Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising the printhead and filters intended for use with the printhead is passivated by passing a gaseous coating such as Parylene through the assembly. In this way dirt particles created during manufacture of the printhead are encapsulated and thus prevented from blocking the nozzles. The printhead assembly is also prevented from interacting physically or chemically with ink flowing through the printhead.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting a printer component to a support, using a foil including a number of mounting apertures, into which pins are inserted to provide alignment. The engagement of the pins in the aperture causes local deformation of the foil, the resulting forces acting to align the pins to an accuracy which can be greater than that to which the foil is manufactured.

Abstract: Depositing droplets onto a substrate using an array of channels, acting as fluid chambers, separated by actuable walls. In response to a first voltage, each wall deforms to decrease the volume of one channel and increase the volume of the other channel, and, in response to a second voltage, the wall deforms so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of the neighboring channels. Receiving input data; assigning, based on the input data, all channels within the array as firing or non-firing to produce groups of one or more contiguous firing channels separated by groups of one or more contiguous non-firing channels; actuating walls of certain channels resulting in each of the firing channels releasing at least one droplet of fluid, the resulting droplets forming dots disposed on a straight line on a substrate, separated on the line by gaps corresponding to the non-firing channels.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus comprising an array of fluid chambers defined by a pair of opposing chamber walls, and in fluid communication with a nozzle for droplet ejection therefrom; a cover member is joined to the edges of the chamber walls and thus seals one side of the chambers. The cover member has a ratio of cover thickness to chamber wall separation less than or equal to 1:1.

Abstract: A method of forming a component for a droplet deposition apparatus, includes the steps of: providing a protection material so as to fill fluid chambers and; directing a high-powered laser at the component so as to ablate an array of nozzles communicating with respective filter chambers. The protection material acts to inhibit damage to the walls of the chamber during ablation, such as damage to the interior passivation coating, or electrodes provided on the walls of the chamber, and can be removed for example by flushing with a heated solvent.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus comprising an array of fluid chambers defined by a pair of opposing chamber walls, and in fluid communication with a nozzle for droplet ejection therefrom; a cover member is joined to the edges of the chamber walls and thus seals one side of the chambers. The cover member has a ratio of cover thickness to chamber wall separation less than or equal to 1:1.

Abstract: A droplet deposition apparatus having an array of fluid chambers defined by a pair of opposing chamber walls, and in fluid communication with a nozzle for droplet ejection therefrom; a cover member is joined to the edges of the chamber walls and thus seals one side of the chambers. The cover member has a ratio of cover thickness to chamber wall separation less than or equal to 1:1.

Abstract: A method for depositing droplets onto a substrate employs an apparatus, such as an inkjet printhead, the apparatus having: an array of channels, acting as fluid chambers, separated by interspersed walls, with each channel communicating with an aperture or nozzle for the release of droplets of a fluid contained within the channel, such as ink. Each of the walls separates two neighbouring channels and is actuable such that, in response to a first voltage, it will deform so as to decrease the volume of one channel and increase the volume of the other channel, and, in response to a second voltage, it will deform so as to cause the opposite effect on the volumes of the neighbouring channels.

Abstract: A nozzle plate component manufactured by forming a layer of photoresist on a substrate and selectively exposing and removing material to define an array of distinct bodies. Nickel is then electroformed around the bodies to form a plate, with nozzles subsequently formed by ablation through the photoresist. The process can essentially be repeated to form a guard structure around each nozzle.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of printers and printheads formed of a number of modules mounted on a chassis. The modules and chassis are formed with a number of alignment features which engage with one another to form elastic interference couplings. By arranging a number n of such couplings for each module, the variance in positional error of each module with respect to the chassis can be made significantly less than the alignment error of the alignment features themselves, by the process of Average Elastic Alignment. The elastic interference couplings can advantageously be made to form a sealed coupling for the supply of ink from the chassis to each module.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus including at least one droplet ejection unit having a plurality of fluid channels disposed side by side in a row, an actuator, and a plurality of nozzles, said actuator being actuable to eject a droplet of fluid from a fluid channel through a respective nozzle, a support member for said at least one droplet ejection unit, a first conduit extending along said row and to one side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for conveying droplet fluid to each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit; and a second conduit extending along said row and to the other side of both said support member and said at least one droplet ejection unit for receiving droplet fluid from each of the fluid channels of said at least one droplet ejection unit.

Abstract: Droplet deposition apparatus comprising an array of fluid chambers defined by a pair of opposing chamber walls, and in fluid communication with a nozzle for droplet ejection therefrom; a cover member is joined to the edges of the chamber walls and thus seals one side of the chambers. The cover member has a ratio of cover thickness to chamber wall separation less than or equal to 1:1.

Abstract: A method of offset printing wherein a layer of varnish or similar coating material is deposited onto a print drum and an ink image pattern layer is printed upon the varnish layer using a technique such as inkjet printing; the print drum transfers the ink layer onto a print substrate with a portion of the varnish layer thereupon, thus acting as a covering layer for the printed image.

Abstract: A printhead assembly comprising the printhead and filters intended for use with the printhead is passivated by passing a gaseous coating such as Parylene through the assembly. In this way dirt particles created during manufacture of the printhead are encapsulated and thus prevented from blocking the nozzles. The printhead assembly is also prevented from interacting physically or chemically with ink flowing through the printhead.

Abstract: Plastic or other electronic devices are formed on a flexible substrate using inkjet printing techniques. To avoid registration difficulties arising from distortion of the substrate, deposition is conducted on a rigid substrate to which a release layer is applied. After application of a type layer which serves as the permanent, flexible substrate, the structure is released from the temporary rigid substrate.

Abstract: A component for a drop on demand printhead having three groups of actuators arranged on a surface forming a central group and two end groups. The electrical connections for the central group are split, one portion extending towards one edge of the surface in one direction, and the remaining portion extending towards an edge in a different direction. Such components can be butted together to form an array of such components providing improved actuator density along the module, and facilitating improved electrical connection.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting a printer component to a support, using a foil including a number of mounting apertures, into which pins are inserted to provide alignment. The engagement of the pins in the aperture causes local deformation of the foil, the resulting forces acting to align the pins to an accuracy which can be greater than that to which the foil is manufactured.

Abstract: An injet printhead is formed by a multistage process: grooves are formed on the base of a block of piezoelectronic material, and a conductor is applied thereto. Conducting tracks are deposited on a substrate with matching spacing, such that the base and piezoelectric material can be joined giving a desired electrical connection. Channels are cut into the top of the piezoelectric block to intersect with the grooves, forming ink chambers, and these are provided with electrodes in electrical contact with the tracks. Cover plates are added to the assembly to provide a manifold and nozzles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink jet print head includes the steps of bonding a body of piezoelectric material to a base plate and cutting channels into the piezoelectric material to form ink chambers which are actuated by applying voltages to electrodes provided on surfaces of the chambers. The base plate carries IC's which contain the drive circuitry for actuating the ink chambers. To ensure reliable electrical connection between the chamber electrodes and the IC's, the electrodes and conducting tracks on the base plate are formed in a single step by depositing a conductive layer over both the PZT body and the base plate. A step of masking or selective removal of material may be performed to achieve the necessary patterning of the electrodes and tracks.