Abstract: A linear motion assembly includes a screw having a helical external groove extending over a plurality of turns with a radially outwardly extending helical land formed between adjacent turns and a ball nut having a through bore configured for receipt of the screw. The ball nut has a helical internal groove extending over a plurality of turns with a radially inwardly extending helical land formed between adjacent turns. The helical land of the ball nut is radially aligned with the external groove of the screw and the helical land of the screw is radially aligned with the internal groove of the ball nut. At least one helical recirculation insert having a circuitous recirculation groove is configured in radial alignment with the radially inwardly extending helical land of the ball nut and the external groove of the screw, wherein a plurality of balls are received in the circuitous recirculation groove.

Abstract: A linear motion assembly includes a screw having a helical external groove extending over a plurality of turns with a radially outwardly extending helical land formed between adjacent turns and a ball nut having a through bore configured for receipt of the screw. The ball nut has a helical internal groove extending over a plurality of turns with a radially inwardly extending helical land formed between adjacent turns. The helical land of the ball nut is radially aligned with the external groove of the screw and the helical land of the screw is radially aligned with the internal groove of the ball nut. At least one helical recirculation insert having a circuitous recirculation groove is configured in radial alignment with the radially inwardly extending helical land of the ball nut and the external groove of the screw, wherein a plurality of balls are received in the circuitous recirculation groove.

Abstract: A method of an embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which a spitting recovery level of a fluid-ejection mechanism is determined. A humidity of the fluid-ejection mechanism is then determined, based on at least the spitting recovery level.

Abstract: A scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper after wiping ink residue from a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The scraper system includes a stationary coarse scraper bar which the wiper passes over to remove the ink residue from the wiper body. The system a fine scraper of a foam material which may be impregnated with an ink solvent. The fine scraper foam is sliced to form segments separated by slits. As the wiper passes over the fine scraper, the wiper tip plunges into the slits to remove ink residue from the important wiper tips, leaving them clean for the next printhead wiping stroke. The fine scraper may be cam actuated to selectively engage the wiper or mounted stationarily. A method of cleaning printheads and inkjet printing mechanisms having scraper system are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for impedance matching for a system capable of supporting voice and data bands. The method includes receiving an input signal having a voice and data band, filtering at least a portion of the data band of the input signal to provide a filtered signal, and adjusting the impedance of the system for the voice band in response to the filtered signal to provide an output signal.

Abstract: A two-stage scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper following wiping a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. A fixed, coarse scraper bar is sandwiched between a pair of moveable fine scraper bars. During the first scraping stage, the fine scrapers are retracted from the wiper path and the coarse scraper cleans one side of the wiper. During the second scraping stage, the fine scrapers move into the wiper path and one of the fine scrapers removes ink residue from the wiper tip. Moving bi-directionally, the wiper reverses to first encounter the coarse scraper, then the other fine scraper, removing ink residue from the other side and tip of the wiper. The fine scrapers may be absorbent or impregnated with an ink solvent. A method of cleaning printheads and inkjet printing mechanisms having two-stage wiper cleaning systems are also provided.

Abstract: A water purifier that has a water container, preferably annular in configuration, within which the water to be purified flows in a continuous stream from an inlet to an outlet within a passageway. A UV emitter, external of the container, directs UV radiation through the water passing through the container. The passageway is a thin depth such that the UV radiation travels only a short path in penetrating the water and thus is very efficient. The UV source is located in close proximity to a thin wall of the water container to further enhance the efficiency of the UV energy. By such design, the water flows continuously through the water purifier and is purified by the time it exits through the outlet. There may be a reflective means proximate of on the outer wall of the container that reflects UV energy back toward the water passageway.

Abstract: A snout wiper assembly includes a support member, a supported member and a snout wiper. The support member defines a travel slot. The supported member is movable along the travel slot between positions including a wiping position and a resting position. The snout wiper is carried by the supported member.

Abstract: A scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper after wiping ink residue from a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The scraper system includes a stationary coarse scraper bar which the wiper passes over to remove the ink residue from the wiper body. The system a fine scraper of a foam material which may be impregnated with an ink solvent. The fine scraper foam is sliced to form segments separated by slits. As the wiper passes over the fine scraper, the wiper tip plunges into the slits to remove ink residue from the important wiper tips, leaving them clean for the next printhead wiping stroke. The fine scraper may be cam actuated to selectively engage the wiper or mounted stationarily. A method of cleaning printheads and inkjet printing mechanisms having scraper system are also provided.

Abstract: A scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper after wiping ink residue from a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The scraper system includes a stationary coarse scraper bar which the wiper passes over to remove the ink residue from the wiper body. The system a fine scraper of a foam material which may be impregnated with an ink solvent. The fine scraper foam is sliced to form segments separated by slits. As the wiper passes over the fine scraper, the wiper tip plunges into the slits to remove ink residue from the important wiper tips, leaving them clean for the next printhead wiping stroke. The fine scraper may be cam actuated to selectively engage the wiper or mounted stationarily. A method of cleaning printheads and inkjet printing mechanisms having scraper system are also provided.

Abstract: A two-stage scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper flowing wiping a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. A fixed, coarse scraper bar is sandwiched between a pair of moveable fine scraper bars. During the first scraping stage, the fine scrapers are retracted from the wiper path and the coarse scraper cleans one side of the wiper. During the second scraping stage, the fine scrapers move into the wiper path and one of the fine scrapers removes ink residue from the wiper tip. Moving bi-directionally, the wiper reverses to first encounter the coarse scraper, then the other fine scraper, removing ink residue from the other side and tip of the wiper. The fine scrapers may be absorbent or impregnated with an ink solvent. A method of cleaning printheads and inkjet printing mechanisms having two-stage wiper cleaning systems are also provided.

Abstract: A two-stage scraper system having coarse and fine cleaning components is provided for cleaning ink residue from a wiper following wiping a printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. A fixed, coarse scraper bar is sandwiched between a pair of moveable fine scraper bars. During the first scraping stage, the fine scrapers are retracted from the wiper path and the coarse scraper cleans one side of the wiper. During the second scraping stage, the fine scraper move into the wiper path and one of the fine scrapers removes ink residue from the wiper tip. Moving bi-directionally, the wiper reverses to first encounter the coarse scraper, then the other fine scraper, removing ink residue from the other side and tip of the wiper. The fine scrapers may be absorbent or impregnated with an ink solvent. A method of cleaning printhead and inkjet printing mechanisms having two-stage wiper cleaning systems are also provided.

Abstract: A composite wiper assembly is provided for cleaning ink residue from an inkjet printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. The composite wiper has a wiper blade with a first portion of a first elastomeric material, and a second portion of a second elastomeric material different from the first elastomeric material. The wiper blade may also have a third portion of a third elastomeric material different from the first elastomeric material and different from the second elastomeric material. The composite structure of the wiper blade allows the materials of the different portions to be tailored to best serve the function of a particular portion. An inkjet printing mechanism having such a composite wiper is also provided.

Abstract: A spittoon system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to handle waste inkjet ink spit from an inkjet printhead during a nozzle clearing, purging or “spitting” routine. The spittoon system includes a frame defining a spittoon chamber having an entrance mouth, and a chimney passageway extending between the mouth and the chamber. A hard porous plastic liner lines this passageway from the mouth and into the chamber, with the liner material having no troublesome fibers projecting from a spit target platform so the platform can be located closer to the printhead than the earlier fiberous liners. This close spit target to printhead spacing, along with a larger spit target area traps inkjet aerosol and misdirected ink droplets ejected during a spitting routine. A method of purging ink residue from an inkjet printhead, along with an inkjet printing mechanism having such a spittoon system, are also provided.

Abstract: A computer printer having a frame contained within a housing, a media transport and printing mechanism attached to the frame within the housing is provided with at least one debris shield positioned above the printing mechanism to protect it from falling debris. The at least one debris shield may be positioned below an air flow path generated by printer ventilation, and the printer may employ a transfer surface on which an image is generated prior to transfer to a media sheet, and above which the debris shield is positioned.

Abstract: An encasement device for a golf tee is cylindrically adhered to a shaft of golf tee. The encasement device is a cover with graduated markings, which allows the golfer to consistently set the tee at the golfer's desired depth. Each graduated marking is numerically related to other graduated markings and the ground penetration depth. The resulting multi-layer structure of the golf tee and the encasement device deters breakage of the golf tee and reinforces the shaft structure of the golf tee.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet print head capable of fast, efficient and consistent printing. Such ink jet print heads include an ink ejecting component which incorporates electropolished surfaces. Electropolishing techniques useful in the production of such ink ejecting components are also discussed.

Abstract: An end of a composite cylinder is formed about an end connection assembly having two longitudinally arranged pieces having a contour which prevents the withdrawal of the end connection assembly from the cylinder. The two pieces of the end connection assembly are relatively forced apart and a snap ring having a certain rest diameter is reduced in diameter and inserted into the end connection assembly to a position between the pieces. The snap ring then assumes its rest diameter positioned between the pieces, forcing them to maintain intimate contact with the inner surface of the cylinder, thus removing any residual gap from the assembly process and/or preloading the interface between the end of the composite cylinder and the end assembly prior to application of an axial load.

Abstract: An arrowhead for an arrow that utilizes a tip actuation mechanism for retaining and releasing a set of expandable blades. The arrowhead has a tip ferrule and a body ferrule, each having a number of blade slots. A set of blades, each having a blade ear, are rotatably attached to the body ferrule. The tip ferrule is positioned on the body ferrule such that the tip ferrule sits on each blade ear and retains the blades in a semi-retracted position. The downward force by the tip ferrule on the blade ear causes direct ejection of the blades without the use of any intervening structures. Consequently, the impact force is maximized to penetrate into the animal, therefore increasing the chances of getting a kill. The device can be reused by the user without the purchase of any new parts by simply attaching the tip ferrule to the body ferrule.

Abstract: A system for supplying hydrogen gas to a lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle includes a manifold having multiple vessels. Each vessel has a first chamber that is separated from a second chamber by a barrier. A trigger assembly integrated with the barrier allows a liquid to be combined with a reactant and a catalyst in the second chamber to form a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen gas. A pressure relief valve located on each vessel opens to allow the hydrogen gas to exit when a predetermined pressure is reached, and the hydrogen gas is supplied to the LTA vehicle connected to the manifold.