Abstract: A micro electro-mechanical device embodied within an ink ejection nozzle having an actuating arm that is caused to move an ink displacing paddle when heat inducing electric current is passed through the actuating arm is disclosed. The paddle is located in an ink chamber and the actuating arm passes through an actuator aperture in the chamber. The chamber is partly defined by a straight edge portion on an upper wall of the ink chamber. The actuating arm carries a second planar wall which covers the actuator aperture and which is moveable relative to the edge portion when the actuating arm and paddle are moved to eject a droplet. Upon movement of the actuating arm the second wall moves relative to the edge portion and a meniscus is created between the edge portion and the second wall which forms a seal between the second wall and the edge portion of the chamber wall.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head of the type in which a passage unit is formed as a layer structure made up of a passage forming plate and an elastic plate. The elastic plate is formed with a thick portion and a thin film portion. The thick portion bonded to the common ink chamber is used as a beam structure deformable toward the common ink chamber. The beam structure is deformed to create a flexure in a thin film sealing the common ink chamber.

Abstract: A direct recording apparatus comprises a recording roller for retaining charged toner particles, a back electrode provided as opposed to the recording roller to electrostatically attract the toner particles, a PC board disposed between the recording roller and the back electrode, and provided with apertures having a diameter through which the toner particles can pass, a first electrode disposed near the aperture in the PC board, to which a predetermined voltage is applied in order to more strongly attract the toner particles retained on the recording roller toward the back electrode, and a second electrode disposed near the aperture and on the side of the back electrode with respect to the first electrode in the PC board, to which a predetermined voltage is applied so that a group of toner particles passing through the aperture converges, wherein gradation of an image to be recorded are controlled by adjusting the application time of a pulse voltage to be applied to the first electrode depending on a base vol

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 image forming method having a color alignment system in which a registration mark is printed in each color. Each registration mark has a first line segment extending in a first direction and a second line segment extending from a first end of the first line segment at a predetermined angle with the first direction. The predetermined angles vary among the marks printed. This prevents a complete overlap of two or more marks, thus allowing for sensing and distinguishing of each mark from the others.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ink-jet drop generator ink drop characteristics uses a drop detector target mounted in the printing zone of a hard copy apparatus. The detector target includes a matrix of individual elements sized approximately the same as pixel targets in printing operations. A detector target is mounted adjacently to the paper path of the apparatus such that test firing can be accomplished prior to each swath scan across the print media. By pre-firing nozzles to be used in the next swath at the detector target, actual trajectory errors and drop volumes can be analyzed in real-time. Alternate embodiments and methods are described.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical device having a liquid-containing chamber and a movable component extending into the chamber. Difficulties exist in sealing such a device against movement of liquid through an opening through which the movable component extends. This difficulty is resolved by shaping the movable member in such a way as to induce the formation and maintenance of the meniscus between a wall of the chamber and the movable component.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a diaphgram and an electrode for emitting ink therefrom during a printing process. An electrostatic force is produced between the diaphragm and the electrode to thereby deform the diaphragm and pressurize liquid contained therein such that the liquid is fired by a restoration force of the diaphragm. The electrode includes a diffused layer in a Si substrate and an active device which acts as a driving circuit is provided in the Si substrate.

Abstract: A color ink jet printer having a replaceable printhead assembly with a plurality of replaceable ink tanks, one ink tank for each color of ink, senses a patch on each ink tank. The presence of the patch indicates the ink tank is new. In one embodiment, the patch is adhered over a recess in each of the tanks and is punctured by a pin which is triggered as soon as the patch is detected, so that the patch cannot be detected again. The energization of each group of heating elements associated with a respective ink tank is counted and stored in the printer memory and, as each energization results in the ejection of an ink droplet of known volume, a predetermined number of energizations, which represent the volume of usable ink in each ink tank, is stored in the memory. When this predetermined number of energizations is reached, an out-of-ink display is shown to the user.

Abstract: An acoustic droplet emitter which a liquid level control plate has a lip in intimate contact with the free surface of a liquid is constructed. The liquid level control plate also has an effective aperture diameter at the exit edge of the plate which is larger than the effective aperture diameter at the lip. This reduces the pressure sensitivity of the free surface of the liquid and allows for the free surface of the liquid to be effectively pinned at the bottom surface of liquid level control plate for wider variations in pressure than using conventional methods.

Abstract: A direct recording apparatus of the invention comprises a recording roller 30 for transferring charged toner particles 38, a back electrode 44 opposed to the recording roller 30 to attract the toner particles 38, a PC board 50 disposed between the recording roller 30 and the back electrode 44 to control the toner particles 38 to jump or not to jump toward the back electrode 44. The PC board 50 of the invention is provided with a plurality of apertures 56 through which the toner particles 38 can pass. The periphery of the aperture 56 is provided with an electrode 68 to allow the toner particles 38 on the recording roller 30 to jump depending on electric signals. The electrode 68 has a shape wherein a part of a ring shape surrounding the aperture 56 is cut off in a direction of a rotation axis of the recording roller 30. This configuration can eliminate unevenness in image density without rotating the recording roller at high speed.

Abstract: The present system counteracts the distorting effect of a bi-directional print head by reducing the visual effect of a satellite drop displacement when the print head is traveling in a direction that increases the satellite displacement from a main drop. The system can also counteract the distorting effect of the bi-directional print head by increasing the visual effect of a satellite drop misplacement when the print head is traveling in a direction that decreases the satellite misplacement from the main drop. The satellite drop displacement can be adjusted by correcting a measured ink temperature, and thereby, an amount of pre-pulsing prior to ejection of the ink.

Abstract: A device for the transport of particulate marking material includes a plurality of interdigitated electrodes formed on a substrate. An electrostatic traveling wave may be generated across the electrodes to sequentially attract particles of marking material, and thereby transport them to a desired location. The electrodes may be integrally formed with driving circuitry, and may be staggered to minimize or eliminate cross-talk.