Abstract: An ink-jet printer cartridge having a center reservoir chamber and two side reservoir chambers for holding inks of three different colors is provided with ink flow pathways of special configuration for connecting the reservoir chambers to exit ports at the print element. The ink flow pathways are provided with ridges extending along substantially their entire lengths so that air bubbles cannot completely block ink flow through the pathways. The ink flow pathways are disposed such that they have a vertical component of direction over their entire length and the pathways connecting the side reservoir chambers to exit ports include duct portions disposed at compound angles relative to the axes of the cartridge so that air bubbles, because of their buoyancy, will naturally tend to drift upwardly through the inclined ducts toward the reservoir chambers during normal usage, or drift toward the exit openings when the cartridge is inverted for priming.

Abstract: An ink jet printer cartridge assembly including a cartridge body with at least one ink chamber from which ink flows to a print head. A standpipe in the ink chamber includes an opening therethrough for the flow of ink to the print head, and a filter cap is secured on the top of the standpipe to limit the introduction of air bubbles and particulate matter in the flow of ink toward the print head. The filter cap includes a mesh material formed into a dome-shaped configuration and an elastomeric material molded about the periphery of the mesh portion, with the elastomeric material being received around the top portion of the standpipe.

Abstract: A printing machine includes a charge neutralizing system for neutralizing static charge on sheets of material fed therethrough. The charge neutralizing system includes a grounded wire (47) located in proximity to the sheets for neutralizing charge on the sheets. The charge neutralizing system further includes a grounded conductive brush (81) mounted on a sheet deflector (61) so that one end of the brush (77) contacts sheets as they traverse a first sheet feed path (71) and the other end of the brush (79) contacts sheets are they are routed by the deflector to a second alternative sheet feed path (63). The grounded brush (81) further serves to decelerate the sheet as it exits the printing machine over the second sheet feed path (63).

Abstract: An electrophotographic copier machine with a roll fuser where one of the mating rolls is comprised of a thin outer shell which takes a variable taper so that a concave shape is produced under high humidity conditions and a relatively straight roller is produced under low humidity conditions. Means for changing the support at the roll ends is provided to produce the variable taper. End plugs can be moved axially inward at high humidity to provide support for the end portions of the normally concave roll and can be moved axially outwardly under low humidity such that no support is provided until the roll ends are flattened under the pressure of a mating roll.

Abstract: A hot roll fuser includes a heated roller and a substantially non-deformable backup roll forming a nip through which a carrier with unfused toner may pass, the toner becoming fused by virtue of the heating action from the hot roll. A cleaning arrangement for cleaning the backup roll comprises a support and a pair of scraping blades, each supported in contacting relationship with the backup roll. To insure good scraping action, each of the blades has a serrated or interrupted scraping edge, and the serrations or interruptions of the first and second blades are offset so that the entire surface area of the backup roll is scraped either by the first or second blades, or both.

Abstract: A heated fuser roller and backup roller fix toner on a sheet passing therebetween. These rollers are separated during nontoner fixing periods and normally closed for a predetermined early closure period prior to arrival of a sheet at the nip between the rollers. The immediate past history of fusing activity is monitored to determine whether the early roll closure is to be inhibited, a situation existing whenever the immediate past history indicates that steps must be taken to prevent backup roller overheating. The past history monitoring is performed by direct backup roller temperature sensing, timeout circuit operation or the like.