Abstract: A device for detecting nucleic acids in a biological sample has a sample port, a lysis station and a sample conduit configured to mix a sample and lysis agent to form a sample-lysis mixture, pass the sample-lysis mixture across a solid-state membrane to capture nucleic acids in the biological sample therein, and receive the remainder of the sample-lysis mixture in a waste chamber. The wash station is configured to introduce the wash solution following the sample-lysis mixture, pass the wash solution across the solid-state membrane to purify nucleic acids captured therein, and receive the wash solution from the solid-state membrane in the waste chamber. The elution station is configured to pass the eluent across the solid-state membrane, elute captured nucleic acids from the solid-state membrane, and pass the captured nucleic acids into one or more reaction chambers for amplifying and detecting the captured nucleic acids.

Abstract: A device for amplifying and detecting nucleic acids in a biological sample has a sample port for receiving a biological sample, a solid-state membrane, a sample conduit, a lysis station, a wash station, an elution station, a waste chamber, and a reaction chamber. The sample port, lysis station and sample conduit are configured to mix a sample and lysis agent to form a sample-lysis mixture, pass the mixture across the solid-state membrane to capture nucleic acids in the sample therein, and receive the remainder of the mixture in the waste chamber. The wash station directs a wash solution across the solid-state membrane and into the waste chamber to purify nucleic acids captured in the membrane. The elution station directs an eluent across the membrane, elutes captured nucleic acids from the membrane, and passes the captured nucleic acids into the reaction chamber for amplifying and detecting the captured nucleic acids.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printhead for a printer has a temperature sensor attached thereto for monitoring the operating temperature thereof. A maximum printhead operating temperature is stored in a memory of the printer's control circuitry and, if the printhead temperature sensed by the temperature sensor during a printing operation exceeds the maximum operating temperature stored is the memory, a signal is generated indicating that the printhead has stopped ejecting ink droplets and must be checked for depriming or a depleted ink supply.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a recording medium moving along a path through a print zone, includes a printhead, adapted to deposit ink on the recording medium in the print zone; and a radiant dryer, disposed adjacently to the path, for heating the recording medium. The radiant dryer includes a reflector and a heat source. The reflector includes a first portion defining a first heat region preheating the recording medium at a position in the path prior to the print zone, and a second portion defining a second heat region heating the recording medium in or subsequent to the print zone. In this design, the first portion generates heat energy having a first temperature and said second portion generates heat energy having a second temperature greater than said first temperature.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A low ink sensing system is combined with an ink cartridge detection system to enable a more efficient ink jet printer. An ink container which supplies ink to an associated printhead is modified by the incorporation of two light directing elements, in the preferred embodiment, a faceted prism and a roof mirror, into a transparent wall of the container housing. The cartridge, comprising the ink container and associated printhead, is mounted on a scan carriage. Periodically, the carriage is conveyed to a sensing station comprising a pair of light sources and a commonly used photosensor. A first light source is energized and a beam of light is directed to a location where the roof mirror, would be positioned if the cartridge is present. If the cartridge is absent, lack of a reflected return signal is sensed, indicating a cartridge has not been inserted. Print operation is halted until a cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A system for supplying liquid ink to a thermal ink-jet printing apparatus comprises a housing defining a single chamber having a ventilation port and an outlet port. A medium occupies at least a portion of the chamber, the medium being adapted to retain a quantity of liquid ink. A scavenger member is disposed across the outlet port, providing a capillary force greater than that of the medium.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for storing and supplying liquid ink to a thermal ink-jet printer includes a printhead that has ink ejection nozzles and an ink supply housing connected to the printhead. The ink supply housing defines an ink storage chamber, and an ink flow path communicating with the printhead and ink storage chamber. An ink storage medium and a scavenger member are placed in the ink storage chamber for retaining, and controllably supplying a quantity of liquid ink from the chamber within a desirable back pressure range at the printhead. The ink storage medium is a medium density non-reticulation process produced copolymer polyurethane foam consisting essentially of a blend of polyether and polyester materials.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead cartridge having a fluid valved breather. The ink jet printhead cartridge includes a housing having an air inlet, an ink outlet, a first chamber, and a second chamber. The first chamber contains a supply of ink and is substantially free of ink-retaining foam. The second chamber includes an ink-retaining foam which saturates with ink for supply to an ink jet printhead. An air transfer passageway connects the first chamber to the second chamber so that air pressure affects the level of ink in the first chamber thereby maintaining a level of ink in the second chamber sufficient for supplying ink to the ink jet printhead.

Abstract: In a printhead assembly, an ink jet printhead is fixed to the wall of an ink supply manifold. The printhead has an ink inlet in communication with a plurality of nozzles, and the manifold contains liquid ink which flows to the printhead inlet through an outlet in the manifold wall. A preformed hot melt adhesive member with a slot therein is positioned between the manifold wall and the printhead with the slot of the adhesive member surrounding the manifold outlet and printhead inlet, so that when the adhesive member is heated and cooled a hermetic seal is formed.

Abstract: A maintenance station for an ink jet printer has a wiper blade cleaning assembly which contains two wiping blades releasably mounted in slots in a blade holder. The blade holder has two opposing extensions perpendicular to and positioned on opposite sides of the mounted blades. The blade holder is movably mounted in a fixed structural member of the maintenance station and is biased towards the ink jet printhead, which traverses past the cleaning assembly on a carriage to and from the maintenance station, by a resilient urging means, such as a foam or spring housed in a receptacle in the structural member. The blade holder extensions are parallel to each other and the direction of traversal by the printhead.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer that supplies ink at a negative pressure is disclosed. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber and a first wall therebetween. The upper chamber has an aperture exposed to atmosphere and it also contains a capillary foam having a specifiable capillarity for absorbing ink. The lower chamber is airlocked until the ink level in the upper chamber is sufficiently low to allow the passage of air through the pores. A printhead is disposed at a vertical height greater than a top level of the lower chamber. A supply line is provided which conveys ink by capillary action of the nozzles to the printhead. A second capillary foam has a specifiable capillarity greater than the capillarity of the first capillary foam. The second foam is in fluidic communication with the upper and lower chambers and with the supply line.

Abstract: A sheet transport for transporting sheets across a surface which includes an elongated member supported for transverse movement across the surface. The transport further includes a fibrous material which comprises a base substrate portion carried by the member and a plurality of fibers extending from the base substrate so that the extending fibers form a sheet engaging area with the surface. Apparatus for moving the member across the surface is also provided so that a sheet in the sheet engaging area is translated in a process direction across the surface when the member is translated.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed for use in a maintenance station for an ink jet printer. The maintenance station has a carriage on which a cap that selectively seals the printhead nozzle is mounted. The carriage is movable in and relative to a fixed support member of the maintenance station. A flexible hose interconnects the cap with a pneumatic source for the removal of air and ink from the cap. The selective movement of the carriage towards and away from a wall of the support member pinches the flexible hose closed between them without requiring closely toleranced movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A system for supplying liquid ink to a thermal ink-jet printing apparatus comprises a housing defining a single chamber having a ventilation port and an outlet port. A medium occupies at least a portion of the chamber, the medium being adapted to retain a quantity of liquid ink. A scavenger member is disposed across the outlet port, providing a capillary force greater than that of the medium.

Abstract: A maintenance station for an ink jet printer having a printhead with nozzles in a nozzle face and an ink supply cartridge is mounted on a translatable carriage for concurrent movement therewith. When the printer is in a non-printing mode, the carriage is translated to the maintenance station located outside and to one side of a printing zone, where various maintenance functions are provided depending upon the location of the carriage mounted printhead within the maintenance station. The printhead nozzle face is cleaned by at least one wiper blade as the printhead enters and leaves the maintenance station. Adjacent the wiper blade is a location for collecting nozzle-clearing ink droplets, followed by a capping location where a carriage actuatable cap moves into sealing engagement with the printhead nozzle face and surrounds the nozzle to provide a controllable environment therefor. A vacuum pump is interconnected to the cap by flexible hose with an ink separator therebetween.

Abstract: A removable seal for the face of a printhead is a laminate tab made of a flexible, tear resistant material having a layer of low temperature melt material on one side thereof. The seal is molded to the face of the printhead by applying heat to the laminate tab to reflow the low temperature melt material onto the face of the printhead. The seal extends beyond at least one side of the face of the printhead to form an easily graspable, removable tab. The seal is used during shipping and handling to prevent ink from leaking from the printhead and to prevent contamination and damage of the nozzles.