Abstract: A method for making an electromechanical device including forming an electromechanical transducer that includes a deposited metallic diaphragm, and attaching the electromechanical transducer to a fluid channel substructure.

Abstract: An inkjet ejector provides electrical conductors for grounding electrically isolated layers in the ejector while electrically coupling a transducer of the ejector to a firing signal circuit. The inkjet ejector includes a diaphragm plate have a first side and a second side, a plurality of transducers mounted to the first side of the diaphragm plate, a polymer layer located on the second side of the diaphragm plate, an electrically conductive layer that is isolated from electrical ground by the polymer layer, and a plurality of electrical conductors, at least one of the electrical conductors extends from the electrically conductive layer to electrical ground through the polymer layer and other electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors extend from each transducer to a firing signal circuit, the electrical conductor extending from the electrically conductive layer being the same material as the other electrical conductors in the plurality of electrical conductors.

Abstract: A method forms apertures in a polymer aperture plate configured for use in a piezoelectric print head. The method includes bonding a polymer aperture plate to an outlet plate configured with outlets, and aligning a laser with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate that are aligned with the outlets.

Abstract: A method for bonding a polymer layer to an outlet plate for an inkjet print head has been developed that enables the polymer layer to be attached to the outlet plate with little or no bowing of the polymer layer. The method includes aligning recesses in a bonding plate with channels in an outlet plate, interposing a polymer layer between the bonding plate and the outlet plate, and pressing the bonding plate against the polymer layer to bond the polymer layer to the outlet plate.

Abstract: A method for assembling an inkjet jet print head enables piezoelectric transducers to be bonded to an inkjet ejector without closing inlets to a pressure chamber within the inkjet ejector. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer with a thermoset adhesive, placing thermoset polymer in areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer, and drilling inlets through the thermoset polymer and the diaphragm at the openings in the diaphragm.

Abstract: An inkjet ejector has been developed that enables the ejector to be operated at a frequency greater than 80 kHz. The inkjet ejector includes a body layer in which a pressure chamber is configured with an outlet having a volume that is less than a predetermined volumetric threshold, a flexible diaphragm plate disposed on the pressure chamber to form a wall of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric transducer having a bottom surface attached to the diaphragm plate, and an inlet layer in which an inlet channel is configured to connect the pressure chamber to a source of liquid ink, a cross-sectional area of the inlet channel at the pressure chamber divided by a length of the inlet channel being greater than a predetermined linear threshold.

Abstract: A method for mounting a piezoelectric transducer layer to a diaphragm layer exposes an electrode for each piezoelectric transducer after thermoset polymer filling the interstitial space between the piezoelectric transducers has been cured. The method includes bonding a polymer layer to a diaphragm layer having a plurality of openings, bonding piezoelectric transducers to the diaphragm layer, filling areas between the piezoelectric transducers on the diaphragm layer with thermoset polymer, and removing the thermoset polymer from the piezoelectric transducers with a laser to expose a metal electrode on each piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: A manifold assembly has been constructed that filters ink before the ink enters an inkjet ejector in an inkjet print head. The manifold assembly includes an adhesive layer having openings, an ink manifold layer having a plurality of openings, the openings in the adhesive layer being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer, and a polymer layer having a plurality of filter areas, the filter areas being aligned with the openings in the ink manifold layer and the openings in the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being interposed between the polymer layer and the ink manifold layer.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes a plurality of functional plates bonded together in a stack by polymeric adhesive(s). The surfaces of the functional plates that contact the polymeric adhesives are subjected to a coating process that includes providing a coating of an adhesion promoter, namely polydopamine, prior to application of the adhesive. The adhesive may be a crosslinkable acrylic adhesive or a thermoplastic polyimide. The polydopamine coating is applied by immersing the functional plate in a buffered dopamine solution for a period sufficient to produce a coating having a pre-determined thickness. The thickness of the coating is controlled by submerging the functional plate in the buffered dopamine solution while the pH value of the dopamine solution is maintained at a value sufficient for polymerization of the dopamine during that time period, and then transferring the plates to a solution having a pH value that is insufficient to sustain the polymerization reaction.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing assembly having a fluid dispensing subassembly to deliver fluid to a substrate, an external manifold to supply fluid having a first wall arranged adjacent to the fluid dispensing subassembly, and a compliant wall attached to a second wall arranged opposite the first wall, the compliant wall to confine the fluid to chambers in the manifold and to provide compliance for acoustic attenuation. A fluid dispensing assembly having an external manifold having at least one opening in a back side opposite a fluid dispensing subassembly side, the fluid dispensing subassembly side being in contact with fluid, and a compliant wall adhered to the external manifold on the back side.

Abstract: A print head has an array of jets to dispense ink onto a printing surface, an array of actuators to cause the jets to dispense ink and an ink manifold to route ink to the array of jets, the ink manifold being formed of at least one polymer layers. A print manifold has an array of jets formed on a metal plate, at least one polymer layer mounted on the metal plate, the polymer layer including an array of manifolds corresponding to the array of jets and an electronic circuit board mounted on the polymer layer, the electronic circuit board having an array of holes corresponding to the array of manifolds. A print system includes at least one ink reservoir at least one umbilical to transport ink out of the ink reservoir and a print head as described above.

Abstract: A method for making a plurality of electromechanical devices including attaching a laminar electromechanical structure to a receiving substrate using a not appreciably cured adhesive in a liquid state, laser cutting the laminar electromechanical structure while the adhesive is not appreciably cured to form a plurality of electromechanical devices, and curing the adhesive.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing subassembly has a diaphragm arranged to be operated on by a transducer, a body pressure chamber arranged to be operated on by the diaphragm, and an adhesive attachment layer arranged between the diaphragm and the body pressure chamber. A fluid dispensing subassembly has a body pressure chamber formed of either a single plate or set of plates, a diaphragm arranged to operate on the body pressure chamber, and an adhesive layer arranged between the body pressure chamber and the diaphragm. A method of manufacturing a fluid dispensing subassembly includes forming a body pressure chamber from a body plate or a set of plates including a body plate, and adhesively bonding a diaphragm plate to at least the body plate of the fluid dispensing subassembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The methods and systems can include a printhead with one or more tapered nozzles each with an associated taper angle and exit diameter. Ink can be received into the printhead and formed into ink drops in the tapered nozzles. The ink drops can each have an associated drop mass and drop speed. The tapered nozzles can be provided such that the exit diameter can independently dictate the drop mass and the taper angle can independently dictate the drop speed. As such, the complexity of jet design optimization is reduced.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing subassembly includes a diaphragm arranged to be operated on by a transducer, an aperture array through which fluid is forced onto a substrate, a manifold body between the diaphragm and the aperture array, a spacer between the manifold body and the aperture array, the spacer arranged to form a gap at least partially overlapping the manifold, and a compliant film arranged between the manifold body and the spacer such that the fluid resides on a side of the film adjacent the manifold, and that the film is unsupported by the spacer over a least a portion of the manifold.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing subassembly includes a diaphragm arranged to be operated on by a transducer, an aperture array through which fluid is forced onto a substrate, a manifold body between the diaphragm and the aperture array, a spacer between the manifold body and the aperture array, the spacer arranged to form a gap at least partially overlapping the manifold, and a compliant film arranged between the manifold body and the spacer such that the fluid resides on a side of the film adjacent the manifold, and that the film is unsupported by the spacer over a least a portion of the manifold.

Abstract: A via structure configured for electrical and fluidic interconnection, and including an electrically conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer disposed on the electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A drop generator having a via structure configured for electrical and fluidic interconnection. The via structure includes an electrically conductive layer and an electrically insulating layer disposed on the electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing addressable fusing and/or heating of a substrate undergoing xerographic processing are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuser having an array of addressable heating elements in radiative communication with a substrate through a fuser roll or fuser belt. The array of addressable heating elements is operated to selectively heat portions of the substrate to achieve a desired effect on the substrate, such as changing its surface finish, or fusing unfused toner to the substrate. In the case of toner fusing, the array is operated such that substantially only an area covered by the unfused toner is heated. This eliminates the need for blanket fusing, and generally provides for greater flexibility in xerographically processing substrates. Apparatus and methods for performing two-sided selective fusing and/or heating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes attaching multiple layers to a back side of at least a portion of a fluid dispensing subassembly having at least one inlet port to form a fluid dispensing assembly, aligning a laser to a region of the fluid dispensing assembly, the region corresponding to the inlet port, and forming at least one hole in the region using a laser, the hole completing a path through the layers to the inlet port. A fluid dispensing assembly has a fluid dispensing subassembly having at least one inlet port, a fluid manifold having at least one outlet, at least two layers between the fluid dispensing subassembly and the manifold, and a fluid path in the at least two layers between the outlet and the inlet port, the fluid path having smooth walls and substantially uniform width.