Abstract: A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that guides the fluid; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by guiding the fluid using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 9, 2009
Date of Patent:
September 13, 2011
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company
Inventors:
Gilbert A. Hawkins, Zhanjun Gao, Yonglin Xie, Edward P. Furlani, Kam C. Ng
Abstract: A method of printing and an apparatus for controlling the directionality of liquid emitted from nozzles of a printhead are provided. Example embodiments of the apparatus include directionality control of liquid jets or liquid drops using a liquid jet directionality control mechanism. Example embodiments of the liquid jet directionality control mechanism include asymmetric energy application device configurations, nozzle geometry configurations, liquid delivery channel geometry configurations, or combinations of these configurations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 29, 2009
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2011
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company
Inventors:
Yonglin Xie, Carolyn R. Ellinger, Qing Yang
Abstract: A method of printing includes associating a pixel area of a recording medium with a nozzle and a time interval during which a fluid drop ejected from the nozzle can impinge the pixel area of the recording medium. The time interval is divided into a plurality of subintervals. Some of the plurality of subintervals are grouped into blocks. One of two labels is associated with each block. The first label defines a printing drop and the second label defines non-printing drops. No drop forming pulse is associated between subintervals of each block having the first label. A drop forming pulse is associated between each subinterval of each block having the second label. A drop forming pulse is associated between other subintervals between each pair of consecutive blocks. Drops are caused to be ejected from the nozzle based on the associated drop forming pulses.