Abstract: A method of locating a printhead assembly on a printer, the method comprising the steps of: providing a printhead assembly comprising at least one printhead integrated circuit having a plurality of ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the, or each, printhead integrated circuit, the ink distribution support being arranged, in use, to distribute ink from the ink supply to the nozzles; mounting the printhead assembly to the printer by bringing at least one reference feature provided on the ink distribution support into cooperation with a corresponding complementary feature of the printer; and determining from the cooperation the location of the nozzles.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer that has a print engine controller for receiving print data and sending it to the printhead. The printhead has a printhead IC for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC in the printer adjacent a paper path. The printhead IC is mounted on a face of the support structure that, in use, faces the paper path. A flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) that has contacts for receiving print data mounted to the support structure on a face that does not face the paper path. The bent section reduces the likelihood of trace cracking by holding the flex PCB at a set radius rather than allowing the flex to follow an irregular curve and thereby risking localized points of high stress on the traces.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has an inkjet printhead and a printhead maintenance station. The maintenance station includes a maintenance roller which is rotatable and moveable between a first position in which a capping portion is sealingly engaged with the printhead and a second position in which the capping portion is disengaged from the printhead. The maintenance roller is mounted on a chassis which is reciprocally moveable between the first and second positions. The printer includes an engagement mechanism for moving the chassis between the first and second positions by complementary engagement with engagement formations on the chassis.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of nozzles for ejecting ink on to print media; an ink supply reservoir for storing ink, the ink supply reservoir having rigid walls and an air inlet for supplying air into the ink supply reservoir; an ink supply line defining a flow path from the ink supply reservoir to the printhead IC; and a pulse damper positioned along the flow path, the pulse damper for decreasing an amplitude of pressure pulses in the ink. The pulse damper is a compliant section of the ink supply line adapted to elastically flex.

Abstract: A printhead ink supply system is provided. The system comprises an inkjet printhead; an ink reservoir; an ink pressure regulator and an ink line connecting the printhead and the regulator. The ink pressure regulator regulates a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to the printhead and comprises an ink chamber having an ink outlet; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet for bubbling air bubbles into the chamber and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. Each air bubble comprises an air cavity trapped inside a film or a body of ink and the bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the chamber as result of supplying ink to the printhead.

Abstract: There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet positioned for bubbling air into ink contained in the chamber; and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink as result of supplying ink to the printhead. Hence, the hydrostatic pressure of the ink is regulated.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a chassis having mounted thereon: a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface and an ink removal system for removing ink from the maintenance roller; (ii) moving the chassis towards the printhead such that the contact surface is sealingly engaged with an ink ejection face thereof; (iii) moving the chassis away from said printhead such that the contact surface is disengaged from the face; and (iv) rotating the maintenance roller such that ink is removed from the contact surface by the ink removal system.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead, and a mechanism for rolling the roller across the face.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular bridge, typically for temporary use to enable persons to pass between upper floors of adjacent buildings during fire fighting or disaster relief operations, which can be rapidly assembled and deployed within a confined space and entirely from the “home” side of the gap to be crossed. It comprises a plurality of man-portable box section bridge modules adapted to be connected together end to end and projected in cantilever fashion from one side of the gap to the other. The assembly of modules is supported in and guided through a launch frame, with modules being added to the rear of the assembly and pushed through the frame until the gap is spanned. Removable lever arms of the frame are used to counterbalance the weight of the projected bridge modules during the course of deployment.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead having an ink ejection face is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a foaming system for providing liquid foam on the face, (b) a foam transfer surface for receiving the foam from said face, (c) a transport mechanism for feeding said transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from said printhead, and (d) a valve configurable in first and second positions, the first position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and an ink supply system and the second position for establishing fluid communication between said printhead and said foaming system. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from said ink ejection face.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an elastically deformable roller having a contact surface for contacting an ink ejection face of the printhead; and (b) rolling the roller across the face.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having a printhead maintenance assembly for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance assembly comprises a maintenance roller having an elastically-deformable non-absorbent contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. An engagement mechanism moves the roller between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided. The cartridge is removably receivable in the printer. The cartridge comprises: (a) a printhead; (b) an ink delivery system for supplying ink to the printhead; and (c) a maintenance station for maintaining the printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface and an ink removal system for removing ink from the contact surface when the maintenance roller is rotated.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles for ejecting ink and ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The ink conduits are aligned with the longitudinal extent of the elongate array and have a plurality of pulse dampers individually in fluid communication with the ink conduits. Each pulse damper contains a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits, distributed along the length of the elongate array. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper. By incorporating a number of pulse dampers into the ink supply conduits immediately next to the nozzle array, any pressure spikes are damped at the site where they would otherwise cause detrimental flooding.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a slot for removably receiving a printhead having a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles, and protrusions arranged in the slot to cooperate with a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the printhead upon mounting of the printhead to the printer, the cooperation providing information on the location of the nozzles.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having a body configured to receive a printhead assembly of at least one printhead integrated circuit having ink ejection nozzles and an ink distribution support mounting the integrated circuit(s) to distribute ink to the nozzles, and a plurality of mounting features on the body configured to cooperate with corresponding complementary reference features of the ink distribution support upon mounting of the printhead assembly to the printer, where the cooperation provides information on the location of the nozzles. The printhead assembly is incorporated in a printing cartridge and the body of the printer has a cartridge receiving slot. The mounting features include a mesa feature and protrusions arranged in the slot The reference features include a slot in the ink distribution support which cooperates with the mesa feature and a flat surface of a plurality of corners of the ink distribution support which cooperates with the protrusions.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has an ink supply, an ink manifold in fluid communication with the ink supply, a printhead IC with and array of ink ejection nozzles mounted to the ink manifold, a pump in fluid communication with the ink manifold and, a gas inlet that can be opened to establish fluid communication between the ink manifold and a supply of gas, and can be closed to form a gas tight seal. The ink manifold can be primed using the pump by closing the gas inlet, and de-primed when the gas inlet is open. This allows the printhead to be deprimed during storage and transport and it allows the printhead IC to be cleaned by a foam formed by air forced through the ink election nozzles.

Abstract: A method of priming an inkjet printhead having ink ejection nozzles. The method includes: providing an ink bag containing ink for distribution to the nozzles via a fluid path between the ink bag and the nozzles; applying inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path; and arranging a biasing member in the ink bag so that the biasing member applies outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag only once the available fluid volume of the ink bag has been reduced to a predetermined volume. The printhead is a pagewidth printhead, having a pagewidth of 100.9 millimeters.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance assembly for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance assembly comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) a first roller having an outer surface for receiving ink from the face; (c) a second roller engaged with said first roller, the second roller being configured for receiving ink from the first roller; (d) a cleaning pad in contact with the second roller; and (e) a mechanism for rotating the first and second rollers.

Abstract: Inflatable members for incorporation into a fascine are linked together at their ends by chains or other such flexible tension members, the tension in which is such as to cause at least local compression and flattening of the inflatable members where they are in contact with adjacent members. The forces so generated between adjacent members can prevent their tendency to rotate under the action of traffic crossing the fascine.