Abstract: An ink delivery system of an inkjet printer selectively injects flushing fluid into a supply tube for ink into a printhead to form a mixture of flushing fluid and ink prior to a period of inactivity for the printhead. The ratio of the flushing fluid to the ink is determined by a controller using environmental conditions, ink characteristics, and a duration for the period of inactivity.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is configured with capping stations for storing printheads in the printer during periods of printer inactivity so the viscosity of the ink in the nozzles of the inkjets of the printheads does not increase significantly. Each capping station has a printhead receptacle with an opening corresponding to a perimeter of a printhead, a pair of members pivotably mounted to the printhead receptacle so the members can move between a first position where the members expose the opening of the printhead receptacle and a second position where the members cover the opening of the printhead receptacle, and an actuator operatively connected to the pair of members to move the members between the first position and the second position. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator to operate the first actuator to move the members between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An ink reservoir in an ink delivery system of an inkjet printer is selectively pressurized and depressurized to fluctuate an ink meniscus at the nozzle of each inactive inkjet in the printhead connected to the ink reservoir. The cycle of pressurization and depressurization is repeated for a predetermined number of times to replenish ink at the nozzles and reduce the likelihood of the ink at the nozzles obtaining a high viscosity.

Abstract: A method for determining an ultraviolet (UV) cure level of a material is disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving an object with the material that is cured via a UV light source, controlling a heat source to heat the material, measuring a parameter of the material in response to the heat, determining the UV cure level of the material based on the parameter that is measured and a predefined response of the material at a temperature associated with the heat, and generating a signal to display the UV cure level in response to the determining.

Abstract: A jet recovery print process is performed each time before printing a print job, when an inactivity period of non-printing has been exceeded, or during a long print job, where the jets might clog with debris. The jet recovery print process ejects the ink from the inkjets by printing (using the inkjets) a sacrificial page in a jet recovery pattern, while operating the actuators in the inkjets at their maximum voltage rating. The jet recovery pattern is designed to purge all the ink from all the inkjets. Thus, in the jet recovery print process, the controller operates the actuators at their maximum voltage rating so as to provide a higher driving force for the ink to be ejected from the inkjets and thereby make the purge process more effective.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inducing weight loss using blood flow control are described herein. The apparatus and methods operate by controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel.

Abstract: A jet recovery print process is performed each time before printing a print job, when an inactivity period of non-printing has been exceeded, or during a long print job, where the jets might clog with debris. The jet recovery print process ejects the ink from the inkjets by printing (using the inkjets) a sacrificial page in a jet recovery pattern, while operating the actuators in the inkjets at their maximum voltage rating. The jet recovery pattern is designed to purge all the ink from all the inkjets. Thus, in the jet recovery print process, the controller operates the actuators at their maximum voltage rating so as to provide a higher driving force for the ink to be ejected from the inkjets and thereby make the purge process more effective.

Abstract: A method for determining an ultraviolet (UV) cure level of a material is disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving an object with the material that is cured via a UV light source, controlling a heat source to heat the material, measuring a parameter of the material in response to the heat, determining the UV cure level of the material based on the parameter that is measured and a predefined response of the material at a temperature associated with the heat, and generating a signal to display the UV cure level in response to the determining.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inducing weight loss using blood flow control are described herein. The apparatus and methods operate by controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inducing weight loss using blood flow control are described herein. The apparatus and methods operate by controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel.

Abstract: Obesity treatment apparatus and methods are described herein involving gastric recycling of food are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the gastric recycling apparatus keeps returning chyme to the stomach increasing satiety signals and delaying hunger signals associated with an empty stomach. It may also may slow the emptying of the stomach as the caloric load in the stomach delays emptying and/or limit absorption of food within the small intestine by delivering at least a portion of food passing through the small intestine back into the stomach.

Abstract: A print strategy periodically inserts sacrificial print media, such as a small number of sacrificial sheets of paper into a print job to exercise underused print head jets and prevent nozzle dry-up and/or degraded jetting integrity. This can be implemented with sacrificial sheets out of a tray used by a current print job or from another paper tray housing, for example, the widest stock currently installed in the image forming device. Jets that need to be exercised can be determined by using Feed-Forward image content from the Image Path, and those jets are exercised to print ink on the sacrificial sheet(s). The sacrificial sheet may be diverted to a bypass tray as scrap. Without the need for a purge cycle, or a cycle-down, the image forming device can continue seamlessly to the next print job without performance loss from using the previously under-used print head jets.

Abstract: A decurler method and apparatus that compensates for ink contamination buildup on an indent roll of a decurler in aqueous ink jet products that can lead to paper wrinkle. A gap between the centers of the indent roll and a soft roll is increased to prevent sheet wrinkle by employing an algorithm that determines when the rolls are in contact and are first matching speed with each other and then treats this position as a home position.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a nip condition in a printer is provided. The method includes printing a print area with a uniform density of marking material on a substrate; moving the substrate along a process direction into a spreading position in a nip while the nip is in an open position; stopping movement of the substrate along the process direction while the substrate is in the nip in the open position; closing the nip where the nip exerts pressure on a spread portion of the print area and the substrate such that the spread portion is visibly different from a remainder of the print area outside of the spread portion; opening the nip; moving the substrate away from the spreading position and out of the nip; and analyzing the spread portion relative to the remainder of the print area to determine characteristics of the nip condition.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials involved in disrupting electrical activity in the stomach. For example, methods and materials involved in delivering one or more electrical shocks to the stomach (e.g., the muscularis propria) in a manner that disrupts the normal electrical activity of the stomach (e.g., defibrillating the stomach) are provided.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer, a first printhead forms a first mark on a print medium using a high-contrast ink. A second printhead forms a second mark on the first mark using a low-contrast ink. The printer generates image data of the low-contrast ink mark and the high-contrast ink, and a controller in the printer identifies a cross-process direction offset between the first printhead and the second printhead with reference to a distance between the center of the first mark and the second mark in the image data.

Abstract: An inkjet printer and a method of operating an inkjet printer provide a luminescent background for facilitating viewing of indicia printed on porous media in no-light or low-light conditions. The printer and method apply a first enhancement material to a surface of porous media to which ink has been applied to form indicia and a second enhancement material to a back side of porous media. The two enhancement materials combine through the porous media to provide a luminescent background for the indicia printed on the media. The two surfaces of the porous media can be covered with laminating material to protect the enhancement materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating obesity includes an artificial fistula created between gastrointestinal organs such as between the stomach and the colon. The method includes selecting an implant comprising a passageway having an internal lumen with an inlet end and an outlet end. The passageway is positioned passing through a first wall of first gastrointestinal organ (for example, passing through the wall of the stomach) and a second wall of a second gastrointestinal organ (for example, passing through the wall of the large intestine) with the inlet end disposed within an interior of the first gastrointestinal organ and with the outlet disposed within an interior of the second gastrointestinal organ.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer to detect errors in an optical sensor includes forming a printed line across a first side of a print medium and generating first image data corresponding to the printed line with the optical sensor. The optical sensor generates second image data of the second side of the print medium as the print medium passes the optical sensor a second time. A detect in the optical sensor is identified with reference to a difference between process direction alignments of the line in the first image data and the second image data.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a heated drum within a continuous web printer includes operating an actuator to rotate a drum that is heated to a first temperature. The drum rotates in a process direction of a media web contacting the drum and heats the media web as the media web moves over a portion of the drum. The method also includes stopping movement of the media web, heating the drum to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature, and operating the actuator to rotate the drum against a portion of the stopped media web to transfer ink from the drum to the portion of the stopped media web.