Abstract: An apparatus for printing on cylindrical objects (31) comprises a plurality of printheads (32); and at least one holding device movable relative to the printheads (32) such that, in use, the holding device moves the object between the printheads. The path of the at least one holding device comprises a plurality of vertical sections (34) which are horizontally offset from one another. Each vertical section (34) comprises at least two identically orientated printheads (32) arranged such that they are vertically displaced from one another, with one directly above the others. The at least one holding device moves the object (31) between the at least two printheads (32) such that part or all of its path between the printheads is vertical.

Abstract: An apparatus for frying snack foods, the apparatus including a fryer having a tubular frying section with inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end downstream relative to the inlet end. An oil supply system for supplying oil to the inlet end. A food input at the inlet end adapted to introduce pre-fried snack food pieces into a flow of oil at the inlet end. A food output at, or downstream of, the outlet end adapted to separate fried snack food pieces from the flow of oil. An oil flow accelerator accelerating oil flow from the inlet end to the outlet end thereby conveying the snack food pieces, immersed in the oil, from the inlet end to the outlet end during a frying process. Also disclosed is a method of frying snack foods.

Abstract: A frequency controlled electro-optical device includes a substrate having transparent conductive control sections patterned thereon to selectively control the optical state of an electro-optical layer. Each of the control sections are partially electrically isolated from each other by crack lines, which allows for electrical communication between adjacent/proximate control sections to occur. As such, an electrical control signal applied directly to one control section forms an electric field in that control section, and also induces an electrical field in adjacent control sections that are not in direct receipt of the control signal. Therefore, the number of electrical connections required for coupling to a driving circuit to operate the device is minimized, thereby allowing the device to be fabricated with reduced complexity and cost.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an electrostatic printhead which has one or more ejection tips from which, in use, ink is ejected, the method comprising: stopping a prior flow of ink to a region around the ejection tip(s) for, in use, printing; causing a pressure differential to occur at the tip region thereby causing the ink meniscus to retreat from the tip; and passing a rinse into the tip region to clean the tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row, the printhead having a row of ejection channels and each ejection channel having associated ejection electrodes to which voltages are applied in use. During printing, in order to cause volumes of fluid to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead for printing, voltage pulses having values of predetermined amplitude and duration as determined by respective image pixel bit values generated by a raster image processor are applied, at a given pulse period, to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on cylindrical objects (31) comprises a plurality of printheads (32); and at least one holding device movable relative to the printheads (32) such that, in use, the holding device moves the object between the printheads. The path of the at least one holding device comprises a plurality of vertical sections (34) which are horizontally offset from one another. Each vertical section (34) comprises at least two identically orientated printheads (32) arranged such that they are vertically displaced from one another, with one directly above the others. The at least one holding device moves the object (31) between the at least two printheads (32) such that part or all of its path between the printheads is vertical.

Abstract: A frequency controlled electro-optical device includes a substrate having transparent conductive control sections patterned thereon to selectively control the optical state of an electro-optical layer. Each of the control sections are partially electrically isolated from each other by crack lines, which allows for electrical communication between adjacent/proximate control sections to occur. As such, an electrical control signal applied directly to one control section forms an electric field in that control section, and also induces an electrical field in adjacent control sections that are not in direct receipt of the control signal. Therefore, the number of electrical connections required for coupling to a driving circuit to operate the device is minimized, thereby allowing the device to be fabricated with reduced complexity and cost.

Abstract: A method of reducing and/or preventing the accumulation of concentrated ink at an ejection point of a printhead of an electrostatic inkjet printer when ink is not being ejected at the ejection point, the method comprising reversing the electric field at the ejection point of the printhead during a non-printing phase of operation to reduce the concentration of ink at the ejection point.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a printhead, for printing two-dimensional bit-mapped images having a number of pixels per row, is disclosed for printheads (1) having a row of printing channels (5). During printing, in order to cause volumes of charged particulate concentrations of one of a number of predetermined volume sizes to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead to form printed pixels, control pulse values of respective predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, are applied to the selected printing channels. The calibration method comprises providing an image (50) that causes each channel of the printhead to be driven with the same pulse value, and printing one or more test prints of the image.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an electrostatic printhead which has one or more ejection tips from which, in use, ink is ejected, the method comprising: stopping a prior flow of ink to a region around the ejection tip(s) for, in use, printing; causing a pressure differential to occur at the tip region thereby causing the ink meniscus to retreat from the tip; and passing a rinse into the tip region to clean the tip.

Abstract: A method of reducing and/or preventing the accumulation of concentrated ink at an ejection point of a printhead of an electrostatic inkjet printer when ink is not being ejected at the ejection point, the method comprising reversing the electric field at the ejection point of the printhead during a non-printing phase of operation to reduce the concentration of ink at the ejection point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of printing a two-dimensional bit-mapped image having a number of pixels per row, the printhead having a row of ejection channels and each ejection channel having associated ejection electrodes to which voltages are applied in use. During printing, in order to cause volumes of fluid to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead for printing, voltage pulses having values of predetermined amplitude and duration as determined by respective image pixel bit values generated by a raster image processor are applied, at a given pulse period, to the electrodes of the selected ejection channels.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a printhead, for printing two-dimensional bit-mapped images having a number of pixels per row, is disclosed for printheads (1) having a row of printing channels (5). During printing, in order to cause volumes of charged particulate concentrations of one of a number of predetermined volume sizes to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead to form printed pixels, control pulse values of respective predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, are applied to the selected printing channels. The calibration method comprises providing an image (50) that causes each channel of the printhead to be driven with the same pulse value, and printing one or more test prints of the image.

Abstract: Waste reduction, including hazardous waste reduction in photoimaging processes can be accomplished by improving diffusional resolution of cationic curable compositions. The addition of fluorinated polymers including fluorinated surfactants provides improved diffusional resolution in cationic and/or radical based photoimaging formulations allowing for image accuracy improvements, and reduced product and process waste quantity and disposal cost. These fluorinated surfactants also allow for increased cure speed, and non-hazardous constituent formulations that result in less wasted material and time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for objective Deployment Failure risk assessments are provided, which may include fault trees. Systems and methods for the analysis of fault trees are provided as well. The risk assessments system may involve the development of a fault tree, assigning initial values and weights to the events within that fault tree, and the subsequent revision of those values and weights in an iterative fashion, including comparison to historical data. The systems for analysis may involve the assignment of well-ordered values to some events in a fault tree, and then the combination those values through the application of specialized, defined gates. The system may further involve the revision of specific gates by comparison to historical or empirical data.

Abstract: A high cysteine content zein composition is provided. A method and system for the manufacture of the bioproduct is likewise disclosed herein.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for generating the estimation of current position, velocity and acceleration state vectors and associated uncertainty estimation (covariance) of a boosting ballistic missile. The method includes constructing a state tensor of the projectile from a plurality of sensor measurements in Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) coordinates; translating the state tensor to Cartesian coordinates as a transform state; determining a covariance matrix from the transform state; updating the transformed state as an updated transform state; and updating the covariance matrix as an updated covariance. The process can further include adjusting the covariance matrix by an approximate transition matrix and a process noise matrix. The noise matrix can be translated from a local noise matrix based on a propagation time-step, a scaling parameter, and a bias process noise level. A time-of-flight in the state tensor can be updated by smoothing from a launch event.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for generating the estimation of current position, velocity and acceleration state vectors and associated uncertainty estimation (covariance) of a boosting ballistic missile. The method includes constructing a state tensor of the projectile from a plurality of sensor measurements in Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) coordinates; translating the state tensor to Cartesian coordinates as a transform state; determining a covariance matrix from the transform state; updating the transformed state as an updated transform state; and updating the covariance matrix as an updated covariance. The process can further include adjusting the covariance matrix by an approximate transition matrix and a process noise matrix. The noise matrix can be translated from a local noise matrix based on a propagation time-step, a scaling parameter, and a bias process noise level. A time-of-flight in the state tensor can be updated by smoothing from a launch event.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for monitoring the daily performance, as measured by customer impact, of technology systems that interface between a company and its customers. To do so, for example, embodiments of the present invention record, on a daily basis, the number of failed interactions between the company's customers and its technology systems, and, based on the recorded number of failed interactions, embodiments of the present invention provide performance measurements of the company's technology systems.

Abstract: An ink management system for supplying or receiving liquid at a controlled pressure, comprising: a closed reservoir; a weir disposed in the reservoir, configured to separate the reservoir into a first and a second chamber; the first chamber having an inlet for receiving liquid from a first remote location; and the weir being disposed such that the level of liquid in the first chamber can be maintained at a constant height; wherein the reservoir is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere and the system further comprises a pumped outlet disposed in the second chamber and arranged to remove liquid and gas contained within the reservoir.