Abstract: A print module and a method of forming the same, the print module including a substrate, an ink jet die, and an interposer between the substrate and the ink jet die. The substrate includes an ink channel and an air vent, and the die includes a plurality of ink apertures. The interposer includes etched openings therein of a truncated pyramid shape; the openings of the interposer reconfiguring the ink channel and air vent passages between the substrate and die to allow for greater tolerance in alignment and manufacture of the print head module.

Abstract: A print module and a method of forming the same, the print module including a substrate, an ink jet die, and an interposer between the substrate and the ink jet die. The substrate includes an ink channel and an air vent, and the die includes a plurality of ink apertures. The interposer includes etched openings therein of a truncated pyramid shape; the openings of the interposer reconfiguring the ink channel and air vent passages between the substrate and die to allow for greater tolerance in alignment and manufacture of the print head module.

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 comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned in proximity to the first electrode so as to provide a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is capable of being deflected toward the second electrode. A dielectric structure comprising a dielectric landing post is positioned in the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, the dielectric structure extending over a greater surface of the gap than the landing post. The landing post protrudes out into the gap so as to limit the minimum contact spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A method and resulting device for reducing an electrical field at an isolation gap in a capacitive actuator includes providing a bottom electrode layer and forming a pattern in the bottom electrode layer having an isolation gap between center and outer electrode components of the patterned electrode. A spacing material is deposited in the isolation gap, the spacing material having a greater height than a remainder of the patterned electrode, and a sacrificial material is deposited conformably on a surface of the patterned electrode and spacing material. The method also includes applying a deformable electrode to a surface of the sacrificial material, whereby removal of the sacrificial and spacing materials results in a greater spacing between the deformable electrode and the electrode layer at a region of the isolation gap than over a remainder of the spacing between the patterned electrode layer and deformable surface.

Abstract: An image forming device includes marking material dispensers for disposing an image on an imaging drum surface. The image forming device further includes plural particle removal devices comprising first and second particle removal devices coupled to a vacuum source. The first particle removal device includes a first vacuum port positioned as close as possible to an included image transfer site. The second particle removal device includes a second vacuum port positioned as close as possible to the marking material dispensers. The first and second vacuum ports are positioned proximate to the imaging drum surface to provide respective first and second air flows.

Abstract: A method and resulting device for reducing an electrical field at an isolation gap in a capacitive actuator includes providing a bottom electrode layer and forming a pattern in the bottom electrode layer having an isolation gap between center and outer electrode components of the patterned electrode. A spacing material is deposited in the isolation gap, the spacing material having a greater height than a remainder of the patterned electrode, and a sacrificial material is deposited conformably on a surface of the patterned electrode and spacing material. The method also includes applying a deformable electrode to a surface of the sacrificial material, whereby removal of the sacrificial and spacing materials results in a greater spacing between the deformable electrode and the electrode layer at a region of the isolation gap than over a remainder of the spacing between the patterned electrode layer and deformable surface.

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 comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned in proximity to the first electrode so as to provide a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is capable of being deflected toward the second electrode. A dielectric structure comprising a dielectric landing post is positioned in the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, the dielectric structure extending over a greater surface of the gap than the landing post. The landing post protrudes out into the gap so as to limit the minimum contact spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A method for detecting a defect in an inkjet print head within an inkjet marking device includes marking images on a rotating intermediate substrate according to an image sequence, marking a test image on at least one blank portion of the intermediate substrate, the blank portion resulting from the image sequence, evaluating the test image with a sensor, and determining whether the inkjet print head is defective based on the evaluation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extending the reliability and usefulness of a fullwidth printhead by providing a redundant temporary replacement printhead module that can be positioned to compensate for missing or faulty jet nozzles. In order to take advantage of a single extra printhead module and to be able to compensate for more than a single failed nozzle, the replacement module is mounted on a separate translating x-axis and preferably provided with roll adjustment along another axis so that an effective spacing of nozzles in the replacement module can be adjusted to align with detected defective nozzles. The fullwidth printhead is formed from at least one array of smaller printhead modules. The arrays may be offset by a non-integer spacing interval of the individual nozzles. For example, if the nozzle spacing is S, the offset may be S/2.

Abstract: A method for detecting a defect in an inkjet print head within an inkjet marking device includes marking images on a rotating intermediate substrate according to an image sequence, marking a test image on at least one blank portion of the intermediate substrate, the blank portion resulting from the image sequence, evaluating the test image with a sensor, and determining whether the inkjet print head is defective based on the evaluation.

Abstract: An image forming device includes marking material dispensers for disposing an image on an imaging drum surface. The image forming device further includes plural particle removal devices comprising first and second particle removal devices coupled to a vacuum source. The first particle removal device includes a first vacuum port positioned as close as possible to an included image transfer site. The second particle removal device includes a second vacuum port positioned as close as possible to the marking material dispensers. The first and second vacuum ports are positioned proximate to the imaging drum surface to provide respective first and second air flows.

Abstract: A xerographic print engine employs a photoreceptor with an image receiving surface, a printhead for directing light to the photoreceptor to produce thereon a latent image, and a developer for converting the latent image to a printable image to be transferred from the photoreceptor to a print medium during a relative motion between the photoreceptor and the print medium. The printhead has light emitting diodes disposed in plural rows arranged alongside each other on a substrate which also supports driver circuitry connecting with imaging electronics for activating individual ones of the diodes. An optical element focuses light of the diodes onto a row of the latent image, the focussing being accomplished concurrently for individual ones of the diodes located in a plurality of the rows.

Abstract: A xerographic print engine employs a photoreceptor with an image receiving surface, a printhead for directing light to the photoreceptor to produce thereon a latent image, and a developer for converting the latent image to a printable image to be transferred from the photoreceptor to a print medium during a relative motion between the photoreceptor and the print medium. The printhead has light emitting diodes disposed in plural rows arranged alongside each other on a substrate which also supports driver circuitry connecting with imaging electronics for activating individual ones of the diodes. An optical element focuses light of the diodes onto a row of the latent image, the focussing being accomplished concurrently for individual ones of the diodes located in a plurality of the rows.

Abstract: A printhead interposing maintenance method and apparatus are provided for maintaining a printhead assembly within a relatively tight space in an image producing machine.

Abstract: In a technique for obscuring the stitch error perceived the eye of a viewer, a first plurality of drops of fluid are ejected in a first firing sequence at a medium in a first swath from a print head including at least one die having a plurality of nozzles while moving in a first direction relative to the medium. Thereafter, the medium is advanced in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The print head is again moved in the first direction and a second plurality of drops of the fluid are fired at the medium in a second swath adjacent the first swath. A controller randomly modulates the spot size resulting from the drops of the fluid. The stitch error may be a misplacement of the second swath relative to the first swath and the second plurality of drops includes a random variety of drop sizes.

Abstract: An fluid ejector printer with a roofshooter structure wherein the fluid ejector printer includes a first array of nozzles with at least two heaters between the ink supply and the nozzle within each first array of nozzles and a second array of nozzles with at least two heaters between the fluid supply and the nozzle within each second array of nozzles wherein each array of nozzles can eject ink drops of at least two sizes onto a receiving medium during a single pass of a single point.

Abstract: An ink jet printing system in which a noise or other random signal generator input randomly slightly varies the size of the ink jet drops relative their normal size to reduce the perception of systematic visible defects in the printed images, such as lines caused by a defective transducer element in the printhead.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming an image with a print head that fires groups of drops of fluid results in a reduction in stitch joint error. The stitch joint error is reduced by changing the firing sequence of the nozzles of adjacent dies of the print head.

Abstract: A printhead and method of fabrication thereof provides that the printhead reservoir has substantially the same cross-sectional ink flow area as the total cross-sectional area of the plurality of individual ink channels which interconnect the reservoir with the printhead nozzles. Since the flow area of the reservoir is substantially matched to the total flow area of the channels, the ink capacity of the reservoir is relatively low and the flow rate therethrough during a printing operation is relatively high. The small capacity of reservoir, together with the high ink flow rate therethrough, assures short ink residency time during printing, so that any exsolved air bubbles in the ink are swept away with subsequent ink droplet ejections during a printing operation and thus prevents any air bubbles present from coalescing into larger bubbles which can cause print quality defects.

Abstract: A liquid ink printer, depositing ink drops to form an image, including a pagewidth printbar, movable to print a complete image when defective nozzles of the printbar are identified. A positioning device, coupled to the pagewidth printbar, positions the printbar at a plurality of discrete locations, to move a functioning nozzle to the location in the image where the defective nozzle should deposit drops of ink. Defective nozzles are identified by the printer control mechanism and a user is given the option to fix the image through a user interface where the printer is directed to fill in the missing information of the image. Defective nozzles can also be identified by printing a test pattern which identifies to a user which of the nozzles are non-functioning. The user then inputs this information to the printer.