Abstract:
A method of calibrating a media advance in a printer includes providing a mask to specify a printing configuration of a calibration target; forming a media feed calibration target on the print media by: i. printing the calibration target on a print media using an array of the marking elements, ii. advancing the print media by a media advance amount, iii. printing the calibration target on the print media using the array of the marking elements; iv. advancing the print media by the previous media advance amount plus an offset amount, and v. repeating steps iii. and iv. until the media feed calibration target is complete; measuring the optical reflectance of the media feed calibration target as a function of position along the media feed calibration target; identifying a position along the media feed calibration target corresponding to the location at which a maximum in the optical reflectance occurs; and comparing the location at which a maximum in the optical reflectance occurs to a predetermined location of the media feed calibration target to calibrate media advance in the printer.
Abstract:
A device and method for supplying ink to ink jet printer heads comprising first and second carriage portions non-rigidly coupled such that the two carriage portions are free to rotate independently about their guide rod axis, but are constrained to move together axially. The first carriage portion contains one or more ink jet cartridges supplied with ink via connecting tubes having self-sealing septum attached to corresponding ink outlets on the second carriage portion. The ink outlets on the second carriage portion preferably comprise valves with actuators. The actuators preferably act to secure the septum within the ink outlets, and are preferably disposed such that the valve is closed when the actuator is raised, and open when the actuator is lowered.
Abstract:
A droplet deposition analysis system for an ink jet printer including a flexible transparent substrate. The printer may include a light source on one side of the substrate, and an optical detector on the other side of the substrate.
Abstract:
A system for controlling and displaying the printing format of dot matrix printers includes a microprocessor, a memory which is loaded with programs from replaceable software cards, and a control panel having a plurality of control buttons, an aligned display, and a rotary control coupled to the microprocessor. In a first mode, depression of a selected control button accesses the corresponding one of the parameters of the most commonly used print parameters and repeated actuation of the selected control button cycles through the options contained within the parameter, the parameter and current option being sequentially presented on the display. In a second mode under microprocessor control, each one of the parameters in a printing parameter menu is sequentially accessed and rotation of the rotary dial provides scrolling through each option contained within the parameter. Sets of selected parameter options can be saved under specified designations for later retrieval and use. The rotary control is also independently used to move paper and printhead to starting positions. Thus a great number of parameters, with a number of options for each parameter can be selectively set by an operator in an exceptionally easy to understand and use manner.
Abstract:
A method of calibrating a media advance in a printer includes providing a mask to specify a printing configuration of a calibration target; forming a media feed calibration target on the print media by: i. printing the calibration target, ii. advancing the print media, iii. printing the calibration target; iv. advancing the print media by the previous media advance amount plus an offset amount, and v. repeating steps iii. and iv. until the media feed calibration target is complete; measuring the optical reflectance of the media feed calibration target as a function of position along the media feed calibration target; identifying a position along the media feed calibration target corresponding to the location at which a maximum in the optical reflectance occurs; and comparing the location at which a maximum in the optical reflectance occurs to a predetermined location of the media feed calibration target to calibrate media advance.
Abstract:
A seating assembly is made up of both fixed and positionable components. The assembly in a first position provides in a back-to-back relation respective oppositely facing seats. In a second position the assembly provides a substantially horizontal lounge a portion of which is withdrawn from a stored position below the seats. The lounge when withdrawn includes the sitting surface portion of a selected one of the oppositely facing seats as part of the lounge and when stored utilizes such sitting surface portion as part of the selected seat.
Abstract:
A column of ink ejection nozzles on an ink jet print head is arranged in a plurality of sub-columns. The number of sub-columns and the assignment of nozzles to the sub-columns is selected to reduce cross-talk between nozzles, to prevent overlap of ejection pulses between sub-columns, and to minimize the complexity of the electronics required to actuate the ink ejection nozzles for droplet deposition.
Abstract:
A method and system for compensating for nonfunctional ink jets in an ink jet printer. The ink-jet printer includes a printhead having a plurality of ink jets, each ink jet being assigned to print respective dots on a respective raster line of a recording medium in accordance with a print mask, wherein when an ink jet is detected as being defective, at least a portion of said print mask is replaced with a replacement mask such that one or more of the remaining ink jets of the plurality of ink jets compensates for the defective ink jet. The method includes: detecting when an ink jet is nonfunctional; and when an ink jet is determined to be nonfunctional, replacing at least a portion of the print mask with a replacement mask such that one or more of the remaining ink jets of the plurality of ink jets compensates for the nonfunctional ink jet.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for guiding recording media through a printer comprises a roller unit which is coupled to the printer and which comprises a plurality of roller wheels.
Abstract:
A service station for an ink jet printer is provided with a base station and a sliding sled having both wipers and caps mounted thereon. Power for sled motion during wiping and capping is provided by the movement of the print carriage of the ink jet printer. Sled motion is guided by pins on the sled which engage slots on the base station. A plank holds the sled in a temporarily stationary position during wiping.