Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.

Abstract: A driven crimping gear (10) cooperates with the first idler crimping gear (12) and the second idler crimping gear (14). The gears pull paper of a roll (12) which paper has had the edges curled over. The paper is guided through the gears by plates (28) and (30).

Abstract: A stackable water shield comprising a body portion having a width and length and thickness, said body having a wet surface, said body further having a channel formed between inwardly angled walls in a portion of the body, said channel having a width and a depth sufficient to accept a sufficient amount of glue, said glue amount not extending to the wet surface of the water shield, said water shields stackable without interposing a glue protective barrier such as a release sheet between said stacked water shields.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a mobile device. The cleaning apparatus comprises: a support plate; a sealing layer attached under the support plate; and a wiping layer disposed under the sealing layer, wherein a cleaning solution receiving part for receiving cleaning solution is formed between the support plate and the sealing layer, the sealing layer has a through hole extending to the wiping layer, and the cleaning solution is discharged to the wiping layer through the through hole.

Abstract: Provided are building panels comprising at least one magnet receptive element, methods for making such panels, and kits and methods for attaching objects to a panel without nails or screws.

Abstract: Techniques, processes and structures are disclosed for providing markings on products, such as electronic devices. For example, the markings can be formed using physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes to deposit a layer of material. The markings or labels may be textual and/or graphic. The markings are deposited on a compliant layer that is disposed on a surface to be marked. The compliant layer is arranged to isolate the surface to be marked from the layer of material deposited using the PVD process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filled polymeric materials including a polymer and a mass of metallic fibers distributed within the polymer, and to light weight composites which comprise at least a pair of metallic layers and a polymeric layer interposed between the pair of metallic layers, the polymeric layer containing the filled polymeric material. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding. Preferred composite materials include one or any combination of the following features: metallic fibers that are ribbon fibers; a polymer selected from a polyolefin, a polyamide, or a combination thereof; or a metallic layer (e.g., one or both of the pair of metallic layers) having a surface facing the filled polymeric material that is untreated.

Abstract: Various flexible heat sealable decorative articles and methods of making the same are described. The flexible heat sealable decorative articles are lightweight and can be combined with other decorative elements, such as metalized films. Various decorative are mixed or combined with one another to form highly attractive flexible heat sealable decorative articles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mold release film including a resin layer provided on one surface of a polyester film, wherein the resin layer includes 100 parts by mass of a polypropylene-based modified polyolefin resin with the proportion of a modifying component of 1 to 10% by mass and 1 to 50 parts by mass of a cross-linking agent; the peel strength between the resin layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive measured by bonding a rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive to the resin layer exceeds 3.0 N/cm; and the residual adhesion rate of a pressure-sensitive adhesive after bonding an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive to the resin layer is 80% or more.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprising a first poly(vinyl butyral) resin having a first residual hydroxyl content; a second poly(vinyl butyral) resin having a second residual hydroxyl content; a plasticizer; and at least one compatibilizer, such as an anhydride compatibilizer; wherein the difference between the first and second residual hydroxyl contents is at least 2 wt. %, and wherein the polymer composition has a percent haze of less than 5%. The use of a compatibilizer reduces or minimizes the optical defects, such as haze and color, without sacrificing other characteristics of the composition. The composition may be used in an interlayer.

Abstract: An adhesive composition that improves structural integrity and insulative properties when applied to a cellulosic substrate is provided. The adhesive composition includes a plurality of microspheres and an emulsion-based polymer that has (i) an elastic modulus greater than 0.5 MPa in the range temperature range of 70° C. to 110° C.; (ii) an absolute log(E)/T slope of less than 0.05 in the range temperature range of 70° C. to 110° C.; and (iii) a tan d value less than 0.6 at 90° C.

Abstract: A method of repairing a core stiffened structure, including removing a damaged portion of the core stiffened structure; bonding a shelf onto a first core member; bonding a second core member to a shelf; and securing a skin patch over the second core member.

Abstract: Liquid crystal devices may include electrode segments that are spaced apart and have a gap therebetween. A bridge layer may be disposed in the gap and configured to have a resistance that is operable provide a substantially equipotential region proximate to the gap portion while still allowing the electrode segments to be substantially isolated electrically. The disclosed liquid crystal devices may have reduced visual artifacts and may be configured to be a liquid crystal display, a polarization control panel, or a switch having liquid crystal cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and to a method for producing a rotor-blade spar cap with pultruded rods made of a fiber-reinforced material. According to the invention, the system includes at least one retaining apparatus for rotatably mounting at least one rod-layer roll with a rolled-up layer of pultruded rods arranged one beside the other, and a laminating mold for receiving layers of pultruded rods. The system further includes at least one guiding apparatus and additionally at least one trimming apparatus. The guiding apparatus is designed to guide onto the laminating mold a layer of pultruded rods which has been unrolled from a rod-layer roll. And, the trimming apparatus, for trimming the layers of pultruded rods, has a sawing apparatus and/or a milling apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides machines for removing strips of masking from glazing panes. Also provided are methods of removing strips of masking from glazing panes. One embodiment of a machine for removing strips of masking material from a glazing pane includes a cutting head and a processing station. The processing station can be constructed to retain the glazing pane in a processing position with a first surface of the glazing pane oriented toward the cutting head. The cutting head can be movable in various directions across the masked glazing pane and include cutters to cut strips from the masking material.

Abstract: A yield in a separation process is improved. A separation apparatus which enables easy separation in a large-area substrate is provided. The separation apparatus has a function of dividing a process member into a first member and a second member and includes a support body supply unit, a support body hold unit, a transfer mechanism, a direction changing mechanism, and a structure body. The structure body bonds a support body to a surface of the first member. When at least part of the process member is located between the direction changing mechanism and the structure body or the pressure applying mechanism, the shortest distance between the direction changing mechanism and a first plane including the surface of the first member is longer than the shortest distance between the first plane and the structure body or the pressure applying mechanism.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional printed object having a printed surface image includes ejecting drops of a build material to form the three-dimensional printed object from a plurality of layers of build material on a support member and applying a leveler to a surface of each layer of the build material. The method further includes ejecting drops of a marking agent on a surface of the three-dimensional printed object to form a printed image, ejecting drops of a transparent material over the printed image to form a layer of transparent material over the printed image, and applying the leveler to a surface of the layer of transparent material but not to the printed image.

Abstract: The invention provides a lead screw guide assembly and a three-dimensional (3D) printing apparatus, wherein the lead screw guide assembly includes a base, a first guiding member, a second guiding member and a lead screw guide. The first guiding member is disposed on the base and has a first channel extending along an axis. The second guiding member is movably coupled to the first guiding member along the axis. The lead screw guide is movably disposed on the base along the axis and located in the first channel. The lead screw guide is coupled to the second guiding member, so as to drive the second guiding member to move along the axis and hide in the first channel or protrude from the first channel.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: (a) a rotatable drum configured to have a UV-curable printing plate with an ablatable layer thereon, placed thereon; (b) at least one laser beam to image the plate on the drum by ablating some of the ablatable layer according to image data to form an imaged plate; (c) an unloading area onto which a plate is movable when unloaded; and (d) a plurality of UV LEDs configured to apply UV radiation to the back of the UV-curable plate or to both the front and back of the UV-curable plate during or after the unloading of the imaged plate.

Abstract: A thermal stencil making unit that makes a stencil of a perforated image on a thermal gauze by moving a thermal print head having the plurality of heat elements relative to the thermal gauze tightly stretched in a gauze frame detachably set in a unit housing, includes a head-protecting member that moves between a protection position where the thermal print head is protected and a protection release position where a protective state is released. The thermal stencil making unit moves the head-protecting member to the protection position when the gauze frame is not set in the unit housing and moves the head-protecting cover member from the protection position to the protection release position, in conjunction with an operation of setting the gauze frame in the unit housing.

Abstract: A platen is disclosed. In an example, the platen may include a shirtboard configured to receive a garment. A backing is coupled to the shirtboard. The backing and the shirtboard are compressible to selectively compress the shirtboard against the backing during a printing operation. An example method of printing on a garment includes threading a garment onto a board so that the board is wearing the garment, supporting the board against a backing during compression, and printing on the garment. In an example, a fabric of the garment is pretreated, heat-pressed, and printed on, all without removing the garment from the board.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device for producing printed products comprising an arrangement of cooperating rollers that are arranged parallel to one another, wherein at least the gap width between the rollers of one roller pair is adjustable. For this purpose, one roller of the pair is pivotably mounted by means of a pivot arm, wherein a driver arranged on the pivot arm displaces a linearly movable reference element by means of a sliding block guide such that the position of this reference element corresponds to the adjusted gap width. The sliding block guide is preferably realized in such a way that the gap width and the position of the reference element are proportionally correlated.

Abstract: A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing device, an image processing method, and an ink jet recording apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of density unevenness, such as banding, regardless of a duty, without causing deterioration of image quality. A jetting rate indicating an ink jetting rate of each of a plurality of nozzles which jet ink in a recording head including the nozzles is determined. A nozzle pattern indicating which of the plurality of nozzles of the recording head is used to record each pixel of an image on a recording medium is determined. The jetting rate of the nozzle which records each pixel is reflected in a gradation value of each pixel of the image on the basis of the determination result of the jetting rate and the determination result of the nozzle pattern to convert the gradation value of each pixel.

Abstract: A recording method for performing recording on a medium by forming dots by ejecting a liquid from nozzles during scanning. The recording method includes detecting an abnormal nozzle; disposing a normal nozzle in a row where dot missing occurs due to the abnormal nozzle by moving a medium by a first moving amount; performing first complementary recording in which at least a part of a dot missing region is complemented by a first dot which is recorded by the normal nozzle during the scanning; moving the medium by a second moving amount; and performing second complementary recording in which a second dot of which a size is greater than a size of a dot determined based on printing data is recorded on a row adjacent to a row of the abnormal nozzle by the normal nozzle that is positioned adjacent to the abnormal nozzle during the scanning.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting unit that includes a piezoelectric element and ejects liquid by driving the piezoelectric element; a first drive circuit that is mounted on a front surface of a circuit substrate and generates a first drive signal; and a second drive circuit that is mounted on a rear surface of the circuit substrate and generates a second drive signal. The first drive circuit includes a first control circuit which is integrated into a first integrated circuit. The second drive circuit includes a second control circuit which is integrated into a second integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The second integrated circuit includes a third terminal and a fourth terminal. A distance between the first terminal and the third terminal is shorter than a distance between the first terminal and the fourth terminal.

Abstract: A printer comprising a printhead comprising a number of non-staggered nozzles and a processor communicatively coupled to the printhead, in which the processor executes computer usable program code to adjust the firing time of a number of nozzles within a group of nozzles by a portion of a full dot row. A method comprising, with a processor, adjusting the firing time of a number of nozzles within a group of nozzles of a printhead by a portion of a full dot row by delaying the firing of a subset of those nozzles by a full dot row, in which the nozzles of the printhead are not staggered.

Abstract: An example provides a fluid ejection apparatus including a first firing resistor and a second firing resistor to selectively cause fluid to be ejected through a single nozzle, and a parasitic resistor arranged to add a parasitic resistance to the first firing resistor.

Abstract: A printhead includes a plurality of firing chambers, a plurality of fluid ejectors, and at least one field generating member. Each one of the firing chambers includes a nozzle region to receive printing fluid. The printing fluid includes an ink vehicle having pigments disposed therein. At least one field generating member generates a non-uniform electric field to apply forces to maintain respective pigments in the ink vehicle of the printing fluid in the nozzle region.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including producing a nozzle plate including: forming a first nozzle cavity, having a first diameter, in a first semiconductor body; forming a hydrophilic layer at least in part in the first nozzle cavity; forming a structural layer on the hydrophilic layer; etching the structural layer to form a second nozzle cavity aligned to the first nozzle cavity in a fluid-ejection direction and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; proceeding with etching of the structural layer for removing portions thereof in the first nozzle cavity, to reach the hydrophilic layer and arranged in fluid communication the first and second nozzle cavities; and coupling the nozzle plate with a chamber for containing the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protection device for ink-jet printheads, comprising: a tank confining a cavity adapted to contain a humidifying liquid and having a mouth designed to be associated with at least one nozzle of an ink-jet printhead; a seal disposed around the mouth and suitable to be put sealingly in engagement against the printhead and around the nozzle; a mechanism integrated into the tank, for opening or closing the mouth for selectively bringing the mouth into fluid communication with the cavity.

Abstract: A printer includes a printhead assembly, a spit zone, and a controller. The printhead assembly includes nozzles to eject ink drops. The spit zone is to store maintenance ink. The controller is to move the printhead assembly over the spit zone while ink is ejected from the nozzles during spits.

Abstract: A cap for a printhead device including a main body that includes a side wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the top wall and the bottom wall in a facing relation to one another so that a printhead device is held between the top and bottom walls, a vent seal disposed within an opening in the top wall, a nozzle plate seal disposed within an opening in the bottom wall, and a nozzle plate seal retainer that holds the nozzle plate seal within the opening in the bottom wall.

Abstract: A liquid discharger includes a head to discharge liquid droplets, a cap to cover a nozzle face of the head; a cap mover to move the cap to a capping position at which the cap faces the nozzle face of the head or to move the cap to an evacuation position at which the cap does not face the nozzle face of the head. Further, there is a belt arranged to face and clean the cap at the evacuation position, the belt having a width and length enough to cover whole area of a rim of the cap; a conveyer to drive the belt, and a belt cleaner which faces the belt to clean the belt.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a head unit; a cap; a cap lifter moving the cap between a capping position in which the cap makes contact with the head unit and an uncapping position in which the cap is separated from the head unit; a motor; a driven device; a first transmission gear transmitting power of the motor to the cap movement device; a second transmission gear transmitting the power of the motor to the driven device; and a movement gear moving between a position at which the movement gear engages with the first transmission gear and a position at which the movement gear engages with the second transmission gear depending on a rotation direction of the motor. At least one of the first transmission gear and the movement gear is made of a synthetic resin material containing glass fiber.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including a liquid discharge head, a carriage, a cap, and a cap moving mechanism configured to locate the cap in a capping position and in an uncapping position. The cap moving mechanism has a moving member configured to move integrally with the cap in a first direction, a carriage locker, and a restraint portion configured to restrain the moving member from rotating about an axis orthogonal to the first direction. The restraint portion restrains the moving member from rotating such that when the cap arrives in the uncapping position, the rotating range of the carriage locker does not overlap with the carriage in a scanning direction.

Abstract: A structure comprises inlets through which respective liquids are to be introduced and multiple unique vent paths each corresponding to one of the inlets.

Abstract: Ink port adapters for multi-color inkjet heads. In one embodiment, the ink port adapter includes two hose fittings for connecting to hoses, and four openings that align with four ink ports of a four-color inkjet head. The adapter includes one ink path that connects one of the hose fittings to two of the openings, and another ink path that connects the other hose fitting to the other two openings. The adapter therefore converts the four-color inkjet head into a two-color inkjet head.

Abstract: Ink port adapters for inkjet heads. In one embodiment, the ink port adapter includes two hose fittings for connecting to hoses, and four openings that align with four ink ports of an inkjet head. The adapter includes one ink path that connects one of the hose fittings to two of the openings, and another ink path that connects the other hose fitting to the other two openings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising a head chip of a print head to be surface-mounted on an FPCB by means of BGA so as to have each contact terminal, which is formed on the FPCB and the head chip, to be formed over a relatively wide area and therefore not require a high level of integration technology. Therefore, the ink cartridge enables easy manufacturing of the FPCB and the head chip and lowering of manufacturing cost. Also, since relatively low precision needs to be maintained during the mounting of the head chip on the FPCB such that each contact terminal comes into contact, the ink cartridge enables more convenient and faster manufacturing of the print head.

Abstract: A liquid supply device configured to supply a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus comprises a liquid container configured to include a liquid supply portion and to contain the liquid therein; and a liquid supply connection structure supported on an outer wall of the liquid consuming apparatus and connected with the liquid supply portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of charging for ink in an ink container consumed by a printing unit during printing. The method of charging includes obtaining information on an amount of the ink consumed; and implementing charging on the basis of the information. Before the amount of the ink in the ink container consumed reaches a predetermined value, first charging is implemented according to a charging basis in which usage-based charging is implemented on the basis of the amount of the ink consumed. After the amount of the ink consumed reaches the predetermined value, second charging is implemented according to a charging basis different from the charging basis applied to the first charging.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a ink-jet printing device which can detect leak of ink or solvent without the exclusive sensor for leak detection and without increasing cost. An ink jet printing device for printing letter by ejecting ink, comprising, a liquid container for containing ink or solvent, a surface level sensor for detecting surface level arranged on the liquid container, a control unit and a display unit, wherein the display unit displays indication in the case where the surface level change time detected by the control unit using the surface level sensor is larger than the settled surface level change time in settled printing condition is provided for solving the problem.

Abstract: A density determination method includes a first process, a second process, and a third process. In the first process, ink is discharged onto a medium to print a plurality of colorimetric patches having mutually different densities on the medium so as to allow each of the colorimetric patches to include a base portion serving as a background of the each of the colorimetric patches and a low density portion forming a symbol and having a density lower than a density of the base portion. In the second process, images each associated with a corresponding one of the colorimetric patches are acquired. In the third process, a maximum printing density value for the medium is determined on the basis of a result of recognizing the symbol through each of the images, having been acquired in the second process.

Abstract: A method of filling a print head includes drawing a vapor into an empty print head to displace any air in the print head and filling the print head with ink. A method of filling a print head includes connecting a print head to a vacuum pump using a first valve, to a liquid supply using a second valve, and to an ink supply using a third valve, opening the first and second valves, applying vacuum to the print head and liquid supply using the vacuum pump, causing the liquid to generate a vapor that moves into the print head, closing the first valve and the second valve, and opening the third valve to move ink into the print head.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a thermal transfer printer comprises a ribbon feeding roller configured to feed an ink ribbon including an ink layer on a base film; a ribbon winding roller configured to wind the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding roller; a print head configured to heat the ink ribbon from a surface provided with no ink layer to selectively transfer the ink layer to paper; and a control section configured to control to apply an appropriate tension to the ink ribbon between the ribbon feeding roller and the ribbon winding roller according to the type of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods providing a ribbon sensor configured and positioned to ascertain an orientation of a printing ribbon, including devices, systems, and methods configured for detecting an improperly oriented printing ribbon, and for triggering a response in the event of an improperly installed, and/or for confirming proper installation of a printing ribbon.

Abstract: A method for transferring a printing substance provided as a coating on a carrier onto a substrate by laser radiation from a laser beam source that comprises an amplifier and that has an output power includes initiating a transfer process at the start of an active phase during a first time period by a temporary increase in the output power above an upper power threshold of the laser radiation, and adjusting the output power during a second time period of the active phase following the first time period, wherein the output power is adjusted during the second time period constantly in the range between the upper power threshold and a lower power threshold. The laser radiation and the carrier are moved relative to one another and the output power of the laser beam source is time modulated.

Abstract: Computerized systems and computer-implemented methods that enable printing on a large solid surface, such as a floor, wall, or ceiling using mobile printer heads guided by coded light. In one implementation, a user points a projector onto the printing surface to project a sequence of images with a unique temporal identifier (ID) for each pixel, wherein different space partitions are associated with different pixel IDs. The mechanical transmissions of the conventional printers are replaced with the aforesaid coded light used in conjunction with small mobile printer heads equipped with light sensors, while the coded light is used to guide the printer heads' movements during the printing process.

Abstract: A printer/encoder system is provided for mounting to a mobile unit, such as a forklift-type vehicle. The printer/encoder system is adapted for printing and encoding one or more media units that may be stored in a media supply assembly of the printer/encoder system. The printer/encoder system may be mounted to the mobile unit using a mobile unit mounting assembly having a shock resistance system for protecting at least portions of the printer/encoder system from mechanical shocks or vibrations that are commonly associated with mobile unit movement. The printer/encoder system may include an encoder assembly structured to encode a transponder, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, on a media unit. The printer/encoder system may include an encoder assembly having a modular design.