Domino Printing Sciences Plc

Peratech Limited

Domino UK Limited

Eleksen Limited

Electrotextiles Company Limited

Stuart Mark Walkington

David Lee Sandbach

Brian Patrick Guinee

Christopher Chapman

Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges

Gareth Huw Lloyd

Steven Mark Hatch

Justin Chase

Jonathan Morgan

Colin Jon Partridge

John Burkitt

Phillipe Georges Crispin

Anthony Christopher Hunter Hardman

Christopher Hall

Timothy Charles Andrew Fitzgerald

Andrew Deakin

Martin Davie Greaves

Antonio Martin

A continuous inkjet printer () has an ink droplet generator () and a controller () that varies a modulating voltage applied to the ink droplet generator () and measures corresponding breakup times of a jet of ink into ink droplets to obtain a portion of a characteristic of breakup time against modulating voltage. The controller () obtains a variation range, varies the modulating voltage over the variation range to obtain the portion of the characteristic, calculates a gradient from the portion of the characteristic, compares the gradient with a predetermined gradient and, depending on whether the calculated gradient is less than or greater than the predetermined gradient, generates an adjusted variation range that is displaced in a first sense or a second, opposite sense, respectively, relative to the variation range.

Dynamic modulating voltage adjustment

A print head () for a continuous inkjet printer has an ink drop generator (), an ink supply tube () connected to the ink drop generator (), and a solvent supply tube () connected at a first end to the ink drop generator () and for connection at a second end to a solvent reservoir. The solvent supply tube () is provided with ink flow restriction means () for restricting a flow of ink from the ink drop generator () into the solvent supply tube (). The flow restriction means () comprise an arrangement () of the solvent supply tube () such that, for a flow direction reversing portion () of the solvent supply tube () at the first end of the solvent supply tube (), a flow of solvent from the second end to the first end of the solvent supply tube () flows away from the ink drop generator (). Also a printer including such a print head and a former for use with such a print head.

Solvent supply tube arrangement

The invention discloses various methods of controlling or monitoring the performance of a continuous inkjet printer based on monitoring vacuum levels and/or noise in the gutter line.

Continuous inkjet printers

The invention provides a method of adding solvent or make-up fluid into the gutter line of a continuous ink printer. During the addition of solvent, the vacuum level in the gutter line is monitored and maintained at a level sufficient to ensure that vacuum is maintained at the gutter. Vacuum level in the gutter line is preferably controlled by controlling the speed of a variable speed gutter pump. Noise in the gutter line is preferably used as a control over pump speed.

Method and Apparatus for Reducing Ink Foaming in a Continuous Inkjet Printer The invention provides a method of and apparatus for reducing foam formation in the returned ink in a continuous inkjet printer. The returned ink is subjected to deceleration and is reduced in pressure, preferably by being directed into a sub-chamber which reverses the direction of flow and provides an elevated edge over which the ink overflows. The de-aeration facility is preferably incorporated in an ink service module.

Inkjet printers

The invention describes a continuous inkjet printer having an ink distribution block and an ink module containing ink and filters which can be connected to the distribution block with a substantially horizontal linear sliding action. Spigots forming part of the connection are preferably provided with upward facing fluid transfer ports.

Relating to inkjet printers

The invention describes a method of and means for reducing solvent consumption in a continuous inkjet printer that comprises cooling the ink within the printer system. Ink from the ink reservoir is preferably circulated through a heat exchanger.

A manually operable sensor for providing control signals to an electronic device. A fabric has a length substantially longer than its width with insulating yarns and electrically conductive yarns included therein, such that the conductive yarns define three conductive tracks running the length of the fabric. The conductive tracks are configured to interface with an electronic device at a first end and, at a second end, an active region of the fabric forms part of a sensor assembly that is receptive to a manually applied pressure. The sensor comprises first and second conductive regions to which a first and a second conductive track are connected respectively, to apply an electric potential to each conductive region. A conductive path is formed between a connected conductive track and the third conductive track of said active region when manual pressure is applied to one of the conductive regions.

Woven manually operable input device

Printer service module

Printer make-up cartridge

Printer ink cartridge

A manually operable position sensor is shown, for providing control signals to an electronic device, such as an audio player. A fabric ribbon () has a length substantially longer than its width with insulating yarns and electrically conducting yarns included therein. The conducting yarns define three conductive tracks () running the length of the fabric. The conductive tracks are configured to interface with an electronic device at a first end. At a second end, an active region of the fabric forms part of a sensor assembly that is receptive to a manually applied pressure.

Manually operable position sensor

A linear sensor () comprising electrically conductive textile fibers () and electrically insulating textile fibers (). The sensor comprises at least two conductive elements () having electrically conductive textile fibers (). The sensor also has electrically insulating textile fibers () spaced to separate the two electrically conductive elements when no pressure is applied to said sensor, and to allow electrical conduction between the two conductive elements under the application of pressure.

Linear pressure sensor

A sensor having a three layer construction comprising a first knitted conductive textile plane, a second conductive textile plane and an intermediate separating plane penetrable by the first knitted conductive textile plane to allow the first conductive textile plane and the second conductive textile plane to make electrical contact under a mechanical interaction. The intermediate separating plane defines structural endpoints from which the first knitted conductive textile plane deforms towards the second conductive textile plane under a mechanical interaction. The first knitted conductive textile plane has conductive yarn knitted to form a repeating pattern of stitches each comprising a stitch looping portion SLP having a looping portion footprint LPF. Within the sensor, there is at least one of a plurality of described dimensional relationships between stitches of the first knitted conductive textile plane and structural endpoints of the intermediate separating plane.

Growing community of inventors

St. Albans, United Kingdom

Stuart Mark Walkington