Abstract: The present disclosure relates to controlling a performance characteristic of an image forming device component having a surface which may include removal of a portion of the surface to expose a plurality of voids and a surface between the voids. The surface between the voids may have a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 microns and the relationship SAV/(SAV+SAC) is equal to 1-50%, where SAV is the surface area of the voids and SAC is the remaining surface area of the component. The performance characteristic may include the control of toner mass conveyed and/or toner filming and/or the amount of residual toner removed from a photoconductive surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to controlling a performance characteristic of an image forming device component having a surface which may include removal of a portion of the surface to expose a plurality of voids and a surface between the voids. The surface between the voids may have a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 microns and the relationship SAV/(SAV+SAC) is equal to 1-50%, where SAV is the surface area of the voids and SAC is the remaining surface area of the component. The performance characteristic may include the control of toner mass conveyed and/or toner filming and/or the amount of residual toner removed from a photoconductive surface.

Abstract: A printhead comprising a first ink reservoir in fluid communication with an outlet nozzle and downstream from a first ink filter, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with the first ink reservoir and operative to withdraw gas from the first ink reservoir and subsequently inhibit fluid communication between the withdrawn gas and the first ink reservoir. The present invention also includes method of removing gas in fluid communication with an ink reservoir, the method comprising purging gas from a gas accumulation area of an ink reservoir, where purging act includes manipulating a valve assembly downstream from an ink filter, the valve assembly operative to separate the gas accumulation area of the ink reservoir from an external environment, the valve assembly operative to facilitate unidirectional volumetric flow of the gas between the gas accumulation area and the external environment.

Abstract: An ink jetting assembly includes a body, and an ink jet chip attached to the body. The ink jet chip has a mounting surface, a face surface, an ink channel extending to the face surface, and at least one actuator associated with the ink channel. The actuator includes a plurality of electrical contact pads formed on the face surface. A plurality of passageways extends through the ink jet chip from the mounting surface to the face surface. The ink jetting assembly also includes a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes passes through a respective passageway of the plurality of passageways and is electrically connected to a respective contact pad of the plurality of electrical contact pads at the face surface.

Abstract: A low-profile ink jet cartridge assembly for an ink jet printer. The low profile ink jet cartridge assembly includes a substantially rectangular ink jet cartridge body having a printhead side, opposing side surfaces attached to the printhead side and a length, a height, and a width, wherein the length is greater than the height and the width. A printhead containing a semiconductor substrate is attached to the printhead side of the ink cartridge. A flexible circuit having a width, a length, a first edge along the length thereof, a second edge along the length thereof, first printer contact pads along at least a portion of the length thereof adjacent the first edge, and second printer contact pads along at least a portion of the length thereof adjacent the second edge is attached to the ink cartridge on the opposing side surfaces of the cartridge body.

Abstract: A print head and regulator assembly for a printer including: (a) a print head; (b) an ink source; and, (c) a regulator for regulating the flow of ink between the ink source and the print head, the regulator including: (i) a pressurized chamber having an ink inlet in fluid communication with the ink source, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the print head, an opening extending through a chamber wall, and a flexible film covering the opening, the flexible film having an inner surface facing an interior of the pressurized chamber and an outer surface in contact with the ink in the ink source; and, (ii) a lever including a flexible arm positioned in proximity to the inner surface of the flexible film and an opposing arm operatively coupled to a seal that closes the ink inlet when the lever is in a first position and opens the ink inlet when the lever is pivoted to a second position, the lever being biased to the first position, where a higher pressure differential across the flexible film brings about a h

Abstract: An ink reservoir having a bubble generator includes an enclosure defining an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space being adapted for containing a supply of ink, the enclosure having a passage formed therein which permits fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior space, the passage including a surface, the passage defining a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is adjacent the interior space. A sphere is positioned in the passage and contacts a portion of the surface of the passage, the surface having a shape that permits ink to pass between the sphere and the surface. A membrane is positioned over the first aperture to retain the sphere in the passage, the membrane including at least one hole being sized to define a bubble admission pressure difference across a thickness of the membrane.

Abstract: An ink reservoir having a bubble generator includes an enclosure defining an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space being adapted for containing a supply of ink, the enclosure having a passage formed therein which permits fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior space, the passage including a surface, the passage defining a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is adjacent the interior space. A sphere is positioned in the passage and contacts a portion of the surface of the passage, the surface having a shape that permits ink to pass between the sphere and the surface. A membrane is positioned over the first aperture to retain the sphere in the passage, the membrane including at least one hole being sized to define a bubble admission pressure difference across a thickness of the membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides a flow feature structure for an ink jet printer. The structure includes a polymeric nozzle plate having a nozzle plate thickness, the nozzle plate containing a plurality of ink chambers, each ink chamber containing a nozzle hole in fluid communication therewith, a plurality of ink channels each having a channel width and an ink channel inlet for providing ink flow from an ink supply region to one each of the ink chambers and an air bubble interrupter device having a width dimension perpendicular to a flow axis through the ink channel. The width dimension of the air bubble interrupter is from about 0.5 to about 1.2 times the ink channel width and the interrupter device is disposed adjacent each of the ink channels and spaced from the ink channel inlet a distance of from about 0.5 to about 1.2 times the ink channel width.

Abstract: A printhead apparatus for filtering ink which includes an elongate open-ended trough having a bottom wall and opposing end walls and opposing side walls attached to the bottom wall, an ink exit port attached to the bottom wall between the opposing end walls and side wall, a filter member disposed in the open-ended trough between the end walls and the side walls and an elongate cover assembly attached to the end walls and the side walls covering the trough defining a filter chamber containing filter element, the cover assembly containing an ink inlet valve and a gas outlet valve. The device is disposed between an ink cartridge and an ink jet pen containing one or more printheads and is activated automatically when a new ink cartridge is installed on the pen thereby removing unwanted air and gas bubbles from the filter chamber and providing gas free ink to the pen and one or more printheads.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer and a method for making the improved ink jet cartridge. The ink jet cartridge includes a substantially inflexible frame having at least one pressure port, the frame having at least one peripheral edge. At least one malleable web is provided having a first side and a second side the first side being attached to the peripheral edge of the frame defining a substantially closed cavity. The malleable web is conformed to the cavity by applying a subatmospheric pressure to the cavity before, after or while heating the malleable web in order to substantially conform the web to the cavity thereby creating a variable volume cavity having a substantially predictable pressure/volume relationship. A biasing element is disposed adjacent the first or second side of the malleable web for biasing the web relative to the cavity.

Abstract: A filter tower structure for removing air or gas bubbles from an ink jet printing structure which includes a filter tower attached to an ink reservoir for feeding ink from the reservoir to a printhead, the filter tower structure including a conduit having an interior in flow communication with the ink reservoir and the printhead and a tube having a first end in flow communication with the interior of the conduit and a second end in flow communication with a vacuum source, wherein activation of the vacuum source results in the application of a reduced pressure to the interior of the conduit such that air or gas bubbles are caused to flow into the tube and exit the conduit and ink from the reservoir is caused to flow into the conduit.

Abstract: An ink printer cartridge having a press-on lid and the method of make the same is described. An ink reservoir body is having an open-ended cavity and a foam insert is disposed therein. A spacer having a plurality of holes is fixedly attached to the top of the ink reservoir body as by ultrasonic welding. The reservoir is then filled with ink through the plurality of holes in the spacer. A reservoir lid having a plurality of connecting posts is then attached to the spacer by engaging the connecting posts of the lid into the holes of the spacer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removing air or gas bubbles from a ink jet pen. The device includes a gas accumulation chamber attached to an ink cartridge and a gas inlet port in flow communication with the chamber, the inlet port containing a septum for sealing the port. The chamber contains a gas accumulation device and an urging member for urging the gas accumulation device in order to draw gas into the chamber through the inlet port from a cartridge body upon attachment of the cartridge to the body. The gas accumulation device is activated automatically when a new ink cartridge is installed on the cartridge body thereby removing unwanted air and gas bubbles from the ink feed port of the cartridge and cartridge body.