Abstract: A system and method to provide pressure to de-prime a printhead. An image forming device comprises an ink reservoir that contains ink and provides the ink to a printhead. When a fault condition is detected that indicates a likelihood of a solidifying of the ink, the printhead is de-primed by applying pressure to the printhead to purge the ink from the printhead. The fault condition comprises any of a loss of power, a power-down process, or a printhead temperature being less than or equal to a threshold temperature.

Abstract: A chip used for dispensing a fluid such as ink provides ink-dispensing ejectors having an ink cavity over a supporting substrate, and further provides a heater for heating the ink in the cavity. The heater can be interposed between the substrate and the ink cavity to provide direct heating of ink as it is being dispensed Various embodiments further comprise the use of the heater structure as a temperature probe to measure the temperature of the ink in the ink cavity. Other embodiments provides a chip having both a temperature probe and a heater as separate structures interposed between the ink cavity and the substrate. Further described is a temperature probe and/or heater which traverses a majority of a width of a substrate, and surrounds each drop ejector on at least two sides.

Abstract: An image forming device comprises an ink reservoir that contains a reservoir ink. The ink reservoir is arranged to provide the reservoir ink to an included print element by means of an included ink supply channel. A print element ink thus is supplied to the print element. When a fault condition is detected that indicates a likelihood of a freezing of the print element ink, the print element is de-primed by forcing the print element ink to evacuate, discharge, withdraw or flow from the print element by means of the ink supply channel. The fault condition comprises any of a loss of power, a power-down process or a print element temperature being less than or equal to a threshold value.

Abstract: A mixing method is disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.

Abstract: An internal heating system for an image transfer drum is disclosed that can include a box having a plurality of sides, an open side facing the drum and a heater element. The box can have small gaps between it and the internal drum surface to maximize thermal efficiency of the internal heating system. The heater element can include first and second support structures that are disposed on a central support structure, the first support structure having an end connector at one side away from the second support structure. The heater system can also include at least two circuits, two channels and a relay switch, with the relay switch operating to switch the circuits into a series or parallel electrical configuration.

Abstract: The present application is directed to electrostatic actuators, and methods of making electrostatic actuators. In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator of the present application comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned in proximity to the first electrode so as to provide a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is capable of being deflected toward the second electrode. A dielectric structure comprising a dielectric landing post is positioned in the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, the dielectric structure extending over a greater surface of the gap than the landing post. The landing post protrudes out into the gap so as to limit the minimum contact spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A dryer assembly for drying a liquid ink image formed on a substrate comprising a housing defining a portion of a sheet moving path; a plenum positioned within the housing, the plenum including air flow and outlet means contiguous to the plenum permitting forced air to exit the plenum, the outlet being in the form of a plurality of moving openings adapted to direct flowing air through the openings to the liquid image, the openings moving relative to the image; and a substrate transport device for moving the substrate carrying the liquid ink image on a front side thereof through the housing and under the plurality of moving openings. The dryer assembly has particular use in an ink jet printing system.

Abstract: A dryer assembly for drying a liquid ink image formed on a substrate comprising a housing defining a portion of a sheet moving path; a plenum positioned within the housing, the plenum including air flow and outlet means contiguous to the plenum permitting forced air to exit the plenum, the outlet being in the form of a plurality of moving openings adapted to direct flowing air through the openings to the liquid image, the openings moving relative to the image; and a substrate transport device for moving the substrate carrying the liquid ink image on a front side thereof through the housing and under the plurality of moving openings. An ink jet printing machine for printing a liquid ink image on a sheet of paper moving along a sheet path through a printing zone therein, the ink jet printing machine comprises a frame; a printhead mounted to said frame and containing liquid ink for depositing image-wise onto the sheet of paper to form a liquid ink image.

Abstract: A dryer uses a two-phase drying system having a brief water condensation interval, followed by impinging parallel laminar recirculating hot air jets which impinge on wet ink to increase the copy rate of inkjet printing and to increase the quality of the printed image.

Abstract: A microchannel fluidic device, such as an ink jet printhead, includes an fluid reservoir for receiving ink or other fluid from a supply. The reservoir has an inlet in communication with the supply, and an outlet. A plurality of nozzles are in fluid communication with the reservoir for delivering ink or fluid from the reservoir. The outlet of the reservoir is constructed and arranged such that air bubbles in the reservoir are ejected by differential pressure between the inlet and outlet, rather than being forced through nozzles. An overflow reservoir captures fluid ejected from the outlet during priming operations thereby to reduce waste, to enable treatment of the fluid, and/or to recirculate the fluid.

Abstract: A simultaneous push-pull method of, and apparatus for, removing air bubbles from a powerable ink jet printhead are provided. The printhead includes a printhead die containing liquid ink and heating elements within ink channels, and has a nozzle face and nozzles connected to the ink channels. The simultaneous push-pull method includes providing a printhead capping member including side walls, a bottom wall, a vacuuming path through the bottom wall, and a capping recess defined by the side walls and the bottom wall. The method then includes applying heat energy to the heating elements to reduce a viscosity of ink in the channels, activating a print mode of the printhead, firing the printhead while in the print mode to eject droplets of liquid ink in an ink ejecting direction through nozzles into the capping recess.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a die reservoir and at least one ink channel in communication with the die reservoir. The method and apparatus contemplate heating ink in the die reservoir to increase vapor pressure of the ink to cause mass transfer of water vapor molecules across an interface between the air bubble and the ink and removing air bubbles entrapped within the die reservoir and the ink channel. An ink jet recording apparatus may also include a heat sink provided to the die reservoir to cool the die reservoir below predetermined threshold temperatures. The heat sink may be fixably attached to either a carriage or maintenance station of the ink jet recording apparatus, or the heat sink may be integrally formed with the die reservoir and the ink channel as part of the replacement cartridge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dissolved air in ink and air bubbles or air pockets from ink passageways in ink jet printer cartridges by use of a permeable membrane tubing member positioned in the ink at a location adjacent the ink inlet of the printer's droplet ejecting printhead. The permeable membrane tubing member is connected to a vacuum source to diffuse air into the vacuum in the tubing member interior. The vacuum source may be by a direct connection to the printer's vacuum priming pump at its maintenance station, a separate vacuum pump, or a vacuum accumulator.