Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide ink recirculation capabilities for Drop-On-Demand (DOD) printing systems. One embodiment comprises a system that includes a controller, a DOD print head, an ink tank, an ink pump, and a recirculation cap. The ink pump transports ink from the ink tank to the DOD print head, and the recirculation cap captures ink ejected by the DOD print head. The recirculation cap also transports the capture ink to the ink tank. In response to detecting a start of an ink recirculation cycle, the controller collocates the recirculation cap proximate to nozzles of the DOD print head, and directs the DOD print head to begin ejecting ink through the nozzles into the recirculation cap for transport of the captured ink to the ink tank. The controller detects an end to the ink recirculation cycle, and directs the DOD print head to stop ejecting ink into the recirculation cap.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cartridge with a fluid container, a nozzle attached to the fluid container to provide fluid from the container to a printer, a cartridge identification card to identify the fluid in the fluid in the container to the printer when the cartridge identification card is connected to the printer, and a strap having two ends, a first end being attached to the fluid container and a second end being attached to the cartridge identification card.

Abstract: A method, system, and manufacture for adjusting electrostatic charges in a laser printer. A charge is applied to a photoconductor drum surface to create a dark voltage. An image area of the photoconductor drum is exposed with a printhead using a defined energy level to discharge the charge from the image area. An exposure voltage of the photoconductor drum is measured after the image area has been exposed. A first optimization is performed to determine an adjusted dark voltage and an adjusted energy level based on the measured exposure voltage and the dark voltage and the energy levels applied to the photoconductor drum. An applicator voltage is applied to an applicator that applies toner to the exposed image area of the photoconductor drum. Toner density applied to the photoconductor drum is measured and a second optimization is performed to adjust the applicator voltage to produce a target toner density.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for adjusting electrostatic charges used in a laser printer. A charge is applied to a surface of a photoconductor drum to create a dark voltage. An image area of the photoconductor drum is exposed with a printhead using a defined energy level to discharge the charge from the image area. An exposure voltage of the photoconductor drum is measured after the image area has been exposed by the printhead. A first optimization is performed to determine an adjusted dark voltage and an adjusted energy level based on the measured exposure voltage and the dark voltage and the energy levels applied to the photoconductor drum. An applicator voltage is applied to an applicator that applies toner to the exposed image area of the photoconductor drum. Toner density of the toner applied to the photoconductor drum is measured and a second optimization is performed to adjust the applicator voltage to produce a target toner density.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for electrorheological printing. The apparatus includes a pressurized ink chamber, a stimulator, and an electrode arrangement. The pressurized ink chamber is configured to retain an electrorheological ink and, under certain circumstances, discharge the electrorheological ink through one or more nozzles in a nozzle array. The stimulator is configured to generate a synchronization signal to increase the pressure of the electrorheological ink in the pressurized ink chamber. The electrode assembly is configured to create an electric field at each of the nozzles in the nozzle array. The electric field within the volume of a single nozzle acts as an electrorheological valve to change the viscosity and control the flow of the electrorheological ink within the nozzle. The absence of an electric field allows the electrorheological ink to fully discharge. A strong electric field stops the flow of the electrorheological ink.

Abstract: A cleaning station for removing residual toner from a moving toner transfer surface includes a rotating brush and a scraper blade that is held away from the toner transfer surface when toner images are being transferred to recording media, such as sheets of paper. On a periodic basis, when toner images are not being transferred to the recording media, the scraper blade is moved into contact with the toner transfer surface to remove agglomerated toner therefrom, with continued operation of the rotating brush.