Abstract: In one example, a powdered build material supply system for additive manufacturing includes a supply deck, a dispenser to dispense a ribbon of powdered build material on to the supply deck, and a spreader to spread powdered build material from the ribbon over a work area adjacent to the supply deck.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a three-dimensional printing system that comprises first and second build material supports adjacent to opposite sides of a build platform, when installed, a distributor to distribute build material, and a spreader for spreading build material. The three-dimensional printing system also comprises a controller to control the distributor to form a pile of build material before a first side of the build platform, to control the spreader to spread across the build platform and to form a pile of excess build material beyond a second side of the build platform, to control the spreader to move to the other side of the pile of excess build material, and to control the spreader to spread the pile of excess build material across the build platform to form a pile of excess build material on the first side of the build platform.

Abstract: An example printing device include a frame, a printbar, a lift mechanism, and a lock. The lift mechanism is operably coupled to move the printbar from a printing position to a capping position along a printbar path of travel with respect to the frame. The lock is operably coupled to the frame to releasably engage the printbar in the capping position and disengage the printbar and permit movement to the printing position.

Abstract: In one example, a powdered build material supply system for additive manufacturing includes a supply deck, a dispenser to dispense a ribbon of powdered build material on to the supply deck, and a spreader to spread powdered build material from the ribbon over a work area adjacent to the supply deck.

Abstract: An example printing device include a frame, a printbar, a lift mechanism, and a lock. The lift mechanism is operably coupled to move the printbar from a printing position to a capping position along a printbar path of travel with respect to the frame. The lock is operably coupled to the frame to releasably engage the printbar in the capping position and disengage the printbar and permit movement to the printing position.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of providing build powder for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional (3D) object includes blending input powders into a blended powder for producing a 3D object. During the blending, a material strength value of each input powder can be determined. Based on the material strength value of each input powder, a ratio of the input powders can be calculated to achieve a specified material strength in the blended powder. The feed rate of the input powders can then be adjusted according to the ratio.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a three-dimensional printing system that comprises first and second build material supports adjacent to opposite sides of a build platform, when installed, a distributor to distribute build material, and a spreader for spreading build material. The three-dimensional printing system also comprises a controller to control the distributor to form a pile of build material before a first side of the build platform, to control the spreader to spread across the build platform and to form a pile of excess build material beyond a second side of the build platform, to control the spreader to move to the other side of the pile of excess build material, and to control the spreader to spread the pile of excess build material across the build platform to form a pile of excess build material on the first side of the build platform.

Abstract: A printing system includes multiple print units which each have one or more printbar assemblies to transfer an imaging medium onto a print media. An individual print unit can include a heater system to dry the imaging medium transferred onto the print media by the one or more printbar assemblies of the individual print unit. For a printing system with two print units, a first percentage of the imaging medium is transferred onto the print media, the print media is advanced beyond the one or more printbar assemblies of the first print unit, and a first heater system dries the first percentage of the imaging medium. A second percentage of the imaging medium is then transferred onto the print media, the print media is advanced beyond the one or more printbar assemblies of the second print unit, and a second heater system dries the second percentage of the imaging medium.

Abstract: An energy recovery and storage apparatus especially well adapted for use with flight control surfaces on airborne mobile platforms, such as aircraft. In one form the apparatus includes a ram-like element coupled to a portion of a flight control surface. An accumulator holds a flexible container having a compressible medium contained within the flexible container. The accumulator is in fluid communication with a housing of the ram-like element. When the flight control surface is moved from a deployed to a retracted position, the energy acting on the surface is recovered and stored in the compressible medium as the ram-like element forces fluid from its housing into the accumulator. When the flight control surface is to be deployed again in a subsequent cycle, the stored energy in the compressible medium is used to urge the ram-like element into an extended position, thus assisting in deploying the flight control surface.

Abstract: A carriage for an ink-jet printer constrains torsional deflections by providing carriage to writing-instrument latch interface features having a zero clearance interfit such that when opened, the writing-instrument latch allows individual writing-instruments to be accessed and when closed the writing-instrument latch reduces the carriage torsional deflections and increases the torsional stiffness of the carriage by providing a biasing force at each the interface feature.

Abstract: In an inkjet fixer fluid applicator, fixer fluid is received onto a first surface. Contact is formed between the first surface and a transfer roller. Fixer fluid is transfer from the first surface to the transfer roller. The fixer fluid is transferred from the transfer roller to an inkjet print medium. The transfer roller and the first surface are separated based on a position of the print medium.

Abstract: A shuttle-type printer has a movable carriage to carry and position at least one pen over a printing surface. The printer also has a carriage positioning system coupled to move the carriage at a slew rate in swaths over the printing surface. The carriage positioning system starts the carriage at a starting position for individual swaths. The carriage positioning system implements techniques for masking the effects of periodic vibrations in the printer. According to one technique, the carriage positioning system varies the starting position for the individual swaths. According to a second technique, the carriage positioning system makes multiple passes before advancing the recording media and varies the slew rate for individual passes. The techniques do not eliminate or reduce the vibrations themselves, but mask their effects in the print results that are caused by period vibrations in the printer.

Abstract: In an inkjet fixer fluid applicator, fixer fluid is received onto a first surface. Contact is formed between the first surface and a transfer roller. Fixer fluid is transferred from the first surface to the transfer roller. The fixer fluid is transferred from the transfer roller to an inkjet print medium. The transfer roller and the first surface are separated.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect includes an interconnect housing including a side and a face contiguous with the side, a plurality of electrical contacts each supported by the interconnect housing and including a first end and a second end, and an electrical circuit positioned adjacent the side of the interconnect housing, wherein the first end of each of the electrical contacts extends from the side of the interconnect housing and is electrically coupled to the electrical circuit, and the second end of each of the electrical contacts protrudes from the face of the interconnect housing and provides an electrical contact point.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect cleaning system cleans an electrically conductive ink residue from a portion of an inkjet cartridge upon removal from an inkjet printing mechanism to prevent short circuiting of the interconnect conductors across the ink residue. In a passive carriage-based version of the system, a spring-biased wiper arm extends from a carriage which holds the cartridge and pushes a wiper head into wiping contact with the interconnect when the cartridge is removed from the carriage. In an active service station-based version of the system, an L-shaped wiper is brought into wiping contact with the electrical interconnect through motion of the service station platform, which also supports appliances for servicing a printhead portion of the cartridge. A method of cleaning this ink residue from the cartridge, and an inkjet printing mechanism having such an electrical interconnect cleaning system are also provided.

Abstract: A printing system includes multiple print units which each have one or more printbar assemblies to transfer an imaging medium onto a print media. An individual print unit can include a heater system to dry the imaging medium transferred onto the print media by the one or more printbar assemblies of the individual print unit. For a printing system with two print units, a first percentage of the imaging medium is transferred onto the print media, the print media is advanced beyond the one or more printbar assemblies of the first print unit, and a first heater system dries the first percentage of the imaging medium. A second percentage of the imaging medium is then transferred onto the print media, the print media is advanced beyond the one or more printbar assemblies of the second print unit, and a second heater system dries the second percentage of the imaging medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a fluid ejection device such as an inkjet pen, or a plurality of aligned fluid ejection devices, on a supporting frame known as a printbar for page wide array printing involves provision of datum surfaces on each ejection device in two orthogonally related planes. First datum surfaces on the bottom of the devices support the device in a Z direction and second datum surfaces on opposite generally vertically extending sides of the fluid ejection devices are provided near the remote ends of the devices outwardly of electrical interconnects on each side of the devices. The device interconnects resiliently electrical interconnects mounted on the frame causing rotation of the devices to position the second datum surfaces on the device against positioning surfaces of the printbar to hold each fluid ejection device in correct position.

Abstract: An all electric air conditioning system for an aircraft, wherein the aircraft defines an interior volume having conditioned air at a first pressure. A compressor is provided and is operable to compress supply air to a second pressure. The compressor being operated in response to an electrical drive motor. A passage fluidly couples the compressor and the interior volume of the aircraft. A heat dissipating device, such as a heat exchanger, is positioned in the passage to extract heat energy from the supply air. This arrangement permits conditioning of air within the aircraft without using bleed air from the engines. The use of bleed air results in a significant amount of fuel burn. An optional conditioned air recovery system may be coupled to the interior volume of the fuselage to direct at least a portion of the conditioned air from the interior volume back for further conditioning and use.

Abstract: An all electric air conditioning system for an aircraft, wherein the aircraft defines an interior volume having conditioned air at a first pressure. A compressor is provided and is operable to compress supply air to a second pressure. The compressor being operated in response to an electrical drive motor. A passage fluidly couples the compressor and the interior volume of the aircraft. A heat dissipating device, such as a heat exchanger, is positioned in the passage to extract heat energy from the supply air. This arrangement permits conditioning of air within the aircraft without using bleed air from the engines. The use of bleed air results in a significant amount of fuel burn. An optional conditioned air recovery system may be coupled to the interior volume of the fuselage to direct at least a portion of the conditioned air from the interior volume back for further conditioning and use.

Abstract: A datum arrangement on the replaceable semi-permanent compact print cartridge includes three x-datums, one y-datum and two z-datums to assure proper seating of the print cartridge in the carriage as well as proper electric and fluidic interconnections.