Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film structure includes printing, using an electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing apparatus, a first layer comprising a first liquid ink, such that the first layer is supported by a substrate, curing the first layer; printing, using the e-jet printing apparatus, a second layer comprising a second liquid ink, such that the second layer is supported by the first layer, and curing the second layer.

Abstract: A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a storage device for storing instructions for performing a matching protocol, and one or more data processors configured to execute the instructions to, receive, by one or more data processors, target image data of a target coating, the target image data generated by an electronic imaging device, and apply the target image data to a matching protocol to generate application instructions. The system further includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured expel the coating composition based on the application instructions.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a paper layer having a printed pattern for use in panels that at least include a substrate and a top layer. The top layer includes the paper layer. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. Providing the printed pattern may involve using water based pigment containing inks. The printed pattern may include a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction substantially corresponding to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction substantially corresponding or substantially opposite to the coating direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure in some aspects provides methods for the controlled merging of emulsion droplets, which can be used to assemble useful compositions such as droplets (e.g., stabilized micelles) containing a precise combination of analytes and/or analytical reagents. In some embodiments, disclosed herein is a method, e.g., for detecting the presence/absence, a level or amount, and/or an activity of an analyte in a sample, comprising merging two or more emulsion droplets such that an interaction between an analyte and an analyte-interacting reagent occurs in the merged droplet. The two or more emulsion droplets may be merged using a method for the controlled merging of emulsion droplets disclosed herein.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a medium accommodation portion that accommodates a medium, a medium discharge port for discharging the medium to an outside of the printing apparatus, a medium transport section that transports the medium along a transport path from the medium accommodation portion toward the medium discharge port, an ejection head that ejects a liquid to the medium to form an image on the medium, a heat generation section that dries the liquid ejected to the medium by heat, and an image detection section that detects the image formed on the medium. The ejection head, the heat generation section, and the image detection section are provided along the transport path. The ejection head is located between the heat generation section and the image detection section in a direction along the transport path.

Abstract: An inkjet print apparatus includes a print head discharging ink onto a substrate, the print head including a first heater; a reservoir storing the ink; a first pipe supplying the ink to the reservoir; a second pipe collecting surplus ink; a mixing unit located on the first pipe and mixing the ink; a pump located on the second pipe and pressurizing and supplying the surplus ink to the reservoir; a temperature sensor located between the mixing unit and the print head and sensing a temperature of the ink; and a controller controlling a temperature of at least one of the first heater and the second heater in response to information received from the temperature sensor. The print head includes a heat insulator blocking heat emitted from the first heater between the substrate and the first heater.

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic print head includes a plurality of nozzles and a common electrode. Separately controllable electrostatic fields between the common electrode and each nozzle are provided. The common electrode can also shield adjacent electrostatic fields from each other. Each nozzle can be associated with separately controllable gas flow fields and separately back pressures. The print head enables simultaneous e-jet printing of different printing fluids and/or different resolutions. The print head may be part of a printing system with interchangeable cartridges. Each cartridge has multiple nozzles, and printing fluid extraction parameters can be made separately controllable for each nozzle.

Abstract: A printing system comprises an intermediate transfer member, an image-forming station comprising a print bar disposed over a surface of the ITM, a conveyer for driving rotation of the ITM, a detection system configured to detect foreign matter 5 transported at a detection location upstream of the image-forming station, and a response system operatively coupled to the detection system to respond to the detection of foreign matter by performing at least one collision-prevention action to prevent a potential collision between foreign matter and the print bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for manipulating droplets within a high through put microfluidic system.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an object, comprising direct depositing a first layer of first object material on a support substrate electrode; applying a conductive agent material onto the first layer; direct depositing a first layer of charged powder onto the first layer on the support substrate electrode, to form a first powder layer on the first layer on the support substrate electrode. Multiple powder layers may be direct deposited on the first layer. The method may be further comprised of fusing the powder layer(s) to form a first fused layer on the support substrate electrode. A related object fabrication apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and, in particular, to systems and methods for coalescing or fusing droplets. In certain aspects, two or more droplets within a microfluidic channel are brought together and caused to coalesce without using electric fields or charges. For example, in certain embodiments, droplets stabilized with a surfactant may be disrupted, e.g., by exposing the droplets to a solvent able to alter the surfactant, which may partially destabilize the droplets and allow them to coalesce. In some instances, the droplets may also be physically disrupted to facilitate coalesce. In addition, in some cases, the positions of one or more droplets may be controlled within a channel using a groove in a wall of the channel. For example, a droplet may at least partially enter the groove such that the position of the droplet is at least partially controlled by the groove.

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing apparatus or system may include circulation of printing fluid to minimize or eliminate clogging in a nozzle. An exemplary nozzle comprises at least two ink channels—one allowing flow to a droplet emitting opening and one allowing flow away from the droplet emitting opening—configured for circulating ink. The nozzle may transfer ink to a substrate with an EHD technique involving voltage or current modulation. For example, an electric field may be applied between the nozzle and printing substrate such that the ink meniscus changes shape and releases ink from the tip of the liquid cone. A multi-channel nozzle may take a variety of configurations, including two co-axially aligned capillaries, side-by-side parallel capillaries, or capillaries arranged at an angle with respect to one another but converging at a single point where the conical meniscus is formed.

Abstract: Provided are an electroosmotic pump, including: a membrane; a first electrode which is provided on one surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support; and a second electrode which is provided on the other surface of the membrane, including a porous support including an insulator and an electrochemical reaction material formed on the porous support, and a fluid-pumping system including the electroosmotic pump.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface, wherein the panels at least include a substrate and a top layer, and wherein the top layer includes a paper layer having a printed pattern. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. The printed pattern may be a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction that substantially corresponds to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate including drive electrodes, a second substrate facing the first substrate and including detection electrodes, and a mesh-patterned first shield electrode arranged in a non-display region in the second substrate. The first shield electrode has a first opening and an island-shaped first electrode portion.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided and includes: a platen that supports a medium; an inkjet head provided to face the medium, the inkjet head ejecting an ink containing a charge controlling agent toward the medium by driving a drive element to land the charged ink droplet, which becomes a polarity of one of the positive polarity and the negative polarity, on the medium; and a voltage applying part that applies to at least one of the platen and the medium to have the other polarity of the positive polarity and the negative polarity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on a recording material; a fixing portion configured to fix the toner image on the recording material by heating the toner image formed on the recording material; a flow path including a first space connecting with the fixing portion and a second space connecting with the first space and through which air discharged from the fixing portion passes; a first electrode portion provided in the first space and provided with a first potential; and a second electrode portion provided in the second space and provided with a second potential different from the first potential. An air speed of the air passing through the second space is slower than an air speed of the air passing through the first space.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrohydrodynamic printing apparatus including: a nozzle configured to discharge liquid toward a substrate; a voltage applier configured to form an electric field between the nozzle and the substrate; and a laser beam emitter configured to emit a laser beam toward a position to which liquid is discharged on the substrate. Thus, it is possible to accurately and stably form a microscale deposition structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an induced electrohydrodynamic (EHD) jet printing apparatus including: a nozzle configured to discharge a fed solution to an opposite substrate; a main electrode contactlessly isolated from the solution inside the nozzle by an insulator; and a voltage supplier configured to apply voltage to the main electrode.

Abstract: An inkjet amount measuring system, an inkjet amount measuring method and an inkjet amount controlling method. The inkjet amount measuring system includes: an inkjet printing spray head; and electricity applying device configured to apply electric charges to ink droplets passing through a nozzle of the inkjet printing spray head; a magnetic field generating device configured to generate a magnetic field to deflect the charged ink droplets; a test board having a surface for carrying ink droplets; and a processor configured to calculate an amount of ink droplets according to positions of falling points of the ink droplets on the surface of the test board, an electric charge amount of the ink droplets, and a magnetic field intensity.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an electric field forming section including a conductive member and configured to form an electric field, and the conductive member includes at least one first portion and a second portion, each of the at least one first portion being disposed at a position being nearer the recording head than a position of the second portion and included in a corresponding one of at least one liquid discarding region each of which, in an execution of borderless recording, is used for the ejection of the liquid onto an outside of a corresponding one of at least one edge whose position corresponds to each of at least one predetermined size of a medium, the second portion being disposed in a recording region other than the at least one liquid discarding region.

Abstract: An aqueous inkjet ink includes at least water, a coloring material, a water-soluble organic solvent component, a surfactant, and resin microparticles. The water-soluble organic solvent component includes a first monool-type solvent represented by R1O(CH2CH2O)mH in which R1 represents a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m represents an integer of 2 or 3, a second monool-type solvent represented by R2O(C3H6O)nH where R2 represents a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of 2 or 3, and a third monool-type solvent that is at least one selected from the group consisting of 3-methoxy-1-butanol and 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol. The content of the third monool-type solvent in the ink is about 8% by mass or greater and about 27% by mass or less. The content of the first monool-type solvent in the ink is about 0.5% by mass or greater and about 9% by mass or less. The content of the second monool-type solvent in the ink is about 0.

Abstract: An image forming method includes applying an ink for the first time to a recording medium to form an image and rolling up the recording medium in a roll form, wherein the recording medium is continuous paper, the ink includes an organic solvent and a coloring material, and the image recorded matter has a tackiness power of from 80 to 110 nN.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a charging device for an inkjet printing system includes providing a charging device body having at least one conductive trace passing through the interior of the charging device body connecting between a charging face of the charging device body and an interconnection region remote from the charging face. A portion of the at least one conductive trace is exposed on the charging face. A vapor deposition process is used to deposit a conductive base layer through a shadow mask onto the charging face, wherein the deposited conductive base layer contacts the exposed portion of at least one conductive trace. One or more conductive metallic layers are plated onto the deposited conductive base layer to form a charging electrode.

Abstract: The liquid ejection head includes a wall member having formed therein a void for communicating between a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber; a first energy generation element to eject the liquid in the first liquid chamber; a second energy generation element to eject the liquid in the second liquid chamber; a first electrode arranged in a vicinity of the first energy generation element in the first liquid chamber; a second electrode for forming, between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electric field in liquid inside the first liquid chamber; and a supply port which supplies liquid to the first energy generation element. The wall member includes a channel wall defining a channel through which the second liquid chamber, the void, and the supply port communicate, and the second electrode is arranged between the second liquid chamber and the supply port in the channel.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion which has a nozzle that ejects liquid, and a flushing receptive body which receives the liquid that is ejected in a flushing operation in which the liquid is ejected from the nozzle, the flushing receptive body including a receiving member that is able to receive the liquid, a receiving member holding portion which holds the receiving member, and a fixing member with conductivity that fixes the receiving member to the receiving member holding portion by contacting the receiving member and has a mesh form portion that forms an adhesion surface to which the ejected liquid is adhered with the receiving member in the flushing operation, in which the fixing member is electrically grounded.

Abstract: An electrospray emitter (10) for emitting a liquid comprising a sheet (40) having a channel (65) opening to an aperture (55) on a flat emitter surface extending across the sheet (40). A charging electrode (80) coupleable to an electrical supply and arranged to apply an electrical charge to liquid passing into the channel (65). A control electrode (50) proximal to the channel (65) for controlling electrospray emission, that may be embedded in the sheet. A non-wetting or insulating layer (30) may be applied to the sheet.

Abstract: The disclosed spray deposition systems and methods use spray charging and discharging techniques to assist with digital deposition of spray droplets on a substrate. For example, the disclosed systems and methods have a charging system that generates spray droplets from a spray generator and charges the droplets. Focusing electrodes help to collimate the droplets into a tight droplet stream and, optionally, steering electrodes help direct the tight droplet stream. A charge removal system neutralizes or removes the charge from the droplets, either during the deposition of the droplets on a substrate or after the droplets have been deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a conveyor roller. The developing roller includes a first magnet. The conveyor roller includes a second magnet. The first magnet includes a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole. The second magnet includes a third magnetic pole and a fourth magnetic pole. The first and fourth magnetic poles are magnetic poles having the same polarity. One of the second and third magnetic poles is a magnetic pole having the same polarity as the first magnetic pole. The other of the second and third magnetic poles is a magnetic pole having a polarity different from the first magnetic pole. The developer is transferred from the conveyor roller to the developing roller by the third and second magnetic poles. The developer is transferred from the developing roller to the conveyor roller by the first and fourth magnetic poles.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a cleaning blade that cleans the surface of a transport belt that attracts a sheet of recording paper by electrostatic adsorption and transports the attracted recording paper, and a pressing roller. The width of the cleaning blade is smaller than the width of the pressing roller that is located downstream of the cleaning blade, and thus, ink, paper dust, and the like that have escapes from both ends of the cleaning blade to the outside and have not been wiped off are caught by the pressing roller.

Abstract: In various aspects, the processes disclosed herein may include the steps of inducing an electric field about a non-conductive substrate, and depositing functionalized nanoparticles upon the non conductive substrate by contacting a nanoparticle dispersion with the non-conductive substrate, the nanoparticle dispersion comprising functionalized nanoparticles having an electrical charge, the electric field drawing the functionalized nanoparticles to the non-conductive substrate. In various aspects, the related composition of matter disclosed herein comprise functionalized nanoparticles bonded to a surface of a non-conductive fiber, the surface of the non-conductive fiber comprising a sizing adhered to the surface of the non-conductive fiber. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the processes, and related apparatus and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Abstract: A system capable of depositing a matrix film containing a low amount of impurities (e.g. neutral particles) is provided. The system includes: a first plate electrode 120 having an attachment surface on which a sample plate P is to be attached; a second plate electrode 130 arranged so as to face the attachment surface; a nozzle 110 for spraying a liquid containing a matrix substance into the space between the two electrodes 120 and 130 by an electrospray method, the nozzle 110 arranged so that none of the electrodes 120 and 130 lies on the central axis A of a spray flow of the liquid; and an electric field creator 140 for creating, between the two electrodes 120 and 130, an electric field for forcing electrically charged droplets contained in the spray flow of the liquid containing the matrix substance to move toward the attachment surface.

Abstract: An electrostatic application apparatus 100 comprises a tubular electrode 1 forming a first flow path F1 whose inner surface is formed of an electrically conductive wall; a counter electrode 20 placed to block an extension of an axis line of the first flow path F1; a power source 30 applying a voltage between the tubular electrode 1 and the counter electrode 20, and a liquid supply unit 40 supplying a liquid to the first flow path F1. If an axial length of the first flow path F1 is L1 and an inside diameter of the first flow path F1 is D1, then L1/D1 is 35 or more, the inside diameter D1 of the first flow path is 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and the length L1 of the first flow path is 20 to 100 mm.

Abstract: An inkjet head including a substrate configured to discharge ink including a supporting surface formed of a resin material and configured to support the substrate, the supporting substrate including a portion continuing to a surface intersecting the supporting surface and forming a corner portion, the portion forming the corner portion including a non surface treated area which is not surface treated, the supporting surface including a portion adjacent to the non surface treated area being surface treated areas which is surface treated, wherein the substrate and the supporting surface are bonded via an adhesive agent disposed in the non surface treated area and the surface treated area.

Abstract: A patterning apparatus is provided. The patterning apparatus includes a plurality of liquid jet units arranged in one or more groups and configured to jet an anti-etching liquid onto a surface of a substrate. The patterning apparatus also includes a plurality of exposure units configured to expose light on the anti-etching liquid jetted on the surface of the substrate to heat and cure the jetted anti-etching liquid to form anti-etching patterns on the surface of the substrate. Further, the patterning apparatus includes a control unit configured to control motion status and jetting status of the plurality of liquid jet units and motion status and exposure status of the plurality of exposure units, so as to form the anti-etching patterns at a predetermined line width and thickness.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for creating droplets. In one aspect, a plurality of droplets (27) is introduced into a continuous fluid stream (21) to cause the continuous fluid stream to form discrete droplets. In some cases, the droplets that are formed from the continuous fluid stream may be substantially monodisperse. The continuous fluid stream may, in some cases, be a jetting fluid stream flowing at a relatively high linear flow rate, and in certain embodiments, high rates of droplet formation from the jetting fluid may thereby be achieved. Additionally, certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices, such as microfluidic devices, able to form such droplets.

Abstract: A method of reducing and/or preventing the accumulation of concentrated ink at an ejection point of a printhead of an electrostatic inkjet printer when ink is not being ejected at the ejection point, the method comprising reversing the electric field at the ejection point of the printhead during a non-printing phase of operation to reduce the concentration of ink at the ejection point.

Abstract: The transfer inkjet printer device includes an intermediate transfer body including an intermediate transfer surface capable of moving along a rotation route; an inkjet head used to discharge ink including toner particles onto the intermediate transfer surface at a first area in the rotation route in a state where the toner particles are charged, so as to form an intermediate image composed of an ink layer on the intermediate transfer surface; a pressure device used to press the ink layer of the intermediate image on the intermediate transfer surface, onto a surface of a recording medium at a second area in the rotation route; and an electric field application device used to electrophorese the charged toner particles in the ink layer of the intermediate image toward the recording medium at the second area.

Abstract: A compliant micro device transfer head and head array are disclosed. In an embodiment a micro device transfer head includes a spring portion that is deflectable into a space between a base substrate and the spring portion.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure chamber substrate where a plurality of spaces to be a pressure chamber along a Y direction are formed in an X direction, a vibration plate that seals the space by being stacked in the pressure chamber substrate, and a piezoelectric element and a supporting unit that are stacked in the vibration plate on an opposite side to the pressure chamber substrate, in which positions at one end in the Y direction are different from each other in a first space and a second space among the plurality of spaces, and the supporting unit suppresses a vibration of the vibration plate by being formed so as to overlap with at least the one end side portion in the first space in a planar view.

Abstract: When an edge effect or sweeping occurs in a developing material, pixels, among a plurality of pixels that configure image data, will arise in which a developing material consumption amount rises beyond an original consumption amount. A CPU corrects the developing material consumption amount for the pixels, among the plurality of pixels that configure the image data, in which the developing material consumption amount will rise beyond the original consumption amount.

Abstract: An ink jet print head with an integrated ink handling unit includes a heater and a filter for the ink. The ink handling unit has an inlet port for liquid ink and a circulation system connected to the inlet port and adapted to pass the liquid ink through the heater and to the filter. The circulation system includes a single, non-branched duct that passes continuously from the inlet port to the filter, and the duct of the circulation system passes in meander fashion through a heated block of the heater.

Abstract: A cartridge is attached to or detached from a main body of an image forming apparatus that has an opening portion and a door that opens or closes the opening portion. The cartridge includes: a memory unit with a contact portion via which the cartridge is connected to the main body to transmit information of the cartridge to the main body; and a moving member on which the contact portion is mounted, wherein the moving member is moved to a first position where the contact portion is hidden inside the cartridge and a second position where the contact portion protrudes out of the cartridge to be connected to a connection portion provided in the main body, the moving member being moved to the second position in connection with closing of the door.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes base plates, a first actuator plate and a second actuator plate separately arranged on one principal planes of the base plates, and configured to jet a liquid, first extracting electrodes electrically connected to first drive electrodes, on the one principal plane of the first base plate, and second extracting electrodes electrically connected to second drive electrodes, on the one principal plane of the second base plate. The second extracting electrodes are pulled out on the one principal plane through through holes formed in the base plates.

Abstract: A radiation source having a nozzle configured to direct a stream of fuel droplets along a trajectory towards a plasma formation location, a laser configured to direct laser radiation at the fuel droplets at the plasma formation location to generate, in use, a radiation generating plasma. The nozzle has an internal surface that is configured to prevent contamination present in fuel used to form the fuel droplets from being deposited on that internal surface.

Abstract: A liquid droplet discharge apparatus that discharges liquid droplets finely and stably and includes a liquid droplet discharge unit and a voltage applying unit that is connected to the liquid droplet discharge unit, the liquid droplet discharge unit includes a nozzle and a tube that surrounds the nozzle, and the nozzle and the tube are coated with metal.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an electrode in either a printhead or an image receiving member that is operatively connected to a waveform generator. During operation, a controller operates the waveform generator to generate an electrostatic field between the printhead and the image receiving member during operation of inkjets in the printhead to eject ink drops. The controller operates the waveform generator to reduce an amplitude of the electrostatic field while the ink drops travel toward the image receiving member during a time when satellite ink drops can be formed from the ejected ink drops. The controller subsequently operates the waveform generator to generate the electrostatic field while the ink drops are in flight after formation of the satellite to accelerate the ink drops and satellites towards the image receiving member.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator array including a plurality of recesses within an actuator membrane and a method for forming same. In an embodiment, a width of each recess is wider than a width of each bonding feature of a plurality of bonding features, and each bonding feature extends into one of the recesses. In another embodiment, a width of each recess is narrower than a width of each bonding feature. In each embodiment, adhesive within the recesses bonds the membrane to the bonding feature. The recesses provide a flow path for the adhesive to reduce or prevent adhesive encroachment into an air chamber within which an actuator electrode is located.

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic printing system includes a nozzle that dispenses a printing fluid and a substrate support. The nozzle includes a conductive portion. A voltage source applies a voltage differential between the conductive portion of the nozzle and the substrate support. A controller is configured to provide a burst mode waveform to the voltage source such that a drop of the printing fluid is caused to form from the conductive nozzle and travel toward the substrate support.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for printing on a 3-dimensional surface using electrohydrodynamic force, the apparatus having a stage where a print object is placed; a shape obtainer storing surface information of the print object; a nozzle receiving ink and discharging the received ink to a surface side of the print object; a power supply supplying power to the nozzle; and a controller receiving the surface information of the print object from the shape obtainer and controlling a movement of the nozzle or the stage. Thus, an apparatus for printing on a 3-dimensional surface using electrohydrodynamic force is provided, which is capable of performing a precision printing process on a 3-dimensional surface.