Abstract: Various fluidic techniques can employ ducting structures, such as microstructures, that extend between other components, such as plate-like structures. A ducting structure can, for example, include an inlet opening toward or near one plate-like structure, an outlet opening toward or near another plate-like structure, and a duct in which fluid flows after being received through the inlet opening and before being provided through the outlet opening. In some implementations, a ducting structure is photo-defined, such as by exposing a photoimageable structure and then removing either exposed or unexposed regions. In some implementations, a ducting structure is a freestanding polymer microstructure. In some implementations, ducting structures are microstructures that extend approximately the same length between first and second plate-like structures, and have a ratio of length to maximum cavity diameter of approximately two or more.

Abstract: Provided is a priming mechanism for priming a biofluid drop ejection device having a drop ejection opening leading to an ejection reservoir. The priming mechanism includes a vacuum unit which generates a vacuum force, connected to a vacuum nozzle. The vacuum nozzle is located over the drop ejection opening. A disposable sleeve or tubing is attached to the vacuum nozzle and is placed in operational contact with the drop ejection opening. A fluid height detection sensor is positioned to sense a fluid height within at least one of the disposable tubing and the vacuum nozzle. Upon sensing a predetermined fluid height, by the fluid height detection sensor, the priming operation is completed, and the primer mechanism is removed from the operational contact with the drop ejection opening.

Abstract: A biofluid drop ejection unit for ejecting biofluid drops. A biofluid drop ejection mechanism of such a unit includes a transducer, which generates energy used to emit the biofluid drop. Further provided is a reagent cartridge or biofluid containment area which holds the biofluid. The reagent cartridge or biofluid containment area is configured to hold low volumes of biofluid and to avoid contamination of the biofluid. The reagent cartridge or biofluid containment area is in operational connection with the drop ejection mechanism such that upon operation of the drop ejection mechanism, biofluid drops are emitted. The biofluid drop ejection mechanism is a high efficiency device, and may be configured as two separate pieces or as a single disposable unit.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus utilizing a capping element having a sealing element or gasket which is pushed against the orifice plate of an acoustic ink printhead when capping and filling. This traps a small volume of air around an array of orifices in the orifice plate which prevents ink from exiting the orifices while the printhead is being filled with ink.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for acoustic ink printheads is provided. The relatively compact sealless system provides a high speed, pulseless and uniform flows of ink through the acoustic ink printheads. The system includes a single motor, a multi-head pump, multiple ink reservoirs with ink filters, and ink level sensing means. The system also includes a mechanism for maintaining ink pressure in the printhead independent of the volume of ink in the reservoir, the amount of filter blockage, or the absolute ambient pressure. As an option, the system also includes a segmented manifold for the printhead to deliver, for example, multiple colors of ink to a single printhead.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for ensuring quality control in printed biological assays is provided. A multi-ejector system having a plurality of individual drop ejectors is loaded with a variety of biofluids. Biofluids include at least a carrier fluid, a biological material to be used in the testing, and markers, such as fluorescent dyes. Data regarding the biofluid loaded in each of the drop ejectors is stored along with an expected signature output of the biofluid. Particularly, the signature output represents signals from individual ones of the fluorescent markers included within the biofluid. Once a biological assay consisting of the biofluid drops has been printed, a scanner capable of detecting the markers scans the biological assay and obtains signature output signals for each of the drops of the biological assay.

Abstract: A method of forming and moving ink drops across a gap between a print head and a print medium, or intermediate print medium, in a marking device includes generating an electric field, forming the ink drops adjacent the print head and controlling the electric field. The electric field is generated to extend across the gap. The ink drops are formed in an area adjacent the print head. The electric field is controlled such that an electrical attraction force exerted on the formed ink drops by the electric field is the greatest force acting on the ink drops. The marking device may be incorporated into a transfuse printing system having an intermediate print medium made of one or more materials that allow for lateral dissipation of electrical charge from the incident ink drops.

Abstract: A system for improving the uniformity of ink droplets delivered from a plurality of droplet sources on a printhead is described. The system includes a cooling system that compensates for nonuniform heating effects in a printhead which results in nonuniform temperatures. The distribution of the cooling system, and the effectiveness of the cooling system is set to maintain an approximately uniform ink temperature across the printhead.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for acoustic ink printing using a bilayer configuration. More particularly, the invention concerns an acoustically actuated droplet emitter which is provided with a continuous, high velocity, laminar flow of cooling liquid in addition to a stagnant pool of liquid to be emitted as droplets.

Abstract: A number of architectures of switch compensation networks are described for the provision of a compensation current which ensures the maintaining of a desired switching ratio in an acoustic printhead. The described architectures include those which provide column compensation, row compensation, and row and column compensation to a transducer switching matrix. Control of the switching ratio by the compensation networks, is used in consideration of the dissipation of heat energy through expulsion of a heated drop, to provide a precisely controlled balance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ink-jet printing on a recording medium is provided which includes the steps of jetting aqueous ink drops on paper in the form of an image. The aqueous ink used is a slow-drying (high-surface tension) ink which does not penetrate the paper/paper fibers for a relatively long time. Prior to penetration of the paper/paper fibers, the water in the droplet is quickly evaporated from the ink while still resident on the paper surface. The evaporation process is substantially completed prior to an additional liquid ink being jetted onto the same or adjoining location of the recording medium. The evaporation is rapid enough to prevent the resident ink from substantially migrating/wicking to any adjacent location or into the recording medium. Further the drying energy is transferred to the resident ink spots from the same direction as the printheads ensuring less energy requirement.

Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing on a recording medium is provided which includes the steps of jetting aqueous ink drops on paper in the form of an image. The aqueous ink used is a slow-drying (high-surface tension) ink which does not penetrate the paper/paper fibers for a relatively long time. Prior to penetration of the paper/paper fibers, the water in the droplet is quickly evaporated from the ink while still resident on the paper surface. The evaporation process is substantially completed prior to an additional liquid ink being jetted onto the same or adjoining location of the recording medium. The evaporation is rapid enough to prevent the resident ink from substantially migrating/wicking to any adjacent location or into the recording medium. Further the drying energy is transferred to the resident ink spots from the same direction as the printheads ensuring less energy requirement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for acoustic ink printing using a bilayer configuration. More particularly, the invention concerns an acoustically actuated droplet emitter which is provided with a continuous, high velocity, laminar flow of cooling liquid in addition to a stagnant pool of liquid to be emitted as droplets.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for ensuring quality control in printed biological assays is provided. A multi-ejector system having a plurality of individual drop ejectors is loaded with a variety of biofluids. Biofluids include at least a carrier fluid, a biological material to be used in the testing, and markers, such as fluorescent dyes. Data regarding the biofluid loaded in each of the drop ejectors is stored along with an expected signature output of the biofluid. Particularly, the signature output represents signals from individual ones of the fluorescent markers included within the biofluid. Once a biological assay consisting of the biofluid drops has been printed, a scanner capable of detecting the markers scans the biological assay and obtains signature output signals for each of the drops of the biological assay.

Abstract: In AIP printheads, misfunction after printing a number of prints, due to the accumulation of ink and dust around orifices in the orifice plate may occur. In order to clean the printheads, the dirty printhead is first capped and the ink pressure in the printhead increase significantly to allow ink to escape through the orifices and completely fill a small gap inside the cap portion. After letting the orifices soak for a predetermined time to dissolve the dried ink and loosen dust debris which may be found on the printheads, the cap drainhole is opened to drain the ink while keeping the ink pressure inside the head at an intermediate higher level. This higher pressure prevents the ink still remaining inside the bore of each orifice hole from reentering the printhead. The dirty ink remaining inside the orifice bore is removed using a wiping station in separate steps.

Abstract: In order to clean a dirty printhead, the dirty printhead is first capped and the ink pressure in the printhead increased significantly to allow ink to escape through the orifices and completely fill a small gap inside the cap portion. After letting the orifices soak for a predetermined time to dissolve the dried ink and loosen dust debris which may be found on the printheads, the cap drainhole is opened to drain the ink while keeping the ink pressure inside the head at an intermediate higher level. Dirty ink remaining inside the orifice bore is removed using a self cleaning wiping station in separate steps. During a first step, the wiping element is pressed into contact with the orifices. The dirty ink, because of the high pressure inside the printhead, is unable to reenter the printhead and is absorbed by the wiping element. In a second step, the pressure inside the printhead is decreased significantly below operating pressures to enable the menisci to retreat inside an orifice lip.

Abstract: An acoustic droplet emitter which a liquid level control plate has a lip in intimate contact with the free surface of a liquid is constructed. The liquid level control plate also has an effective aperture diameter at the exit edge of the plate which is larger than the effective aperture diameter at the lip. This reduces the pressure sensitivity of the free surface of the liquid and allows for the free surface of the liquid to be effectively pinned at the bottom surface of liquid level control plate for wider variations in pressure than using conventional methods.

Abstract: A method of operation of an acoustic droplet emitter with an array of droplet emitting utilizing high liquid flow rates. The higher flow rates prevent excess heat absorption during the droplet emission process and allow for excess heat generated by control electronics to be transferred to the flowing liquid after droplet emission but before it leaves the droplet emitter. This prevents excess heat build-up within the droplet emitter and allows for higher more accurate droplet emission.

Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing on a recording medium is provided which includes the steps of jetting aqueous ink drops on paper in the form of an image. The aqueous ink used is a slow-drying (high-surface tension) ink which does not penetrate the paper/paper fibers for a relatively long time. Prior to penetration of the paper/paper fibers, the water in the droplet is quickly evaporated from the ink while still resident on the paper surface. The evaporation process is substantially completed prior to an additional liquid ink being jetted onto the same or adjoining location of the recording medium. The evaporation is rapid enough to prevent the resident ink from substantially migrating/wicking to any adjacent location or into the recording medium. Further the drying energy is transferred to the resident ink spots from the same direction as the printheads ensuring less energy requirement.

Abstract: A droplet emitter with an array of droplet emitting devices constructed such that a flowing liquid used create the droplets can flow through the droplet emitter at higher flow rates. The higher flow rates prevent excess heat absorption during the droplet emission process and allow for excess heat generated by control electronics to be transferred to the flowing liquid after droplet emission but before it leaves the droplet emitter. This prevents excess heat build-up within the droplet emitter and allows for higher more accurate droplet emission.