Abstract: A visual display with an alignment structure for visually determining a correct display angle and lateral displacement, top to bottom and left to right, for accurate color viewing. A first fixed pattern is located on a surface near a border of the display and a spacer supports a plate, elevated above the first pattern, having a second pattern around a throughole in the plate. The dimensions of the first and second patterns, the elevation of the second, and the throughole diameter are such that when viewed at the intended display angle the image of the first pattern is concentric with the image of second pattern. Alternatively, the spacer may be formed of a transparent member with the second pattern on a planar surface above and parallel to the first fixed pattern. A first and a second alignment structure may be located symmetrically about either side of the display to enable determination of lateral alignment as well as angle of the display.

Abstract: There is described a droplet aspirator for an ink jet printer. The aspirator includes a housing having a tunnel therein, which is spaced from an ink jet nozzle which emits an ink jet stream which passes through the tunnel. A gas stream is also directed through the tunnel at substantially the same velocity as the ink jet stream for reducing the aerodynamic effects on adjacent ink droplets. The tunnels cross-sectional area is substantially constant from one plane to the next when measured in any given plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, for maintaining the velocity of the gas stream constant. The tunnel has a circular cross-section when used in a nozzle per spot system, and when used in an analog deflected system, has an entrance of one geometry, with the tunnel changing in geometry along its longitudinal axis to a different geometry at its exit. Preferably, in the analog deflected system, the entrance geometry is circular and the exit geometry is elliptical or rectangular.