Abstract: A method of operating a continuous inkjet printer (1). The printer comprise a printhead. The printhead comprises a droplet generator (16) comprising a printing nozzle (17) for ejecting an ink jet for printing, at least one electrode (22, 23) for steering the inkjet, and a gutter (18) having an ink receiving orifice (24) for receiving parts of the ink jet which are not used for printing. The method comprises performing a cleaning operation. Said cleaning operation comprises: ejecting a solvent jet from the printing nozzle towards the gutter; and causing at least a portion of the solvent jet to contact at least a part of the gutter (18) surrounding the orifice (24) for cleaning said part of the gutter surrounding the orifice.

Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.

Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprising a printing fluid cartridge receiving portion arranged to receive a printing fluid cartridge (2) and to allow passage of printing fluid from a received printing fluid cartridge to printing fluid conduits of the ink jet printer; a data reader arranged to read data indicating a quantity of fluid within a received cartridge from an electronic data storage device associated with the received printing fluid cartridge; and a controller arranged to generate update data usable to modify data stored on said electronic data storage device and to modify data stored on said electronic storage device based upon said update data such that data stored on said electronic data storage device indicates an updated quantity of fluid in said printing fluid cartridge.

Abstract: A method of printing an image on a substrate effected by moving the substrate past a print head during a printing operation and printing the image by printing a plurality of strokes. Printing each stroke includes emitting a plurality of drops of ink from the print head. The method includes receiving image data defining an image to be printed, the image data including data relating to a characteristic of the image; selecting printer control data defining the plurality of drops of ink which are to be emitted from the print head to print a stoke, the selecting being based upon data indicating a maximum number of drops of ink which can be emitted from the print head during a stroke and the characteristic of the image; and printing the image based upon the data defining the image to be printed and the printer control data.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprising a printing fluid cartridge receiving portion arranged to receive a printing fluid cartridge (2) and to allow passage of printing fluid from a received printing fluid cartridge to printing fluid conduits of the ink jet printer; a data reader arranged to read data indicating a quantity of fluid within a received cartridge from an electronic data storage device associated with the received printing fluid cartridge; and a controller arranged to generate update data usable to modify data stored on said electronic data storage device and to modify data stored on said electronic storage device based upon said update data such that data stored on said electronic data storage device indicates an updated quantity of fluid in said printing fluid cartridge.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprising: a printing fluid cartridge receiving portion arranged to receive a printing fluid cartridge (2) and comprising a plurality of contacts arranged for electrical connection to complementary electrical contacts provided by a received printing fluid cartridge; a fluid cut off device (2b) arranged to selectively allow fluid to flow from a received printing fluid cartridge received in said printing fluid cartridge receiving portion to conduits of the printer; and a controller (6) arranged to read data from a printing fluid cartridge received by said ink cartridge receiving portion using said contacts and to control the fluid cut off device based upon said read data.

Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of liquid, such as ink or solvent, remaining in a container, such as a replacement cartridge for a continuous ink jet printer, uses a reservoir enclosing an internal space having a variable volume for storage. The reservoir is adapted to provide a reduction in the pressure of the internal space, the reduction substantially monotonically increasing in magnitude as liquid is drawn into the printer, such that the volume of liquid remaining may be calculated from knowledge of the minimum withdrawal pressure required to draw further liquid from the reservoir into the printer. Containers for use with the method have a liquid dispensing port adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed when a withdrawal pressure at the exterior of the port is less than the pressure of the internal space and adapted to prevent the ingress of air into the internal space of the reservoir as liquid is dispensed.