Abstract: A protective helmet adapted to receive and protect the head of a wearer includes an outer shell and an attachment ring removably secured to the outer shell, such that the attachment ring can be selectively attached to or detached and removed from the outer shell. The outer shell is shaped to protect the head of the wearer of the protective helmet and defines a bottom opening and an internal cavity for receiving the head of the wearer. The attachment ring acts as a point of attachment for, and thus secures, one or more components of the protective helmet configured to engage the head of the wearer, such that the components secured to the attachment ring are transported with the attachment ring when the attachment ring is detached and removed from the outer shell.

Abstract: An adapter for connecting a breathing tube to a headpiece includes: a housing including a first portion configured to connect to a breathing tube, a second portion configured to connect to a headpiece, and a hollow cavity extending through the first portion and the second portion to define a flow path for breathable air received from the breathing tube to travel through the adapter for delivery to the headpiece; and a speaker configured to emit an audible sound into the flow path. The speaker is positioned within the housing so that, when the adapter is connected to a breathing tube and a headpiece of a respirator system, the speaker is in close proximity to the headpiece to help ensure sound emitted from the speaker is audible to a user wearing the headpiece. The speaker is also positioned outside of the flow path to prevent air flow obstruction within the adapter.

Abstract: Ink delivery systems for an ink jet printer and methods for manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the system comprises a separable ink tank, a printhead body having an opening, ink ejectors associated with the printhead body, and a retainer engaged with the tower portion of the printhead body and with an exit port of the ink tank. A filter is attached to least one of the printhead opening and the retainer, such as by insert molding or heat staking for example. A filter cover member, such as a wick or a septum for instance, is disposed adjacent the filter.

Abstract: An ink jetting assembly includes a body, and an ink jet chip attached to the body. The ink jet chip has a mounting surface, a face surface, an ink channel extending to the face surface, and at least one actuator associated with the ink channel. The actuator includes a plurality of electrical contact pads formed on the face surface. A plurality of passageways extends through the ink jet chip from the mounting surface to the face surface. The ink jetting assembly also includes a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes passes through a respective passageway of the plurality of passageways and is electrically connected to a respective contact pad of the plurality of electrical contact pads at the face surface.

Abstract: The invention described in the specification relates to an improved ink jet printer cartridge structure which includes a substrate carrier or nose piece upon which semiconductor devices for ink jet printheads are mounted. The substrate carrier has a top surface containing one or more substrate locator wells each well having well walls, a well base and at least one ink feed slot in each well base and side walls attached to the top surface along the perimeter thereof. One or more of the side walls contain fins for heat removal from the substrate carrier and at least two alignment devices attached adjacent at least one of the side walls for precisely aligning the substrate carrier in a printer carriage.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet pen including a cartridge body having a printhead and a replaceable ink cartridge removably positionable on the cartridge body. At least one cooperating elongate recess and at least one projection are located on the mutually facing surfaces of the ink cartridge and the cartridge body. The projection and recess are engageable with one another for guidably positioning the ink cartridge to a desired position relative to the cartridge body.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet pen including a cartridge body having a printhead and a replaceable ink cartridge removably positionable on the cartridge body. At least one cooperating elongate recess and at least one projection are located on the mutually facing surfaces of the ink cartridge and the cartridge body. The projection and recess are engageable with one another for guidably positioning the ink cartridge to a desired position relative to the cartridge body.

Abstract: A cartridge body contains one or more printheads on a first surface thereof and one or more connection apertures in flow communication with the one or more printheads, each aperture having an opening on a second surface opposite the first surface, and one or more separate ink filtration devices, each having an ink outlet port connected to the second surface of the cartridge body through an opening so that each ink outlet port is in flow communication with at least one connection aperture. The separate devices enable production of a cartridge body made of a material which is effective for removing heat from the printheads.

Abstract: A printhead apparatus for filtering ink which includes an elongate open-ended trough having a bottom wall and opposing end walls and opposing side walls attached to the bottom wall, an ink exit port attached to the bottom wall between the opposing end walls and side wall, a filter member disposed in the open-ended trough between the end walls and the side walls and an elongate cover assembly attached to the end walls and the side walls covering the trough defining a filter chamber containing filter element, the cover assembly containing an ink inlet valve and a gas outlet valve. The device is disposed between an ink cartridge and an ink jet pen containing one or more printheads and is activated automatically when a new ink cartridge is installed on the pen thereby removing unwanted air and gas bubbles from the filter chamber and providing gas free ink to the pen and one or more printheads.

Abstract: A printhead comprises a source of ink, a body, a mounting base, and an ink heater thermally coupled to the mounting base. A flowpath delivers ink from the ink source to the heater and is defined at least in part by the mounting base on the body. Three or more thermally conductive paths extend from the mounting base to the body. Preferably, one or more of the thermally conductive paths are heat conductive bridges extending from the mounting base to the body through an edge feed via.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet pen including a cartridge body having a printhead and a replaceable ink cartridge removably positionable on the cartridge body. At least one cooperating elongate recess and at least one projection are located on the mutually facing surfaces of the ink cartridge and the cartridge body. The projection and recess are engageable with one another for guidably positioning the ink cartridge to a desired position relative to the cartridge body.