Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pump [10] for pumping various primary fluids. A body is formed from silicon dies [102,104]. A primary fluid channel [110] is formed in the body and a primary fluid supply [122] is coupled to the primary fluid channel [110] to supply a primary fluid to the primary fluid channel [110]. A mechanism for introducing a secondary fluid to an interface region of the primary fluid channel [110] is formed in the body. An energy delivery device is formed in the body to deliver energy to an interface between region between the primary fluid and the secondary fluid to create a thermal gradient along the fluid interface. The thermal gradient results in a surface tension gradient along the interface. The primary fluid will move to compensate for the surface tension gradient. Various semiconductor fabrication processes can be used to form the elements on the body.

Abstract: A liquid emission device includes a chamber having a nozzle orifice. Separately addressable dual electrodes are positioned on opposite sides of a ground 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 ground 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 self-cleaning printer includes a print head having a surface that is susceptible to a contaminate build up. A cleaning liquid containing a concentration of macroscopic cleaning particles is flowed in frictive contact with the contaminate such that a combined effect of frictive force and hydrodynamic shearing force acting on the contaminate effectively removes the contaminate from the surface. Preferably, the cleaning particles are adapted to attach to the contaminate. They may include polymeric beads such as polystyrene spheres. The cleaning particles preferably have surfaces to which polymeric chains are attached, the polymeric chains having end groups which adhere to the contaminate.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes a source of ink. A droplet forming mechanism is operable in a first state to form droplets from the source having a first volume traveling along a first desired path and in a second state to form droplets from the source having a second volume traveling along the first desired path. The droplet forming mechanism is positioned proximate the source. A first system selectively applies a first force to the source such that selected droplets formed from the source by the droplet forming mechanism travel along a second desired path. The first system is positioned proximate the source. A second system applies a second force to the droplets traveling along at least one of the first desired path and the second desired path. The second force is applied in a direction such that the droplets having the first volume diverge from the droplets having the second volume.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a self-cleaning printer with a print head having an orifice plate defining an ink jet orifice, a cleaning orifice and a drain orifice. The orifice plate further defines an outer surface between the orifices. A source of pressurized cleaning fluid is connected to the cleaning orifice and a fluid return is connected to the drain orifice for storing used cleaning fluid. A cleaning surface is disposed adjacent to and separate from the outer surface to define a capillary fluid flow path from the cleaning orifice across the ink jet orifice and to the drain orifice. During cleaning, the source of pressurized cleaning fluid discharges a flow of a cleaning fluid into the capillary fluid flow path and pressurized cleaning fluid from the capillary flow path passes through the drain orifice and into the fluid return.

Abstract: Both an inkjet printer and method are provided for contone inkjet printing on a receiver. The inkjet printer includes a printhead having at least one nozzle for ejecting a stream of ink droplets, a droplet deflector for generating a flow of gas that impinges on the stream of ejected droplets to deflect the trajectories of the droplets, and a controller for varying the velocity of the gas flow in order to vary the degree of trajectory deflection so the droplets intended to print on a particular pixel in the receiver land on top of one another without elongation despite relative movement between the printhead and the receiver. The printer provides improved image quality and productivity while reducing image artifacts.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet apparatus is provided. The printhead includes a nozzle array with portions of the nozzle array defining a length dimension. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzle array. The drop forming mechanism is operable in a first state to form ink drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form ink drops having a second volume travelling along the path. A system applies force to the ink drops travelling along the path. The force is applied in a direction such that the ink drops having the first volume diverge from the path and at least one of the ink drops having the first volume and the ink drops having the second volume are displaced relative to the length dimension.

Abstract: For an inkjet printhead (10) having at least one nozzle (24) and a nozzle opening (26) in the nozzle (24), a disk (28) having an off-center aperture (38) about the disk axis (X, Y) positioned over the nozzle opening (26), a system and method of compensating for the effects of defects in the inkjet printhead (10) to alter the direction of ink drops (37) ejected from the nozzle (24). Initially, the printhead (10) is tested to determine the amount of compensation desired in the direction of ink (34) ejected from the nozzle opening (26). The method comprises the step of applying heat to at least one finger-like actuator (42), causing the thermal actuator (42) to deform semi-permanently. The method further comprises the step of sliding the disk (28) over the nozzle (24) so that the off-center aperture (38) traverses the nozzle opening (26) and causes the ink (34) ejected from the nozzle opening (26) to be deflected with regard to the desired amount of compensation.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a nozzle array with portions of the nozzle array defining a length dimension. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzle array and is operable in a first state to form ink drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form ink drops having a second volume travelling along the path. A system applies force to the ink drops travelling along the path with the force being applied in a direction such that the ink drops having the first volume diverge from the path and at least one of the ink drops having the first volume and the second volume are rotated relative to the length dimension. At least a portion of the system is configured to rotate the ink drops relative to the length dimension. The system portion has a cross section and an outlet with the cross section having a first shape and a second shape. The second shape reduces the force along at least a portion of the outlet.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a print head comprises a print head body defining an interior chamber and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an outer surface and further defines a cleaning fluid orifice through the orifice plate for conducting a flow of a cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid orifice and onto an outer surface of said orifice plate. The orifice plate also defines a drain orifice for conducting a flow of cleaning fluid from the surface to the interior chamber. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is disposed in said cavity and connected to the cleaning fluid passageway. During cleaning operations, the fluid flow system defines a flow of a cleaning fluid from the passageway and onto said outer surface. The drain orifice receives cleaning fluid from the outer surface and channels the cleaning fluid into the fluid return.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet printhead has a nozzle bore formed from a thin membrane that comprises an overhang from a relief portion of the substrate. The thin membrane of thickness t overhangs a relief portion of the substrate with a dimension OH. The nozzle bore has a respective diameter dimension D. The dimensions are characterized in that OH>=½ D; and wherein t<=0.33D.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate includes conductors at various levels to provide conductive paths for transmitting control signals for controlling the print head. The insulating layer or layers also has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate to provide a substantially planar surface to facilitate cleaning of the printhead. Each nozzle opening is formed as an elongated bore that extends through the insulating layer or layers to the silicon substrate. A heater element is formed adjacent each nozzle opening and in proximity to the planar surface to provide asymmetric heating of the ink stream as it leaves the nozzle opening.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet printhead is provided. The printhead includes a source of ink drops, a first nozzle row, and a second nozzle row displaced in a first direction and a second direction relative to the first nozzle row. A selection device is positioned relative to the first and second nozzle rows. The selection device is configured to direct ink drops ejected from the source through the first nozzle row along a first selected ink drop path and a first non-selected ink drop path. The selection device is also configured to direct ink drops ejected from the source through the second nozzle row along a second selected ink drop path and a second non-selected ink drop path. A gutter is positioned adjacent the first and second non-selected ink drop paths. The gutter is shaped to collect ink drops traveling along the first and second non-selected ink drop paths. The gutter includes a housing defining an ink removal channel.

Abstract: An ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. The silicon substrate has a series of ink channels formed therein along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle array. An insulating layer or layers overlying the silicon substrate has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle opening communicates with a respective ink channel. A series of rib structures is formed in the silicon substrate transverse to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle array for providing strength to the final silicon ship comprising the print head.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate and has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle opening is formed in a recess in the insulating layer or layers by a material depletion process such as etching. The process of etching defines the nozzle openings at locations where heater elements are formed in the insulating layer or layers during a conventional CMOS processing of the integrated circuits. The print head structure thereby provides for minimal post processing of the print head after the completion of the CMOS processing.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printhead having a two-dimensional nozzle array with the two-dimensional nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles disposed such that a redundant nozzle pair is formed. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzles and is operable in a first state to form drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form drops having a second volume travelling along the same path. A system applies force to the drops travelling along the path with the force being applied in a direction such that the drops having the first volume diverge from the path.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a source of ink and a printhead. The printhead includes an end nozzle and a second nozzle adjacent to the end nozzle. A portion of the printhead is shaped to balance forces acting on the ink ejected from the end nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes a source of ink. A droplet forming mechanism is operable in a first state to form droplets from the source having a first volume traveling along a first desired path and in a second state to form droplets from the source having a second volume traveling along the first desired path. The droplet forming mechanism is positioned proximate the source. A first system selectively applies a first force to the source such that selected droplets formed from the source by the droplet forming mechanism travel along a second desired path. The first system is positioned proximate the source. A second system applies a second force to the droplets traveling along at least one of the first desired path and the second desired path. The second force is applied in a direction such that the droplets having the first volume diverge from the droplets having the second volume.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate and has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle opening is formed in a recess in the insulating layer or layers by a material depletion process such as etching. The process of etching defines the nozzle openings at locations where heater elements are formed in the insulating layer or layers during a conventional CMOS processing of the integrated circuits. The print head structure thereby provides for minimal post processing of the print head after the completion of the CMOS processing.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a self-cleaning print head having an orifice plate defining an ink jet orifice, cleaning orifice and drain orifice. The orifice plate further defines an outer surface between the orifices. The print head has a source of pressurized cleaning fluid connected to the cleaning orifice and a fluid return connected to the drain orifice for storing used cleaning fluid. During cleaning operations, the source of pressurized cleaning fluid causes cleaning fluid to flow from the cleaning orifice, and the cleaning orifice directs the flow of cleaning fluid across the outer surface and the ink jet orifice and into the drain orifice.