Abstract: A wheel, particularly a light metal wheel, for motor vehicles, essentially consists of a spoke wheel center (20) and a wheel rim (10). In order to reduce weight and to increase the bending strength, which is of great significance in regard to contacts with curbstones and driving through potholes, profile segments (31) in the form of half-shell units, which from a continuous hollow chamber (41) in the direction of circumference, at least in sections, are provided in the area of an external base of the rim (14).

Abstract: A wheel end assembly is provided that allows venting of pressurized air from a chamber defined by the hubcap, but prevents entry of contaminants into the chamber. The wheel end assembly includes a hubcap that is configured to be coupled to a wheel and defines a chamber for retaining lubricant for wheel bearings for the wheel. One wall of the hubcap has an aperture in fluid communication with the chamber and a plug is disposed within the aperture. The plug defines a valve for releasing pressurized air from the chamber. The assembly finally includes a cap that is supported on the body of the plug and extends in an outboard direction. The cap is disposed over an outlet of the valve and defines a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with both the outlet of the valve and ambient air. The cap and plug can be inserted into and removed from the aperture as a unit.

Abstract: A wheel hub having a central tubular portion and at least one end cap which is formed integrally with the central portion and has thickness greater than the central tubular portion. The hub is a monolith fiber-reinforced plastic structure wherein the central portion and the side cap form a continuous surface.

Abstract: A rotary pump such as a trochoid pump is composed of a housing and a rotating structure including an inner rotor and an outer rotor. The rotating structure is rotatably enclosed in a rotor space formed in the housing. The rotor space is divided into a low pressure space communicating with an inlet port and a high pressure space communicating with an outlet port by a pair of peripheral seals disposed in radial grooves formed in an inner periphery of the housing and by a side seal disposed in an axial space between the rotating structure and the housing. The side seal is disposed in the axial space not to cover sidewalls of the radial grooves belonging to the high pressure space, so that the side seal is bent by the pressure in the high pressure space to effectively seal the axial space.

Abstract: A wheelslip is calculated from wheel speed, recorded by speed sensors (6), by a controller (8). A pre-set value for the wheelslip is regulated by means of a proportional controller. Parallel thereto, a set brake pressure for the wheel brakes (3) is fixed, which is determined by the controller (8), by means of the instantaneous wheel torque (Mmomentan) transferred to the ground by the particular wheel (2).

Abstract: A method and a device as well as a control unit for controlling at least one aggregate in a vehicle, the noise caused by the aggregate and/or at least one variable representing this noise being ascertained. In this connection, the passenger compartment noises in the vehicle are ascertained, or at least one variable representing these is ascertained. The noise caused by the aggregate and/or the variable representing this is correlated with the passenger compartment noises and/or the variable representing these. Finally, as a function of that, the control or a control signal for the aggregate is generated and/or adapted.

Abstract: A master link for a track chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body portion having first and second spaced apart apertures extending therethough. A gap extends radially outward from one of the first and second apertures. At least one fastener operatively engages an aperture that extends through the gap. As the fastener is secured the width of the gap is reduced thereby reducing the diameter of one of the first and second apertures providing a clamping force.

Abstract: A storage system made of cardboard comprising a load bearing structure defining a rectangular storage space and storage elements in the structure, wherein the load bearing structure is a mantle having a U-shaped profile and vertical boundary plates, the mantle (1) comprises a rear plate (2), a pair of side plates (3, 4) and reinforcement beams (5, 6) constituting extension of the side plates and defines at both sides together with the rear plate (2) and side plates (3, 4) respective U-shaped vertical channels open towards inner direction; further comprises upper and lower cross reinforcement members (11a, 11b) fixed to the mantle (1) and close the channels. The channels receive spacing members and the storage elements being generally shelves.

Abstract: A mobile display case for housing and supporting a display. The display case includes a stand mounted to the interior of the case for a flat panel video or other display. The display stand can be raised to a deployed position or lowered to a stowed position within the case.

Abstract: A thermal barrier for a cabinet having a door storage area comprising a curtain having vertical slits dividing the curtain into flaps; an attachment device for securing the curtain within the cabinet; and a displacement apparatus for displacing at least one of the flaps from contact with adjacent flaps when the cabinet is closed allowing air within the cabinet to circulate to the door storage area.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus which can prevent problems such as image defects caused by shortage of ink, and decreases in the printing speed from occurring. When execution of a print job is instructed, a printing processing for the print job is started. The number of pixels which have been actually printed is added to a current pixel count C1, and it is determined whether or not the print job is finished. When it is determined that the print job is finished and the pixel count C1 exceeds a predetermined number of pixels X1, an ink supply unit is controlled so that ink of a predetermined proportion A (%) of the amount of ink used, which amount corresponds to the pixel count C1, is supplied to a sub-ink tank.

Abstract: This invention provides a printing apparatus which has an ink ejection head capable of forming an image at high resolution and still can reliably identify a location where an ink ejection error has occurred without using an expensive image reading device. This printing apparatus has a distance adjusting device to change a distance between the ink ejection head and the print medium, and a controller to set a plurality of different distances by controlling the distance adjusting device. The controller controls the distance adjusting device to selectively set either a first distance that produces a normal printed image having within a predetermined range a landing error on the print medium of ink droplets ejected from the print head or a second distance that produces a landing error greater than the predetermined range.

Abstract: An ink jet image producing device for reproducing digital image data of photographic images is disclosed with at least one printing head (32) which has more than three base colors or ink jet colors available which stretch a color space. A processing device determines the location or color coordinates of color values of the image data in the image space which is stretched by the colors of the printing head. A determining device determines with which base or ink jet printing colors or mixtures or with which densities thereof the color values of the image data can be reproduced. A threshold device (20) is provided which has at least one threshold for a degree of coverage or the like of at least one printing medium.

Abstract: In the first embodiment, gradation reproduction with a same ink is performed by (i) setting as a unit of gradation reproduction a group of N contiguous pixels (where N is an integer of at least 2) arranged in the main scan direction or the sub scan direction; (ii) setting the volume of ink ejectable onto at least one pixel location of the N pixels to a value different from the volume of ink ejectable onto other pixel locations; and (iii) controlling the volume of ink at each pixel location of the N pixels to reproduce M gradation levels (where M is an integer of at least N+2) for each group of the N pixels. In the second embodiment, low-resolution image data are generated based on high-resolution image data when the print control device outputs printing data to the printing device, assuming that each group of high-resolution pixels adjacent to each other constitute one low-resolution pixel. The low-resolution image data are used to eject ink drops onto each high-resolution pixel.

Abstract: An ink-jet image-forming method having the steps of: setting image areas, each having a predetermined range, in association with respective dots, and calculating a black dot area rate representing the density of dots formed in each image area. In the case when, among these dots, a group of high-density dots corresponding to image areas in which the black dot area rate is greater than a predetermined value are printed, slow-drying ink and quick-drying ink are used. In the case when dots having a black dot area rate smaller than the predetermined value are printed, the slow-drying ink is used. Thus, it is possible to shorten the ink drying time, and also to prevent degradation in the image quality.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage for mounting a recording head for effecting recording by discharging recording ink and for moving the recording head, and a recovery unit for effecting a recovery operation with respect to the recording head. The recording apparatus is forwarded from a manufacturing factory in a condition that the recording head filled with transporting ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage, and further wherein an on-arrival recovery mode executed by the recovery unit upon first usage of the recording apparatus by the user differs from a normal recovery mode executed by the recovery unit after the first usage.

Abstract: A vacuum platen assembly for a fluid-ejection device of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed includes a platen that has a number of vacuum holes. Each of at least one of the vacuum holes has sidewalls with anti-clog profiles at least substantially prevent collection of media debris and aerosol on the sidewalls.

Abstract: Opposing piezoelectric elements bordering a boundary between neighboring nozzle groups have point symmetry. Hence, even if a gap is opened up between actuator units due to necessity in assembly, rows of the nozzles are not offset. Accordingly, even a series of nozzle groups are combined in a conveyance direction of a recording medium, width of an inkjet recording head is not increased. Further, because the rows of nozzles are not offset, there is no requirement to offset discharge timings for each actuator unit, and output of image data does not become complex. Thus, lengthening can basically be implemented with two piezoelectric plates. Consequently, production yields can be improved.

Abstract: The invention makes uniform, in a plane, optical properties of optical members, such as the distribution properties of light transmission of a color filter, the color display properties of a liquid crystal device, and the light emission properties of an EL luminescent plane. During main scanning of color filter formation areas of a board in the X direction with an ink jet head having a nozzle row formed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a row, a filter material is selectively discharged from the plurality of the nozzles to each of filer element areas arranged in a dot matrix to form filter elements, producing a color filter.

Abstract: A printer is disclosed that includes one or more first print bars each having a first printhead carriage, one or more first printhead service stations for servicing each of the first printhead carriages, one or more second print bars each having a second printhead carriage, and one or more second printhead service stations for servicing each of said second printhead carriages. The printer also includes first circuitry for controlling the one or more first print bars and the one or more second print bars such that while the one or more first printhead carriages are being serviced the one or more second print bars are in operation. The printer further includes a second circuitry for recognizing the number of first and second print bars present in the printer and for formatting print jobs to utilize the recognized number of first and second print bars. A second printer having multiple print bars, where each print bar has an array of printheads arranged in a pagewide configuration is also disclosed.

Abstract: A recording head provided with a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers, each communicated with one nozzle, and a plurality of pressure generating elements, each associated with one pressure chamber and actuated to eject ink from one associated nozzle. An ejection controller specifies a nozzle from which an ink droplet having the least weight is ejected as a reference nozzle. A driving signal generator generates a driving signal applied to the respective pressure generating elements. The drive signal has a driving voltage determined such that an ink droplet ejected from the reference nozzle has a predetermined flight velocity or more.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording head has nozzles capable of independent ejection and being arranged in high density, in which strength is high, fabricating yield is high, a cost is reduced, ejection efficiency is high, and ejection repeating frequency is high. In this ink-jet recording head, there are two-dimensionally arranged units, in each of which an ink pressure chamber, a partition wall serving as a driving portion, a pressure buffer chamber and a fixed wall are arranged in the same direction.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes: actuators each including a scanning electrode, a piezoelectric element and a recording electrode and arranged in a matrix pattern of n rows by m columns (where n and m are natural numbers equal to or greater than two) in terms of electrical circuit; and a driving circuit for supplying a scanning signal to the scanning electrodes for each column, while supplying a recording signal to each row of the recording electrodes in synchronization with the scanning signal. The actuators are geometrically arranged in n rows by m columns. A relay terminal, extending in a vertical direction, is provided in at least one inter-column space between vertical columns of the actuators for relaying signals from the driving circuit to the recording electrodes and the scanning electrodes. The recording electrodes and the scanning electrodes are connected to the relay terminal via lead wires extending in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric ceramic ink-jet print head and made by an inventive ultrasonic bonding process. Specifically, there are disclosed several improved features of ink jet print heads, including a more cost-effective bonding process using an ultrasonic bonding technique, an improved piezoelectric ceramic crystal pattern, and improved print head-piezoelectric electrical contacts. Further, there is disclosed an ultrasonic bonding process joining metallic objects with ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: An inkjet head provided with a plurality of pressure chambers includes an actuator unit for the plurality of pressure chambers. The actuator unit includes a plurality of inactive layers and at least one active layer, both made of piezoelectric material. The plurality of inactive layers are arranged on a pressure chamber side to cover the plurality of pressure chambers. The at least one active layer is arranged on an opposite side of the pressure chambers with respect to the inactive layers. The active layer is segmented to a plurality of segments which are located at positions correspond to the plurality of pressure chambers. Further, each segment of the active layer is sandwiched between a common electrode and a driving electrode.

Abstract: In a supply system which includes an ink container for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and which is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the container from an ink tank, there is provided a structure that fundamentally eliminates waste of ink associated with an operation of charging the container to apply a required negative pressure to the head. An ink containing body in which a negative pressure can be generated because of its elasticity is provided in the container. After the ink containing body is expanded to introduce ink into the same by depressurizing the interior of the container, the interior of the container is pressurized to contract the ink containing body, thereby returning a predetermined amount of ink to the tank. A negative pressure is thus generated in equilibrium with an ink meniscus holding ability of the head.

Abstract: An ink supply assembly for supplying ink to an elongate printhead includes an ink reservoir that defines a number of channels, each channel being configured to contain an ink of a particular color and has a number of sets of filling formations and ink supply devices. Each device includes a molding of a settable material, the molding being a two-shot molding having a first part of a first material and a second part of a second material. The first part includes a plurality of collars of a hydrophobic, elastomeric compound which are configured to be sealingly and releasably engageable with respective ink filling formations of each set of the filling formations. The second part defines a number of ink chambers, each ink chamber being configured to contain ink of a particular color and being in fluid communication with a respective ink channel of one ink reservoir via one collar.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical valve assembly includes an elongate actuator that is anchored at one end to the wafer substrate to be in electrical contact with the drive circuitry layers. A closure member is mounted on an opposite end of the elongate actuator. The actuator is configured to receive an electrical signal from the drive circuitry layer to displace the closure member between a closed position in which the closure member covers the fluid supply opening and ink is inhibited from flowing through the fluid supply channel and an open position. The elongate actuator is shaped so that, in a rest condition, the actuator encloses an arc. The actuator includes a heating portion that is capable of being heated on receipt of the electrical signal to expand.

Abstract: An ink cartridge where, in a two part housing, there are two cannula or needle penetrable resiliently sealed ports, one port providing access to an ink supply in a collapsible reservoir defined by a blow moulded container fitted with a one way valve and the second port providing, as a waste ink recover zone, space sealed within the housing that will grow as the ink supply is drawn off in use and the ink supply reservoir collapses. Preferably the one way valve is from a dip tube in the reservoir.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a hollow ink tank body defining an accommodating chamber therein. The ink tank body has an ink outlet port and a mounted seat being formed on a bottom surface thereof. A cover member has an ink filling inlet formed therein. The cover member is fixedly secured to the hollow ink tank body and sealing the accommodating chamber of said hollow ink tank body. A pressure regulator is mounted on the mounted seat and has a box body, an elastic member, and a cover body. As a result of a negative pressure will increase during printing, the elastic member will change its shape and allow air pass through it unidirectional, and because the elastic member has an elastic force, the ink tank still maintains a certain amount of negative pressure and thereof the ink will not leak through the pressure regulator to outside.

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: A phase change waste ink control apparatus and method are provided and are suitable for use in a phase change ink image producing machine including a printhead system. The apparatus for the method includes (a) devices for producing phase change waste ink such as from a printhead system; (b) a waste ink gutter assembly, including a heating device, for collecting, accumulating and coalescing the phase change waste ink. The apparatus also includes (c) a controller for periodically turning the heating device on to heat and melt coalesced phase change waste ink within the waste ink gutter assembly; and (d) a waste ink collection container for collecting melted phase change waste ink from the waste ink gutter assembly.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording consisting essentially of a water-soluble solvent, a pigment, and a compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein AO represents oxyalkylene group, R represents alkyl group, and m and n represent natural numbers, respectively. It is possible to effectively suppress the feathering and the bleeding.

Abstract: A water base ink for ink-jet recording, which is usable for an ink-jet recording apparatus having an ink-jet head provided therein with an ink flow passage formed of nickel or nickel alloy, includes a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. The ink is blended so that a current density, which is obtained within an electric potential range of −600 to +300 mV, is not more than 100 &mgr;A/cm2 when anodic polarization measurement is performed by using a reference electrode of silver/silver chloride, a counter electrode of platinum, and a working electrode of nickel or nickel alloy. The ink does not corrode any part for constituting the flow passage in the ink-jet head.

Abstract: At least two or more than two ink-jet recording heads provided with respective discharge ports for discharging ink are arranged in the direction of conveyance of recording medium. The inks filled in the respective ink-jet recording heads are made to show different surface tensions. With this arrangement, as inks are discharged onto the recording medium that is conveyed by a conveyor under the control of a drive section, the image formed by the inks discharged onto the recording medium shows an improved quality.

Abstract: Media is transported to an imaging region using a vacuum feeder. A vacuum head is positioned onto the media and a vacuum is applied to the vacuum head to hold the media against the vacuum head. The vacuum head is then relocated to the imaging region carrying with it the media. In one embodiment, the vacuum head holds the media slightly above the surface of the imaging region. After the media is imaged, the vacuum head moves the media to an output region. In the output region the vacuum is removed from the vacuum head allowing the media to detach from the vacuum head and remain in the output region. In another embodiment, the vacuum is removed from the vacuum head allowing the media to detach from the vacuum head and remain in the imaging region. A second vacuum head is positioned in the imaging region onto the media and a vacuum is applied to the second vacuum head to hold the media against the second vacuum head. The second vacuum head is then relocated to the output region carrying with it the media.

Abstract: A print head for a liquid ink printer deposits liquid ink droplets on a recording medium. A curved infrared foil heater is disposed adjacent to the recording medium path opposite the print head, for heating the recording medium to dry the liquid ink droplets. The foil heater is an infrared emitting, etched foil circuit heater mounted within a channel in a frame to curve and thus self-tension to prevent wrinkling of the foil heater despite any thermal expansion of the foil heater.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for recording an image on a recording medium with an active ray cure ink to be cured by exposure to an active ray, having a head for emitting the active ray cure ink onto a recording medium, an active ray source for emitting the active ray wherein the active ray source is arranged at the rear of the head in the direction of a relative movement of the head with respect to the recording medium during emission of ink, and in a same side where the head is provided with respect to the recording medium, and a shield member for preventing the active ray emitted by the active ray source from directly or indirectly entering into a trajectory formed by an ink particle emitted from the head and reaching the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for offset lithographic printing including an offset lithographic printing press including a printing cylinder having a surface including a mixture of cationic colloidal silica, fumed alumina, and a polymeric amine; and an inkjet printhead disposed to print a digital image on the printing cylinder with an ink jet fluid including a pigment and a polymeric dispersing agent, which ink jet fluid dries to produce a surface active to oleophilic lithographic printing inks.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium provided with an ink-receiving layer on at least one surface of a substrate, wherein said ink-receiving layer is composed of a porous layer comprising pigment particles and mutually fused thermoplastic resin particles.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium including a support having thereon an ink receptive layer, wherein the support includes a white-colored substrate and a blue-colored substrate laminated with each other.

Abstract: A device and method for automatically opening the cover of an ink-jet printer using a solenoid driving device, which responds to an electrical signal sent from a controller unit because the unit detected either a paper jam or that the ink cartridge is depleted. The new mechanism for automatically opening a printer cover allows the user to remove jammed paper or to replace the spent ink cartridge with greater speed and efficiency. This device has the advantages of being economical for use in ink-jet printers and employs a simple design which minimizes the need for repair and simplifies the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A printer with a photo stand is constructed by which the photo stand is attached to the tape printer so as to cover a left side surface of a housing of the tape printer. In the printer with the photo stand, the tape printer is inclined with respect to an installed plane. With this structure, a photograph held in the photo stand is oriented toward a direction that a picture side of the photograph can be easily seen. A protrusion is provided to a lower surface of a cover of the tape printer, so that the printer with the photo stand can be prevented from falling in an inclined direction of the tape printer. The photo stand can be attached to the tape printer to form a single-piece unit, so that the printer with the photo stand saves space while displaying the photograph.

Abstract: A spectacles set includes a primary spectacle frame which comprises a pair of magnetic holders at two nose supports thereof and a detachable shelter frame adapted for mounting in front of the primary spectacle frame. The detachable shelter frame includes a shelter frame for supporting two auxiliary lenses and a pair of magnetic attachment arrangements connected to the shelter frame. Each of the magnetic attachment arrangements includes a supporting arm extending rearwardly from the shelter bridge for riding over a primary bridge of the primary spectacle frame so as to securely mount the shelter frame in front of the primary spectacle frame and a magnetic seat which is connected to the supporting arm and extended to magnetically attach the magnetic holder of the primary spectacle frame so as to hold the shelter frame on the primary spectacle frame in position.

Abstract: A detachable sunglass unit for detachably attaching sunglasses to eyeglasses, includes two sunglass lenses, two sunglass frames for holding the sunglass lenses, a pivoting device provided between the sunglass frames, a sunglass connecting member extending from the pivoting device, and an eyeglass connecting member provided on the center of the eyeglasses and engaging with the sunglass connecting member. The connecting members use permanent magnets to keep the engaged state. The pivoting device includes an elastic connecting rod, and a pipe member that surrounds the connecting rod. The connecting rod includes end portions that are fixed to sunglass frames, and a bent portion between the end portions. The bent portion is inserted into the pipe member, and the internal diameter of the pipe member is smaller than the width of the bent portion, so that the bent portion is elastically deformed in the pipe member.

Abstract: A pair of fog-free protective glasses has a frame and a lens. The frame has an embedded portion and a pair of temples pivotally connecting to two ends of the embedded portion. The embedded portion has upper and lower embedded plates to define an embedded groove therebetween, and two sides of the embedded portion are respectively formed with at least one guiding structure. Each guiding structure has at least one drainage hole. The lens is embedded in the embedded groove of the frame, and is respectively formed with a guiding portion. A leading airflow is thus produced from the guiding portion through the drainage hole for reducing fog formation on the lens.

Abstract: A pair of foldable glasses includes two lenses. Each lens has a first side and a second side, with the first side facing an eye when the glasses are worn, and the second side being opposite to the first side. In one approach, the lenses are connected together by a folding mechanism whereby the lenses can be folded with the first sides of both lenses facing each other. Each temple has a front section and a rear section that can be folded or retracted into the front section. This allows the temples to be in an extended or a shortened configuration. Each lens is connected or coupled to a temple by a pivoting joint, which allows the corresponding temple to be rotated from being perpendicular to being parallel to the lenses, and to be rotated from being extended rearward to being extended forward from the lenses.

Abstract: A sight for locking device for preventing motion sickness, characterized in that it consists of an impermeable, transparent or translucent tubular container closed on itself. There are enclosed at least two substances having different states and/or masses, whereof at least one visible interface physically represents sight markers, when the device is positioned in the peripheral visual field of one eye or both eyes of the user. The invention is particularly and advantageously useful for producing spectacle inhibiting motion sickness.

Abstract: A method of magnetically connecting plastic framed eyeglasses to accessories comprises preparing a primary plastic spectacle frame with thermo-plastically moldable and magnetizable materials injected in designed locations to form plurality of areas integral into the frame by double injection molding. The mating accessory is prepared with magnetizable material sections which at least can partially touch said areas. Said areas or said sections or both are optionally permanently magnetized devices. This inventive method is compatible with many prior art using magnetic clip-ons and can magnetically connect glass lenses directly onto the plastic frame of an optical spectacle without appearing that each spectacle has two lenses. This inventive method can also be used for metal frames, especially for non-magnetizable ones.

Abstract: An ophthalmic glare tester for evaluating visual acuity under conditions of strong diffuse illumination is designed for convenient mounting on a conventional ophthalmic instrument such as a transilluminator or ophthalmoscope. The glare tester incorporates a generally concave reflector for providing diffuse illumination to an eye and a mounting for attachment to an ophthalmic instrument. The reflector includes a wall having an interior light-reflecting surface at least partially enclosing a hollow interior. The glare tester provides for conducting illumination from the ophthalmic instrument to the interior light reflecting surface of the reflector.