Abstract: A printing process is disclosed which comprises directing droplets of an ink onto an intermediate transfer member to form an ink image, the ink including an organic polymeric resin and a coloring agent in an aqueous carrier, and the transfer member having a hydrophobic outer surface so that each ink droplet in the ink image spreads on impinging upon the intermediate transfer member to form an ink film. The ink is dried while the ink image is being transported by the intermediate transfer member by evaporating the aqueous carrier from the ink image to leave a residue film of resin and coloring agent. The residue film is then transferred to a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mouthpiece to communicate an airflow between a user and an airflow chamber in fluid communication with the mouthpiece; an interrupter in fluid communication with the airflow chamber and adapted to initiate an occlusion event by adjusting between an open state and a closed state, such that fluid communication is at least partially prevented between the airflow chamber and ambient air during the occlusion event initiated by the interrupter; a container in fluid communication with the airflow chamber; a flow rate sensor in fluid communication with the airflow chamber and adapted to measure an airflow exchange between the airflow chamber and the container during the occlusion event; and a controller adapted to determine an instantaneous lung volume based on the measured airflow exchange between the airflow chamber and the container.

Abstract: A system and method for determining FRC, TGV, TLC and RV includes a hand-held unit with a shutter assembly designed to minimize measured air displacement due to shuttering. Measurements of flow and pressure are used to derive the lung parameters.

Abstract: A wind turbine system includes a two-dimensional array of a plurality of modular wind turbine units arranged in a plurality of horizontal rows and vertical columns. The two-dimensional array of modular wind turbine units are carried by a frame structure including a plurality of parallel beams extending along a first orthogonal axis and spaced from each other along a second orthogonal axis, with the plurality of modular wind turbine units mounted between each pair of the parallel beams extending along the first orthogonal axis. Also described is a modular wind turbine unit particularly useful in such a system.

Abstract: A turbine blade particularly useful in a vertical-axis wind turbine, characterized in that the blade includes a central region of a symmetrical airfoil configuration, and opposite end regions of a non-symmetrical airfoil configuration effective to increase the drag forces produced by the wind at the end regions when the turbine blade is used in a vertical-axis wind turbine provide a self-starting capability, and a speed-limiting capability, to the wind turbine. In one described embodiment, the non-symmetry in the sharp trailing edge of the blade is produced by a deep recess extending inwardly past the chord line of the blade to enhance the self-starting and speed-limiting capabilities; whereas in another described embodiment, the non-symmetry is produced by a shallow recess and outwardly-flared ends enhancing the efficiency of the wind turbine during normal wind conditions.

Abstract: Inkjet printer apparatus includes a pressure-regulated tank having an inlet connected to an ink reservoir, and an outlet connected to a printhead including nozzles for discharging continuous streams of ink drops towards a substrate for printing thereon and gutters for intercepting the ink drops not to be printed. The apparatus further includes a bypass line between the tank outlet and the ink reservoir, a bypass control valve for controlling the flow rate via the bypass line enabling the flow rate to be preset during draining of the tank, and a pump controllable to enable pre-calibrating the pump during filling of the tank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling electronic or other devices by bringing the device to be cooled into contact with one face of a cold plate having high thermal conductivity; and applying a plurality of liquid jets of a liquid coolant to the opposite face of the cold plate perpendicularly thereto and at spaced location thereon. The plurality of liquid jets are applied in pulses as pulsatile jets. The liquid coolant is also circulated in a pulsatile manner as a planar-flow liquid in contact with and parallel to the opposite face of the cold plate, such that the plurality of pulsatile jets of the liquid coolant flow as immersed jet streams through the planar-flow liquid coolant circulated in contact with and parallel to the opposite face of the cold plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a desired pattern on a substrate by discharging continuous streams of liquid ink drops from nozzles towards the substrate, and selectively charging the liquid ink drops with multi-level charges deflecting them different amounts. Some of the liquid ink drops are thus directed to different locations on the substrate for printing the desired pattern thereon, while other liquid ink drops not to be printed are intercepted by a gutter before reaching the substrate. At least some of the liquid ink drops to be printed being either uncharged or charged with a multi-level charge of one polarity, while all the liquid ink drops not to be printed are charged with a charge of the opposite polarity. Each stream of ink drops discharged from a nozzle is illuminated with stroboscopic light at the same frequency as the drop formation, and the illuminated stream is optically sensed on the fly for determining various conditions, including ink velocity, X-axis offset and Y-axis offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inkjet printing by means of a plurality of inkjet nozzles arranged in at least one row and having spaced, parallel nozzle axes for emitting liquid ink drops towards the substrate, and multi-level charging and deflecting plates controlled to deflect individual drops to selected locations on the substrate with respect to the respective nozzle axis according to the pattern to be printed. The multi-level charging and deflecting plates are controlled to cover, for each nozzle, a line section which includes two non-contiguous deposit zones to receive ink drops from the respective nozzle, separated by a non-deposit zone not to receive ink drops from the respective nozzle.

Abstract: Inkjet printer apparatus includes a pressure-regulated tank having an inlet connected to an ink reservoir, and an outlet connected to a printhead including nozzles for discharging continuous streams of ink drops towards a substrate for printing thereon and gutters for intercepting the ink drops not to be printed. The apparatus further includes a bypass line between the tank outlet and the ink reservoir, a bypass control valve for controlling the flow rate via the bypass line enabling the flow rate to be preset during draining of the tank, and a pump controllable to enable pre-calibrating the pump during filling of the tank.

Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus includes a linear array of jet modules each having an inlet for receiving ink, an outlet for re-circulating the ink, a nozzle for discharging ink in the form of droplets, and a perturbation device for causing a continuous stream of ink droplets to be discharged from the respective nozzle. The apparatus further includes an ink supply system having an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, and a plurality of connecting passageways connecting the jet modules in parallel between the inlet and outlet manifolds. The connecting passageways connect the inlet of each jet module to the inlet manifold and the outlet of each jet module to the outlet manifold, such as to define a T-connection of each jet module with the inlet and outlet manifolds. Such a construction reduces the mass of each jet module thereby permitting printing at higher frequencies and with smaller ink droplets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a desired pattern on a substrate by discharging continuous streams of liquid ink drops from nozzles towards the substrate, and selectively charging the liquid ink drops with multi-level charges deflecting them different amounts. Some of the liquid ink drops are thus directed to different locations on the substrate for printing the desired pattern thereon, while other liquid ink drops not to be printed are intercepted by a gutter before reaching the substrate. At least some of the liquid ink drops to be printed being either uncharged or charged with a multi-level charge of one polarity, while all the liquid ink drops not to be printed are charged with a charge of the opposite polarity. Each stream of ink drops discharged from a nozzle is illuminated with stroboscopic light at the same frequency as the drop formation, and the illuminated stream is optically sensed on the fly for determining various conditions, including ink velocity, X-axis offset and Y-axis offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing selected information on bottles, by: conveying the bottles sequentially through a predetermined path including at least one printing station; actuating an ink-jet print head at the printing station to discharge liquid ink droplets onto the bottle in the printing station; and controlling the print head at the printing station to discharge the liquid ink droplets onto the bottle in accordance with the selected information to be printed thereon. Described, for purposes of example, are a closed-loop type conveyor and also a drum-type conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a desired pattern on a substrate by discharging continuous streams of liquid ink drops from nozzles towards the substrate, and selectively charging the liquid ink drops with multi-level charges deflecting them different amounts. Some of the liquid ink drops are thus directed to different locations on the substrate for printing the desired pattern thereon, while other liquid ink drops not to be printed are intercepted by a gutter before reaching the substrate. At least some of the liquid ink drops to be printed being either uncharged or charged with a multi-level charge of one polarity, while all the liquid ink drops not to be printed are charged with a charge of the opposite polarity. Each stream of ink drops discharged from a nozzle is illuminated with stroboscopic light at the same frequency as the drop formation, and the illuminated stream is optically sensed on the fly for determining various conditions, including ink velocity, X-axis offset and Y-axis offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inkjet printing by means of a plurality of inkjet nozzles arranged in at least one row and having spaced, parallel nozzle axes for emitting liquid ink drops towards the substrate, and multi-level charging and deflecting plates controlled to deflect individual drops to selected locations on the substrate with respect to the respective nozzle axis according to the pattern to be printed. The multi-level charging and deflecting plates are controlled to cover, for each nozzle, a line section which includes two non-contiguous deposit zones to receive ink drops from the respective nozzle, separated by a non-deposit zone not to receive ink drops from the respective nozzle.

Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus includes a linear array of jet modules each having an inlet for receiving ink, an outlet for re-circulating the ink, a nozzle for discharging ink in the form of droplets, and a perturbation device for causing a continuous stream of ink droplets to be discharged from the respective nozzle. The apparatus further includes an ink supply system having an inlet manifold, an outlet manifold, and a plurality of connecting passageways connecting the jet modules in parallel between the inlet and outlet manifolds. The connecting passageways connect the inlet of each jet module to the inlet manifold and the outlet of each jet module to the outlet manifold, such as to define a T-connection of each jet module with the inlet and outlet manifolds. Such a construction reduces the mass of each jet module thereby permitting printing at higher frequencies and with smaller ink droplets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a desired pattern on a substrate by discharging continuous streams of liquid ink drops from nozzles towards the substrate, and selectively charging the liquid ink drops with multi-level charges deflecting them different amounts. Some of the liquid ink drops are thus directed to different locations on the substrate for printing the desired pattern thereon, while other liquid ink drops not to be printed are intercepted by a gutter before reaching the substrate. At least some of the liquid ink drops to be printed being either uncharged or charged with a multi-level charge of one polarity, while all the liquid ink drops not to be printed are charged with a charge of the opposite polarity. Each stream of ink drops discharged from a nozzle is illuminated with stroboscopic light at the same frequency as the drop formation, and the illuminated stream is optically sensed on the fly for determining various conditions, including ink velocity, X-axis offset and Y-axis offset.

Abstract: A three dimensional modeling system comprising apparatus for providing coordinate information with respect to a three-dimensional element and apparatus responsive to the coordinate information by providing a three-dimensional physical model of the three-dimensional element by sequentially solidifying a plurality of layers of a first material. The system includes apparatus for adding to each layer of said first material, prior to solidification of a subsequent layer of the first material thereover, a second material.

Abstract: A three dimensional modelling system comprising means for providing coordinate information with respect to a three-dimensional element and means responsive to said coordinate information by providing a three-dimensional physical model of said three-dimensional element by sequentially solidifying a plurality of layers of a first material and including means for adding to each layer of said first material, prior to solidification of a subsequent layer of the first material thereover, a second material.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional model including apparatus for depositing, layer upon layer, a photopolymer material in a selectable configuration and apparatus for curing each photopolymer layer following deposition thereof and prior to deposition thereon of a succeeding layer of photopolymer.