Abstract: A method of printing with a fluid jet printer (10) is provided. The printer (10) has a printhead (12) with a fluid ejecting face (12a) facing a recording medium (14), the fluid ejecting face (12a) having at least one fluid ejector (18) arranged thereon. The method includes: imparting movement to at least one of the fluid ejector (18) and the recording medium (14) such that the recording medium (14) moves relative to the fluid ejector (18) along a fast scan direction (32) at a velocity (vm); and, selectively ejecting fluid from the fluid ejector (18) toward the recording medium (14) as the movement is being imparted, such that: (i) a main drop is formed and has a first velocity (vd) in a first direction; and, (ii) a satellite droplet is formed and has a second velocity (vs) in a second direction that forms an angle (?) with respect to the first direction, wherein ? substantially satisfies the equation: tan ?=vm[1/(vs cos ?)?1/vd].

Abstract: A novel method of fabricating the channel ends of an ink jet printhead: lithographically fabricating channels in photopolymer having the channel end blocked by a thin layer of photopolymer; sandwiching the photopolymer between two parallel substrates, one of which has an actuator for each channel; dicing through the substrates on a line perpendicular to the channels and leaving the channels and solid wall at the end of the channels intact; optionally coating the diced face including the polymer wall blocking the channel ends with a hydrophobic material; and forming nozzles in the end of the channels by laser ablating through the polymer layer at the end of the channel. Forming the nozzles after dicing and the optional coating prevents contamination of the interior of the printhead. The nozzles can be recessed from the diced edges of the substrate. Photolithographic formation of the end of the channel insures an accurate distance is maintained between the nozzle and the actuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are providing for controlling the drop volume of a thermal fluid jet fluid ejecting head. The fluid ejecting head has a plurality of drop ejectors, each of the plurality of drop ejectors has a heating element activated in response to input signals to eject an ink droplet from the fluid ejecting head. The method includes the steps of applying a plurality of print signals to the fluid ejecting head, the plurality of print signals corresponding to an image for the fluid jet assembly to create, applying at least two pre-pulse signals of different duration to the fluid ejecting head, and using the at least two pre-pulse signals and the plurality of print signals to activate the heating elements so that a desired drop volume results.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for automatic fluid ejector alignment and performance evaluation and modification in one or multiple planes. A fluid ejector fires a drop through a drop detection module. A signal indicating drop presence or absence is sent to a computer. The computer analyzes the data, and makes a compensation determination of a preferred method of using the fluid ejector. The compensation determination may include electronically modifying the image data to be printed, physically manipulating the fluid ejector, completely skipping the fluid ejector during printing operations, or in some other way modifying the fluid ejector or image data such that apparent printed image error due to fluid ejector alignment or performance error is reduced.