Abstract: A system and method are provided for protecting the vacuum pump of an ink jet printer system from the harmful effects of condensation in the vacuum lines, and from the harmful effects of moisture and water in the vacuum lines. This is accomplished by suppressing the condensation and drying the vacuum line walls.

Abstract: Precise control of deposition or etching of thin films on a transparent substrate is particularly useful for electroformation of nozzles and formation control. A computer based measuring system is used to measure, in real time, a test feature such as one such nozzle. The rate of material deposition and removal is controlled based on the measured value of the test feature. In particular, a video camera and microscope are used to produce images of the test feature. During the electroplating process, metal is plated onto a conductive layer, and as the plated metal layer grows up from the conductive layer of the mandrel, the plated layer can also encroach on transparent openings produced by the absence of the mandrel conductive layer. The amount of encroachment on the transparent openings is directly related to the thickness of the plated layer.

Abstract: In a continuous ink jet printing system, bleed and pullback are minimized by selecting an ink set having a particular print order, with each ink having its components selected to equalize the surface tensions of the inks. By equalizing the surface tensions, the percentage of density of the primary ink which can be printed increases, thereby increasing the secondary and tertiary color gamut.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer having a printhead and a printhead docking station, an improvement is provided in installation and retention of the printhead in the printhead docking station. Straight line travel of the printhead relative to the printhead docking station is ensured using guide posts or other guiding mechanisms. Non-abrupt actuation, such as a screw drive actuator is used to translate the printhead relative to the docking station. The screw drive actuator is oriented at near right angles to the direction of translation of the printhead relative to the printhead docking station. The printhead and the printhead docking station are then aligned so that electrical and fluid connections can be made concurrently. During the installation, a consistent insertion force, such as a spring loaded toggle mechanism, is applied to the printhead, regardless of part tolerances.

Abstract: A method and self-configuring structure are provided for optimizing state and state sequencing in ink jet printing system operation. A plurality of operating states are defined and assembled into at least one operating sequence. A conditional test is applied to the defined operating state. Execution flow can then be changed based on results of the conditional test. Finally, the defined operating states and assembled sequences are organized into an interpretable document.

Abstract: An ink jet ink composition comprises a color dye, a polymer, at least one water soluble organic solvent, and at least one ammonium salt for enhancement of waterfastness. The ink preferably comprises 1-10% ethoxylated polyethyleneimine to which is added 1-8% N-methyl-pyrrolidone, and up to 1% of the ammonium salt, to increase the waterfastness of the ink to a level greater than 70%.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for cleaning the printhead of a continuous ink jet printing system. A cleaning fluid is introduced and used to flush ink residues and debris from the interior of the drop generator, the exterior of the orifice plate, the charge plate face and the catcher face. This system and method removes dried ink residues and other debris and deposits by providing a cleaning fluid with a low surface tension to dissolve or flush away the unwanted material from the orifices. This is particularly advantageous in that the flushing and rinsing is accomplished without mechanical contact which could abrade or damage the orifices.

Abstract: Metallic bumps are formed for electrical interconnection between the charge plate and the charge drive electronics. This is achieved by having improved electrical connection between an ink jet charge plate and associated charge leads is promoted. First, a mask is aligned to permit plating of an etch mask on the charge plate coupon on the side opposite the charge plate circuitry, so as to place masked regions directly across the coupon from the contact pads of the charge plate circuitry. All the copper alloy charge plate coupon is then etched away except the small portions between the termination and the etch mask. The bump thus formed is used to provide a high pressure point electrical connection to the charge plate.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system is provided, having improved reliability. To achieve the improved reliability, the ink jet printer has the capability of changing at least one reliability related parameter in accordance with data associated with an ink. Data associated with the ink relates to the value or setting of at least one parameter in the ink jet printer related to reliability of the ink jet printing system.

Abstract: A technique for sealing a printhead of an ink jet printer system on startup, opening the seal to print, and opening further on an arbitrary path for cleaning, is provided for by the present invention. The ink jet printhead has an ink drop generator, a catcher located adjacent to the ink drop generator, and a catcher pan located below the catcher. An eyelid seals ink within the printhead on startup of the printer system. An actuator mechanism transmits movement to the eyelid along a predetermined non-circular path, having multiple positions for the eyelid. A multiple bar linkage system moves the eyelid along the path.

Abstract: An ink tank apparatus having a reservoir for containing ink, is improved to control or eliminate the harmful effects of foaming, misting and splatter of ink in the ink tank. A fluid pump delivers ink to a printer system, having an associated reservoir, and a vacuum pump acts on the reservoir to return unused ink from the printer to the reservoir. The returning ink is caused to enter the reservoir at an angle so the returned ink tends to stay near a surface of the reservoir ink level. In particular a ramp or series of ramps are provided along which the returning ink travels. Furthermore, the returned ink is ported into a confined inlet chamber from which the returned ink drains into the ink tank, and the returned ink is ported into this confined inlet chamber so as to produce a vortex-like flow in the inlet chamber. A drain port from the inlet chamber can be restricted to reduce pulsations in the returned flow, and baffles can be used to inhibit the flow of mist to the vacuum port of the ink tank.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a flexible circuit having at least one raised bump associated with a contact pad. A sacrificial conductive mandrel is provided having a depression located to correspond with each raised bump contact. A conductive metal pattern is electroformed on selected portions of the sacrificial conductive mandrel, corresponding to a desired electrical lead pattern and the contact pad. A non-conductive polymeric sheet is applied as a base material for the flexible circuit, and laminated to the sacrificial conductive mandrel on the face having the conductive metal pattern thereon. An etchant, capable of removing the sacrificial conductive mandrel without etching or removing metal of the conductive metal pattern, is employed to remove the sacrificial conductive mandrel from the polymeric sheet to which the mandrel and the conductive metal pattern are laminated.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus and method is provided for attaching and aligning components of an ink jet printhead of a continuous ink jet printer. First and second bonding surfaces are provided on first and second components, respectively, of the ink jet printhead. The first and second components are then aligned and attached. The attaching can be accomplished by applying an adhesive, which may also incorporate a chemical accelerator, or by distributing an adhesive from a central region of the bonding surfaces to create an adhesive bond between the first and second bonding surfaces.

Abstract: An ink jet ink composition comprises a liquid vehicle and a chemically modified pigment dispersion incorporating a chemical with a plurality of electron donating groups. The chemical is a monomer or a polymer. Dried ink film resistivity of aqueous carbon black pigment ink formulated in accordance with this composition is improved by being increased to a level whereby no electrical shorts which cause printer failure or print defects are observed during printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improvement in the removal of fluid from an ink jet printhead. A branched structure having multiple groups of branches creates a flow geometry, with each group of branches having a connecting trunk. The fluid flow is then able to be directed from each plurality of branches down the connecting trunk. Pressure drops at the branching nodes are minimized by directing the flow from the combined branches down the connected trunk. Expansion losses at the branching nodes are minimized by funneling down the flow at the branching nodes, with the trunk having a narrower channel than the combination of the joined branches.

Abstract: An ink jet ink composition comprises a liquid vehicle and a dye modified to attach polymeric chains to the dye. The dye is water soluble and selected from the group consisting of Direct Dyes, Acid Dyes and Food Dyes. The polymer is selected from the group comprising polyethoxylated aromatic amines to enhance affinity of the dye to a cellulosic substrate. The modified dye in this ink jet composition has lower solubility and, therefore, can be used to formulate waterfast inks for ink jet printers.

Abstract: A multi-pass imaging system and method provides for duplex documents and multiple color images with variable information to be printed by re-entering a substrate into a same tower system, employing a split roller design, for generating subsequent portions of a printed image. When a webbed substrate is fed into a tower, a first one in each of multiple pairs of rollers moves the substrate past a first set of printheads for generating a first portion of the printed image. The substrate is then re-entered into the tower, and a second one in each of the multiple pairs of rollers moves the substrate past a subsequent set of printheads for generating a subsequent portion of the printed image. Each of the multiple pairs of rollers comprise independently operating dual rollers on a single shaft.

Abstract: An electronic printing system comprises a substrate supply for supplying a substrate along a paper path configured in an arc. The substrate is controllably transported through the electronic printing system past a plurality of printheads. The printheads are arranged above the paper path, in an arc configuration corresponding to the paper path configuration. As the substrate passes under each printhead, a printed image is generated on the substrate. A plurality of rollers are arranged to have at least one roller under the substrate at each location corresponding to a printhead location. Finally, a dryer is located after the last of the plurality of printheads for fixing the printed image to the substrate.

Abstract: A continuous linear array ink jet system and method is capable of depositing a predetermined amount of printing fluid of at least one color onto a linear array of pixels to form a predetermined image to be printed on a substrate. The invention comprises a chamber in fluidic connection to a source of pressurized print fluid. A plurality of orifices are situated in fluidic connection with the chamber to form an array of streams of print fluid from the plurality of orifices. Stimulation is used to synchronize break-up of the streams of print fluid into uniform streams of uniformly spaced drops. The printed density of the linear array of pixels is controlled by controlling the number of uniformly spaced drops on each pixel of the linear array of pixels, dependent on color density to be printed, whereby a totality of printed pixels forms a continuous tone value required to form the predetermined image to be printed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a catcher assembly for an ink jet printer replaces the standard catcher assembly with an assembly comprising at least one capillary, typically a glass capillary. Initially, a charge plate is provided. Then the capillary or capillaries are provided, the capillaries having an axis parallel to the charge plate. The external surface of each capillary comprises a catcher face, and establishes a well defined radius and surface finish.