Abstract: This document describes a method of removing air from an ink supply of a marking system, and systems that enable such removal. The system includes a valve that is fluidly connected to an ink supply system of a marking system. The valve is fluidly positioned in a conduit that leads from an opening in a conduit of the ink supply system to an air bubble reservoir. Activating the valve withdraws air from ink in the conduit toward an air bubble reservoir or vacuum source as the ink moves toward a printhead of the marking system.

Abstract: Systems comprising: printheads configured to apply ink marks to a sheet of media; sensor(s) configured to scan the sheet of media to obtain scan data; and processor(s) configured to analyze the scan data to (i) determine whether an amount of ink spread on at least one side of the sheet of media is within a range of values, and or (ii) determine whether a difference between a first average line width associated with a first side of the sheet of media and a second average line width associated with a second side of the sheet of media is greater than a threshold value. The system is configured to perform a print job based on results of the analyzing.

Abstract: A method for operating a printing system, comprising: identifying at least one area in an electronic document for which one or more primers are to be applied prior to an application of ink on a sheet of media during a print job (wherein the primers are formulated to have different surface tensions); determining, for each pixel in the at least one area, an amount of each of the one or more primers that is to be applied based on a characteristic of content in the electronic document; generating the print job using the amount of each of the one or more primers determined for each said pixel in the at least one area; and instructing a printer to perform the print job.

Abstract: In one aspect, a print device that includes an ink line and an imaging device is configured to capture images of at least a portion of the ink line. The device is also configured to classify air pockets within the ink line by: receiving one or more images from the imaging device; using an air pocket detection model to identify an air pocket within the ink line; and using a classification model to determine one or more characteristic labels for the air pocket. The print device will use the characteristic labels to take an action corresponding to the air pocket. In a second aspect, a print device includes an ink line and a sensor configured to measure capacitance of a first portion of the ink line. The print device is configured to monitor, based on the sensor data, capacitance of the first portion of the ink line. The system will identify an air pocket in the ink line in response to detecting a decrease in the capacitance of the first portion of the ink line.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a nebulizer to generate a mist of primer and direct the mist onto media passing the nebulizer before the media is printed. A piezoelectric transducer is immersed in a primer solution and provided an alternating current to produce the mist. A pressure source directs the mist toward the passing media to apply the primer to the media.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes at least one printhead and a transfer member to apply primer onto media before the media is printed. The at least one printhead ejects drops of primer onto the transfer member and the transfer member forms a nip with a nip roller. Entry of media into the nip and entry of the primer image on the transfer member are synchronized to enable the primer image to be transferred to the media in the nip.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a stationary roller and a second roller to apply primer onto media before the media is printed. The second roller is movable in a cross-process direction so the combined length of the stationary roller and the second roller in the cross-process direction can apply primer to the full width of the media being printed.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a primer applicator to apply primer to media before the media is printed and includes a plurality of eddy current sensors to identify a thickness of the primer on the media. The identified thickness is compared to a range of acceptable primer thicknesses. One end of the range of acceptable thicknesses corresponds to a thickness that is too thin to enable deinking of the printed media and the other end of the range of acceptable thicknesses corresponds to a thickness that is too thick to enable sufficient drying to fix the ink image to the media. In one embodiment, the primer is applied using a printhead that eject drops of primer onto the media.

Abstract: A device comprising a flow channel having an inlet for introducing a flow of a first material, an outlet for exiting a flow of a second material; a plunger disposed and slidably movable coaxially within the flow channel; a first cooling device disposed adjacent to and substantially surrounding the flow channel comprising a housing having an internal sealable chamber for containing a first cooling fluid, an inlet having a first seal, and an outlet having a second seal, wherein the first cooling fluid is sealable within the sealable chamber; a second cooling device disposed adjacent to and substantially surrounding the first cooling device comprising a housing having an internal channel for a flow of a second cooling fluid, an inlet in fluid communication with the internal channel, an outlet in fluid communication with the channel, and a device for controlling the flow of second cooling fluid.

Abstract: A photoreceptor includes a supporting substrate and an outer layer on the photoreceptor, the outer layer including silicone oil uniformly dispersed as vesicles in a continuous film forming polymer matrix. This photoreceptor is used in a xerographic copier/printer machine and contributes to a longer operating life of the machine by providing continuous lubrication, decreased friction and decreased wear of the interaction of the photoreceptor and other machine parts. This photoreceptor is prepared by incorporating silicone oil and at least one film forming polymer in at least one solvent, removing the solvent and forming a dried outer layer in which the silicone oil is phase separated from the other components of the top layer forming small vesicles which are uniformly dispersed in the continuous film forming polymer matrix.

Abstract: A mandrel for transporting hollow cylinders including an elongated arm having a first end and a second end, an expandable disk supported at the first end and means supported at the second end to expand the expandable disk, the mandrel arm comprising an elongated body having an imaginary axis and at least three fins extending substantially radially from the arm, each of the fins having an alignment shoulder adjacent the first end adapted to receive an end of a hollow cylinder and to coaxially align the cylinder with the elongated arm. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: A mandrel including an elongated arm having a first end and a second end, a reciprocatable shaft coaxially aligned with and extending through the arm, a first end of the shaft extending beyond the first end of the arm and a second end of the shaft extending beyond the second end of the arm, a presser means mounted at the first end of the shaft, an expandable disk shaped member coaxially aligned with and slidably mounted on the shaft between the presser means and the first end of the arm, a compression means mounted on the second end of the shaft, and a resilient helical spring coaxially aligned with and slidably mounted on the shaft between the presser means and the compression means, the compression means adopted to apply compression pressure to the disk shaped member and to the helical spring. This mandrel is used in a process for coating hollow cylinders.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing cylindrical and belt-like substrates includes a carousel rotatable to any one of a plurality of planetary stations surrounding the carousel, the carousel having a support structure defining a central horizontal axis and at least one support arm mounted on the support structure for supporting a substrate thereon along a horizontal axis parallel to and radially offset from the central horizontal axis. The support structure reciprocates relative to any one of the plurality of stations to insert the substrate into and withdraw the substrate from any one of the plurality of stations, and the at least one support arm is rotatable about its offset horizontal axis to rotate the substrate thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing cylindrical and belt-like substrates includes a carousel rotatable to any one of a plurality of planetary stations surrounding the carousel, the carousel having a support structure defining a central horizontal axis and at least one support arm mounted on the support structure for supporting a substrate thereon along a horizonal axis parallel to and radially offset from the central horizontal axis. The support structure reciprocates relative to any one of the plurality of stations to insert the substrate into and withdraw the substrate from any one of the plurality of stations, and the at least one support arm is rotatable about its offset horizontal axis to rotate the substrate thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating cylindrical and belt-like photoreceptor substrates includes a coating chamber for receiving a planetary array of substrates surrounding a central horizontal axis. An applicator is located within the coating chamber along the central horizontal axis for directing a spray radially outward toward the substrates which rotate about their own axes during the coating operation.

Abstract: A process for preparing a multilayered belt comprises heating a substrate formed of a polymeric material, the substrate having a predetermined inner circumference, to at least about the glass transition temperature of the polymeric material and then placing the sleeve on a cylindrical mandrel. The mandrel has an outer circumference slightly greater than the predetermined inner circumference of the seamless tube. The substrate on the mandrel is subsequently coated to form a multilayered composite belt. The composite belt is then heated to a temperature of at least about the glass transition temperature of the substrate and the composite structure is removed from one end of the mandrel. Removal of the composite belt from the mandrel may be facilitated by any suitable means such as small driven elastomeric rollers, vacuum cups, gravity with vacuum assist and the like. Upon cooling, the composite structure has the predetermined inner circumference.