilling a used ink cartridge includes determining a quantity of ink remaining in an ink holding chamber in the cartridge, determining a desired quantity of ink to refill the chamber based on a difference between a capacity of the chamber and the quantity of ink remaining in the chamber, and refilling the chamber with the desired quantity of ink. In another embodiment, a method for refilling a used ink cartridge includes introducing ink into an ink holding chamber in the cartridge, simultaneously with introducing ink into the chamber, monitoring the level of ink in the chamber, and ending the introduction of ink into the chamber when the level of ink in the chamber reaches a desired level.

Abstract: A disposable blood test device comprises a substrate configured for carrying a chemical reagent and circuitry formed on the substrate. The circuitry comprises a sensor portion associated with the chemical reagent to enable measurement of at least one of a presence and a concentration of a blood analyte, and an information storage portion configured to store information indicative of a property of the chemical reagent.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for analysis of a sample. The microfluidic device includes a substrate portion that at least partially defines a chamber for receiving the sample. The substrate portion includes a substrate having a surface. The substrate portion also includes a plurality of thin-film layers formed on the substrate adjacent the surface. The thin-film layers form a plurality of electronic devices. Each of at least two of the electronic devices is formed by a different set of the thin-film layers.

Abstract: Controlled ejection of a fluid-based solute medicament includes determining an indication of a characteristic of the medicament in at least one ejection chamber, and ejecting the medicament from the at least one ejection chamber based on the determined indication.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for introducing ink into an ink cartridge includes introducing ink into an ink holding chamber through ink ejection nozzles and, simultaneously with introducing ink into the ink holding chamber through the ink ejection nozzles, introducing ink into the ink holding chamber through an opening other than the ink ejection nozzles or applying a negative pressure at a first opening to the ink holding chamber and applying a positive pressure at a second opening to the ink holding chamber. In another embodiment, a method includes performing a primary operation on an ink holding chamber by introducing ink into the ink holding chamber through ink ejection nozzles and performing a secondary operation on the ink holding chamber to increase the flow of ink to a distal part of the ink holding chamber relative to the flow of ink to a proximal part of the ink holding chamber.