Eastman-kodak Company

Encad, Inc.

Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, Inc.

David A Neese

Peter James Fellingham

Thomas Reid Fletcher

Wayne Mauro

Yichuan Pan

William Golobeff

Warren Free

Marni D Ines

Steven J Wirth

Dennis J Astroth

James J Haflinger

Loan M Hoang

Richard A Murray

John Christian Love

Jason Dewey

David Allen Purcell

Jeffrey Jay Rhine

Shawn J Mercy

Timothy T Grady

Gary Graham

David M Corner

David M Dull

A filter unit for a mixing apparatus includes a hydrophilic filter and a hydrophobic vent filter. The hydrophilic filter is configured to receive a fluid including a liquid and gas. The hydrophilic filter is further configured to sterilize the liquid. The hydrophobic vent filter is configured to receive the gas from the hydrophilic filter. The hydrophobic vent filter further includes a vent and a membrane configured to separate an interior of the filter unit from an exterior of the filter unit, the gas being vented from the filter unit by flowing across the membrane and out of the vent. In some embodiments, the filter unit further includes a defoaming device configured to receive gas, foam comprised the liquid containing trapped gas, and some of the liquid from the hydrophilic filter and is further configured to release at least some of the gas from the foam.

Venting system for a mixing apparatus

An automated bioprocess solution preparation apparatus includes a first mixing chamber containing at least one ingredient for a bioprocess solution, a first port and a second port for a fluid to enter the mixing chamber, and a third port for a liquid bioprocess solution to exit the mixing chamber. The apparatus further includes an array of tubing for fluid flow within the apparatus, a sensor arranged to measure a property of the liquid bioprocess solution exiting the mixing chamber, a first valve associated with the first port, and a second valve associated with the second port. When the property meets or exceeds a threshold value, the apparatus is operable to perform at least one of: closing the first valve to block the fluid from entering the mixing chamber through the first port, and opening the second valve for the fluid to enter the mixing chamber through the second port.

Automated method and apparatus for preparing bioprocess solutions

An automated apparatus for preparing a liquid bioprocess solution includes at least one mixing chamber having a lower port and an upper port for fluid to enter the at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, and a mixing controller configured to cause the automated apparatus to perform a series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution from a dry ingredient. The series of sequential mixing steps include opening a first valve associated with the lower port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the lower port, and after a predetermined amount of elapsed time, closing the first valve and opening a second valve associated with the upper port to provide fluid to the at least one mixing chamber through the upper port.

An automated method includes providing a dry ingredient to be reconstituted into a liquid bioprocess solution and controlling, by a processing circuit, all automated system including at least one mixing chamber, an array of tubing for fluid flow within the system, and a plurality of valves provided within the tubing, to automatically prepare the liquid bioprocess solution from the dry ingredient. Controlling the auto system may include performing a series of sequential mixing steps, the series of sequential mixing steps causing the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution. The method mixing include taking one or more measurements during the preparation of the liquid bioprocess solution, wherein each step is triggered by at least one of a measurement decreasing below, equaling, or exceeding a measurement threshold. Each step may also include opening or closing, by the processing circuit, at least one of the plurality of valves.

A method for printing an image with a printing system including the steps of multitoning image data to produce a multitoned image having a multitone resolution; providing a look-up table, wherein each look-up table entry specifies a number of dots of a first size and a number of dots of a second size; using the look-up table to expand the multitoned image data from the multitone resolution to a print-ready image having a printing resolution; and printing the print-ready image using a first array of dot forming elements for forming dots of a first size and a second array of dot forming elements for forming dots having a second size that is greater than the first size.

Efficient image printing with printing systems employing printheads with drop ejectors providing multiple-sized dots

A method of measuring a relative offset between a first array of marking elements and a second array of marking elements in a printer; a registration target; and a printer are provided. The method includes printing a target by printing a first group of pixels using a plurality of marking elements from the first array and printing a second group of pixels using a plurality of marking elements from the second array; scanning the target to measure an optical characteristic of the target as a function of position along the target; and identifying a position at which an extreme in the optical characteristic of the target occurs.

Marking element registration

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.

Media advance calibration

A drying system and method are provided. The drying system includes a plenum and a gas source in fluid communication with the plenum. A gas flow guide is attached to the plenum and is operable to direct gas flow provided by the gas source. A support includes a surface, at least a portion of which is heated. The gas flow guide is positioned to direct gas flow at least partially toward the heated surface of the support.

Media drying system having a heated surface and a directed gas flow

An ink delivery system delivers ink from a stationary ink supply to a print cartridge on a movable carriage. The system comprises an ink container, a reservoir, and a flexible tubing connecting the reservoir to the print cartridge. The ink container has an internal cavity not open to atmosphere holding a supply of ink, and an air inlet channel and an ink exit channel. The ink reservoir has fluid channels to mate with the air inlet channel and ink exit channel on the ink container, and an air opening on the upper portion to connect the internal space of the reservoir to atmosphere and an ink exit port. The ink level in the ink reservoir is controlled by allowing the ink to rise to a level where the ink blocks the air channel into the ink container thereby preventing air to flow there through.

Ink delivery system with print cartridge, container and reservoir apparatus and method

A novel method and system for calibration of paper feed in an ink jet printing system is used to remove overfeed bands and underfeed bands from an image. The method begins by feeding print media into the ink jet printing system. A color density test target is formed by simultaneously applying an on/off pattern print mask to print numerous print swaths while incrementing paper feed values. Each paper feed value corresponds respectively to each print swath. The color density test target reveals shifts from light to dark to light in order to identify a maximum optical density region. The paper feed value from the color density test target corresponding to a maximum optical density region on the color density test target is selected and entered into the printing system. The entered value calibrates printing system in order to minimize the presence of overfeed bands and underfeed bands while printing.

Media feed calibration

An ink delivery system in an inkjet printer includes a printhead mounted on a carriage in the inkjet printer. The printhead has nozzles to eject ink droplets for image printing. The system includes an ink reservoir for delivering ink to the printhead. The ink reservoir is positioned so that the ink level is from 0 to 8 inches below the printhead. A pulsation dampener is connected between the ink reservoir and the printhead. The pulsation dampener includes two chambers within a body, wherein a weir separates the chambers. A resilient member is located in one of the chambers and a membrane covers the chambers and the resilient member. The resilient member provides a recovering force against the membrane. Embodied herein is a method of delivering ink to a printhead mounted on a movable carriage using the embodied ink delivery system.

Ink delivery system including a pulsation dampener

A color inkjet printer and method of printing includes a printer carriage supported for bi-directional movement along a print swath axis. Color inkjet printheads of different colors are mounted for movement with the carriage. The printheads are mounted in only two rows which are directed along the print swath axis. One row of the two rows of printheads is formed of printheads for printing a first primary color and a printhead for printing black. Another row of the two rows of printheads is formed of printheads for printing a second primary color and a printhead for printing yellow. Nozzle arrays of printheads for printing the first primary color and the nozzle array of the printhead for printing black do not overlap in the direction along the print swath axis with the nozzle arrays of printheads for printing the second primary color and the nozzle array of the printhead for printing yellow.

Bi-directional color printer and method of printing

Inkjet cartridge assemblies are provided for shipping with the internal pressure of their ink containers set during assembly at a reduced level at least 2 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level to avoid leaking during shipping. Preferably, the ink containers have an internal pressure set at least 9 inches Hg gage below atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Replaceable ink jet print head cartridge assembly with reduced internal pressure for shipping

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.

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Escondido, CA, United States of America

David A Neese