| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080204532 | System for loading and feeding solid ink sticks to an ink melter in a phase change ink printer - A solid ink delivery system for a phase change ink image generator includes a solid ink stick loader and a solid ink stick feeder that cooperate to provide solid ink sticks to an ink melter. The solid ink delivery system includes a solid ink stick loader having a moving support that transports a solid ink stick from a loading area and a solid ink stick feeder having a moving gripper for engaging a solid ink stick received from the solid ink stick moving support. The moving gripper remains in engagement with the solid ink stick as the ink stick is delivered to an ink melter and converted to liquid ink. The loader and gripper members of the delivery system interact with ink sticks that are configured with drive engagement structures at opposed sides of the ink stick. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20100206686 | Gearbox Output Switcher - A gear switching mechanism for a printing machine comprises at least one pair of input and driven gears, each pair rotationally mounted on a corresponding common axle. The input gear of each pair may be coupled to a common drive, while each driven gear is coupled to a separate output. A rotational gear coupling is mounted to translate along each axle to selectively engage and disengage the corresponding pair of input and driven gears. The rotational gear coupling includes a cam follower that slides along a cam profile of a cam shuttle. The shuttle defines a cam profile that is normal to the common axles. In one embodiment, the cam shuttle translates linearly, while in another embodiment, the shuttle rotates. The cam profile is configured to selectively engage and disengage the rotational couplings of each pair of input and driven gears. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100245447 | System And Method For Optimizing Printing Throughput And Print Quality By Evaluating Image Content - A method adjusts operation of a printer in accordance with an analysis of image content used to generate printed images. The method includes measuring image content of a first print image, comparing the measured image content to a predetermined threshold, and altering a print process parameter to adjust operation of a printer component in response to the measured image content exceeding the threshold. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100245452 | Method And Apparatus For Melt Cessation To Limit Ink Flow And Ink Stick Deformation - A system controls application of heat with a melt plate to an ink stick in a solid ink imaging device. The system includes a melt plate, a heater configured to heat the melt plate to a temperature sufficient to melt solid ink, a feed channel configured to direct solid ink sticks towards the melt plate to enable a leading edge of a solid ink stick to be melted by the heated melt plate, and a controller configured to separate the heater and the leading edge of the ink stick by a distance that arrest melting of the ink stick. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100245506 | Method And Apparatus For Melt Cessation To Limit Ink Flow And Ink Stick Deformation - A system has been developed that controls application of heat with a melt plate to an ink stick in a solid ink imaging device. The system includes a melt plate, a heater configured to heat the melt plate to a temperature sufficient to melt solid ink, a heat transfer unit configured to cool the melt plate to arrest the melting of the solid ink within a predetermined time, and a controller configured to actuate the heat transfer unit to selectively cool the melt plate in response to reaching a heater power off phase. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100276018 | System For Maintaining Temperature Of A Fluid In A Conduit - A fluid transport apparatus maintains temperature of a fluid transported through a conduit. The fluid transport apparatus includes a fluid transport conduit that is selectively deformed by a pressure within a compressor conduit and allowed to return to its original shape by venting the pressure through a venting valve. The alternating pressurization and release of pressure from the compressor conduit moves fluid through the fluid transport conduit. A thermal conductor is associated with the fluid transport conduit to maintain the temperature of the fluid in the fluid transport conduit within a predetermined range. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100277557 | Segmented Ink Stick - A method facilitates insertion of a segmented ink stick into an ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer. The method includes bending of a flexible strand between ink stick segments during insertion of the ink stick segments and then straightening the flexible strand to orient the ink stick segments in the ink feed system. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110221804 | System And Method For Improving Throughput For Printing Operations In An Indirect Printing System - A printer is configured with a controller that transforms operation of the printer to increase throughput. The printer includes an image receiving member, a printhead configured to eject ink drops onto the image receiving member to form an ink image, a transfix roller configured to move towards and away from the image receiving member to form a transfixing nip with the image receiving member selectively, a release agent applicator configured to engage the image receiving member selectively to apply release agent to the rotatable imaging member, and a controller configured to generate firing signals that operate the printhead from image data and to transform operation of the printer from a first printing process sequence to a second printing process sequence in response to a coverage parameter for image data to be printed being less than a predetermined threshold. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110221837 | No Spill, Feed Controlled Removable Container For Delivering Pelletized Substances - A solid printer includes a solid ink container that expels solid ink units in predetermined amounts for delivery to a melting device within the printer. The solid ink container includes a housing in which solid ink pellets are stored, an opening in the housing through which solid ink units are expelled, a first moveable member located within the housing proximate to the opening, the first moveable member being configured to move solid ink units through the opening, and a second moveable member located within the housing, the second moveable member being configured to move solid ink pellets to the first moveable member to enable the first moveable member to expel solid ink pellets through the opening in the housing. | 09-15-2011 |
