A continuous inkjet printer has an ink circuit comprising an ink tank, an ink pump and a Venture suction device. The Venturi is used to suck an extra solvent or ink as required. However, if the ink tank is empty, no ink can be pumped through the Venture and so it will not develop suction and thus, cannot be used to suck in an initial supply of ink to an empty tank. A removable ink container may be connected to the ink tank or elsewhere in the ink circuit, for example, between the Venturi outlet and the pump inlet. Compressing the ink container manually will force ink into the ink circuit. When enough ink has been added, the pump will drive ink through the Venturi and suction will be generated.

A method of treating a contoured surface with surface treatment layer includes applying a surface preparation layer along the contoured surface and applying a basecoat layer on top of the surface preparation layer. The method further includes stabilizing the basecoat layer to prepare a basecoat surface along the basecoat layer for one or more subsequent layers of the surface treatment coating and jetting a decorative livery layer along the contoured surface using one or more ink jet print heads. The method further includes applying an adhesion promoter on top of the decorative livery layer and stabilizing the adhesion promoter layer to produce a desired bonding surface along the adhesion promoter layer. Additionally, the method includes applying a clear coat layer to cover the underlying decorative livery layer, the basecoat layer and the surface preparation layer.

A method of treating a contoured surface with surface treatment layer includes applying a surface preparation layer along the contoured surface and applying a basecoat layer on top of the surface preparation layer. The method further includes stabilizing the basecoat layer to prepare a basecoat surface along the basecoat layer for one or more subsequent layers of the surface treatment coating and jetting a decorative livery layer along the contoured surface using one or more ink jet print heads. The method further includes applying an adhesion promoter on top of the decorative livery layer and stabilizing the adhesion promoter layer to produce a desired bonding surface along the adhesion promoter layer. Additionally, the method includes applying a clear coat layer to cover the underlying decorative livery layer, the basecoat layer and the surface preparation layer.

Provided is an inkjet recording device control method including: a printing object detection step of detecting a printing object; a charge control signal transmission step of transmitting signals for controlling charges of a plurality of nozzles at a timing when the printing object is detected in the printing object detection step and signals are received from all of a plurality of processing units; and a printing step of controlling the plurality of nozzles and performing printing on the basis of the signals for controlling the charges that have been transmitted in the charge signal transmission step.

A method of controlling a control apparatus for use with a fluid dispenser having a plurality of nozzles includes obtaining, dividing, and substituting. A drop pattern is obtained as data for use in dispensing drops onto a substrate from the plurality of nozzles of the fluid dispenser. The obtained drop pattern is divided into a plurality of drop patterns based on a distance between drops of the obtained drop pattern. The plurality of drop patterns are substituted in place of the obtained drop pattern to dispense the drops onto the substrate from the fluid dispenser.

A method of controlling a control apparatus for use with a fluid dispenser having a plurality of nozzles includes obtaining, dividing, and substituting. A drop pattern is obtained as data for use in dispensing drops onto a substrate from the plurality of nozzles of the fluid dispenser. The obtained drop pattern is divided into a plurality of drop patterns based on a distance between drops of the obtained drop pattern. The plurality of drop patterns are substituted in place of the obtained drop pattern to dispense the drops onto the substrate from the fluid dispenser.

A method of treating a contoured surface with surface treatment layer includes applying a surface preparation layer along the contoured surface and applying a basecoat layer on top of the surface preparation layer. The method further includes stabilizing the basecoat layer to prepare a basecoat surface along the basecoat layer for one or more subsequent layers of the surface treatment coating and jetting a decorative livery layer along the contoured surface using one or more ink jet print heads. The method further includes applying an adhesion promoter on top of the decorative livery layer and stabilizing the adhesion promoter layer to produce a desired bonding surface along the adhesion promoter layer. Additionally, the method includes applying a clear coat layer to cover the underlying decorative livery layer, the basecoat layer and the surface preparation layer.

A method of treating a contoured surface with surface treatment layer includes applying a surface preparation layer along the contoured surface and applying a basecoat layer on top of the surface preparation layer. The method further includes stabilizing the basecoat layer to prepare a basecoat surface along the basecoat layer for one or more subsequent layers of the surface treatment coating and jetting a decorative livery layer along the contoured surface using one or more ink jet print heads. The method further includes applying an adhesion promoter on top of the decorative livery layer and stabilizing the adhesion promoter layer to produce a desired bonding surface along the adhesion promoter layer. Additionally, the method includes applying a clear coat layer to cover the underlying decorative livery layer, the basecoat layer and the surface preparation layer.

An electrostatic deflection inkjet printer has a main printer body separated by a vapor barrier into an electrical region and a fluid region. Electrically operated valves are provided in the fluid region. Control circuitry for deciding when to operate the valves is provided in the electrical region. Valve drive circuitry, for generating drive currents for the valves, is provided in the fluid region and is in data communication with the control circuitry via wiring, which may be a serial bus, that passes through the vapor barrier. This reduces the number of electrical connections that need to pass through the vapor barrier. A circuit carrier for the valve drive circuitry may be mounted on a valve block for the valves, and an electrically insulating material may cover the circuit carrier. The electrically insulating material may extend partially or wholly around the valve block.

The invention describes a method and apparatus for characterising EHT tripping events and thus discriminating between false trip events and those that warrant the printer being shut down.