Abstract: A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a fluid flow path defined between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; an orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and including a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice. An outer surface of the valve member is non-linearly flared away from the diaphragm.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for delivering ink to an inkjet printhead includes: an ink tank; the inkjet printhead having a printhead inlet port and a printhead outlet port; an ink supply line connected between the ink tank and the printhead inlet port; an ink return line connected between the ink tank and the printhead outlet port; an ink recirculation pump positioned in the ink return line; an ink filter positioned in the ink return line; a bypass line for bypassing ink around the ink filter; a bypass valves for controlling flow of ink either through the ink filter or through the bypass line; and a controller for coordinating the bypass valve and the pump. The controller is configured to pump ink from the printhead outlet port to the ink tank via the bypass line when the return line contains air.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for supplying ink to an inkjet printhead at a predetermined backpressure. The ink delivery system includes: a pressure regulating valve connected to a printhead inlet port; an ink tank connected to a valve inlet of the pressure regulating valve; and a pump connected to a printhead outlet port. The backpressure of ink supplied to the printhead is controlled by: a height h1 of ink in the ink tank relative to a valve orifice, a height h2 of the valve orifice relative to the printhead, a position of a valve member relative to the orifice and a pump speed of the pump.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a valve inlet connect to a valve outlet; via a flow path; a first orifice positioned in the flow path having a sealable first seat; a movable first valve member configured for sealing engagement with the first seat; a second orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable second valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the second orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the second valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the second valve member relative to the second orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the second orifice.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: an elongate inkjet printhead having a nozzle face containing a plurality of inkjet nozzles; a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead in a cleaning direction, the carriage including a maintenance member having: a fluid bath having a mouth opposing the nozzle face of the printhead, a primary fluid inlet at an upstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction and a fluid outlet at a downstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction; and a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage longitudinally along the printhead in the cleaning direction. The maintenance member does not contact inkjet nozzles of the printhead, and the fluid bath is configured to provide a greater fluid velocity at the downstream end relative to the upstream end.

Abstract: An ink tank for an ink delivery system includes: a housing having an ink inlet port and an ink outlet port; an air vent communicating with a headspace of the ink tank; a filter positioned in the housing for filtering ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink outlet port; and a baffle plate positioned in the housing between the ink inlet port and the filter. The baffle plate is configured for directing air bubbles entering the ink tank via the ink inlet port towards the headspace of the ink tank. A baffle opening is positioned towards a base of the ink tank, thereby allowing ink to flow from the ink inlet port towards the ink outlet port via the baffle opening.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: an inkjet printhead; a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead in a cleaning direction, the carriage having a maintenance member including: a fluid bath having a mouth opposing the nozzle face of the printhead, a primary fluid inlet at an upstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction, a suction nozzle at a downstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction and a pair of wipers flanking the fluid bath; and a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage along the printhead. The maintenance member does not contact inkjet nozzles of the printhead; the wipers each comprise a wiper material for contacting respective parts of the printhead flanking a nozzle face; and the wiper material is air-permeable such that, in use, suction of air through the wiper material into the fluid bath generates a foam in the fluid bath.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a fluid flow path defined between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; an orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and including a diaphragm operatively connected to the valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the valve member relative to the orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the orifice. An outer surface of the valve member is non-linearly flared away from the diaphragm.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for supplying ink to an inkjet printhead at a predetermined backpressure. The ink delivery system includes: a pressure regulating valve connected to a printhead inlet port; an ink tank connected to a valve inlet of the pressure regulating valve; and a pump connected to a printhead outlet port. The backpressure of ink supplied to the printhead is controlled by: a height h1 of ink in the ink tank relative to a valve orifice, a height h2 of the valve orifice relative to the printhead, a position of a valve member relative to the orifice and a pump speed of the pump.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve for an inkjet printhead. The valve includes: a valve inlet connect to a valve outlet; via a flow path; a first orifice positioned in the flow path having a sealable first seat; a movable first valve member configured for sealing engagement with the first seat; a second orifice positioned in the flow path; a movable second valve member configured for regulating a fluid flow rate through the second orifice; a regulator chamber having the valve outlet and comprising a diaphragm operatively connected to the second valve member, such that movement of the diaphragm moves the second valve member relative to the second orifice; and a biasing mechanism for resiliently biasing the diaphragm away from the second orifice.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for delivering ink to an inkjet printhead. The system includes a first ink tank, a second ink tank, a main air line having an air inlet and an air outlet; a first air line interconnecting the first ink tank and the main air line; a second air line interconnecting the second ink tank and the main air line; an air pump positioned in the main air line; first and second airflow restrictor positioned in the main air line; an ink circulation line interconnecting the first and second ink tanks; and an ink pump positioned in the ink circulation line for pumping ink from the first ink tank to the second ink tank.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: an elongate inkjet printhead having a nozzle face containing a plurality of inkjet nozzles; a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead in a cleaning direction, the carriage having a maintenance member including: a primary fluid inlet at an upstream end of the maintenance member relative to the cleaning direction and a fluid outlet downstream of the fluid inlet relative to the cleaning direction; a cleaning fluid reservoir for supplying a cleaning fluid to the primary fluid inlet; and a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage longitudinally along the printhead in the cleaning direction. The maintenance member does not contact inkjet nozzles of the printhead; and the cleaning fluid has a higher surface tension than the ink.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: an elongate inkjet printhead having a nozzle face containing a plurality of inkjet nozzles; a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead in a cleaning direction, the carriage including a maintenance member having: a fluid bath having a mouth opposing the nozzle face of the printhead, a primary fluid inlet at an upstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction and a fluid outlet at a downstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction; and a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage longitudinally along the printhead in the cleaning direction. The maintenance member does not contact inkjet nozzles of the printhead, and the fluid bath is configured to provide a greater fluid velocity at the downstream end relative to the upstream end.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance system includes: an inkjet printhead; a carriage movable longitudinally along the printhead in a cleaning direction, the carriage having a maintenance member including: a fluid bath having a mouth opposing the nozzle face of the printhead, a primary fluid inlet at an upstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction, a suction nozzle at a downstream end of the fluid bath relative to the cleaning direction and a pair of wipers flanking the fluid bath; and a traversing mechanism for traversing the carriage along the printhead. The maintenance member does not contact inkjet nozzles of the printhead; the wipers each comprise a wiper material for contacting respective parts of the printhead flanking a nozzle face; and the wiper material is air-permeable such that, in use, suction of air through the wiper material into the fluid bath generates a foam in the fluid bath.

Abstract: An ink tank for an ink delivery system includes: a housing having an ink inlet port and an ink outlet port; an air vent communicating with a headspace of the ink tank; a filter positioned in the housing for filtering ink supplied from the ink tank via the ink outlet port; and a baffle plate positioned in the housing between the ink inlet port and the filter. The baffle plate is configured for directing air bubbles entering the ink tank via the ink inlet port towards the headspace of the ink tank. A baffle opening is positioned towards a base of the ink tank, thereby allowing ink to flow from the ink inlet port towards the ink outlet port via the baffle opening.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for delivering ink to an inkjet printhead. The system includes a first ink tank, a second ink tank, a main air line having an air inlet and an air outlet; a first air line interconnecting the first ink tank and the main air line; a second air line interconnecting the second ink tank and the main air line; an air pump positioned in the main air line; first and second airflow restrictor positioned in the main air line; an ink circulation line interconnecting the first and second ink tanks; and an ink pump positioned in the ink circulation line for pumping ink from the first ink tank to the second ink tank.

Abstract: A system for priming a dry inkjet printhead. The system includes: the inkjet printhead having an inlet port connected to an upstream ink line and an outlet port connected to a downstream ink line; a pump operably connected to the downstream ink line; a capper engaged with printhead; a vacuum source for applying suction to a capping chamber of the capper; and a control system for coordinating actuation of the pump and the vacuum source. In use, the pump is actuated simultaneously with the vacuum source, thereby drawing ink through the printhead from the inlet port to the outlet port and priming the printhead.

Abstract: A robot for marking an encoded surface is provided. The encoded surface has coded data identifying a plurality of locations thereon. The robot has an image sensor for sensing the coded data, and a processor for generating indicating data using the coded data sensed by the image sensor. The indicating data has data regarding a position of the robot on the encoded surface. The robot uses a communication means to transmit the indicating data to a computer system and receiving instructions from the computer system. A steerable drive system moves the robot over the encoded surface in response to movement instructions received from the computer system and a marking device selectively marks the encoded surface in response to marking instructions received from the computer system.

Abstract: A method (1600) and apparatus (220) for encoding a sequence of images for transmission over a communication network is disclosed. Initially (1602) an object-based first image is rendered from a computer graphics application (240). The rendered first image is then (1604) encoded (226) according to a predetermined encoding scheme and transmitted (1606) for remote display (116). A test (1608) is then performed to determine if any more images are to be rendered. If so, the next (further) image is rendered (1612) from the computer graphics application (240). Changes between the first image and the further image are then determined (1614) from a change indicating output (244,246) of the computer graphics application (240). The identified changes are then used (1616) to determine a manner in which the further image is to be encoded according to the predetermined format. The further image is then encoded (1618) based upon the changes. and transmitted (1620) for remote display.

Abstract: A robot for marking an interface surface is provided. The interface surface has coded data identifying a plurality of locations on the interface surface printed thereon. The robot comprises: an image sensor for sensing at least some of the coded data; a processor for generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data comprising data regarding a position of the robot on the interface surface; communication means for transmitting the indicating data to a computer system and receiving instructions from the computer system; a steerable drive system for moving the robot over the interface surface in response to movement instructions received from the computer system; and a marking device for selectively marking the interface surface in response to marking instructions received from the computer system.