Abstract: A sub-controller (20), controller (30), fluid supply system and apparatus for printing and a method for printing. Provided is a processor controlled sub-controller (20) for controlling the fluid pressure in one or more droplet ejection heads (60); wherein said controller (30) is configured to receive a droplet ejection head movement profile for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads (60), determine a respective induced fluid pressure profile at one or more predetermined locations for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads (60) using the respective droplet ejection head movement profile; and generate respective pressure correction data for each of said one or more droplet ejection heads based on the respective induced fluid pressure profile and a predetermined pressure window to be maintained at said one or more droplet ejection heads (60).

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric ceramic having the composition: a[PbTiO3]-b[SrTiO3]-c[BiFeO3]-d[(KxBi1-x)TiO3]; wherein 0.4<x<0.6; 0.1<a<0.4; 0.01<b?0.2; c?0.05; d?0.01; and a+b+c+d=1 optionally comprising an A- or B-site metal dopant in an amount of up to 2 at. %.

Abstract: A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers.

Abstract: A droplet deposition apparatus comprising a droplet deposition head, a fluid supply and a controller, wherein: the droplet deposition head comprises one or more fluid chambers each having a nozzle, a fluid inlet path having a fluid inlet into the head, and ending in the one or more nozzles, and a fluid return path starting at the one or more nozzles and ending in a fluid return of the head; each fluid chamber comprises two opposing chamber walls comprising piezoelectric material and deformable upon application of an electric drive signal so as to eject a fluid droplet from the nozzle; the fluid supply is configured to supply a fluid to the fluid inlet at a differential pressure as measured between the fluid inlet and the fluid return; and the controller is configured to apply a drive signal to the piezoelectric chamber walls such that the nozzle or nozzles deposit droplets of a fluid having a viscosity in the range from 45 mPa·s to 130 mPa·s at a jetting temperature between 20° C. and 90° C.

Abstract: A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers.

Abstract: A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers.

Abstract: A method for depositing droplets onto a medium, utilising a droplet deposition head is provided. The head used in the method includes: an array of fluid chambers separated by interspersed walls, each fluid chamber communicating with an aperture for the release of fluid droplets and each wall separating two neighbouring chambers. Each wall is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one chamber and increase the volume of the other chamber, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of its neighbouring chambers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric ceramic having the composition: a[PbTiO3]-b[SrTiO3]-c[BiFeO3]-d[(KxBi1-x)TiO3]; wherein 0.4<x<0.6; 0.1<a<0.4; 0.01<b?0.2; c?0.05; d?0.01; and a+b+c+d=1 optionally comprising an A- or B-site metal dopant in an amount of up to 2 at. %.

Abstract: An actuator component for a droplet deposition head that includes: a plurality of fluid chambers arranged side-by-side in an array, with certain of the fluid chambers being firing chambers, each of which is provided with at least one piezoelectric actuating element for causing droplet ejection from a nozzle for that firing chamber; and a plurality of non-actuable walls, each of which is formed of piezoelectric material and bounds at least one of the firing chambers.

Abstract: An actuator component for a droplet deposition head that includes: a plurality of fluid chambers arranged side-by-side in an array, with certain of the fluid chambers being firing chambers, each of which is provided with at least one piezoelectric actuating element for causing droplet ejection from a nozzle for that firing chamber; and a plurality of non-actuable walls, each of which is formed of piezoelectric material and bounds at least one of the firing chambers.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink jet print head includes the steps of bonding a body of piezoelectric material to a base plate and cutting channels into the piezoelectric material to form ink chambers which are actuated by applying voltages to electrodes provided on surfaces of the chambers. The base plate carries IC's which contain the drive circuitry for actuating the ink chambers. To ensure reliable electrical connection between the chamber electrodes and the IC's, the electrodes and conducting tracks on the base plate are formed in a single step by depositing a conductive layer over both the PZT body and the base plate. A step of masking or selective removal of material may be performed to achieve the necessary patterning of the electrodes and tracks.

Abstract: A component for a drop-on-demand piezoelectric printhead is formed from a block of piezoelectric material and a substrate. The block of piezoelectric material has grooves formed in its lower surface and is attached to the substrate using an adhesive that is applied in sufficient quantity such that adhesive enters the grooves cut into the piezoelectric material. Upper grooves are sawn into the piezoelectric material through to the glue-filled lower channels in order to form ejection channels, the walls of which are separated from one another by means of a glue fillet.

Abstract: An accepter-doped “hard” PZT is used in a piezoelectric print head instead of the conventional “soft” donor-doped material. The print head preferably is of a chevron side-shooter configuration and is advantageous for high-definition grey-scale printing.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus comprises at least one droplet ejection unit (302, 304) comprising a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, actuator means, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator means being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle; a support member (300) for said at least one droplet ejection unit; a first conduit (320) extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit (330) extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.