Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that enables a carriage printer to reduce precision in a media conveyor by improving mobility of the carriage. The carriage includes a mobile jetplate that adjusts the position of the printheads within the carriage. The mobile jetplate includes multiple motors that enable shifts in an axis matching the axis of the media. Operating the motors of the jetplate at different locations or at different intensities causes the jetplate to skew and achieve mobility of multiple axes. A set of sensors monitor media skew and shifts of the mobile jetplate are able to compensate for that skew. An additional set of motors shift the carriage to compensate for deformation of the beam that the carriage shuttles along.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that enables a carriage printer to reduce precision in a media conveyor by improving mobility of the carriage. The carriage includes a mobile jetplate that adjusts the position of the printheads within the carriage. The mobile jetplate includes multiple motors that enable shifts in an axis matching the axis of the media. Operating the motors of the jetplate at different locations or at different intensities causes the jetplate to skew and achieve mobility of multiple axes. A set of sensors monitor media skew and shifts of the mobile jetplate are able to compensate for that skew. An additional set of motors shift the carriage to compensate for deformation of the beam that the carriage shuttles along.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique that enables a carriage printer to reduce precision in a media conveyor by improving mobility of the carriage. The carriage includes a mobile jetplate that adjusts the position of the printheads within the carriage. The mobile jetplate includes multiple motors that enable shifts in an axis matching the axis of the media. Operating the motors of the jetplate at different locations or at different intensities causes the jetplate to skew and achieve mobility of multiple axes. A set of sensors monitor media skew and shifts of the mobile jetplate are able to compensate for that skew. An additional set of motors shift the carriage to compensate for deformation of the beam that the carriage shuttles along.

Abstract: A liquid ink container having mating features for self alignment with an ink delivery station. The ink delivery station includes a receiver with an actuated puncture ring. The liquid ink container includes a cap that is punctured by the ring to allow fluid flow from the container. The receiver and container also include means for introducing pressurized gas into the container to facilitate evacuation of liquid ink.

Abstract: A liquid ink container having mating features for self alignment with an ink delivery station. The ink delivery station includes a receiver with an actuated puncture ring. The liquid ink container includes a cap that is punctured by the ring to allow fluid flow from the container. The receiver and container also include means for introducing pressurized gas into the container to facilitate evacuation of liquid ink.

Abstract: A liquid ink container having mating features for self alignment with an ink delivery station. The ink delivery station includes a receiver with an actuated puncture ring. The liquid ink container includes a cap that is punctured by the ring to allow fluid flow from the container. The receiver and container also include means for introducing pressurized gas into the container to facilitate evacuation of liquid ink.

Abstract: A liquid ink container having mating features for self alignment with an ink delivery station. The ink delivery station includes a receiver with an actuated puncture ring. The liquid ink container includes a cap that is punctured by the ring to allow fluid flow from the container. The receiver and container also include means for introducing pressurized gas into the container to facilitate evacuation of liquid ink.

Abstract: A liquid ink container having mating features for self alignment with an ink delivery station. The ink delivery station includes a receiver with an actuated puncture ring. The liquid ink container includes a cap that is punctured by the ring to allow fluid flow from the container. The receiver and container also include means for introducing pressurized gas into the container to facilitate evacuation of liquid ink.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for wide format inkjet printing using conventional piezoelectric inkjet print heads that each print at a native resolution. A plurality of inkjet print heads are disposed in a print head array to print an image on the substrate at the native resolution across an entire width of the substrate without scanning across the width of the substrate. The print head array may be shifted in a direction parallel to the width of the substrate, and the print head array may be used to print images on the substrate in multiple passes to form a composite image having a resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution. Alternatively, a plurality of print head arrays may be provided, with adjacent print head arrays spaced apart to provide a composite print resolution equal to a multiple of the native resolution.

Abstract: Restraining a spare wheel in a vehicular floor recession during a vehicle rear impact event is accomplished by securing a connection member from a first anchoring location outside of the recession to a second location within the floor recession. The spare wheel lies in the recession and a threaded bolt attached to the floor under the spare wheel passes through the center hole of the spare wheel. The threaded bolt also passes through a spare wheel holding plate that resides on the spare wheel hub to distribute a holding force from the plate to the circumference of the hub created by screwing a threaded wing nut onto the bolt passing through the holding plate. Since the belt passes from the wheel center to a location outside of the wheel's perimeter, the wheel and tire are securely restrained during the transmission of forces during a vehicular rear impact event.

Abstract: Restraining a spare wheel in a vehicular floor recession during a vehicle rear impact event is accomplished by securing a connection member from a first anchoring location outside of the recession to a second location within the floor recession. The spare wheel lies in the recession and a threaded bolt attached to the floor under the spare wheel passes through the center hole of the spare wheel. The threaded bolt also passes through a spare wheel holding plate that resides on the spare wheel hub to distribute a holding force from the plate to the circumference of the hub created by screwing a threaded wing nut onto the bolt passing through the holding plate. Since the belt passes from the wheel center to a location outside of the wheel's perimeter, the wheel and tire are securely restrained during the transmission of forces during a vehicular rear impact event.

Abstract: A system for printing images on a substrate includes a multiplicity of print heads mounted in a carriage and positioned a distance from the substrate. A sensor detects the thickness of the substrate as the substrate moves through the system, and a control system receives the substrate thickness information detected by the sensor and transmits signals to a motor coupled to the carriage. These signals instruct the motor to adjust the position of the carriage to maintain a desired gap between the print heads and the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a substrate in a printing system includes a transport belt provided with a plurality of holes which extend through a thickness of the belt, and a vacuum table which generates a vacuum, and is positioned on one side of the transport belt. A porous sheet is positioned between the belt and the vacuum table, while the vacuum table, the porous sheet, and the transport belt are in fluid communication. The vacuum generated by the vacuum table creates a suction on the substrate placed on the transport belt, and the porous sheet restricts fluid flow between the table and the transport belt to maintain a desired vacuum as an area of the transport belt covered by the substrate varies as the substrate is transported through the printing system.

Abstract: A system for printing images on a substrate includes a multiplicity of print heads mounted in a carriage and positioned a distance from the substrate. A sensor detects the thickness of the substrate as the substrate moves through the system, and a control system receives the substrate thickness information detected by the sensor and transmits signals to a motor coupled to the carriage. These signals instruct the motor to adjust the position of the carriage to maintain a desired gap between the print heads and the substrate.

Abstract: An ocular prosthetic device is provided which includes a simulated pupil that does not interfere with the intended appearance of the iris image, and further which adapts to a range of ambient lighting environments to simulate the appearance of a natural eye. An iris image is provided to reproduce the color and pattern of a natural eye. A visual display, or light source, is located behind the iris image. The visual display has a series of concentric rings to produce a size range similar to the size range between that of a dilated and contracted pupil. The iris image has a pattern of light transmissive openings to permit light from the rearwardly disposed visual display to pass through the openings. The concentric rings, when activated, are visible through the openings in the iris image, and present the appearance of a pupil of a size dependent on the number of activated rings.

Abstract: An ocular prosthetic device is provided which includes a simulated pupil that does not interfere with the intended appearance of the iris image, and further which adapts to a range of ambient lighting environments to simulate the appearance of a natural eye. An iris image is provided to reproduce the color and pattern of a natural eye. A visual display, or light source, is located behind the iris image. The visual display has a series of concentric rings to produce a size range similar to the size range between that of a dilated and contracted pupil. The iris image has a pattern of light transmissive openings to permit light from the rearwardly disposed visual display to pass through the openings. The concentric rings, when activated, are visible through the openings in the iris image, and present the appearance of a pupil of a size dependent on the number of activated rings.

Abstract: A multi-layer rigid prototype printed circuit board is fabricated by applying a heat activated, rapid setting or tacking melt-remelt adhesive utilizing a moderate temperature heat laminating device onto appropriate surfaces of pre-etched and plated insulative film based, flexible film layers. A computer guided drill drills through-holes within an electrical insulative material planar substrate core using prescribed drill sizes for each through-hole pin size desired for a given hole location. The etched layers with the adhesive applied are positioned in proper sequence aligned to the drilled hole pattern and heat laminated thereto as a stacked array on the top and/or bottom surfaces of the substrate core. Computer guided drilling of the adhered films with prescribed smaller drill sizes at each through-hole location is effected to create film cantilever portions extending radially outwardly of the edge of the through-holes.