Abstract: An actuator component for a droplet ejection head; wherein said actuator component comprises a substrate and one or more strips of piezoelectric material fixedly attached to said substrate; wherein said one or more strips of piezoelectric material comprise one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and an array of fluid chambers defined within said one or more strips of piezoelectric material and extending in an array direction; wherein said actuator component further comprises one or more cover parts; wherein the or each cover part extends in said array direction and is fixedly attached to at least one of a side face of one of said strips of piezoelectric material and/or at least a portion of said substrate; and wherein said one or more cover parts comprise a plurality of openings so as to enable fluid to be supplied to selected ones of said fluid chambers through said openings. Associated methods of manufacturing an actuator component for a droplet ejection head are also provided.

Abstract: A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection head, the nozzle plate comprising a first row of nozzles arranged to deposit droplets onto a deposition media; wherein the first row of nozzles extends in a row direction and comprises two or more nozzle clusters, each nozzle cluster being arranged along the row direction for a cluster length c, and extending along a cluster depth direction perpendicular to the row direction by a cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster comprises a plurality of nozzles of which one or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster length c and two or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster is spaced apart from an adjacent nozzle cluster along the row direction by a cluster spacing a such that an air flow path is created for forced air to pass through the row of nozzles in a controlled manner; and wherein, when the first row is projected in a transverse direction onto the row direction, a transition region between adja

Abstract: A method for reducing instability of a nozzle meniscus of a droplet deposition apparatus. The method includes the steps of receiving first and second data blocks for respective first and second line pixels, receiving a data set of forbidden pixel periods, determining a first jitter delay value based on the forbidden pixel periods, generating first and second print data based on the first and second data blocks, the first print data defining a first holding period and one or more drive pulses and the second print data defining one or more drive pulses; wherein the first and second print data generate first and second actuating element signals that cause an actuating element to eject at least one droplet from a nozzle, wherein the first jitter delay value adjusts a first pixel period, defined by the drive pulses, to fall outside of the forbidden pixel periods to reduce nozzle meniscus instability.

Abstract: An actuator component for a droplet ejection head; wherein said actuator component comprises a substrate and one or more strips of piezoelectric material fixedly attached to said substrate; wherein said one or more strips of piezoelectric material comprise one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and an array of fluid chambers defined within said one or more strips of piezoelectric material and extending in an array direction; wherein said actuator component further comprises one or more cover parts; wherein the or each cover part extends in said array direction and is fixedly attached to at least one of a side face of one of said strips of piezoelectric material and/or at least a portion of said substrate; and wherein said one or more cover parts comprise a plurality of openings so as to enable fluid to be supplied to selected ones of said fluid chambers through said openings. Associated methods of manufacturing an actuator component for a droplet ejection head are also provided.

Abstract: A nozzle plate for a droplet ejection head, the nozzle plate comprising a first row of nozzles arranged to deposit droplets onto a deposition media; wherein the first row of nozzles extends in a row direction and comprises two or more nozzle clusters, each nozzle cluster being arranged along the row direction for a cluster length c, and extending along a cluster depth direction perpendicular to the row direction by a cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster comprises a plurality of nozzles of which one or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster length c and two or more nozzles within each nozzle cluster define the cluster depth d; wherein each nozzle cluster is spaced apart from an adjacent nozzle cluster along the row direction by a cluster spacing a such that an air flow path is created for forced air to pass through the row of nozzles in a controlled manner; and wherein, when the first row is projected in a transverse direction onto the row direction, a transition region between adja

Abstract: A method for reducing instability of a nozzle meniscus of a droplet deposition apparatus. The method includes the steps of receiving first and second data blocks for respective first and second line pixels, receiving a data set of forbidden pixel periods, determining a first jitter delay value based on the forbidden pixel periods, generating first and second print data based on the first and second data blocks, the first print data defining a first holding period and one or more drive pulses and the second print data defining one or more drive pulses; wherein the first and second print data generate first and second actuating element signals that cause an actuating element to eject at least one droplet from a nozzle, wherein the first jitter delay value adjusts a first pixel period, defined by the drive pulses, to fall outside of the forbidden pixel periods to reduce nozzle meniscus instability.

Abstract: actuator component for a droplet deposition head made up of a number of patterned layers, each layer extending in a plane normal to a layering direction, with the layers being stacked one upon another in said layering direction. A row of fluid chambers is formed within the layers, with the row extending in a row direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the layering direction. Each fluid chamber is provided with a respective nozzle and a respective actuating element, which is actuable to cause the ejection of fluid from the chamber in question through the corresponding one of the nozzles. A row of inlet passageways is also formed within the layers of the actuator component, with the row extending in the row direction. Each inlet passageway is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to a respective one of said fluid chambers.

Abstract: actuator component for a droplet deposition head made up of a number of patterned layers, each layer extending in a plane normal to a layering direction, with the layers being stacked one upon another in said layering direction. A row of fluid chambers is formed within the layers, with the row extending in a row direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the layering direction. Each fluid chamber is provided with a respective nozzle and a respective actuating element, which is actuable to cause the ejection of fluid from the chamber in question through the corresponding one of the nozzles. A row of inlet passageways is also formed within the layers of the actuator component, with the row extending in the row direction. Each inlet passageway is fluidically connected so as to supply fluid to a respective one of said fluid chambers.