Abstract: A method of manufacture of printers and printheads formed of a number of modules mounted on a chassis. The modules and chassis are formed with a number of alignment features which engage with one another to form elastic interference couplings. By arranging a number n of such couplings for each module, the variance in positional error of each module with respect to the chassis can be made significantly less than the alignment error of the alignment features themselves, by the process of Average Elastic Alignment. The elastic interference couplings can advantageously be made to form a sealed coupling for the supply of ink from the chassis to each module.

Abstract: A printing fluid supply device for a printhead comprises a printing fluid storage compartment for storing printing fluid; an absorbent material provided in the printing fluid reservoir, the absorbent material comprising a plurality of channels formed therethrough; and a fluid trapping layer provided between the absorbent material and the printhead. The fluid trapping layer is adapted to absorb printing fluid and draw printing fluid from the printing fluid storage compartment into and through the absorbent material.

Abstract: A printer cradle is provided having a recess with an inclined face for receiving and removably locating a print cartridge, a retainer for removably retaining the print cartridge within the recess, and resilient members arranged to act against the print cartridge as it is located by the inclined face and to bias the print cartridge against the retainer once located within the recess. The print cartridge has a pagewidth printhead, a printing fluid supply and a fluid connection between the printhead and the printing fluid supply.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a plurality of nozzle apertures, each with a nozzle axis normal to, extending through the center of the nozzle aperture. A chamber corresponds to each of the nozzles respectively. An inlet to supply the bubble forming chamber with liquid. A heater element is disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers respectively. The heater element configured as a beam suspended at its ends for immersion in the liquid such that heating the heater element forms a gas bubble that ejects a drop of the liquid through the nozzle corresponding to that heater element. The heater element is a planar structure parallel to the nozzle aperture and nucleates the gas bubble with a bubble centre offset from the nozzle axis towards the inlet. Offsetting the gas bubble towards the inlet reduces the variation in drop trajectories caused by reverse flow out of the inlet when the pressure pulse is generated.

Abstract: A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer that has a print engine controller for receiving print data and sending it to the printhead. The printhead has a printhead IC for ejecting ink and a support structure for mounting the printhead IC in the printer adjacent a paper path. The printhead IC is mounted on a face of the support structure that, in use, faces the paper path. A flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) that has contacts for receiving print data mounted to the support structure on a face that does not face the paper path. The bent section reduces the likelihood of trace cracking by holding the flex PCB at a set radius rather than allowing the flex to follow an irregular curve and thereby risking localized points of high stress on the traces.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet; a static ink ejecting member extending from the substrate assembly and bounding the ink inlet; an active ink ejecting member having a roof and sidewalls that depends from the roof towards the substrate, the roof defining an ink ejection port and the active ink ejecting member movably located relative to the static ink ejecting member to define a variable-volume nozzle chamber; and an actuator arrangement configured to reciprocate the active ink ejection member relative to the static ink ejecting member to eject ink in the nozzle chamber out through the ink ejection port. The static ink ejecting member is located within bounds delimited by the sidewalls of the active ink ejecting member.

Abstract: A cradle unit for use in a print engine to receive a cartridge unit that has a printhead assembly. The cradle unit has a main body with an opening for receiving the cartridge and drive rollers for feeding sheets of media past the printhead assembly, a printed circuit board (PCB) movably mounted to the main body, the PCB having control electronics for operative control of the print engine, a cover assembly movably mounted to the main body, the cover assembly being configured for securing the cartridge in the opening and engaging the PCB such that the PCB is moved into electrical contact with the cartridge when in a closed position, and to move the PCB out of electrical connection with the cartridge when in an open position and, a maintenance assembly operated by the PCB control electronics for capping and wiping the printhead assembly.

Abstract: The present application is directed to electrostatic actuators, and methods of making electrostatic actuators. In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator of the present application can include an electrode layer and a mechanical member. The electrode layer can include a removed portion that is free of a landing pad. The mechanical member can be positioned in proximity to the electrode layer so as to provide a gap therebetween. The mechanical member can further include a dimple structure protruding out into the gap and aligned with the removed portion of the electrode layer. When in operation, the mechanical member can be capable of deflecting toward the electrode layer. The electrostatic actuator can be used in a fluid drop ejector for ink jet recording or printing devices.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has a silicon wafer substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet channels and a plurality of replicated nozzle arrangements positioned on the substrate to receive ink from the ink inlets and eject ink droplets onto a media substrate. Each of the nozzle arrangements has nozzle chamber walls, and a roof positioned on the nozzle chamber walls defining an ink ejection port. The roof defines a recess about the ink ejection port to inhibit ink spread from any nozzle face floods.

Abstract: The present invention relates a printhead for an inkjet printer. The printhead has a plurality of nozzle arrangements, with each arrangement having a substrate defining an ink inlet channel leading to a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel and an ink ejection port through which ink from the nozzle chamber is ejected. Each arrangement also includes an ink ejection paddle extending across the nozzle chamber between the ink inlet channel and the ink ejection port, and a thermal bend actuator configured to operatively actuate the paddle. Also included is a sealing structure interposed between a working end of the actuator arm and a proximal end portion of the paddle.

Abstract: A printhead maintenance station for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises an elastically deformable pad having a contact surface for sealing contact with nozzles in an ink ejection face of the printhead. The contact surface has a sloping profile. The maintenance station has a motor and cam arrangement for moving the pad substantially perpendicularly with respect to the ink ejection face. The pad moves from a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly contacted with the nozzles to a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face. The movement and the sloping profile of the pad causes the contact surface to be peeled away from the face during disengagement.

Abstract: A refill unit for an ink reservoir that has an inlet valve for receiving refill ink and an outlet valve for fluid communication with an inkjet printhead. The refill unit has a docking assembly for docking with the ink reservoir, an ink bag for storing ink, a valve actuator configured to close the outlet valve of the ink reservoir and subsequently open the inlet valve upon docking the docking assembly with the ink reservoir, an ink delivery outlet assembly for establishing fluid communication between the ink bag and the ink reservoir upon docking the docking assembly with the ink reservoir and, constrictor actuators for increasing pressure in the ink bag upon docking the docking assembly with the ink reservoir, and reducing pressure in the ink reservoir upon disengagement of the docking assembly and the ink reservoir.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to slotted substrates. One exemplary method forms a feature into a substrate, at least in part, by directing a laser beam at the substrate. During at least a portion of said directing, the method supplies a conductive material proximate the substrate.

Abstract: An ink refill unit is provided for refilling a printer ink cartridge unit. The ink refill unit includes a base assembly that has ink refilling components and outlets for engaging a docking member connected to the ink storage compartments. Each outlet corresponds to a respective type of ink with only one of the outlets working. The ink refilling components include a syringe assembly coupled in fluid communication with the working outlet. A lid assembly covers the ink refilling components.

Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit comprises a substrate having drive circuitry and a plurality of nozzle assemblies positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle assembly has a moving portion moveable relative to a stationary portion for ejection of ink. The printhead integrated circuit is covered with a polymeric layer. The polymeric layer covers a gap defined between each moving portion and each stationary portion.

Abstract: A light irradiation device that is capable of good irradiance uniformity in the lengthwise direction and that is applicable to an inkjet printer. A light-emitting portion of a short-arc type discharge lamp is positioned at the first focal point of a reflector that has a reflecting surface in the shape of an ellipsoid of revolution, and the light from the discharge lamp is reflected by the reflector and is focused at the second focal point; after which the light is incident on multiple, columnar rod lenses 14. Of the light that is incident on the rod lenses, the light along the axial direction is focused at the second focal point of an elliptical reflector without being affected by the rod lenses, and the light along the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is focused by the rod lenses and then spreads and irradiates the light irradiation surface.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head including: a head main body including: a cavity unit including a passage forming base plate forming a liquid passage from a common liquid chamber to a nozzle opening via a pressure chamber; and a pressure generating source generating a change of pressure of liquid in the pressure chamber to eject the liquid in the pressure chamber as a liquid droplet from the nozzle opening; and a case member to which the head main body is attached and which includes: a first member provided with a first atmosphere opening passage; and a second member laminated on the first member and provided with a second atmosphere opening passage, wherein the first and second atmosphere opening passages communicate with each other under the laminated state and are opened to atmosphere.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. The nozzle chamber structure defines a protruding rim bounding the aperture and an endless ink collection well surrounding the aperture.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement is provided for ejecting ink. The nozzle arrangement includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet passage. A nozzle chamber structure extends from the substrate assembly to define a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet passage. The nozzle chamber structure defines an aperture through which ink in the nozzle chamber can be ejected. A pair of parallel heater elements extends from the nozzle chamber structure and into the nozzle chamber, and can be supplied with current so that ink in the nozzle chamber is ejected out through the aperture. Each heater element includes an elongate conductor, in turn, having at least one arcuate portion. Each elongate conductor is of substantially uniform diameter and terminates in a pair of enlarged contacts at either end.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head has sufficient and uniform ink refill for all orifices and separate flow paths even though the substrate has high rigidity by dividing a supply port into a plurality of ports. The substrate of the ink jet recording head has a plurality of separate flow paths corresponding to discharge pressure generating elements, a common flow path communicating with the separate flow paths, an ink supply port communicating with the common flow path and supplying ink to the common flow path, and a plurality of beam portions dividing the ink supply port. A recess is formed on the common flow path, extending to the separate flow paths formed nearest to the beam portion.