Abstract: A non-single-crystal semiconductor photoelectric conversion device has a laminate member composed of a pair of first and second PIN structures and a transparent conductive layer interposed therebetween, the first PIN structure being disposed on the side to which light is incident. I-type layers of the first and second PIN structures have the same semiconductor component, and the transparent conductive layer consists of compound of metal and the same material as that for a P or N-type layer of the first or second PIN structure. The I-type layer of the first PIN structure is larger in the optical energy gap and in the amount of recombination center neutralizer contained but lower in the degree of crystallization than the I-type layer of the second PIN structure.

Abstract: An improved construction for a continuous ink jet printing system of the kind having a chamber for receiving a plurality of ink cartridges, a plurality of ink supply sub-systems for delivering ink from the cartridges to respective print heads and a plurality of ink return sub-systems for returning ink from the print heads to respective cartridges. The cartridge chamber is constructed to be substantially air-tight and the ink cartridges have a vent opening to their interior. The chamber itself is coupled to a vacuum source and the cartridges in the chamber are maintained at the chamber pressure via their vent openings. The chamber evacuating source includes a source of compressed air and a venturi devcie coupled to the housing interior and the compressed air source. The compressed air source also can be coupled, via check valves structure, to provide drying air to the print heads.

Abstract: A thermal drop-on-demand print cartridge includes a base member, with an ink ingress opening and a heater slit, and a cover member that is mounted on the base member to define an ink supply channel from the ingress opening to the heater slit and an orifice array aligned with the heater slit. An ink reservoir is coupled to the base member for providing ink into the ingress opening and a heater and an electrode chip is mounted in the heater slit. The heater/electrode chip has a plurality of planar resistor elements formed on the chip edge that extends through the heater slit and electrodes are formed on chip sides that extend normally away from the resistor elements.

Abstract: An ink cartridge interface system for multicolor ink jet printing apparatus of the kind having discrete, different color, continuous ink jet circulation subsystems. Each cartridge has a key system component, formed on one of its wall elements at a location for interfitting with a printer housing key system component, and is constructed to have a shape that uniquely identifies the color of ink within said ink cartridge. The printer has a plurality of separate housings each with a different key system component designed to interfit with its particular ink color cartridge.

Abstract: A compact printer of the kind having a sheet media print path to and through a print zone and an assembly for printing on media at the print zone includes a sheet cassette that is coupled to the bottom of the printer housing and rotatable on an axis generally normal to the bottom of the printer between: (i) a position with cassette edges generally flush with the side walls of the printer and (ii) a position wherein the length dimension of a supported sheet media stack is operatively aligned with the print path.

Abstract: An improved sheet supply cassette for a compact printer of the kind having a housing, a sheet feed assembly for moving a sheet from a sheet supply region to, and through, a print zone and a device for printing on sheet media at the print zone. The sheet supply cassette is coupled to the bottom of the printer and includes top, bottom and side walls forming a sheet supply region. The bottom wall of the cassette has a hinge-type construction wherein cantilever spring means couple and upwardly bias a movable wall segment with respect to a fixed rear segment of the bottom wall so as to urge sheets into a feed position.

Abstract: A sheet feed and transport system for a compact printer features an idler gear which is coupled to rotate with the drive train from the platen motor to the platen and which is selectively movable into engagement with a sheet feed roller's drive gear.

Abstract: A print media handling system for a compact printer having a housing, a cut-sheet supply station, a rotatable print platen constructed and located to feed top sheets from the supply station, through a print path ingress and out a print path egress. The sheet supply station of the print media handling system is mounted for movement to and from a sheet engaging relation with respect to the print platen. A continuous print-media inlet passage extends from a location, that is spaced from the sheet supply station, to the print path ingress and an actuator is provided synchronously enable the supply station and block the continuous media inlet passage, or vice versa. A first program control effects a predetermined start-print sequence for sheet print media, a second program control effects a predetermined start-print sequence for continuous print media; and the first or second program control is selected in response to the condition of the actuator.

Abstract: An improved damping system for continuous ink jet printers of the kind having: (i) a print head, including an ink cavity and an orifice plate coupled to the cavity, and (ii) an ink circulation system having an ink supply conduit to the print head cavity inlet and an ink return conduit coupled to the cavity outlet. The damping system reduces ink pressure transients within said print head means and includes: (i) a damping chamber for enclosing a gas-over-ink region that is coupled to the ink return conduit at a location proximate the print head and (ii) a printer subsystem for periodically introducing gas into said ink return conduit upstream of the damper chamber.

Abstract: An improved drop stimulation system for a continuous ink jet printer includes a generally rectangular orifice plate with orifices along a central, longitudinal axis and transducer members coupled to longitudinal edge regions of the orifice plate, equidistantly from the central axis. The transducers are actuatable to flex the orifice plate alternately concave and convex about its central axis.

Abstract: An orifice plate assembly for use in continuous ink jet printers includes a linear orifice plate having formed therein at least one linear array of orifices extending from a first end region to a second end region. The orifice plate has a main body portion which tapers gradually in thickness (t) along the length of the plate from the first end region to the second end region. The orifice plate is mounted so as to have an effective width (w) which tapers from the first to second end region. The relation t.div.w remains approximately constant along its length dimension.

Abstract: A light modulator device for use in a light valve imaging system to image print media with different light colors comprising a panel of electro-optic material of the type which changes the polarization of transmitted light selectively upon application of an electric field and a plurality of electrode pairs, linearly spaced along the panel to define an array of modulator gap portions between respective electrode pairs. The modulator gap portions associated with different color filters have a different dimension selected respectively to effect maximum light transmission for different light colors under address by approximately the same voltage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a modulator panel for use in a light valve device, includes forming a metal pattern of spaced address electrode and pad portions on an ingress surface of the panel; heating the panel in a nitrogen atmosphere to remove moisture from the ingress surface; spin coating the ingress surface with a photoresist composition; and exposing and developing the photoresist coating so that the developed coating remains as a moisture impermeable layer, except over the electrode pad portions of the ingress surface.

Abstract: A modular ink circulation system for effecting ink flow, in a continuous ink jet printer, from the ink reservoir to the print head and from the print head back to the reservoir. The system comprises, e.g.: (i) an ink supply module including pump, heater and filter that are removable from the printer as a unit; (ii) an ink return module including a pressure transducer, an ink defoaming reservoir and an ink flow-control solenoid that are removable from the printer as a unit; and (iii) a vacuum module including an air pump, an air pressure regulator and an ink collector reservoir that are removable from the printer as a unit.

Abstract: A modular print head system for continuous ink jet printer apparatus includes a droplet stream generator, a droplet charger and a droplet catcher constructed as a module that includes ink supply and return line coupling devices, each having engagement openable valves, resonator and charge plate connectors, and index surfaces for accurately positioning of the module. A nest assembly of the system includes ink supply and return ports, droplet generator and charging power terminals, structure for supporting and accurately positioning a print head module. The nest assembly further includes a camming device which is movable to engage a supported module into an operative relation with the ink lines coupled to the ports, the valves open, the droplet generator and charger connected and to nest power terminals and the module index surfaces in contact with the positioning structure of the nest assembly.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system for light exposing a linear image zone at relatively high resolution which comprises a light source array having a plurality of selectively activatable pixel exposing elements of approximately equal width (W) spaced at generally equal linear intervals (S), means for forming an image of the light source array at a linear image zone and means for scanning the light source array image linearly along the image zone in number of successive increments (M) wherein M is an integer approximately equal to (S.div.W).multidot.X, and X is the number of different colors to be exposed during a line scan.

Abstract: A method of making a linear light valve array having a plurality of transversely driven, discretely addressable, electro-optic gates, includes the steps of (i) cutting parallel grooves of uniform depth to form a land region on a wafer of electro-optical material; (ii) holding a stencil having reference and address electrode patterns over the land region and groove portions of the wafer; and (iii) depositing conductive material through the stencil to form address and reference electrodes on opposing side walls of the land region. Linear and two-dimensional modulator devices made by such method are disclosed also.

Abstract: A construction for reducing image artifacts in electro-optic imaging apparatus of the kind having (i) a linear array of spaced, selectively activatible, light valve elements having generally equal element widths, (ii), an optical system for forming an image of the light valve at a linear image zone and (iii) a mirror for scan-indexing the array image along said image zone. The spacings between array elements increase progressively from the center to the ends of the array to obviate under or over scan of adjacent image regions.

Abstract: A system for improving the uniformity of light valve imaging apparatus of the kind having an array of spaced light valve portions, a source for directing generally uniform illumination through the light valve portions, and means for scan-indexing the light valve image along an image zone. The improved system comprises source-scan means for scanning the source illumination onto the light valve array in synchronism with the scan-indexing of the light valve image.

Abstract: A sheet supply station for a compact printer of the type having a housing, a feed/transport member which is rotatably mounted within a forward portion of the housing and is adapted to sequentially move sheets from a supply location at the bottom of the housing, through the print zone and out an egress in the upper surface of the housing. The sheet supply station comprises: (a) a drawer, including a drawer face and a drawer bottom, which is constructed to support a sheet stack and slidably mounted for movement in and out of the rear wall of the printer between a withdrawn position enabling stack insertion and a closed position wherein the drawer face is approximately flush with the rear wall; (b) side guides for engaging and centering a sheet stack, which is supported on the bottom wall, during its movement into the housing from the withdrawn drawer position; and (c) an indexing wall located transverse to the drawer path to accurately position an inserted stack beneath the feed/transport member.