Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle configured to jet a drop of liquid metal therethrough. The 3D printer also includes a light source configured to illuminate the drop with a pulse of light. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The 3D printer also includes a camera configured to capture an image, video, or both of the drop. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to detect the drop in the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to characterize the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Abstract: A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.

Abstract: A 3D printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture an image, a video, or both of a plurality of drops of liquid metal being jetted through the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to measure a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the image, the video, or both. The computing system is also configured to determine one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a video of a plurality of drops being jetted through a nozzle of a printer. The method also includes measuring a signal proximate to the nozzle based at least partially upon the video. The method also includes determining one or more metrics that characterize a behavior of the drops based at least partially upon the signal.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling archival sheet curl formation in image receiving media substrates on which images are formed using aqueous inks as the marking material. Archival curl occurs over time and is based on a partial coverage of the image receiving media substrates by the deposited water-based marking materials. A unique post-processing scheme applies selective aqueous clear fluid onto imaged substrates (cut sheets) to substantially counteract long-term archival curl formation in the individual image receiving media substrates. Both opposing sides of the cut sheet are processed in a manner that causes them to substantially equally undergo the generally irreversible shrinkage phenomenon that leads to archival curl, thus substantially canceling out the archival curl formation mechanism. A clear fluid is applied image-wise to portions of one or both sides of the image receiving media substrates to counterbalance the formed aqueous ink image.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a front face having a polymer coating, the polymer coating including an oleophobic grafted polymer having a crosslinked fluoroelastomer and a perfluorinated fluorosilicone grafted to the crosslinked fluoroelastomer. The polymer coating has an ink contact angle of at least about 45 degrees and an ink slide angle of less than about 35 degrees.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises an oleophobic low adhesion coating having high thermal stability as indicated by less than about 15 percent weight loss when heated to up to 300° C., and wherein a drop of ultra-violet (UV) gel ink or a drop of solid ink exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 45° and sliding angle of less than about 30° with a surface of the coating, wherein the coating maintains the contact angle and sliding angle after the coating has been exposed to a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes.

Abstract: A mixing method and device are disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate having a textured superoleophobic surface comprising providing a silicon substrate; using photolithography to create a textured pattern in the silicon substrate; optionally, modifying the textured silicon surface by disposing a conformal oleophobic coating thereon; and forming an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate from the textured oleophobic silicon material to provide an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate having a textured superoleophobic surface.

Abstract: A printhead has a nozzle plate, having an array of nozzles through which ink is expelled, a low adhesion, oleophobic polymer coating on a front face of the nozzle plate. A printer has a source of solid ink, a heater arranged to-heat the solid ink and convert it to liquid ink, and a printhead, the printhead having a nozzle plate, having an of nozzles through which ink is expelled, a low adhesion, oleophobic polymer coating on a front face of the nozzle plate, the coating selected to dispel the liquid ink prior to the liquid ink returning to solid form, and a wiper positioned to wipe the front face of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises an oleophobic low adhesion coating having high thermal stability as indicated by less than about 15 percent weight loss when heated to up to 300° C., and wherein a drop of ultra-violet (UV) gel ink or a drop of solid ink exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 45° and sliding angle of less than about 30° with a surface of the coating, wherein the coating maintains the contact angle and sliding angle after the coating has been exposed to a temperature of at least 200° C. for at least 30 minutes.

Abstract: A mixing method is disclosed. The mixing method includes providing a drop generating device including a first drop ejector, a second drop ejector and a collector. The mixing method also includes ejecting a plurality of drops of a first reactant from the first drop ejector and ejecting a plurality of drops of a second reactant from the second drop ejector and collecting the drops with the collector.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate having a textured superoleophobic surface comprising providing a silicon substrate; using photolithography to create a textured pattern in the silicon substrate; optionally, modifying the textured silicon surface by disposing a conformal oleophobic coating thereon; and forming an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate from the textured oleophobic silicon material to provide an ink jet print head front face or nozzle plate having a textured superoleophobic surface.

Abstract: The present application is directed to electrostatic actuators, and methods of making electrostatic actuators. In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator of the present application can include an electrode layer and a mechanical member. The electrode layer can include a removed portion that is free of a landing pad. The mechanical member can be positioned in proximity to the electrode layer so as to provide a gap therebetween. The mechanical member can further include a dimple structure protruding out into the gap and aligned with the removed portion of the electrode layer. When in operation, the mechanical member can be capable of deflecting toward the electrode layer. The electrostatic actuator can be used in a fluid drop ejector for ink jet recording or printing devices.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a direct imaging system and methods for direct marking an image using the system. The disclosed direct imaging system can eliminate the creation of a latent image and can be used in an electrophotographic machine and related processes. Specifically, the direct imaging system can include a direct marking substrate (e.g., a printing substrate) and a development belt member closely spaced from the direct marking substrate. In one embodiment, the development belt member can include a plurality of actuator cells with each actuator cell controllably addressable to eject one or more toner particles adhered thereto. The ejected toner particles can transit the space between the donor belt member and the direct marking substrate, and directly marking onto the direct marking substrate forming an image.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a digital development system and methods for making and using the system. Specifically, the digital development system can utilize a roll member that includes a plurality of actuator cells arranged in a 2-dimensional array with each actuator cell having an actuator membrane individually addressable to eject one or more toner particles adhered thereto. In addition, the digital development system can utilize an imager architecture that includes an addressing logic circuit connected to each cell to selectively control the ejection of the one or more toner particles onto an image receiving member that is closely spaced from each actuator membrane. The disclosed digital development system can be used for non-interactive development systems for image-on-image full-color printing similar to HSD (Hybrid Scavengeless Development) technology with the donor roll becoming a high quality silent imager.