Patents by Inventor Gregory J. Garbacz
Gregory J. Garbacz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8128196Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a jetting module including an array of nozzles; a thermal stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the array of nozzles; and a controller in electrical communication with each thermal stimulation device. The controller is configured to provide a first activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device and to provide a second activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device to clean the associated nozzle with liquid emitted from the associated nozzle. The second activation waveform has a higher activation component when compared to the first activation waveform.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Ali G. Lopez, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Publication number: 20100149238Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes a jetting module including an array of nozzles; a thermal stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the array of nozzles; and a controller in electrical communication with each thermal stimulation device. The controller is configured to provide a first activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device and to provide a second activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device to clean the associated nozzle with liquid emitted from the associated nozzle. The second activation waveform has a higher activation component when compared to the first activation waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Ali G. Lopez, Chang-Fang Hsu
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Patent number: 7004571Abstract: A method, and apparatus for performing the method, are intended to prevent all of the ink discharged from a defective one of multiple nozzles in a continuous inkjet printhead from being used for printing on a print medium. This can be done by periodically heating the defective nozzle at a frequency that is greater than frequencies other nozzles which are not defective are periodically heated, to cause the defective nozzle to only discharge ink droplets that have a smaller volume than ink droplets discharged from the nozzles that are not defective. Then, the smaller volume droplets discharged from the defective nozzle are prevented from reaching a print medium, but the larger volume ink droplets discharged from the nozzles that are not defective are allowed to reach the print medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, James M. Chwalek
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Patent number: 6851796Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2001Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David L. Jeanmaire, Gilbert A. Hawkins, Charles F. Faisst, Jr., Gregory J. Garbacz
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Patent number: 6848766Abstract: A cleaning system for a continuous inkjet printer comprises a cleaning chamber positioned substantially parallel to an ink supply chamber and nozzle plate, and a gas supply, such as air or nitrogen. The cleaning chamber is formed by a cover and the nozzle plate, wherein the gas is routed between the cover and the nozzle plate so as to remove debris and excess ink from the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area. A fluid may also be applied in addition to the gas, and a deflector may be positioned on the cover to increase the angle of incidence of air and fluid as it contacts the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Charles F. Faisst, Jr., John Sechrist, Joseph R. West
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Patent number: 6802588Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Gilbert A. Hawkins, Michael Long, John Sechrist
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Publication number: 20040173241Abstract: A method of cleaning a printhead in an inkjet printer by removing organic debris deposits from the printhead, uses anyone of the liquid mixes of NaOCl (sodium hypochlorite) and H2O (water), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and H2O, Na2S2O4 (sodium hydrosulfite) and H2O, CaCl2O2 (calcium hypochlorite) and H2O, or KMnO4 (potassium permanganate) and H2O on the debris deposits, to serve as a cleaning agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael Long, Gregory J. Garbacz, Vincent E. Hamilton-Winbush
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Patent number: 6786975Abstract: A method of cleaning a printhead in an inkjet printer by removing organic debris deposits from the printhead, uses anyone of the liquid mixes of NaOCl (sodium hypochlorite) and H2O (water), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and H2O, Na2S2O4 (sodium hydrosulfite) and H2O, CaCl2O2 (calcium hypochlorite) and H2O, or KMnO4 (potassium pernanganate) and H2O on the debris deposits, to serve as a cleaning agent.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael Long, Gregory J. Garbacz, Vincent E. Hamilton-Winbush
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Publication number: 20040165038Abstract: A method, and apparatus for performing the method, are intended to prevent all of the ink discharged from a defective one of multiple nozzles in a continuous inkjet printhead from being used for printing on a print medium. This can be done by periodically heating the defective nozzle at a frequency that is greater than frequencies other nozzles which are not defective are periodically heated, to cause the defective nozzle to only discharge ink droplets that have a smaller volume than ink droplets discharged from the nozzles that are not defective. Then, the smaller volume droplets discharged from the defective nozzle are prevented from reaching a print medium, but the larger volume ink droplets discharged from the nozzles that are not defective are allowed to reach the print medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, James M. Chwalek
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Publication number: 20040070645Abstract: A cleaning system for a continuous inkjet printer comprises a cleaning chamber positioned substantially parallel to an ink supply chamber and nozzle plate, and a gas supply, such as air or nitrogen. The cleaning chamber is formed by a cover and the nozzle plate, wherein the gas is routed between the cover and the nozzle plate so as to remove debris and excess ink from the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area. A fluid may also be applied in addition to the gas, and a deflector may be positioned on the cover to increase the angle of incidence of air and fluid as it contacts the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Charles F. Faisst, John Sechrist, Joseph R. West
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Publication number: 20040036735Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2002Publication date: February 26, 2004Inventors: Gregory J. Garbacz, Gilbert A. Hawkins, Michael Long, John Sechrist
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Publication number: 20030081082Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: David L. Jeanmaire, Gilbert A. Hawkins, Charles F. Faisst, Gregory J. Garbacz
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Publication number: 20020112642Abstract: An ink jet ink composition comprising water, a dye, a humectant, an organic solvent and a deflection-enhancing additive comprising a diethanolamine or 1-amino-2-propanol.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: August 22, 2002Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Ravi Sharma, Thomas L. Penner, Charles E. Romano, Gregory J. Garbacz, Vincent E. Hamilton-Winbush, James M. Chwalek
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Patent number: 6361156Abstract: An ink jet printing process comprising the steps of; a) providing an ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink jet ink is emitted from a nozzle that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; c) loading the printer with an aqueous inkjet ink comprising water, a dye, a humectant, an organic solvent and a deflection-enhancing additive comprising a diethanolamine or 1-amino-2-propanol; and d) ejecting ink from a thermally-steered continuous ink jet print head onto one of the ink jet recording elements in response to the digital data signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Charles E. Romano, Jr., Vincent E. Hamilton-Winbush, Gregory J. Garbacz, Thomas L. Penner, Ravi Sharma, James M. Chwalek