Abstract: A fluid ejection including a substrate having at least one fluid ejecting element adapted to eject a fluid, a flow feature layer disposed over the substrate, the flow feature layer including a plurality of flow features, a nozzle plate layer disposed over the flow feature layer, the nozzle plate layer including one or more nozzle arrays, each nozzle in each of the one or more nozzle arrays being in fluid communication with a corresponding flow feature of the plurality of flow features and a corresponding fluid ejecting element of the at least one fluid ejecting elements, at least one intake via through which fluid flows into the plurality of flow features, and at least one output via through which fluid flows out of the plurality of flow features.

Abstract: A fluid ejection including a substrate having at least one fluid ejecting element adapted to eject a fluid, a flow feature layer disposed over the substrate, the flow feature layer including a plurality of flow features, a nozzle plate layer disposed over the flow feature layer, the nozzle plate layer including one or more nozzle arrays, each nozzle in each of the one or more nozzle arrays being in fluid communication with a corresponding flow feature of the plurality of flow features and a corresponding fluid ejecting element of the at least one fluid ejecting elements, at least one intake via through which fluid flows into the plurality of flow features, and at least one output via through which fluid flows out of the plurality of flow features.

Abstract: A high resolution printhead for an ink jet printer. The printhead includes a semiconductor substrate containing at least one ink feed edge and a plurality of ink ejection actuators spaced a distance from the ink feed edge. Each of the ink ejection actuators has an aspect ratio ranging from about 1.5:1 to about 6:1. A nozzle plate is attached to the semiconductor substrate. The nozzle plate contains a plurality of nozzle holes, ink chambers and ink channels laser ablated in the nozzle plate corresponding to the plurality of ink ejection actuators. Adjacent nozzle holes are spaced apart with a pitch ranging from about 600 to about 1200 dpi. The distance from the ink feed edge is substantially the same for each of the ink ejection actuators.

Abstract: A fluid ejector, such as a printhead for an inkjet printer, comprising a substrate that includes a primary via formed therein, and a nozzle member overlying the substrate and including vertical nozzle chambers at least partially overlying the primary via and a corresponding fluid actuator (e.g., a heater) associated with the substrate.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for laser ablating polymeric materials. The method includes providing a first mark for laser ablating features in the polymeric material using a laser beam. A second mask is disposed in the laser beam for attenuating laser beam. The polymeric material is laser ablated using the first mask and the second mask in combination so that ablated features made in the polymeric material have substantially uniform feature dimensions.

Abstract: A method for reducing dot placement errors in an imaging apparatus includes printing with a printhead having a plurality of nozzles a plurality of printhead alignment patterns, each printhead alignment pattern being printed at a different predefined printhead firing frequency of a plurality of printhead firing frequencies; and determining a set of printhead specific compensation values for each of the plurality of printhead firing frequencies for use in printhead alignment.

Abstract: A method of intra-swath banding compensation in an imaging apparatus utilizing an ink jet printhead that reciprocates in a main scan direction, the ink jet printhead having a nozzle array with a plurality of nozzles, includes printing with the plurality of nozzles in the main scan direction a pattern of dots representative of the nozzle array; determining a variation in reflectance of the pattern of dots in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scan direction; and storing in a memory associated with the printhead compensation values associated with each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles that is to be adjusted to correct for the variation in reflectance.

Abstract: A method of making flow feature structures for a micro-fluid ejection head. The method includes the steps of laser ablating a nozzle plate material to provide an elongate fluid chamber and fluid supply channel therein for connecting the fluid chamber with a fluid supply. The fluid chamber has a first length and a first width. An elongate nozzle hole is laser ablated in the nozzle plate material co-axial with the fluid chamber. The nozzle hole has entrance dimensions having a longitudinal axis dimension and a transverse axis dimension such that the longitudinal axis dimension is from about 1.1 to about 4.0 times the transverse axis dimension.

Abstract: A nozzle plate structure having nozzle bores therein in flow communication with corresponding fluid chambers. The nozzle bores have an overall nozzle bore length dimension and each of the nozzle bores includes two or more exit bores in fluid flow communication with each of the nozzle bores. Each of the exit bores having a length dimension ranging from about 5 to about 100 percent of the overall nozzle bore length dimension.

Abstract: An improved ink jet printhead and method therefor. The printhead includes a single semiconductor substrate with ink ejection devices and a nozzle plate adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, the nozzle plate with first ink ejection nozzles for ejecting first ink drops having a first volume and second ink ejection nozzles for ejecting second ink drops having a second volume different from the first volume, wherein the first volume is defined by first flow features of the printhead having a first thickness and the second volume is defined by second flow features having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness.

Abstract: A high resolution printhead for an ink jet printer. The printhead includes a semiconductor substrate containing at least one ink feed edge and a plurality of ink ejection actuators spaced a distance from the ink feed edge. Each of the ink ejection actuators has an aspect ratio ranging from about 1.5:1 to about 6:1. A nozzle plate is attached to the semiconductor substrate. The nozzle plate contains a plurality of nozzle holes, ink chambers and ink channels laser ablated in the nozzle plate corresponding to the plurality of ink ejection actuators. Adjacent nozzle holes are spaced apart with a pitch ranging from about 600 to about 1200 dpi. The distance from the ink feed edge is substantially the same for each of the ink ejection actuators.

Abstract: A method that provides printhead swath height measurement and compensation includes the steps of establishing a nominal printhead swath height to be associated with printheads of a particular type; printing a swath using a first printhead of the particular type; measuring a printhead swath height of the first printhead; determining a difference between the measured printhead swath height of the first printhead and the nominal printhead swath height; generating a printhead swath height correction value based on the difference; and storing the printhead swath height correction value in a printhead memory associated with the first printhead.

Abstract: An improved ink jet printhead for an ink jet printer and method therefor. The printhead includes a semiconductor substrate containing ink ejection devices. A thick film layer is attached to the substrate. A nozzle plate is attached to the thick film layer. The nozzle plate contains a plurality of ink ejection nozzles corresponding to the ink ejection devices. The printhead contains flow features having a height dimension and a width dimension formed therein for flow of ink to the plurality of ink ejection devices for ejection through the nozzles. At least a portion of the flow feature dimensions for at least one of the nozzles is formed in both the thick film layer and laser ablated in the nozzle plate, wherein the thick film layer contains at least 12% of the flow feature dimensions.

Abstract: An improved strainer device has a screen which receives a solid/mixture from a feed container for separation. To insure that an uneven flow of the mixture over the screen does not occur due to, for example, a non-level mounting, inlet rushing or turbulence, a weir structure is provided which raises the water mixture level above the screen by a predetermined height.