Abstract: An angular wiping system is provided for removing ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in an inkjet printing mechanism. By canting a wiper blade in opposite directions as the blade moves through a bi-directional wiping stroke, a nozzle portion of the ink-ejecting orifice plate is wiped on both passes of the blade. A pair of non-ink-ejecting side cheeks of the orifice plate laying on opposite sides of the nozzle portion are each wiped once during the bi-directional wiping stroke, with one cheek being wiped while the blade travels in a first direction, and the other cheek being wiped when the blade travels in a direction opposite to the first direction. An inkjet printing mechanism having the angular wiping system and method of wiping using this system are also provided.

Abstract: A curved wiper blade system is provided for an inkjet printing mechanism to remove ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in the printing mechanism, here, illustrated as an inkjet printer. A pair of wiper blades each curve inwardly toward each other, and maintain this curvature during bi-directional wiping strokes. This configuration allows one wiper blade to receive an ink solvent from an applicator and apply the solvent to the ink-ejecting nozzles of the printhead when moving in one wiping direction. When wiping in the opposite direction, one wiper blade also removes ink residue from an interconnect portion of the printhead, as well as from the ink-ejecting orifice plate portion of the printhead.

Abstract: An angular wiping system is provided for removing ink residue from an inkjet printhead installed in an inkjet printing mechanism. By canting a wiper blade in opposite directions as the blade moves through a bi-directional wiping stroke, a nozzle portion of the ink-ejecting orifice plate is wiped on both passes of the blade. A pair of non-ink-ejecting side cheeks of the orifice plate laying on opposite sides of the nozzle portion are each wiped once during the bi-directional wiping stroke, with one cheek being wiped while the blade travels in a first direction, and the other cheek being wiped when the blade travels in a direction opposite to the first direction. An inkjet printing mechanism having the angular wiping system and method of wiping using this system are also provided.

Abstract: A needleless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the poppet valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant is discharged from the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin. An improved method of needleless injection uses a specific pressure profile, ampule nozzle diameter, patient, injection site, and injectant parameters.

Abstract: A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A two stage power amplifying valve includes a main valve operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to drive a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin. Interlocks are provided to resist inadvertent actuation of the device and a indicator indicates whether there is sufficient gas pressure in the device for another injection.

Abstract: A needleless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the poppet valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant is discharged from the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin. An improved method of needleless injection uses a specific pressure profile, ampule nozzle diameter, patient, injection site, and injectant parameters.

Abstract: A needless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the popper valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant sprays out of the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin.

Abstract: A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A two stage power amplifying valve includes a main valve operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to drive a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin. Interlocks are provided to resist inadvertent actuation of the device and a indicator indicates whether there is sufficient gas pressure in the device for another injection. An ampule for needleless injection has a nozzle length to nozzle diameter ratio of from 2.0 to 5.0 and a throat cone flair angle of from 10-14 degrees.

Abstract: A needleless injection device has a housing containing a pilot valve connectable to a compressed gas source. A main valve is operatively connected to the pilot valve. The pilot valve and main valve form a two-stage valve with the pilot valve activatable to open the main valve utilizing gas pressure. Compressed gas in a reservoir flows through the open main valve to driven a plunger into an ampule to inject an injectant through a patient's skin.

Abstract: The disclosed method forms a zinc sleeve on an insulator pin by dipping the insulator pin in molten zinc at about 450.degree.-650.degree. C. to heat and wet the insulator pin with the molten zinc, setting the hot and wetted insulator pin in a die having an open-top cavity in such a manner that an annular open-top molding cavity is defined around the insulator, the die being at about 50.degree.-300.degree. C. when receiving the insulator pin, pouring molten zinc in the annular molding cavity through its open top, and solidifying the zinc thus poured.