Abstract: A plug-in coupling connects two fluid conduits, one of which has a retaining rib. The plug-in coupling includes a sleeve having radial openings. The coupling also includes an arresting device displaceable within the sleeve. The arresting device has retaining arms. A free end of each arm is hook-shaped for engaging behind the retaining rib. Each of the free ends has an outer inclined face. When the sleeve and arresting device move apart, the inclined face presses against a front edge of the opening that receives the hook. When the arresting device and fluid conduit are pulled apart, an inner inclined face of the hook presses against the retaining rib. In an unlocking position, the outer inclined faces of the hooks are sufficiently spaced from the front edge of the respective opening so that the retaining arms may spread radially apart to permit decoupling. The arresting device also has resilient unlocking arms. An outer part of each one of the unlocking arms projects through one of the openings.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tube coupling device comprising a cylindrical cartridge having a throughway containing a tube locking device for locking a tube inserted into the throughway at one end of the cartridge. The outer side of the cartridge has an encircling rebate at said one end in which a grab ring of V-shaped cross-section is mounted with the V diverging towards said one end. One outer limb of the V projects outwardly of the outer cylindrical surface of the cartridge in its relaxed condition to grip and lock the cartridge in a bore in a further component.

Abstract: A threaded joint with trapezoidal threads for oil well pipes superior in sealing performance: having a load flank angle &thgr;1 of each thread satisfying desired conditions; having a shape of the thread such that opposite flanks of the trapezoidal thread come into contact with flanks of a corresponding thread simultaneously when the joint is so fastened as to give a threaded portion of the joint an interference &Dgr;d of not smaller than 0.12% and not larger than 0.8% of the outer diameter of a pipe to be jointed; having a gap formed between a crest and a bottom of this trapezoidal thread and set to be not larger than 0.2 mm; and having dimensional tolerances of thread width and thread height of the threads satisfying desired conditions.

Abstract: A threaded pipe connection is disclosed that includes a box member and a pin member. The box member has two wedge thread steps each with a tapered, internal, generally dovetail-shaped wedge thread having stab flanks, load flanks, roots, and crests. The pin member has two wedge thread steps each with a tapered, external, generally dovetail-shaped wedge thread having stab flanks, load flanks, roots, and crests. The internal thread of the box member increases in width in one direction. The external thread of the pin member increases in width in the other direction so that complementary flanks of the box member thread move into engagement during rotational make-up of the connection. The roots and crests of at least one wedge thread step on the box member are dimensioned to contact complementary roots and crests on the pin member upon final make-up.

Abstract: A tube coupling according to the present invention comprises a coupling body, a separation prevention ring which is disposed in the coupling body to bite into the outer wall of a tube body fitted into the coupling body so to prevent the tube body from coming out, and a release ring which is disposed in the coupling body so to be movable in an axial direction within a predetermined range and releases the separation prevention ring from the tube body by pushing the separation prevention ring, wherein the separation prevention ring comprises a ring portion which contacts a back ring disposed in the coupling body; pushing portions which are radially formed in a large number within the ring portion, has a circular shape, have grooves which extends from the outside of the ring portion to the inside, and are pushed by an inside end of the release ring; and projections which are respectively formed at the tips of the pushing portions and pulled out of the outer wall of the tube body when they are pushed by the inside

Abstract: A fastening assembly includes a bolt; a support for the bolt, the bolt being movable relative to the support between an extended position and a retracted position; and a keeper with which the bolt is engageable when in its extended position. The keeper comprises a keeper element and the bolt affords a formation able to receive and retain the keeper element. The bolt comprises portions movable relative to one another to permit the keeper element to enter the formation as the bolt is moved from its retracted to its extended position. Relative movement between the bolt portions is prevented when the bolt is in its extended position, whereby the keeper element is held retained in the formation.

Abstract: A mortise latch and exit device includes active and passive mortise latch mechanisms with corresponding concealed vertical rods operated by links mounted within the mortise latch mechanisms. The mortise latch mechanisms latch double doors at a center point between the doors and at top points between each door and the door frame. Lower vertical rods may also be used to latch at bottom points between the doors and the floor. The active and passive mortise latch mechanisms are operated by corresponding push handle mechanisms and rotary handles. The mortise latch mechanisms cooperatively interact so that either door may be opened first, and either door may be closed first, without regard to the position of the other door. The active mortise latch mechanism includes a latch bolt and an activation bolt arranged so that one bolt is retracted when the other is extended, except when the doors are being opened or closed, when both bolts are retracted.

Abstract: A bi-directional handle and latch assembly mountable to a door or other closure. The latch assembly may be operated by either of a first handle or a second handle. The first handle may operate a latch bolt in the latch assembly by rotating the handle in either the clockwise or the counter-clockwise direction, and operate the latch bolt irrespective of whether or not the second handle is locked. The invention employs a simple construction for ease of manufacture, repair, and replacement of the first handle with other handles with different aesthetic or functional outer designs or configurations.

Abstract: A tamper resistant seal comprises a series of ratchet teeth (12) arranged along a strap (14), with one end of the strap (14) being secured to a body (16) and the other end of the strap (14) being insertable into the body (16) so as to move the ratchet teeth (12) sequentially past a resiliently deformable catch (18), wherein the resiliently deformable catch (18) includes a pair of opposed jaws (44) which are movable laterally primarily with a vise-like or spelling action rather than a collet-like or flexing action.

Abstract: An actuator is used for operating a variety of latching mechanisms. In one embodiment, the latching mechanism includes a rotatable connecting member comprised of a single piece or of separate pieces attached together and the actuator includes a handle assembly operable through pivotal movements of a handle. In operation, the actuator is mountable in a panel or similar member so that the pivoting motion of the handle occurs along a longitudinal axis of the connecting member.

Abstract: bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a bumper mounted in such a way that it can be moved between a rest position and an operating position. A spring acts on the bumper and is prestressed in the rest position. A locking device holds the bumper in the rest and/or operating position. A control unit actuates the locking device as a function of signals from an accident detection sensor system. When the locking device is unlocked, the spring moves the bumper abruptly into the operating position in which the bumper absorbs impact loads resulting from relative velocities up to a predetermined limit in a substantially elastic manner.

Abstract: A bumper construction for a vehicle includes a swept tubular bumper beam having a pair of spaced-apart brackets and a pair of towers configured to attach to the brackets and support the bumper beam on a vehicle. The towers each include a platform configured for attachment to one of the brackets, and further include an elongated portion configured for connection to the vehicle. A swivel connection connects the tower to the bumper beam. The connection includes a protruding section on one of the bracket and the tower, and a socket receiving the protruding section on the other of the bracket and the tower. The protruding section and the socket are configured to draw the tower toward an impacting force during a catastrophic impact, such that the tower is more likely to crush with a high-energy absorbing, accordion-like collapse (as opposed to a low-energy absorbing parallelogram-like collapse).

Abstract: A suspension system for attaching a load-bearing member to a lifting mechanism of a hoisting apparatus for a person, in particular a handicapped person in sitting or recumbent disposition, includes a framework having at least three tow lines secured to the lifting mechanism and extending downwardly for attachment to the load-bearing member at points of securement positioned in front and behind a viewing direction of a person carried by the load-bearing member, thereby defining front and rear tow lines, wherein the front and rear tow lines are movable in opposition to one another in vertical direction.

Abstract: A novel technique and apparatus for receiving, holding and/or transporting thin planar workpieces and the like that involves radially supporting circumferentially spaced thin and flexible annular ring sectors about a fixed planar central circular disc upon which the workpiece is to be received, and by limitedly rotationally bending the ring sectors about the disc, causing circumferential leaf springs bridging the successive ring sectors and carrying workpiece holding fingers to deform and thereby expand (or retract) the radial position of the fingers to accommodate the edges of the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention is a removable storage trunk for trucks of the type with a rear bed including a floor, right and left side walls, right and left upstanding door stops extending inward from the right and left side walls, respectively, and a rear gate door movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable storage trunk includes a right, left, top, bottom, and forward wall connected together to partially define a storage compartment therein accessible through an opening defined by a rear perimeter surface. The trunk further includes right and left side flanges extending outward from respective right and left portions of the rear perimeter surface and into a gap defined between rearward surfaces of the right and left door stops and a forward surface of the rear gate door when the trunk is installed in the truck and the rear gate door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A skip car liner comprises a resilient elastomeric barrier which includes a backing ply adapted to hang within a skip car receptacle adjacent an inner surface of a wall of the receptacle. A plurality of parallel vertically spaced apart ribs integrally formed on the barrier project downwardly and inwardly from the inner surface of the backing ply and extend along the entire length of the ply. The ribs terminate at free ends disposed within a common plane parallel to and spaced from the inner surface of the backing ply. A horizontally spaced apart series of slits formed in each rib extend from the backing ply through the rib to and through its free end. The slits divide each rib into a plurality of discrete rib sections, each rib section being supported on the backing ply for independent deflection relative to the backing ply.

Abstract: A liner for a high-wear portion of a work machine body, such as a dump truck body, is formed by separating a unitary plate of wear material, such as steel, into separate plate sections. The plate sections are formed such that confronting plate sections have portions that interfit with each other. Gaps or voids are left between the interfitting portions to define openings the liner from the top surface to the bottom surface thereof. The openings cause material ejected across the liner to tumble rather than slide, thereby reducing abrasive wear. By separating the plate and forming the liner in this manner, no scrap material is created, which reduces cost compared to known design. In addition, liners having a variety of different dimensions can be created from the same plate sections by varying the relative spacing between adjacent plate sections.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate comprises an upper section (18) and a lower section (24) which are joined by hinges (26). The hinges (26) include securing parts which lock behind latch pins (58) on the vehicle body, but are released from them when the lower section (24) is raised to an open position. This enables the two sections (18, 24) to be raised together.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for providing a single module which has a plurality of integrally-molded features and components which are mounted on a door of a vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the module is used to provide a support capable of supporting a plurality of tailgate components, such as a windshield wiper motor, electric door latches and illumination system for illuminating a license plate, stop light and even a cargo area of the vehicle. The system and method provide a module platform having at least one integrally-molded handle which permits an operator to pick up the module with its various components integrally-molded in or mounted thereon and situate the module directly onto the door, thereby substantially reducing the number of assembly steps and assembly time required in the past.

Abstract: A vehicle seat that articulates and dumps is provided. The vehicle seat includes an articulation link connected to a bottom frame and a seat frame. The seat frame is also connected to a seatback frame. The seatback frame is connected to a bottom frame. The articulation link allows the seat frame to rotate down to the bottom frame while the seatback frame articulates forward and downwardly toward the seat frame. The vehicle seat can be dumped forwardly and upwardly around a dumping pivot. A dumping mechanism releases the bottom frame from the vehicle deck so that the bottom frame can rotate forwardly and upwardly. The bottom frame rotates about the dumping pivot which is attached to a dumping frame. The dumping frame is shaped so that it provides clearance for the headrest and the seat cushion end of the seat frame when the vehicle is substantially dumped in a vertical position relative to a vehicle floor pan.

Abstract: In a vehicle of the type having a doorway opening at least on the driver's side and including a removable door hinged to the vehicle by means of a pintle provided on the door and a hinge plate mounted to the vehicle, a footrest is provided. The footrest includes an elongated surface for supporting a driver's foot and has at least two angularly related abutment surfaces. The first abutment surface is adapted to engage the hinge plate with the other surface being adapted to engage the doorjamb of the vehicle. A fastener is received in the hinge plate of the vehicle for securing the footrest thereto.

Abstract: A slide assembly for a sliding visor includes a sleeve which is concentrically positioned around a visor pivot rod and a polymeric slide extruded in situ with between the sleeve and pivot rod and extending along at least a portion of the sleeve to provide a sliding lubricous polymeric interface between the pivot rod and sleeve. The sleeve, in turn, is mounted to the visor body with a torque control allowing controlled rotation of the visor with respect to the pivot rod. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is keyed to prevent rotation of the slide and pivot rod with respect to the sleeve, and the visor body includes stops for limiting the motion of the visor body and sleeve with respect to the fixed pivot rod mounted to the vehicle.

Abstract: A sliding door system for maintaining electrical communication between a sliding door and a vehicle body.

Abstract: A windbreak arrangement for a cabriolet includes a windbreak arch of bipartite construction in the transverse direction of the vehicle consisting of a first, driver-side windbreak arch member and a second, passenger-side windbreak arch member. The driver-side windbreak arch member is mounted on the driver's seat and the passenger-side windbreak arch member is similarly mounted on the passenger seat. Additionally, each windbreak arch has a curtain cassette with a curtain capable of being extended horizontally as a windbreak curtain over the region behind the corresponding front seat, providing a good variable windbreak function with easy access to rear seats.

Abstract: The vehicle mounted cargo van has a floor, rigid side walls, a rigid front wall, a roof and a rear wall. The rear wall is a door assembly that opens substantially the entire rear of the van. An elongated cargo opening is provided in one of the rigid side walls. The cargo opening extends upwardly from the floor about one meter. The horizontal length of the elongated cargo opening is longer than the length of the longest elongated cargo that is to be transported in the cargo van. An elongated cargo door assembly is pivotally attached to the cargo van for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis that is slightly below the elongated cargo opening. A latch assembly secures the elongated door assembly in a closed position. When the latch assembly is released, the elongated cargo door assembly pivots about 180° to an open position.

Abstract: For a truck trailer bed or a truck cargo enclosure including one or more compartmented, hollow floor sections, a reinforcement system is provided. The system makes use of strip-like metal inserts which are introduced into selected compartments of the flooring sections that lie beneath a relatively compact, heavy object such as a coil of flat-rolled steel or like cargo. The inserts preferably will be fabricated from the same metallic substance as the flooring sections and will be of a transverse cross section that is identical to the compartments provided in the flooring sections. Having such a cross section, the inserts will fill the selected flooring section compartments and increase the rigidity and resistance of the compartments to damage caused by the concentrated object loading thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for actuating a lifting and sliding roof with a cover (13) which is joined to a cover rocker arm (4) which has at least one guideway (6A; 6B) and into which a raising mechanism for lifting the rear edge (13B) of the cover fits, and which can be displaced by means of a rack/pinion connection to the rear over the fixed roof (14) of a motor vehicle. For stabile, rattle-free guidance of the cover (13), the raising mechanism is provided with a raising lever (3), one end of which is supported with a pivot axle (2) to pivot on a roof-mounted part (1) and on its other end there are two guide elements (3A, 3B) which are at different distances from the pivot axle (2) and which each fit into a guideway (6A, 6B) of the cover rocker arm (4), the guideways being of different slopes.

Abstract: An improved sunroof assembly is provided. The sunroof assembly includes a sunroof portion and an air dam portion. The sunroof portion includes a sunroof panel which is positionable between an open and a closed position. The air dam portion includes an air dam structure, a drive assembly and a wind noise determining portion. The air dam structure is pivotally coupled to the sunroof portion and is positionable between a retracted position and an extended position. The drive assembly is coupled to the sunroof portion and the air dam structure and operable for positioning the air dam structure between the retracted position and the extended position. The wind noise determining system determines the amount and characteristics of the noise transmitted into the vehicle passenger compartment through sunroof assembly and generates a signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A convertible hassock has a base whose walls enclose a storage area, a flat lid which covers the storage area, and at least one seat which is hinged to one of the walls. The seat can be pivoted from an outboard position resting on top of the lid, to an outboard position substantially coplanar with the lid. The seat is supported, in its open position, either by a cantilever construction or by a prop which engages the floor. The seat has a cushioned side and a flat panel side. The cushion is uppermost when the seat is folded inward, to provide a hassock function, and the panel side is uppermost when the seat is folded outward, providing an extended table surface. While the seats are folded outward, the lid can be raised to permit access to the storage area beneath.

Abstract: The present device is an adjustable seat assembly for bicycles and the like. The adjustable seat assembly has a continuous manually operated tilt adjustment which allows the rider to adjust the inclination of the seat while riding the cycle. The seat assembly also includes an independent fore and aft adjustment for the seat, allowing the rider dual control of the seat position. Ease of operation is obtained through a highly accessible handwheel and control lever.

Abstract: The present invention is an infant rocking chair, which can be adapted for young children and provide either the rocking or swing motion. The present invention comprises a collapsible device that can cause the state of infant rocking chair to be converted into either a folded state or an unfolded one, by which the user can convert the infant rocking chair into the collapsible state when the infant rocking chair is not used and reduce the space occupied by the same for a convenient storage. Moreover, the infant rocking chair according to the present invention further comprises a support leg for converting the state of the rocking chair into a swing position or a fixed position.

Abstract: A chair is formed to permit stacking when not in use and includes a pair of inverted substantially U-shaped leos joined together by a seat cushion and a back cushion supporting frame member. A leg reinforcement bar ties the U-shaped legs together and has an intermediate upwardly formed portion which engages the seat cushion along a line of contact to support the rear of the seat cushion.

Abstract: A seat hinge for a vehicle that is structurally simple, easy to manufacture, and that simplifies mounting on the vehicle. The seat hinge includes a pair of male brackets attached to a seat back, a female bracket that can be affixed to a car body, and a support pin about which the aforementioned pair of male brackets can tilt. Control of the rotation of one of the male brackets around the aforementioned pin is achieved by a bead protruding from the support portion of the male bracket and abutting against an angular member forming an apex of the support portion of the female bracket.

Abstract: A chair tilt control mechanism includes an actuator handle for locking and unlocking the tilt control mechanism. The actuator handle is a self-contained assembly which is readily mountable to the chair, and includes a hollow housing and a rotatable shaft which is rotatably supported on the housing. The housing includes a V-shaped camming surface and the shaft includes a radial projection which slides axially and circumferentially along the camming surface to positively define locked and unlocked position for actuator handle. The radial projection also defines a stop which allows assembly of the housing and shaft together without fasteners while preventing disassembly when engaged with the camming surface.

Abstract: A shoulder strap repositioner, which may also be referred to as an “adjuster,” for repositioning or deflecting away from the face of a child the diagonally-extending shoulder strap component of a vehicle seat belt assembly of the type having a lap belt and a diagonally-extending shoulder strap. In an exemplary embodiment, the repositioner includes a body positionable against the torso of a seated person. The body in turn includes a center section having opposed front and rear surfaces, and left and right side wings likewise having opposed front and rear surfaces. Each of the side wings is joined to the center section at the top and bottom, so that inner edges of the side wings and side edges of the center section cooperate to define a pair of laterally spaced generally vertically-extending slots in the body, the slots having closed peripheries. During use, the lap belt and shoulder strap pass through the slots.

Abstract: A method and a device which are used for forming and/or adapting a driving signal of an arrangement for delivering a pressurized medium in a braking system. The driving signal, in particular, of a pump of a braking system, is a function of at least one driving signal and/or the formation of the driving signal of a shut-off device, in particular, of at least one valve, for the inlet and/or outlet and/or passage of the pressurized medium. A delivery rate of the pump is adapted in a manner compatible with the situation, including the valve position resulting from the driving signal and/or its formation and/or the prevailing pressure ratios.

Abstract: A switching cabinet having a rack with an upper and lower frame and vertical and horizontal struts which are disposed horizontally. The upper and lower frame have corner cavities, to which vertical frame profiles can be connected. The vertical frame profiles have profiled segments which are turned towards an inside of the rack. Access to the inside of the rack is improved when the vertical frame profiles may be mounted or dismounted afterwards which can be done with few components and involves little effort during mounting by including vertical profiles on at least one side of the rack, whose ends and profiled segments can be inserted into the corner cavity from the outer side of the rack, and by placing and fixing the profiled segments onto the connector of a corner cavity.

Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet includes a shell within which is defined at least one food compartment. For enhancing the access to the food storage compartment, the shell is provided with an open frontal zone which includes a frontal facing portion and a sideward facing portion. A door is hingedly connected adjacent one side of the cabinet, extends across the front of the cabinet and wraps around to an opposing side of the cabinet. In this fashion, a section of the door actually defines an extension of one side of the refrigerator cabinet such that, when the door is opened, enhanced access to within the refrigerator is provided.

Abstract: An automatic labeler system for demarcating objects is disclosed. The system includes a device, such as for dispersing an optically responsive material onto the surface of each object. The material changes color in response to focused energy. The focused energy is provided by a device for optically demarcating the material by controllably directing focused energy, such as a laser, onto the optically responsive material. The system also includes a scanning device for scanning the surfaces of the objects with energy to determine the topology of the surfaces. The automatic labeler system is particularly useful in labeling stacked materials, such as individual boards in bundled lumber.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer in which liquid ink is deposited on a recording medium in swaths in response to image data received thereby including a power supply, having a maximum power rating determined as a function of a number of passes per swath necessary to compete a swath having maximum ink coverage. The printer includes a print power regulation circuit, including a regulation circuit input, for receiving the image data, and a regulation circuit output, for transmitting image data in a number of passes per swath, the number of passes per swath being determined as a function of the maximum power rating, and a liquid ink printhead, coupled to the power supply and to the print power regulation circuit, for ejecting the liquid ink according to the transmitted image data.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer having pressure generate means for pressurizing ink inside the printer nozzles, either a first electric pulse of an amplitude enabling ink drop ejecting, or a second electric pulse of an amplitude lower than the amplitude of the first electric pulse for mobilizing ink inside a nozzle, is applied to each pressure generator synchronized to a reference signal of a single frequency. An ink drop is not ejected when a low amplitude second pulse is applied to a pressure generating means. Applying said second electric pulse instead stimulates ink around the nozzle so that high viscosity ink at the nozzle tip mixes with low viscosity ink deeper inside the nozzle, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of ink in the nozzle so that ink drop ejecting is easier.

Abstract: A predetermined pattern is printed on a recording sheet 9 for monitoring by using a recording head, and read by a reading device 11 so that abnormal recording elements are detected. Thus, a non-defective image is obtained in such a way that based on this detection result, image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is moved to image data of other recording elements to complement the recording. Despite the occurrence of abnormal recording elements, a desired non-defective image can be obtained.

Abstract: An inkjet printing head is provided with an ink chamber forming member constructed of a ceiling plate and a glass thin plate which are made from identical photosensitive glass material. A plurality of groove-shaped recess are formed in parallel and at a regular pitch on one surface of the ceiling plate. The glass thin plate is integrally connected by heat treatment to a recess portion formation surface of the ceiling plate. With this arrangement, the inside of each of the recess covered with the glass thin plate serves as an ink chamber. In a manufacturing method of the ink chamber forming member, a photosensitive glass is coated to predetermined thickness on a support body. Subsequently, the photosensitive glass is subjected to pattern exposure via a mask plate.

Abstract: An inkjet printer service carriage mounted for movement in a printhead servicing direction between a first position in which the carriage is remote from the printhead cartridges to be serviced and a second position in which the service carriage abuts the printhead carriage to service the printheads includes two independent motorized actuators, the first of which linearly moves the carriage in a horizontal x-axis direction and the second of which arcuately moves the carriage in a vertical z-axis plane perpendicular to the x-axis direction.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink consumption operating unit that adds a quantity of ink to be discharged by suction processing as a quantity of ink consumed before performing the suction processing. The ink jet recording apparatus includes also a suction control unit that performs the suction processing after such addition. A remaining ink level is calculated by estimating a quantity of ink to be used in a large volume for sucking as a quantity of ink consumed, and, even if a power supply switch is turned off before the sucking operation is terminated, the calculated remaining ink level as a quantity of ink consumed is added to a consumption storage unit 33. As a result, a possible erroneous overestimation of the remaining ink level in an ink cartridge can be avoided.

Abstract: When an image is to be printed by the so-called multi-scanning method where image data corresponding to one band width is printed by a printhead scanning for a plurality of times, masking is performed on the image data in each of the scanning operation, and an image is printed on the basis of the masked image data. In such manner, pixels printed in each scanning form an image corresponding to one-scanning data (one band width of the data). At the time of printing by multi-scanning, a preliminary pulse is added prior to a driving pulse which drives the printhead so that the density of the image printed by multi-scanning is not decreased. In addition to changing such driving condition of the printhead, the density of the image data outputted to the printhead may be changed.

Abstract: A high speed printer comprising: an ink cartridge having nozzles with a narrower distance than a width of a printing area; a carriage capable of loading said ink cartridge; and a carriage controller controlling the reciprocation of said carriage, whereby the carriage is reciprocated as much as distance between the nozzles so that printing is carried out.

Abstract: A color printer (10) for printing a color images comprising a vacuum imaging drum (300) for supporting a first receiver and a dye donor material (26) in registration with the first receiver. A motor rotates the vacuum imaging drum (300). An optical printhead directs energy on the dye donor material (26), which transfers colorant from the dye donor material (26) to the first receiver forming color images as the optical printhead is transported parallel to a surface of the vacuum imaging drum (300). After the dye donor material (26) and the first receiver have been removed from the vacuum imaging drum (300), an inkjet printhead (602) applies ink to a second receiver mounted on the vacuum imaging drum (300) as the inkjet printhead (602) is transported parallel to the surface of the vacuum imaging drum (300).

Abstract: The contact pads of a print cartridge are formed on a flexible tape. Each of the uniformly spaced contact pads is preferably a square separated from an adjacent square by a minimum distance to provide each contact pad with a maximum area. Conductive traces run along the flexible tape and between the contact pads to allow for a minimum separation between contact pads, thus allowing the contact pads to be made relatively large. This improves the reliability of the interconnection between the pads and the printer electrodes.

Abstract: A method for printing an image on a substrate by image-wise depositing, toner particles on the substrate, is disclosed, comprising: image-wise depositing dry toner particles on the substrate forming a first band-like portion of the image, conditioning the first band-like portion while keeping the substrate at a temperature equal to or lower than 100° C. and further image-wise depositing toner particles on the substrate so as to form at least one other band-like portion of such image, the at least one other band-like portion of the image being adjacent to the first band-like portion. Preferably the method is used for printing substrates with an area equal to or larger than 0.25 m2.