Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed that includes a drum platen having a recess. A loading mechanism for loading an absorber into the recess and a pen is configured to eject ink on the absorber while the absorber is in the recess.

Abstract: A misalignment compensation technique for a dot printer is disclosed. This technique first supplies printing instructions to a printhead for energizing printing elements in various groups (primitives) to print a pattern on a medium. The printed pattern is then detected by optical sensors in the printer. Based on the detection, a position offset error for each primitive is determined. These errors are used to generate a separate time correction for each of the primitives such that, when the printer is used normally, the time period for printing a dot will be advanced or delayed for each primitive so as to align the dots printed by the primitives. In another embodiment, alignment data taken by a manufacturing line sensor is stored in a memory on the print cartridge. After the print cartridge is installed in the printer, a second optical test completes the data needed to create timing correction values.

Abstract: The present invention is an ink container for use in an ink jet printing system. The printing system has a printhead under control of printing system electronics and an ink container receiving station for providing ink to the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of container interfacing features positioned on the ink container to engage corresponding ink container receiving station interfacing features. The ink container interfacing features are disposed and arranged to allow a plurality of different sizes of the ink container to be installed at a particular location of the receiving station. The ink container also includes an information storage device that provides information indicative of a volume of ink contained in said ink container.

Abstract: The present invention is an ink container for use in an ink jet printing system. The printing system has a printhead under control of printing system electronics and an ink container receiving station for providing ink to the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of container interfacing features positioned on the ink container to engage corresponding ink container receiving station interfacing features. The ink container interfacing features are disposed and arranged to allow a plurality of different sizes of the ink container to be installed at a particular location of the receiving station. The ink container also includes an information storage device that provides information indicative of a volume of ink contained in said ink container.

Abstract: To maintain a uniform spacing between the print media, such as paper, and an inkjet printhead having a large print swath, for instance about 25 millimeters (one inch) wide, a new media support system is provided for inkjet printing mechanisms, such as printers or plotters. The support system employs an endless belt driven from the belt interior surface by a roller drive system that uniformly supports the print media under the reciprocating printhead. The belt may be lined with anti-cockle ribs to support the media when saturated. The belt may also be foraminous, with a vacuum applied thereunder to pull the media onto the belt. A method is also provided for supporting and transporting a large sheet of print media through a printzone of an inkjet printing mechanism, such as an inkjet plotter, that uses such a large swath inkjet printhead.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. The print cartridge contains a regulator valve. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate, disposable ink supply cartridge located within the printer. A second valve connected between the ink tube and the ink supply cartridge is automatically actuated when it is determined that the printer is not being used. The valve seal is more reliable than the inexpensive one-way valve seal in the disposable ink supply cartridge. The reliable valve seal prevents any air bubbles in the tube from expanding toward the ink supply cartridge, enabling the use of more flexible tubes which have less stringent air diffusion characteristics. In another embodiment, instead of a valve, a pressure source is connected to the ink tube to maintain the partial air pressure within the tube at approximately ambient pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is an ink container for use in an ink jet printing system. The printing system has a printhead under control of printing system electronics and an ink container receiving station for providing ink to the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of container interfacing features positioned on the ink container to engage corresponding ink container receiving station interfacing features. The ink container interfacing features are disposed and arranged to allow a plurality of different sizes of the ink container to be installed at a particular location of the receiving station. The ink container also includes an information storage device that provides information indicative of a volume of ink contained in said ink container.

Abstract: In a method and system for delivering ink within a printer, a reservoir and a portion of a tube are accelerated so as to generate an inertial flow of ink in the tube, where the tube is connected to the reservoir and in fluid communication with an ink supply. A valve is provided between the tube and the reservoir. The valve is closed to retain an amount of the inertial flow of ink in the reservoir when the inertial flow of ink is away from the reservoir. The tube is primed by moving the printer so as to elevate the ink supply relative to the reservoir in the printer. Foam may be provided within the reservoir which restricts the rate of flow by not allowing ink to be conducted from the reservoir when the foam is unsaturated.

Abstract: Automatic print rate-controlling and pen-servicing method and apparatus are described for power management and for determining appropriate servicing intervals for plural-pen ink-jet printers. The preferred method involves counting the number of drops of ink that are fired from each of plural pens in the printer's printhead carriage and optionally calculating the pen firing rate such that printer throughput can be controlled to limit time-averaged power and such that pen servicing frequency can be based upon the need for such servicing. The counts are maintained in memory connected, for example, with the printer's microcontroller, as are parameters that the microcontroller uses to determine appropriate drop count-based print rate controlling or pen servicing that reduce printer throughput only to the extent necessary.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Ink Level Detection in a Pressure Regulated Pen. A liquid level detector for a liquid containment device, such as an ink-jet pen, provides a signal indicative of a lowering level of liquid in the containment device. In exemplary embodiments, a refillable or replaceable ink reservoir supplies ink to the printhead of the pen under pressure. Electrical or electromagnetic devices are used individually or in combination with a pressure regulator apparatus to sense a back pressure in the containment device after the reservoir has gone dry to trigger a signal indicating a low or out-of-ink condition.

Abstract: Methogology and apparatus are described which employ an improved modular service station design wherein a printhead-servicing sled is selectively vertically driven to effect execution of servicing tasks. In keeping with its desired modularity, the sled is made readily removable using an improved clamp and sled arrangement. The sled is driven by a unique drive system such drive system being capable of effectively selectively stalling or locking instrumentality such as the sled in various positions defined along its path of vertical movement. To save time and space, both the printhead and the servicing mechanism such as the wipers and the caps are moved so as to place them in proper relative positions for execution of a task.

Abstract: A synchronized wiper and pen motion solution for ink-jet printers is described. The invented method and apparatus synchronize the motion of the pen and wiper throughout the wipe stroke, and provide for controlled, simultaneous movement therebetween that avoids pole vaulting, excess interference and ink flicking. Such is accomplished by moving the carriage to a defined position shy of a wiping position above the service station including a sled mounting the wiper; raising the sled to produce a proper interference fit between the wiper and the pen while simultaneously moving the carriage at low speed; continuing the wipe stroke by high-speed carriage movement with the sled stationary; and, at the end of the stroke, lowering the sled to clear the wiper from contact with the pen before reversing carriage motion. The solution lends itself to single- or plural-pen ink-jet printers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning the orifice plates of multiple printheads of an ink-jet printer. The apparatus includes a multi-blade wiper which is indexed automatically to permit each printhead to be wiped in sequence by a selected blade. The desired cleaning is produced by dragging a printhead across the selected wiper blade. The wiper mechanism may also comprise a plurality of resilient blades each having an octagonal shape and rotatable about an axis. A cam coupled to the printhead carriage causes simultaneous pivoting of the wiper blades into contact with the printheads as well as rotation of the blades to facilitate cleaning thereof. In the method of this invention, ink is expelled from the printheads to rehydrate dried ink thereon to facilitate its removal.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. The print cartridge contains a regulator valve. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate, disposable ink supply cartridge located within the printer. A second valve connected between the ink tube and the ink supply cartridge is automatically actuated when it is determined that the printer is not being used. The valve seal is more reliable than the inexpensive one-way valve seal in the disposable ink supply cartridge. The reliable valve seal prevents any air bubbles in the tube from expanding toward the ink supply cartridge, enabling the use of more flexible tubes which have less stringent air diffusion characteristics. In another embodiment, instead of a valve, a pressure source is connected to the ink tube to maintain the partial air pressure within the tube at approximately ambient pressure.