Abstract: A pumping unit system having vertical sampson post, a walking beam pivotally supported at the upper end of the sampson post and a horsehead affixed at a forward end thereof that supports a reciprocated sucker rod string, including a gear reducer mounted at selectable positions on the walking beam and having a horizontally extending drive shaft, a crank arm affixed to the drive shaft the spacing between a selectable length pitman rod having a first end secured to said crank arm and a second end having a pitman bearing that is selectably mountable to a plurality of pitman bearing locations and a prime mover connected to the gear reducer and wherein the characteristics of the pumping unit are determined by the selectable position of the gear reducer, the selectable length of the crank arm, the selectable length of the pitman rod, and the selectable pitman bearing location.

Abstract: A method of operating an ink jet printer including printing a first image having substantially solid fill regions on a transfer surface disposed on a print drum, printing a second image on the first image, wherein the second image comprises solid or dithered fill regions that correspond to portions of some of the solid fill regions of the interlaced image, and wherein the second image has a dot density that is less than a dot density of the first image.

Abstract: An image transfer mechanism for a printer having a printer frame and an imaging drum attached to the printer frame includes a roller arm having a proximal end and a distal end, a transfer roller having a longitudinal axis, and a load arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The axis of the transfer roller is rotatably attached to the roller arm. The proximal end of the roller arm is attached to the load arm between the proximal end and the distal end of the load arm. The proximal end of the load arm is pivotally attached to the printer frame, and a load mechanism applies a load force to the distal end of the load arm to urge the load arm toward the imaging drum. An engaging mechanism selectively urges the distal end of the roller arm toward the imaging drum, which presses the load arm against the load force of the load mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for compensating for failed ink jets in an ink jet apparatus. The method in embodiments determines if one or more ink jets are nonfunctioning or have failed and substitutes for the one or more nonfunctioning ink jets by using one or more operational ink jets. The operational ink jets used are neighboring operational ink jets that fill in for the one or more failed ink jets. The one or more failed ink jets are disabled wherein a primary image pass is performed followed by one or more additional imaging passes to fill in for the one or more disabled ink jets by enabling the one or more neighboring operational ink jets. The additional imaging passes may be a right fill imaging pass, a left fill imaging pass or a combination of both.

Abstract: A method for deriving and implementing one or more motion profiles is provided. In the method, at least one time constraint between a first motor controlled system in an automated device and a second motor controlled system in the automated device are identified. Known parameters of the first motor controlled system and the second motor controlled system are identified and supplied. A first motion profile for the first motor controlled system is created. A second motion profile for the second motor controlled system is created. The identified at least one time constraint is applied to the first and second motion profiles to constrain the first and second motion profiles to one another. The first and second motion profiles are solved to complete a solution having solution information to prepare for use by said first and second motor controlled systems. The solution information is post-processed for use by the first and second motor controlled systems.

Abstract: A print head drive mechanism and cooperating positioning assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the print head drive mechanism comprises a lead screw that is coupled to the print head and extends through the threaded hub of a gear. The gear is driven by a stepper motor through a pinion. The thread pitch of the lead screw matches the jet spacing in the print head to minimize positional offsets due to component irregularities and misalignments. A support cylinder extends from one face of the gear and includes a tapered nose that seats within a recess in a brace. The brace cooperates with two spaced apart legs to form a positioning assembly that is essentially non-extensible in an X-axis direction but freely pivotable in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis.

Abstract: A print head drive mechanism utilizing a lead screw is provided. In one embodiment, the print head drive mechanism comprises a lead screw that is coupled to the print head and extends through the threaded hub of a gear. The gear is driven by a stepper motor through a pinion. A support cylinder extends from one face of the gear and includes a tapered nose that seats within a recess in a brace. The thread pitch of the lead screw matches the jet spacing in the print head to minimize positional offsets due to component irregularities and misalignments. In another embodiment, the print head is coupled to at least one nut that is translated by a rotating lead screw, with the lead screw having a thread pitch that matches the jet spacing in the print head.

Abstract: A solid ink stick supply system and related method for delivering solid ink sticks to an ink jet print head reservoir is disclosed. The supply system includes a housing with a keyed plate that guides the ink sticks into the proper loading position in a supply channel. A pusher rod in the supply channel transfers an ink stick onto an endless belt for delivery to the print head reservoir. A push device on the endless belt engages and delivers the ink stick to the print head reservoir. A second ink stick is transferred from the supply channel to the endless belt and is retained on the belt by a stop device. A method for efficiently loading ink sticks into the supply system is also provided.

Abstract: A bale loader for use with a truck having a generally flat truck bed, the bale loader having first and second lifting arms each pivoted at its inner end adjacent opposite rear edges of the truck bed and the outer ends being pivotal towards and away from each other, the outer ends each having a bale spike for engaging a hay bale, the arms being pivotal by hydraulic action in a common plane whereby a bale may be lifted onto or off of the truck bed and a hydraulic cylinder/piston system is provided for moving the arms each into a stowed position wherein they extend along either side of the truck bed to leave the truck bed surface unobstructed.

Abstract: A deep well hydraulic pump system using a high pressure accumulator, comprises a down hole pump which is lowered on tubing into the borehole and has a large cylinder and piston connected to a small cylinder and piston with a common piston rod. The large cylinder is connected to the surface by a liquid pipe inside of the tubing. A surface motor-driven pump in one part of the pumping cycle takes liquid from which a high pressure accumulates and pumps it at high pressure through the liquid pipe into the large cylinder, forcing the piston down, and forcing well liquid up the tubing. Part of this liquid goes to a sump and part goes through a pressure sensitive valve to storage. In the second part of the cycle the surface pump draws from the sump and pumps liquid down the tubing. This raises the piston in the large cylinder and lifts liquid through the foot valve into the small cylinder, ready for the next repetition of the two-part cycle.

Abstract: A subsurface hydraulic pump using high pressure accumulator, which comprises a subsurface hydraulic reciprocating pump, comprising a large diameter cylinder and piston and a small diameter cylinder and piston. The cylinders are attached to each other at their open ends and the pistons are attached to each other with a single piston rod. The small cylinder is connected to the well tubing, from which the pump system is hung at the bottom of a well, with the complete pumping system emersed in well liquids. Two check valves are provided in the small cylinder, one for the entry of well fluids on the down stroke of the small piston and a second one which permits flow upwardly from the small cylinder into the tubing, on the upstroke of the small piston.