Abstract: A vehicle wheel cover retention system includes a wheel defining an axis and includes a wheel rim and a wheel disc. The wheel disc has a generally radially outwardly extending retention groove formed in a generally axially extending portion of an inner mounting surface thereof. The cover includes an inner portion having a central opening. The inner portion is provided with at least one wheel cover retention member having at least one tab. A center cap is provided and includes at least one center cap retention member having at least one tab. The at least one tab of the at least one wheel cover retention member and the at least one tab of the center cap retention member are both received in the retention groove to secure both the wheel cover and the center cap to the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a signal control device having a body with a generally cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal central axis, a first and second input, and a first and second output. Each input and output is in fluid communication with the body. The signal control device further contains a first spool with a first end and an opposite second end, each which define a recess, a central axis between the first and second ends and a through hole formed about the central axis. The signal control device also contains a second spool with a first end, an opposite second end, a second central axis between the first and second ends, and a bore. The bore has a first end opening at the first end of the second spool and has a second end opening intermediate the first and second ends of the second spool. The first spool and second spool are positioned within the body cavity so that their corresponding central axes are collinear.

Abstract: A device with an electronic brake system (EBS) and a brake assembly is provided for protecting against unauthorized removal of a trailer where a control device can activate and deactivate a protection state of the electronic brake system. When the electronic brake system is activated, protection can be provided by the brake assembly, which can brake the trailer if unauthorized removal is attempted.

Abstract: A piston pump includes a piston assembly which has a first piston element, a second piston element, and at least one transverse bore which corresponds to a longitudinal bore. The piston pump further includes a cylinder in which the piston assembly is guided in a longitudinally movable manner, and an inlet valve which includes a cage element, in which an inlet valve spring and sealing element are arranged, and a corresponding inlet valve seat which is arranged on the piston assembly. The inlet valve sealing element can be pressed sealingly into the corresponding inlet valve seat by means of a restoring spring in order to close off the longitudinal bore. The second piston element is configured as a sleeve made of a wear-resistant material, which accommodates axially acting power components. The inlet valve seat is disposed on a bending edge of the second piston element configured as a sleeve. The at least one transverse bore corresponding to the longitudinal bore is placed in the second piston element.

Abstract: A debris shunting awning assembly, for an undercarriage in a ground engaging track system for a track-type machine includes an awning having a plurality of segmental plates with an assembly configuration at which the plates are coupled with the inboard side of a track roller frame and span a clearance between the track roller frame and a main frame of the track-type machine. The awning assembly is configured to direct debris through a debris path extending through a portion of a track system for the track-type machine.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic device includes a housing body, a bottom cover, and a locking member. The housing body includes an engaging slot and a through hole. The bottom cover includes an engaging hook for engaging the engaging slot. An inner surface of the housing body or the bottom cover is provided with a positioning element. The locking member extends through the through hole, and includes an engaging portion disposed on the inner surface of the housing body, and a control portion exposed from the through hole. The control portion is operable to move the engaging portion between a locking position where the engaging portion engages the positioning element and an unlocking position where the engaging portion is separated from the positioning element to thereby facilitate assembly and disassembly of the bottom cover to and from the housing body.

Abstract: A washing machine having a coupling structure configured to economically and strongly couple component parts to each other, the washing machine including a frame forming an exterior, an upper cover coupled to an upper portion of the frame and provided with an opening unit to which a laundry is introduced, an electronic part accommodating plate coupled to an rear portion of the upper cover, and a connection unit provided at the electronic part accommodating plate and extended toward a lower direction from a lower portion of the electronic part accommodating plate.

Abstract: A base assembly includes a base plate, a pull-release handle, an extension member, a pivoting member, a cover plate and a latch member. The pull-release handle has a handle portion and defines a handle opening. The pull-release handle and the extension member are reciprocable in parallelism with a pulling direction on the base plate. The pivoting member has a force-receiving end and a force-transmitting end. The force-transmitting end is movable by the force-receiving end. The latch member has a locking strip and at least one locking portion. The force-transmitting end is connected to one end of the locking strip. The force-transmitting end works cooperatively with an elastic member, such that the locking strip and the locking portion are reciprocable in parallelism with a releasing direction.

Abstract: An arrangement for a drawer pull-out guide (1) that has at least two rails (5, 6, 7) that are guided on one another in a telescopic manner is provided. The arrangement has at least one roller (2), at least one roller axis (3), and at least one roller support body (4). The roller (2) is rotatably mounted on the roller axis (3), and the roller axis (3) is arranged on the roller support body (4), in particular in a fixed manner. The roller support body (4) is a separate component from all the rails (5, 6, 7) of the drawer pull-out guide (1), and the roller support body (4) has at least one first connecting device (8) for fixing the roller support body (4) on the rails or on one of the rails (5, 6, 7) of the drawer pull-out guide (1).

Abstract: An assembly comprising a storage receptacle includes a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel joining the front panel to the rear panel and a second side panel joining the front panel to the rear panel. The front panel, the rear panel and the first and second side panels define a storage space within the confines of the front panel, the rear panel and the first and second side panels. A divider is located within the storage space and extends between the front panel and the rear panel and divides the storage space into storage space sections. A spring operated mechanism engages the divider to selectively maintain the divider in place in the storage space and allows for the position of the divider to be adjusted between the first side panel and the second side panel, whereby the dimensions of the storage space sections can be adjusted.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled case is provided including a frame and a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door. The electrical connectivity system includes a first electrical connector coupled to the door, and a second electrical connector coupled to the frame so that the first and second electrical connectors are engaged when the door is coupled to the frame. The door closure control assembly includes a torsion spring that is fixed at one end to the door and fixed at another end to the frame, so that when the door is opened the torsion spring provides an increasing force to urge the door toward the closed position.

Abstract: A highly reliable vacuum heat insulating material having excellent processability, usability and heat insulating performance and a heat insulating box using the vacuum heat insulating material are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a cabinet having at least one partition wall to separate at least two sub-compartments and an elongated support device having a C-shaped cross section mounted to the cabinet wall and into which a partition wall can be inserted.

Abstract: A power supply section includes a switching regulator. A plurality of linear regulators is provided for respective ones of a plurality of driving sections. The linear regulators step down a source voltage to respective driving voltages of the driving sections and supply the respective driving sections with the driving voltages. A head-temperature sensor measures temperature of a liquid ejecting head. A controller determines the source voltage and the driving voltages based on the temperature, and controls the power supply section, the linear regulators, and the driving sections to stop at least one of outputting of the source voltage by the power supply section, supplying of the driving voltages by the linear regulators, and driving of the driving sections, when a voltage difference is larger than or equal to an acceptable value. The voltage difference is a difference between the source voltage and a minimum voltage of the driving voltages.

Abstract: In a case where a forcible detection execution flag is set to ON, the end position of the CR movement is changed and the acquiring range of the detection value “Is” is changed such that the movable range of the carriage is enlarged to a range that makes detection of an ink remaining amount by the ink sensor possible. Then, a print process for forcible detection is conducted in which the printing head and the carriage motor are controlled such that the printing head ejects ink while the carriage is moving in the enlarged movable range. Consequently, in a case where the forcible detection is requested, the ink remaining amount in the ink cartridge installed in the carriage can be detected regardless of the printing area based on the print data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a stage, a head, an adjustment mechanism, an ejection command means, and a control means. On the stage, a powder material is accumulated. The head ejects ink to the powder material on the stage. The adjustment mechanism adjusts a relative height of the stage and the head for each predetermined layer thickness so that a three-dimensional object is formed on the stage by the predetermined layer thickness. The ejection command means causes the ink to be ejected from the head so that the powder material is colored a plurality of colors corresponding to multilevel luminance information items in a multivalued image obtained by performing a multivalued processing of luminance with respect to a two-dimensional cross-sectional image data of a modeling target object. The control means controls the adjustment mechanism and the ejection command means so that the multivalued image is drawn for each layer thickness.

Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus includes a recording head including nozzles, liquid chambers communicating with the respective nozzles and storing ink, and actuators for applying pressure to the respective liquid chambers; and a print control unit configured to generate drive signals for driving the respective actuators to eject droplets from the nozzles. The drive signal includes a first contracting waveform component for ejecting a droplet and a second contracting waveform component for further contracting the liquid chamber after application of the first contracting waveform component but not ejecting a droplet. The second contracting waveform component is output at oscillation-damping timing at which a pressure wave generated by the first contracting waveform component is damped, in a condition where an environmental temperature is high, and is output at resonating timing at which resonance with the generated pressure wave occurs, in a condition where the environmental temperature is low.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a drive signal generation section which generates a drive signal and a liquid ejecting head. The drive signal is a periodic signal. One period of the drive signal has two durations of (i) a droplet ejection duration with a waveform part used to eject the droplet from the nozzle and (ii) a droplet non-ejection duration without the waveform part used to eject the droplet from the nozzle, and the droplet non-ejection duration is equal to or longer than the droplet ejection duration.

Abstract: In-image preliminary ejection is performed by use of nozzles used to print an image out of the nozzles included in an overlapping link region, and between-image preliminary ejection is performed by use of nozzles which are not used to print the image. Thus, a reduction in image quality is inhibited, while the amount of print media used in the between-image preliminary ejection is reduced.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head that contains an ejection surface where a plurality of ejection ports are opened; a sensor that detects a contact between the recording medium and the ejection surface; an ejection duty detecting unit, when the sensor detects the contact, that is configured to detect an ejection duty of the liquids of an image formed in an area of the recording medium, which comes into contact with the ejection surface; and a maintenance unit, when the sensor detects the contact, that is configured to stop an operation based on a record command and is configured to perform maintenance including compulsory ejection which ejects liquids from the ejection ports, wherein the maintenance unit adjusts the amount of the liquids, which are ejected in the compulsory ejection, according to the ejection duty, which is detected by the ejection duty detecting unit.

Abstract: A threshold passed signal indicating that a threshold for a remaining liquid amount has been passed is inputted from a threshold sensor that detects the actual remaining liquid amount in the liquid holding unit when the liquid ejection command is being executed, the control apparatus drives the liquid ejecting head so that the liquid continues to be ejected based on the liquid ejection command until the inputted liquid ejection command ends.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus which communicates with a plurality of cartridges without increasing its circuit dimension. To accomplish this, the apparatus includes a control circuit having an output terminal for outputting a clock signal and data signal used to generate a transmission signal to the cartridge, and an input terminal for receiving a transmission signal from the cartridge. The apparatus includes N connectors each having the first electrode which is connected to the first electrode surface of each cartridge, and the second electrode which is connected to the second electrode surface. The apparatus includes a 1-to-N first signal line for connecting the input terminal to the N first electrodes, and a 1-to-N second signal line for connecting the output terminal to the N second electrodes. The apparatus includes N switching units which are interposed between 1-to-N branch points and the second electrodes on the second signal line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid droplets; a recording head including a pressure generator to generate a pressure to cause the nozzles to discharge liquid droplets; a droplet discharge status sensor unit to detect a droplet discharging status from each nozzle; and a maintenance controller to control a maintenance operation by a dummy discharge of liquid droplets not contributing to image formation. In such an image forming apparatus, the droplet discharge status sensor unit compares a detection result of the droplet discharge status and a preset reference threshold and determines whether the nozzle discharges normally or defectively; and the maintenance controller outputs a dummy discharge drive waveform corresponding to a difference between the detected droplet discharge status and the reference threshold to the pressure generator of the nozzle determined to be defective to cause the nozzle to discharge droplets for dummy discharging.

Abstract: A printing machine includes a substrate and at least one printhead with at least two material deposition channels which are movable with respect to the substrate, wherein the printhead is mounted on a stage which allows rotation of the printhead around an axis perpendicular to the substrate and translation in a direction perpendicular to the print direction, and wherein during each print swath, the rotation angle and translation values of the printhead are varied in order to change the pitch and the lateral position in the direction perpendicular to the print direction of material deposited from the different deposition channels; and an algorithm which computes the required rotation angles and translation values for a given pattern of substrate distortion.

Abstract: A method for aligning multi-channel digital image data for a digital printer having a plurality of printheads is described. A test pattern including test pattern indicia printed using individual printheads is scanned and analyzed to detect locations of the printed test pattern indicia. One of the printheads is designated to be a reference printhead, and one or more of the other printheads are designated to be non-reference printheads. Spatial adjustment parameters are determined for each of the non-reference printheads responsive to the detected test pattern indicia locations. Digital image data for the non-reference printheads is modified by designating an input pixel neighborhood within which an image pixel should be inserted or deleted, comparing the image pixels in the input pixel neighborhood to a plurality of predefined pixel patterns to identify a matching pixel pattern; and determining a modified pixel neighborhood responsive to the matching pixel pattern.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead configured to array a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink are arrayed in the first direction, a reading unit configured to read, as a plurality of luminance values aligned in a nozzle arrayed direction, an inspection pattern formed by discharging ink from the plurality of nozzles of the printhead, a calculation unit configured to calculate a plurality of difference values each by calculating a difference between two luminance values spaced apart by a predetermined number of luminance values, and an analysis unit configured to analyze an ink discharge state in the plurality of nozzles based on the plurality of difference values.

Abstract: An inkjet printer for determining drying time of a print swath of ink deposited on a sheet of media by use of a dual function alignment sensor operable in a first mode to provide an output response corresponding to an amount of bi-directional misalignment of dot placement by the plurality of nozzles sensed from scanning a printed alignment test pattern, and in a second mode to provide an output response corresponding to an amount of specular reflection received from the print swath of the printed image with the output response in the second mode being used to determine if the printed image is sufficiently dry to be moved.

Abstract: A density correction system includes a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium, a first ink ejection unit that ejects ink in a multi-drop driving system to the recording medium based on image data, a second ink ejection unit that ejects ink in the multi-drop driving system to the recording medium based on the image data and in which a volume per one drop is smaller than that of the first ink ejection unit, and a control unit that corrects number of drops from the first ink ejection unit and number of drops from the second ink ejection unit, which constitute a droplet amount for one pixel on the recording medium subjected to image formation.

Abstract: A control section is included which performs a background image pre-printing which enables each ink to be ejected from the upstream side background color nozzle row and the downstream side color nozzle row and can land the color ink after landing the background color ink on the medium in a region concerning the transport direction, and a background image post-printing which enables each ink to be ejected from the upstream side color nozzle row and the downstream side background color nozzle row and can land the background color ink after landing the color ink on the medium in a region concerning the transport direction, the control section performing the printing so as to switch over the background image pre-printing and the background image post-printing on one medium.

Abstract: This invention has been made to judge the discharge state of each nozzle accurately at an appropriate timing. For this purpose, an apparatus using a printhead including a heater and a temperature sensor has the following arrangement. A temporal change in a detected temperature is monitored upon driving the printhead. During the temperature drop, temperatures are extracted at plural points of a time interval including a timing at which a feature point of the temporal change in the detected temperature in normal discharge appears. The second derivative of the temperature is calculated and added to obtain a total sum and intermediate sum. The total sum is compared with predetermined first and second thresholds to judge whether to normally discharge ink. If normal discharge or discharge failure is uncertain, the intermediate sum is compared with a third threshold for final judgment.

Abstract: An inkjet offset printer includes a heated drum assembly having a hollow drum with an internal surface defining an internal cavity and a heater and a cooler located in the internal cavity. The heater includes at least one ceramic heater element. The cooler includes a slot to direct an air stream that is normal to the internal surface of the drum that aids in quenching the heating element for faster control responses.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has an ink jet head mounted on a carriage for ejecting ink onto a recording medium. A heater is arranged in the casing and above the ink jet head for heating the ejected ink. A first intake fan is mounted on the casing for feeding outside air into the casing. A second intake fan is mounted on the carriage for taking the fed outside air directly into the carriage so that the temperature inside the carriage can be set close to the temperature of the outside air to enable stable ejection of ink. Air fed into the casing is discharged to the outside through an exhaust duct passing through the casing and disposed at a position spaced from the print surface of the recording medium to prevent a decrease in temperature of the recording medium and ejection failure of the ink.

Abstract: A system for testing one or more nozzles in a nozzle plate includes a fixture for holding the nozzle plate, a gas input device for jetting gas through the nozzle, and a first stationary schlieren optical system for producing a light-intensity representation of a gas stream jetted from the nozzle. An image capture device can capture one or more images of the light-intensity representation or the light-intensity representation can be projected onto a screen.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first reference pattern is caused to be printed with transparent ink ejected from a first printhead. A second reference pattern is caused to be printed, with a first colorant ink ejected from a second printhead, to least partially overlap the first reference pattern. The overlapping causes the second reference pattern to be visually discernible where the first and second reference patterns overlap. A background pattern, overlapping and surrounding the first and second reference patterns, is caused to be printed with a second colorant ink less dark than the first colorant ink. The printing of the background pattern causes the first reference pattern to be visually discernible where the first and second reference patterns do not overlap.

Abstract: A circuit includes a capacitive-type humidity sensor. The circuit provides start and stop signals to a processor in accordance with a charge voltage across the sensor. The processor performs a counting function to derive an integer count value in response to the start and stop signals. The processor uses the integer count value to determine parameters for controlling an ink-jetting print engine. Printing speed can be controlled in accordance with ambient humidity and/or temperature so that the printed media are sufficiently dried before handling by a user or other operations.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ink-jet print head comprises a support member including a flat portion with an ink supply aperture and an ink discharge aperture formed therein so as to circulate and supply ink, the flat portion including a recess, a base plate fitted in the recess of the support member, a nozzle plate laid over the base plate at a predetermined distance from the base plate and including a plurality of nozzles formed therein in a fixed direction, and an actuator disposed between the base plate and the nozzle plate and including a pressure chamber and a piezoelectric member, the pressure chamber being provided for each corresponding nozzle, and the piezoelectric member being provided to form a wall for the pressure chamber and configured to change capacity of the pressure chamber.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided, which has a simple construction, and is yet capable of reducing ink consumption and cleaning inkjet heads promptly. The inkjet printing apparatus includes connector caps 51a-51l for connecting tubes communicating with suction caps, a cap support 54 supporting the connector caps 51a-51l, a switch element 60 for switching to a sucking state one of the connector caps 51a-51l to which the tubes are connected, and a stepping motor 57 for supporting and rotating the switch element 60.

Abstract: Condensation control systems are provided for use with inkjet printing systems that use a combination of higher resistance flow areas and lower resistance flow areas to allow a vaporized carrier fluid reducing airflow to flow between a printing module and a receiver during printing without creating observable artifacts in a print. Removal of the vaporized carrier fluid reduces condensation.

Abstract: Inkjet printing methods are described that create a combination of higher resistance flow areas and lower resistance flow areas to allow a vaporized carrier fluid reducing airflow to flow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements. Removal of the vaporized carrier fluid reduces condensation.

Abstract: Inkjet printing systems are provided that use a combination of higher resistance flow areas and lower resistance flow areas to allow a vaporized carrier reducing airflow to flow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements. Removal of the vaporized carrier fluid reduces condensation.

Abstract: A mist collection device is adapted to collect a mist of liquid generated by ejecting the liquid from a plurality of nozzles in an ejection head, the mist collection device includes a suction section, a tube section, a collection part, an outlet section and a suction device. A suction port is formed in the suction section with the suction port being an opening having a length in an arrangement direction of the nozzles greater than a width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. The tube section is in communication with the suction section and having a hollow tube shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to the arrangement direction. The collection part collects the mist by separating the mist from air suctioned by the suction section. The suction device is configured and arranged to generate an air flow flowing from the suction section to the collection part.

Abstract: A chain positioning system is disclosed that has a chain that contains a plurality of links joined together, end-to-end, with a plurality of pins. The chain can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. The links of the chain limit rotation about the pins in one direction.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes: a modification treatment step of, in accordance with a pattern to be formed on a pattern forming surface of a base body, applying a light beam having a width smaller than a diameter of each of dots to constitute the pattern, onto a treatment target region including at least outer edges on both sides in a width direction of a region where the pattern is to be formed in the pattern forming surface, thereby carrying out modification treatment on the treatment target region; and a droplet deposition step of ejecting and depositing droplets of a functional liquid by an inkjet method onto the region where the pattern is to be formed including the treatment target region where the modification treatment has been carried out.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head module is disclosed. The liquid ejection head module includes first and second head units disposed in a first direction. The first and second head units have first and second rows of liquid ejecting heads that have a plurality of nozzles disposed in the first direction. The first and second rows of liquid ejecting heads are disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second head each have a projecting portion. A connector is disposed on each of the first and second head units and each connector is disposed so that the connecting port is open at a side opposite from a liquid ejecting side.

Abstract: A nozzle portion in a recording head includes a first nozzle portion of which cross-sectional area is a first area and which is formed at the side of a pressure generation chamber and a second nozzle portion of which cross-sectional area is a second area which is smaller than the first area, which is formed to be continuous to the first nozzle portion through a step portion and of which front end portion is a nozzle opening. Further, when a cross-sectional area of an ink supply path is set to Ss, a cross-sectional area of the first nozzle portion is set to Sn, a flow path resistance of the first nozzle portion is set to Rn?, and a flow path resistance of the second nozzle portion is set to Rn, relationships of Sn/Ss?1/3 and Rn?/Rn?0.6 are satisfied.

Abstract: A colour ink printing system includes a plurality of print head cartridges, each extending across a direction of print media propagation and spaced apart along the direction of print media propagation; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges, the print head chassis actuable between a printing position, a transition position, and a maintenance position; and a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis actuable between a storage position and an operational position. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated to effect printing on the print media. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining plurality of print head cartridges.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge liquid, a supply port configured to retain the liquid to be discharged from the plurality of discharge ports, a first pressure chamber including a first energy generation element to discharge a predetermined amount of liquid droplets, a second pressure chamber including a second energy generation element to discharge an amount of liquid droplets greater than the predetermined amount, a first flow path through which the supply port and the first pressure chamber communicate with each other, and a second flow path through which the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber communicate with each other.

Abstract: An ink manifold for an inkjet printhead is provided, comprising a number of substantially parallel transverse channels 709,713 connected by one or more connecting passages 719. The resistance to flow provided by the connecting passages is substantially greater than the resistance to flow along the length of a transverse channel. The ink manifold provided by the present invention ensures that the ink pressure and flow rate presented to the ejectors of the printhead is uniform along the entire length of the ejector array and, moreover, does so in a shallower manifold design than has previously been known.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead having a first port and a second port; an ink container having an outlet port and a return port; a first ink line interconnecting the first port with the outlet port; a second ink line interconnecting the second port with the return port; an air line connected to the first ink line, the air line having an inlet open to atmosphere; a reversible pump positioned between the second port and the return port for pumping ink in the second ink line; and a dual valve arrangement including: a first valve for selectively controlling ink flow through the first ink line, the first valve being positioned in the first ink line between the ink container and the air line; and a second valve for selectively controlling air flow through the air line.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus including an ink jet head for ejecting a water-based ink while moving at a speed of 0.5 m/s or more relative to a recording medium, wherein the water-based ink contains a fatty acid and a volatile alcohol, the volatile alcohol being used to emulsify the fatty acid and disperse the fatty acid in water and having a higher vapor pressure than water at 20° C.