Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid source including a liquid with the liquid including particles. An acoustic transducer is associated with the liquid source. A controller is operably associated with the acoustic transducer and is configured to actuate the acoustic transducer to generate a standing sound wave including a nodal point in the liquid such that the particles are caused to move toward the nodal point of the standing sound wave.

Abstract: A catcher includes a housing and a drop contact structure. The housing defines a liquid removal conduit. The drop contact structure includes a moveable surface that delivers collected liquid drops to the liquid removal conduit of the housing.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid flow device, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid flow device includes a first section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition and a second section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition. Each partition has a height as viewed from a wall of the fluid flow device. The height of the partition of the second section is less than the height of the partition of the first section. The fluid flow source is operable to produce a fluid flow through the fluid flow device. The fluid flow interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A continuous drop emitter includes a liquid supply chamber containing a liquid held at a positive pressure. First and second nozzles are in fluid communication with the liquid supply chamber and emit first and second continuous streams of a liquid. First and second stream break-up transducers independently synchronize the break up of the first and second continuous streams of the liquid into first and second streams of drops. An acoustic damping material is located adjacent to or within the liquid supply chamber for damping sound waves generated within the liquid chamber by the first and second stream break-up transducer. The continuous drop emitter can be configured with a Helmholtz resonant chamber tuned to a critical stimulation frequency having an acoustic damping material located therein.

Abstract: A printing system and method of printing are provided. The system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a first fluid flow that interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a second fluid flow. The second fluid flow including a flow component substantially parallel to the first path.

Abstract: A printing system includes a source of liquid including a liquid outlet. The source of liquid includes a liquid with particles. A liquid vibrating mechanism is operably associated with the source of liquid. A controller is operably associated with the liquid vibrating mechanism. The controller is configured to control a desired direction of movement of the particles of the liquid by causing the liquid vibrating mechanism to vibrate the liquid with a non-symmetric energy such that movement of the particles is biased in the desired direction.

Abstract: A printhead includes a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory, and a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow that interacts with the large volume drop and the small volume drop in a drop deflection zone such that at least the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory, the gas flow being provided by a gas flow source connected in fluid communication with a gas flow duct, the gas flow deflection system including a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure located between the gas flow source and the drop deflection zone.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to form liquid drops having a plurality of volumes moving along a first path. The fluid passage includes a wall. A source of acoustic energy is associated with the wall. A fluid flow source is associated with the passage and is configured to provide a fluid flow through the passage. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory.

Abstract: A printhead includes a nozzle plate and a nozzle bore located in the nozzle plate. In one embodiment, the nozzle bore includes a first section, a second section, and a third section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the nozzle plate. The first section and the second section are spaced apart from each other by the third section. The first section includes a converging area portion and the second section includes a diverging area portion. In another embodiment, the first section and the second section of the nozzle bore are adjacent to each other. The first section includes a converging area portion and the second section includes a diverging area portion. The diverging area portion and the converging area portion are asymmetrical relative to each other when viewed along the plane perpendicular to the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A method and printing system are provided. The printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid passage includes a temperature gradient in the passage. The fluid flow source is operable to cause a fluid to flow in a direction through the passage, wherein interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path and a passage including a wall. A gas flow source is operable to cause a gas to flow in a direction through the passage. A liquid flow source is operable to cause a liquid to flow in a direction along the wall of the passage with the flow direction of the liquid being in the same direction as that of the gas flow. Interaction of the gas flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A method and printing system are provided. The printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid passage includes a temperature gradient in the passage. The fluid flow source is operable to cause a fluid to flow in a direction through the passage, wherein interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A method and printing system are provided. The printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid passage includes a wall. The fluid flow source is operable to cause fluid to flow in a direction through the passage. A vibrating mechanism is operably associated with the wall of the fluid passage and is configured to vibrate the wall of the fluid passage. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid source including a liquid with the liquid including particles. An acoustic transducer is associated with the liquid source. A controller is operably associated with the acoustic transducer and is configured to actuate the acoustic transducer to generate a standing sound wave including a nodal point in the liquid such that the particles are caused to move toward the nodal point of the standing sound wave.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid passage includes a wall with the wall including a perforated portion. A fluid flow source is operable to cause the fluid to flow through the passage along the perforated portion of the wall. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to form liquid drops having a plurality of volumes moving along a first path. The fluid passage includes a wall. A source of acoustic energy is associated with the wall. A fluid flow source is associated with the passage and is configured to provide a fluid flow through the passage. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path and a passage including a wall. A gas flow source is operable to cause a gas to flow in a direction through the passage. A liquid flow source is operable to cause a liquid to flow in a direction along the wall of the passage with the flow direction of the liquid being in the same direction as that of the gas flow. Interaction of the gas flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Abstract: A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory.

Abstract: A printing system and method of printing are provided. The system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a first fluid flow that interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a second fluid flow. The second fluid flow including a flow component substantially parallel to the first path.