Abstract: An apparatus (200) and method for preparing a cylindrical object having a protective surface coating, such as a necked can (100), for decorating thereon using a printing technique. According to the method, a primer is applied onto the surface coating, and the primer is then dried to form a surface for decorating the object. The apparatus comprises a priming station (260) for applying a primer onto said surface coating, and a drying station (270) for drying the primer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for handling objects. The apparatus comprises a carrying device (104) that is configured to move along a track (102). A handling device (224) is adapted to hold an object (108) and is mounted to the carrying device (104) such that it is rotatable with respect to the carrying device about a handling axis (226). A drive device (310) is disposed at a position along the track (102) and configured to produce a torque around a drive axis. The carrying device (104) can be moved along the track (102) in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis into and out of a drive position. In the drive position, the handling axis (226) of the handling device (224) is in substantial alignment with the drive axis of the drive device (310) whereupon the drive device induces a torque in the handling device (224) causing the handling device to rotate, thereby causing the object (108) held by the handling device to rotate.

Abstract: A system for transmitting rotational motion between a driving element and a driven element comprises a driving element that is coupled to a torque input that causes the driving element to rotate about a drive axis. The driving element comprises a first magnetic element. A driven element is configured to rotate about a driven axis. The driven element comprises a second magnetic element. Both the first magnetic element and second magnetic element are susceptible to a magnetic field, and at least one of the first and second magnetic element produces a magnetic field. A magnetic interaction between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element couples the rotational motion of the driving element and the rotational motion of the driven element. The driving and driven elements are coupled at a predetermined rotational orientation with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrostatic ink jet printhead, the printhead comprising: one or more ejection tips from which, in use, ink is ejected, the one or more ejection tips defining a tip region; a printhead housing, the printhead housing defining a cavity in which the one or more ejection tips are located; the method comprising the steps of, during a printing operation, passing a vapour into the cavity to reduce evaporation of ink in the tip region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for transmitting rotational motion between a driving element and a driven element. The system comprises a driving element that is coupled to a torque input that causes the driving element to rotate about a drive axis. The driving element comprises a first magnetic element. A driven element is configured to rotate about a driven axis. The driven element comprises a second magnetic element. Both the first magnetic element and second magnetic element are susceptible to a magnetic field, and at least one of the first and second magnetic element produces a magnetic field. A magnetic interaction between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element couples the rotational motion of the driving element and the rotational motion of the driven element. The driving and driven elements are coupled at a predetermined rotational orientation with respect to each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for handling objects. The apparatus comprises a carrying device (104) that is configured to move along a track (102). A handling device (224) is adapted to hold an object (108) and is mounted to the carrying device (104) such that it is rotatable with respect to the carrying device about a handling axis (226). A drive device (310) is disposed at a position along the track (102) and configured to produce a torque around a drive axis. The carrying device (104) can be moved along the track (102) in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis into and out of a drive position. In the drive position, the handling axis (226) of the handling device (224) is in substantial alignment with the drive axis of the drive device (310) whereupon the drive device induces a torque in the handling device (224) causing the handling device to rotate, thereby causing the object (108) held by the handling device to rotate.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrostatic ink jet printhead, the printhead comprising: one or more ejection tips from which, in use, ink is ejected, the one or more ejection tips defining a tip region; a printhead housing, the printhead housing defining a cavity in which the one or more ejection tips are located; the method comprising the steps of, during a printing operation, passing a vapour into the cavity to reduce evaporation of ink in the tip region.

Abstract: An organic thin film transistor comprising source and drain electrodes, an organic semiconductor disposed in a channel region between the source and drain electrodes, a gate electrode, and a dielectric disposed between the source and drain electrodes and the gate electrode, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode comprise at least one different physical and/or material property from each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for driving emissive, in particular organic light emitting diodes (OLED), displays using multi-line addressing (MLA) techniques. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for use with so-called passive matrix OLED displays. A method of driving an emissive display, the display comprising a plurality of pixels each addressable by a row electrode and a column electrode, the method comprising: driving a plurality of column electrodes with a first set of column drive signals; and driving two or more row electrodes with a first set of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the column drive signals; then driving the plurality of column electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of column drive signals; and driving the two or more row electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the second column drive signals.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for driving emissive, in particular organic light emitting diodes (OLED) displays using multi-line addressing (MLA) techniques. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for use with so-called passive matrix OLED displays.

Abstract: A method of driving an emissive display, the display comprising a plurality of pixels each addressable by a row electrode and a column electrode, the method comprising: driving a plurality of the column electrodes with a first set of column drive signals; and driving two or more of the row electrodes with a first set of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the column drive signals; then driving the plurality of column electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of column drive signals; and driving the two or more row electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the second column drive signals.

Abstract: An organic thin film transistor comprising source and drain electrodes, an organic semiconductor disposed in a channel region between the source and drain electrodes, a gate electrode, and a dielectric disposed between the source and drain electrodes and the gate electrode, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode comprise at least one different physical and/or material property from each other.