Abstract: A drop deposition apparatus for laying down a patterned liquid layer on a receiver substrate, for example, a continuous ink jet printer, is disclosed. The liquid deposition apparatus comprises a drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with a linear array of nozzles for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid having nominal stream velocity vj0, wherein the plurality of nozzles have effective nozzle diameters D0 and extend in an array direction with an effective nozzle spacing Ly. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer thermal energy pulses of period ?0 to the liquid in flow communication with the plurality of nozzles sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined nominal drop volume V0.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for depositing a material on a surface. In accordance with the method a stream of a component material is formed having formed printing and non-printing droplets and satellite droplets of the material. The stream is directed at the surface. A deflecting energy is applied to separate printing droplets from non-printing droplets in the stream, so that only printing droplets travel to the surface. The deflecting energy is adapted to direct non-printing droplets for non-printing drop collection, and to direct at least a portion of the satellite droplets to be controlled in a manner adapted to prevent the material in the satellite droplets from reaching the surface, so that less than all of the material in the satellite droplets reaches the surface. Articles are also provided having limited satellite material.

Abstract: A heater is provided. The heater includes a first material having a circular form and a first sheet resistively. The first material has a first radius of curvature. The heater also includes a second material having a circular form and a second sheet resistively. The second material is positioned adjacent to the first material and has a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature and the first sheet resistively is less than the second sheet resistively.

Abstract: A method of printing includes associating a pixel area of a recording medium with a nozzle and a time interval during which a fluid drop ejected from the nozzle can impinge the pixel area of the recording medium; dividing the time interval into a plurality of subintervals; grouping some of the plurality of subintervals into blocks; associating one of two labels with each block, the first label defining a printing drop, the second label defining non-printing drops; associating no drop forming pulse between subintervals of each block having the first label; associating a drop forming pulse between each subinterval of each block having the second label; associating a drop forming pulse between other subintervals, the drop forming pulse being between each pair of consecutive blocks; and causing drops to be ejected from the nozzle based on the associated drop forming pulses.

Abstract: A method of printing is provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice. Separately addressable dual electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a central electrode. The three electrodes are aligned with the nozzle orifice. A rigid electrically insulating coupler connects the two addressable electrodes. To eject a drop, an electrostatic charge is applied to the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle orifice, which pulls that electrode away from the orifice, drawing liquid into the expanding chamber. The other addressable electrode moves in conjunction, storing potential energy in the system. Subsequently the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle is de-energized and the other addressable electrode is energized, causing the other electrode to be pulled toward the central electrode in conjunction with the release of the stored elastic potential energy.

Abstract: A heater is provided. The heater includes a first material having a circular form and a first sheet resistivity. The first material has a first radius of curvature. The heater also includes a second material having a circular form and a second sheet resistivity. The second material is positioned adjacent to the first material and has a second radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature and the first sheet resistivity is less than the second sheet resistivity.

Abstract: A printhead has a fluid chamber having an orifice, an associated fluid drop forming mechanism, and an associated fluid drop steering device. The fluid drop forming mechanism is operable to apply to fluid present in the fluid chamber energy sufficient to cause a fluid drop to be ejected from the orifice. The fluid drop steering device is operable to optionally apply to fluid present in the fluid chamber energy insufficient to cause drop formation prior to the fluid being ejected from the orifice. The fluid drop steering device is distinct from the fluid drop forming mechanism.

Abstract: A printhead and method of printing are provided. The printhead has a body with portions of the body defining a fluid chamber and a nozzle orifice. The nozzle orifice is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. A drop forming mechanism is operatively associated with the nozzle orifice of the body. A plate is removably positioned over the body and has at least one orifice with the at least one orifice being in fluid communication with the nozzle orifice of the body.

Abstract: An inkjet print head comprises a mandrel having flat front and rear surfaces disposed between an initially curved rear membrane and an initially flat front membrane. The rear membrane is initially hemispherically curved, in close contact at its periphery with the rear surface of the mandrel but substantially removed from the mandrel in its central region. Because the membranes are mechanically coupled, the initially curved rear membrane causes the initially flat front membrane to bow away from the front surface of the mandrel. Ink contacts only one membrane, preferably the front membrane, which is typically held at a ground potential. By applying a voltage sequence to the membranes and mandrel, the position of the actuator may be controlled in a “push-pull” manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes an ink droplet forming mechanism operable to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes traveling along a first path. A droplet deflector is positioned at an angle with respect to the stream of ink droplets. The droplet deflector includes a gas flow operable to interact with the stream of ink droplets such that ink droplets having one of the plurality of volumes begin traveling along a second path and ink droplets having another of the plurality of volumes begin traveling along a third path. At least a portion of a catcher including a porous material is at least partially positioned in one of the first, second, and third paths.

Abstract: A continuous stream ink jet printer including a printhead having at least one nozzle or continuously ejecting a stream of ink droplets. A heater disposed adjacent to the nozzle thermally deflects selected ink droplets by asymmetrically heating the ink droplets to effect a printing operation. A cooling unit cools the ink provided to the printhead nozzle to increase the deflection angle of the droplets.

Abstract: Both a cleaning fluid jet apparatus and method for cleaning an array of inkjet nozzles in a printhead is provided. The fluid jet apparatus includes a cleaning head having an array of cleaning nozzles registrable with the array of inkjet nozzles in the printhead, and a mounting assembly that mounts the cleaning head in opposition to the printhead with the cleaning nozzles in substantial alignment with the inkjet nozzles. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is connected to the cleaning nozzles such that the cleaning nozzles discharge a stream of high velocity cleaning droplets that impinges the inkjet nozzles. Both a droplet sizing mechanism and a droplet speed controller are provided so that the size, frequency, and velocity of the cleaning droplets may be selected for maximum cleaning efficiency. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for changing a location of cleaning droplet impingement so that both the inkjet nozzles and the areas immediately surrounding the nozzles may be effectively cleaned.

Abstract: A liquid emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice. Separately addressable dual electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a central electrode. The three electrodes are aligned with the nozzle orifice. A rigid electrically insulating coupler connects the two addressable electrodes. To eject a drop, an electrostatic charge is applied to the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle orifice, which pulls that electrode away from the orifice, drawing liquid into the expanding chamber. The other addressable electrode moves in conjunction, storing potential energy in the system. Subsequently the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle is de-energized and the other addressable electrode is energized, causing the other electrode to be pulled toward the central electrode in conjunction with the release of the stored elastic potential energy. This action pressurizes the liquid in the chamber behind the nozzle orifice, causing a drop to be ejected from the nozzle orifice.

Abstract: In a printing liquid droplet ejector, a liquid holding unit in a cavity has a volume sufficient to hold some of the printing liquid in the cavity and is mechanically translatable toward an opening in a nozzle. The liquid holding unit is volumetrically alterable to reduce its volume to cause at least some of the printing liquid held by the unit to be expelled from the unit, to in turn cause either printing liquid expelled from the unit or other printing liquid in the cavity to be ejected from the opening as at least one droplet, when the unit is mechanically translated toward the opening.

Abstract: A liquid emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice. Separately addressable dual electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a central electrode. The three electrodes are aligned with the nozzle orifice. A rigid electrically insulating coupler connects the two addressable electrodes. To eject a drop, an electrostatic charge is applied to the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle orifice, which pulls that electrode away from the orifice, drawing liquid into the expanding chamber. The other addressable electrode moves in conjunction, storing potential energy in the system. Subsequently the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle is de-energized and the other addressable electrode is energized, causing the other electrode to be pulled toward the central electrode in conjunction with the release of the stored elastic potential energy. This action pressurizes the liquid in the chamber behind the nozzle orifice, causing a drop to be ejected from the nozzle orifice.

Abstract: A liquid emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice. Separately addressable dual electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a central electrode. The three electrodes are aligned with the nozzle orifice. A rigid electrically insulating coupler connects the two addressable electrodes. To eject a drop, an electrostatic charge is applied to the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle orifice, which pulls that electrode away from the orifice, drawing liquid into the expanding chamber. The other addressable electrode moves in conjunction, storing potential energy in the system. Subsequently the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle is de-energized and the other addressable electrode is energized, causing the other electrode to be pulled toward the central electrode in conjunction with the release of the stored elastic potential energy. This action pressurizes the liquid in the chamber behind the nozzle orifice, causing a drop to be ejected from the nozzle orifice.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand liquid emission device, such as for example an ink jet printer, includes a member movable through a path for driving liquid from the device, wherein the speed at which the member moves is reduced over the time period that liquid is being expelled. During that time period, a portion of the liquid flows through a passage away from the nozzle orifice. According to a feature of the present invention, a variable flow restrictor increases the resistance to flow through the passage during the time period that liquid is being expelled; thereby tending to compensate for the reduction of the liquid-expulsion force over the time period. The result is a reduction of undesirable satellite droplets following a main drop.

Abstract: A liquid emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice. Separately addressable dual electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a central electrode. The three electrodes are aligned with the nozzle orifice. A rigid electrically insulating coupler connects the two addressable electrodes. To eject a drop, an electrostatic charge is applied to the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle orifice, which pulls that electrode away from the orifice, drawing liquid into the expanding chamber. The other addressable electrode moves in conjunction, storing potential energy in the system. Subsequently the addressable electrode nearest to the nozzle is de-energized and the other addressable electrode is energized, causing the other electrode to be pulled toward the central electrode in conjunction with the release of the stored elastic potential energy. This action pressurizes the liquid in the chamber behind the nozzle orifice, causing a drop to be ejected from the nozzle orifice.

Abstract: An inkjet print head comprises a mandrel having flat front and rear surfaces disposed between an initially curved rear membrane and an initially flat front membrane. The rear membrane is initially hemispherically curved, in close contact at its periphery with the rear surface of the mandrel but substantially removed from the mandrel in its central region. Because the membranes are mechanically coupled, the initially curved rear membrane causes the initially flat front membrane to bow away from the front surface of the mandrel. Ink contacts only one membrane, preferably the front membrane, which is typically held at a ground potential. By applying a voltage sequence to the membranes and mandrel, the position of the actuator may be controlled in a “push-pull” manner.