Patents Assigned to FUJIFILM/Dimatix Inc.
  • Ink jetting
    Patent number: 8608267
    Abstract: Among other things, for use in ink jetting, a method includes reducing an anticipated variation in a characteristic of ink drops being jetted from an ink jet assembly, the reducing comprising causing a voltage that is applied on a jetting assembly to respond to the anticipated variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Therrien, Samuel Darby
  • Jet performance
    Patent number: 8579397
    Abstract: Among other things, for ink jetting, a system includes a printhead including at least 25 jets and an imaging device to capture image information for all of the jets simultaneously, the captured image information being useful in analyzing a performance of each of the jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Barss, William R. Letendre, Jr., Paul A. Hoisington
  • Determining whether a flow path is ready for ejecting a drop
    Patent number: 8556364
    Abstract: A method of determining whether a flow path is ready for ejection includes supplying liquid to the flow path, which includes a pumping chamber and a nozzle, after supplying fluid to the flow path, applying energy to an actuator adjacent to the pumping chamber, measuring an electrical characteristic of the actuator to obtain a measured value, and comparing the measured value to a threshold value to determine if the flow path is ready for ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Mats G. Ottosson, Steven H. Barss
  • Recirculation of ink
    Publication number: 20130229473
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an inkjet assembly having inkjet nozzles through each of which ink flows at a nominal flow rate as it is ejected from the nozzle onto a substrate. Ink is held under a nominal negative pressure associated with a characteristic of a meniscus of the ink in the nozzle when ejection of ink from the nozzle is not occurring. The apparatus includes recirculation flow paths, each flow path having a nozzle end at which it opens into one of the nozzles and another location spaced from the nozzle end that is to be subjected to a recirculation pressure lower than the nominal negative pressure so that ink is recirculated from the nozzle through the flow path at a recirculation flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. Wells, JR., Bailey Smith, Marlene McDonald, William R. Letendre, Matthew Aubrey, John Kelly, Darrell Herrick, Robert A. Hasenbein
  • Printhead Stiffening
    Publication number: 20130228084
    Abstract: In general, in an aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hollow ink refill chamber, a plate on a side of the body, the plate having a series of posts separating a series of hollow channels adjacent to the hollow ink refill chamber in the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Brady, Robert L. Wells, JR., John Kelly
  • Non-wetting coating on a fluid ejector
    Patent number: 8523322
    Abstract: A fluid ejector having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an orifice that allows fluid in contact with the inner surface to be ejected. The fluid ejector has a non-wetting monolayer covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the fluid ejector and surrounding an orifice in the fluid ejector. Fabrication of the non-wetting monolayer can include removing a non-wetting monolayer from a second region of a fluid ejector while leaving the non-wetting monolayer on a first region surrounding an orifice in the fluid ejector, or protecting a second region of a fluid ejector from having a non-wetting monolayer formed thereon, wherein the second region does not include a first region surrounding the orifice in the fluid ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Okamura, Jeffrey Birkmeyer, John A. Higginson, Gregory Debrabander, Paul A. Hoisington, Andreas Bibl
  • Fluid circulation
    Patent number: 8517522
    Abstract: Among other things, an apparatus for use in fluid jetting is described. The apparatus includes a printhead including a flow path and a nozzle in communication with the flow path that has a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a first container fluidically coupled to the first end of the flow path, a second container fluidically coupled to the second end of the flow path, and a controller. The first container has a first controllable internal pressure and the second container has a second controllable internal pressure. The controller controls the first internal pressure and the second internal pressure to have a fluid flow between the first container and the second container through the flow path in the printhead according to a first mode and a second mode. In either mode, at least a portion of the fluid flowing along the flow path is delivered to the nozzle when the nozzle is jetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Bibl
  • Positioning jetting assemblies
    Patent number: 8517508
    Abstract: Among other things, in one aspect, an apparatus comprises features to enable mounting first and second jetting assemblies on a frame. The features comprise first and second alignment datums pre-fixed with respect to the frame for establishing respective positions of the first and second jetting assemblies, when mounted, so that at least some of the nozzles along a length of one of the jetting assemblies have predetermined offsets relative to at least some of the nozzles along a length of the other of the jetting assemblies, and an opening exposing all of the nozzles along the lengths of the first and second jetting assemblies are exposed to permit jetting of a fluid onto a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick H. Amidon, Jr., David A. Brady, Marc K. Torrey
  • Fluid droplet ejection devices and methods
    Patent number: 8491076
    Abstract: A method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator, including applying a primary drive pulse to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a droplet of fluid in a jetting direction, and applying one or more secondary drive pulses to the actuator which reduce a length of the droplet in the jetting direction without substantially changing a volume of the droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Robert A. Hasenbein
  • Piezoelectric ink jet module with seal
    Patent number: 8491100
    Abstract: A piezoelectric ink jet head that includes a polymer film, for example a flex print, located between the piezoelectric element and the reservoirs in the jet body. The film provides an efficient seal for the reservoirs and also positions the electrodes on the side of the piezoelectric element in which motion is effected, which can reduce the magnitude of the drive voltage. This location of the compliant flex print material also can enhance electrical and mechanical isolation between reservoirs, which improves jetting accuracy. The compliance of the polymer also reduces strain on the ink jet head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Moynihan, Paul A. Hoisington, Yong Zhou, Amy L. Brady, Robert G. Palifka
  • Method and apparatus to eject drops having straight trajectories
    Patent number: 8480196
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for driving a drop ejection device to produce drops having straight trajectories. In one embodiment, a method for driving a drop ejection device having an actuator includes building a drop of a fluid with at least one drive pulse by applying a multi-pulse waveform having the at least one drive pulse and a straightening pulse to the actuator. Next, the method includes causing the drop ejection device to eject the drop with a straight trajectory in response to the pulses of the multi-pulse waveform. The straightening pulse is designed to ensure that the drop is ejected without a drop trajectory error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: FujiFilm Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Letendre, Jr., Xi Wang, Robert Hasenbein, Marlene McDonald, Jaan Laaspere
  • Printhead Module
    Publication number: 20130155153
    Abstract: A printhead including a body; an actuator attached to the body, and an enclosed space between the actuator and the body forms a chamber; an opening defined by the body for releasing pressure in the chamber; and a seal attached to the opening to seal the chamber while permitting pressure to be released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Duby, Robert L. Wells, JR., Todd Severance, Carl Tracy
  • PRINTING OBJECTS USING A ROLLING BUFFER
    Publication number: 20130148167
    Abstract: An electronic architecture for an imaging data path allows for printing on objects that are unevenly spaced. The architecture uses a rolling image buffer into which images are copied. A hardware trigger can optionally be used in conjunction with the rolling image buffer to prevent any printing mismatches that could otherwise be caused by a software delay. The trigger relates the physical location of the object to a virtual location in the image buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.
    Inventor: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.
  • High frequency droplet ejection device and method
    Patent number: 8459768
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator, including applying a multipulse waveform that includes two or more drive pulses to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a single droplet of a fluid, wherein a frequency of the drive pulses is greater than a natural frequency, fj, of the droplet ejection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Hasenbein, Paul A. Hoisington, Deane A. Gardner, Steven H. Barss
  • Method and apparatus to provide variable drop size ejection with low tail mass drops
    Patent number: 8449058
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for driving a drop ejection device to produce variable sized drops with multi-pulse waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving a drop ejection device having an actuator includes applying a multi-pulse waveform having at least one drive pulse and at least one break off pulse to the actuator. The method further includes building a drop of a fluid with the at least one drive pulse. The method further includes accelerating the break off of the drop with the at least one break off pulse. The method further includes causing the drop ejection device to eject the drop of a fluid in response to the pulses of the multi-pulse waveform. The break off pulse causes the break off of the drop formed by the at least one drive pulse in order to reduce the tail mass of the drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Hasenbein
  • Forming A Pigment Pattern On A Substrate
    Publication number: 20130129994
    Abstract: Among other things, a pattern of dry particles of a pigment is provided on a transfer layer. The pattern of dry particles is transferred onto a surface of a ceramic substrate in preparation for firing of the dry particles to form a permanent pattern on the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Wells, JR.
  • Morphology-corrected printing
    Patent number: 8434840
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method, including measuring a surface profile of a substrate, generating firing instructions for a droplet ejection device based on the surface profile, and depositing droplets on the substrate with the droplet ejection device according to the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Barss
  • Printhead module
    Patent number: 8403460
    Abstract: A printhead including a body; an actuator attached to the body, and an enclosed space between the actuator and the body forms a chamber; an opening defined by the body for releasing pressure in the chamber; and a seal attached to the opening to seal the chamber while permitting pressure to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Duby, Robert L. Wells, Jr., Todd Severance, Carl Tracy
  • Fluid jetting with delays
    Patent number: 8403447
    Abstract: Among other things, the disclosure features a system for use in fluid jetting. The system comprises a first print module comprising a first row of nozzles, a second print module comprising a second row of nozzles, and a controller to receive a first data packet from a remote device at a first moment and a second data packet from the remote device at a second moment after the first moment. Upon receipt of the first data packet, the controller is configured to cause at least some nozzles in the first row, at a third moment, to eject fluid droplets onto a line on a substrate. Upon receipt of the second data packet, the controller is configured to cause at least some nozzles in the second row, at a fourth moment separated from the third moment by a time delay, to eject fluid droplets onto the line on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Deane A. Gardner, Yulin Philip Hseuh
  • FLUID JETTING WITH DELAYS
    Publication number: 20130063511
    Abstract: Please replace the abstract at page 29 with the following amended abstract: Among other things, the disclosure features a system for use in fluid jetting. The system comprises a first print module comprising a first row of nozzles, a second print module comprising a second row of nozzles, and a controller to receive a first data packet from a remote device at a first moment and a second data packet from the remote device at a second moment after the first moment. Upon receipt of the first data packet, the controller is configured to cause at least some nozzles in the first row, at a third moment, to eject fluid droplets onto a line on a substrate. Upon receipt of the second data packet, the controller is configured to cause at least some nozzles in the second row, at a fourth moment separated from the third moment by a time delay, to eject fluid droplets onto the line on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.
    Inventors: Deane A. Gardner, Yulin Philip Hseuh