Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus having a cleaning station that cleans the orifice plate with a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid includes a hydrophobic additive that has a strong affinity for the orifice plate material and which coats the orifice plate to form a protective coating. If a portion of the protective coating is removed, that portion will be repaired by the additive.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an imaging device such as a scanner or printer. The imaging device includes a unique media gate arrangement in which each of the media gates is positioned along the same optical axis. This provides for a gate arrangement in which media of a first format will be conveyed across one of the gates and media of a second format will be conveyed across a second one of the gates. With the arrangement of the present invention it is not necessary to change a media gate based on the format of the film or media used, since the media gates based are positioned along the same optical axis and are positioned such that the light beam passes through both gates.

Abstract: A cleaning fluid for use with an inkjet printer having orifices for ejecting ink, the surface of the orifices at the ejection point being formed by a predetermined material includes a liquid for cleaning the orifice surface; and an additive in the liquid having a strong affinity for the material which forms the orifice surface and coats such surface to form a protective coating of such additive so that if a portion of the protective coating is removed, such portion will be repaired by the additive material.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an ink jet head and defining a structure having a device including a structure defining a plurality of orifices for ejecting ink droplets includes defining an ink cleaning cavity spaced from the printing position for receiving cleaning fluid; a roller disposed in the cleaning cavity and partially submerged in the cleaning fluid and spaced from the structure is rotated so that the fluid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller; and the structure is brought into proximity with the cleaning roller so that the orifices are cleaned by the cleaning fluid carried on the roller and delivered through the cleaning cavity to the structure.

Abstract: A cleaning fluid for use with an inkjet printer having orifices for injecting ink, the surface of the orifices at the injection point being formed by a predetermined material includes a liquid for cleaning the surface of the orifices, such liquid including a di or trihydroxysilane which acts as a biocide, surfactant, and humectant.

Abstract: An ink for use in an inkjet printer having nozzles for ejecting ink droplets includes a colorant, a hydroxysilane having at least two hydroxy groups, and a liquid carrier for the colorant and the silane.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus for cleaning debris from orifices in an ink jet print head orifice plate includes a structure defining a cleaning cavity for receiving cleaning liquid; a roller partially submerged in the cleaning liquid. The roller is rotated so that cleaning liquid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller; and relative movement is provided between the orifice plate and the structure so that the orifice plate is positioned adjacent to the cleaning cavity with the rotating roller spaced a distance from the orifice plate so that there is turbulence of the cleaning liquid and such turbulence causes the cleaning fluid to engage the orifice plate and remove debris from the orifice plate and orifice nozzles.

Abstract: A printing plate processor for processing a printing plate having a substrate, a hydrophilic layer over the substrate and a processable ink-receiving layer over the hydrophilic layer includes a structure for receiving processing fluid and a roller partially submerged in the processing fluid. The roller is rotated so that processing fluid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller, and the printing plate is moved into a processing region with the rotating roller but spaced from the roller a distance selected so that the turbulence of the processing fluid engaging the ink-receiving layer causes portions of the ink-receiving layer to be removed by the processing fluid carried on the roller.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having an inkjet head and defining a structure having means including a structure defining a plurality of orifices for ejecting ink droplets. A cleaning cavity is spaced from the printing position for receiving cleaning fluid. An adjustable vane partially submerged in the cleaning fluid and spaced from the structure and a pump delivers the cleaning liquid at a desired velocity towards the adjustable vane so that the vane creates a flow of cleaning liquid past the structure in the cleaning cavity space. The adjustable vane is positioned so as to create a desired flow of cleaning liquid which engages the structure.

Abstract: A mechanical flexure with two legs in a symmetrical structure that provides straight line motion when a force is applied to one leg end, along an axis through both leg ends. Such a force translates leg ends solely along said axis in a straight line, without deviation in an orthogonal axis. Components attached to flexure leg ends will thus travel in a straight line in a single axis over a useful range. The flexure could also provide rotational translation over small angular ranges when used with appropriate hardware configurations. The flexure is capable of integral manufacture with other components and simultaneously provides alignment and translation functions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for purifying solutions containing a hydroxide compound, including the steps of: (A) providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, a cation selective membrane and a bipolar membrane, the bipolar membrane having an anion selective side facing the anode and a cation selective side facing the cathode, wherein the cation selective membrane is positioned between the anode and the bipolar membrane, and the bipolar membrane is positioned between the cation selective membrane and the cathode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the cation selective membrane and the anode, a recovery compartment between the bipolar membrane and the cation selective membrane, and a water compartment between the bipolar membrane and the cathode; (B) charging a solution of an ionic compound at a first concentration to the water compartment, and water to the recovery compartment; (C) charging a solution containing the hydroxide compound at a second concentra

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for purifying solutions containing a hydroxide compound, including the steps of: (A) providing an electrochemical cell containing an anode, a cathode, a cation selective membrane and an anion selective membrane, wherein the cation selective membrane is positioned between the cathode and the anion selective membrane, and the anion selective membrane is positioned between the cation selective membrane and the anode, thereby defining a feed compartment between the cation selective membrane and the anion selective membrane, a recovery compartment between the cathode and the cation selective membrane, and a water compartment between the anion selective membrane and the anode; (B) charging a solution of an ionic compound at a first concentration to the water compartment, and water to the recovery compartment; (C) charging a solution of the hydroxide compound at a second concentration to the feed compartment; (D) passing a current through the cell to produce the

Abstract: The improved film clamp comprises a base plate having an aperture defined therethrough and over which a film strip is positioned in a plane; a platen having a flat surface and an aperture defined therein and mounted to said base plate with the apertures of said base plate and said platen aligned with each other when the platen is clamped to the base plate; and flexible gripping means positioned around the periphery of the aperture of either said platen, said base plate or both, each of said flexible gripping means including a locating section arranged so as to be inserted into locating slots provided around the periphery of the aperture of either said platen, said base plate or both, said locating slots being, when said base plate and said platen are clamped together, substantially perpendicular to the plane of the film strip and a gripping section angled with respect to said locating section outward from the aperture(s) so as to grip and tension said film strip between said base plate and said platen when th

Abstract: An exposure control mechanism for use with chemical flash illumination includes a shutter having a primary shutter blade mounted for pivotal movement between a rest position wherein the shutter blade covers an exposure aperture, through an intermediate position wherein the shutter blade uncovers the exposure aperture, and a rebound position. A spring urges the shutter blade toward the rest position. A shutter driver drives the primary shutter blade from the rest position to the rebound position, and a flash firing mechanism synchronized with the shutter driver ignites a chemical flashlamp substantially simultaneously with the start of movement of the primary shutter blade.

Abstract: An exposure control mechanism for use with chemical flash illumination includes a shutter having a primary shutter blade mounted for pivotal movement between a rest position wherein the shutter blade covers an exposure aperture, through an intermediate position wherein the shutter blade uncovers the exposure aperture, and a rebound position. A spring urges the shutter blade toward the rest position. A shutter driver drives the primary shutter blade from the rest position to the rebound position, and a flash firing mechanism synchronized with the shutter driver ignites a chemical flashlamp substantially simultaneously with the start of movement of the primary shutter blade.