Abstract: An electrostrictive micro-pump is provided for controlling a fluid flow through a cannula or other narrow liquid conduit. The micro-pump includes a pump body having a passageway for conducting a flow of fluid, a pump element formed from a piece of viscoelastic material and disposed in the passageway, and a control assembly coupled to the viscoelastic material for electrostatically inducing a peristaltic wave along the longitudinal axis of the pump element to displace fluid disposed within the pump body. The control assembly includes a pair of electrodes disposed over upper and lower sides of the pump element. The lower electrode is formed from a plurality of uniformly spaced conductive panels, while the upper electrode is a single sheet of conductive material. A switching circuit is provided for actuating the conductive panels of the lower electrode in serial, multiplex fashion to induce a peristaltic pumping action.

Abstract: An ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism, and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices has having a first passageway therethrough capable of being disposed in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel by way of the orifice. A solvent delivering wiper is connected to the hood and has a second passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The second passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes contaminant from the surface. A vacuum canopy is connected to the wiper and has a third passageway therethrough alignable with the surface.

Abstract: A fluid pump, such as a print head, includes an ink channel having a nozzle and at least one wall having a flexible portion. A deforming member made of a viscoelastic material is coupled to the flexible portion and a charge mechanism is coupled to the deforming member to apply a spatially varied charge pattern to the deforming member when activated. Activation of the charge mechanism causes deformation of the deforming member and the flexible portion to reduce the volume of the ink channel and eject a droplet of ink out of the ink channel. The charge mechanism can include a photoelectric material and a radiation source or an electrode coupled to a source of electric power.

Abstract: An electrostrictive micro-valve is provided for modulating a fluid flow through a cannula or other narrow liquid conduit. The micro-valve includes a valve body having a passageway for conducting a flow of fluid, a valve element formed from a piece of viscoelastic material and disposed in the passageway, and a control assembly coupled to the viscoelastic material for electrostatically controlling the shape of the material to open or close the passageway. The valve element has a flat lower side connected to an inner wall of the passage of the valve body, and an upper side which faces an opposing wall within the passageway. The control assembly includes a pair of electrodes disposed over the upper and lower sides of the valve element. The electrode facing the lower side of the element is patterned so that localized electrostatic forces are generated across the viscoelastic material when a voltage is applied across both electrodes.

Abstract: A pump(10) for pumping various primary fluids includes a body(100) having a primary fluid channel(110) defined therein, and a primary fluid supply is coupled to the primary fluid channel to supply a primary fluid to the primary fluid channel. A mechanism(130/132) is provided for introducing a secondary fluid to an interface region of the primary fluid channel to thereby define a fluid interface between the primary fluid and the secondary dry fluid in the interface region. An energy delivery(150/160) device delivers energy to the interface region to create a thermal gradient along the fluid interface. The thermal gradient results in a surface tension gradient along the interface. The primary fluid will move to compensate for the surface tension gradient.

Abstract: A self-cleaning in ink jet printer (10) with cleaning mechanism (170) and method of cleaning the ink jet printer. The printer (10) comprises a print head (60) having a surface (95) thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices (90). The orifices (90) are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels (70) formed in the print head (60). A canopy (185) is constructed from alternating stacked layers (185a, 185b, 185c, 185d, 185e) of polyimide and stainless steel sheets with internal geometries, one on top of each other thus creating internal fluidic passageways. The solvent delivering canopy (185) is connected to a manifold body (180) and has a passageway (234) alignable with the surface (95). Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent when a wiper blade (225) loosens contaminant from the surface (95). The canopy (185) also has a passageway (236) alignable with the surface (95).

Abstract: An ink drop deflector mechanism is provided. The ink drop deflector mechanism includes an ink drop source and a path selection device operable in a first state to direct drops from the source along a first path and in a second state to direct drops from the source along a second path. The first and second paths diverge from the source. The mechanism also includes a system which applies force to drops travelling along at least one of the first and second paths with the force being applied in a direction so as to increase the divergence of the paths. The mechanism may include a gas source which generates a gas flow force that is applied in a direction that increases the divergence of the paths. The gas flow may be positioned between the first and second paths. The gas flow may be substantially laminar and interact with at least one of the first and second paths as the gas flow loses its coherence.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a self-cleaning printer with a print head having an orifice plate defining an ink jet orifice, a cleaning orifice and a drain orifice. The orifice plate further defines an outer surface between the orifices. A source of pressurized cleaning fluid is connected to the cleaning orifice and a fluid return is connected to the drain orifice for storing used cleaning fluid. A cleaning surface is disposed adjacent to and separate from the outer surface to define a capillary fluid flow path from the cleaning orifice across the ink jet orifice and to the drain orifice. During cleaning, the source of pressurized cleaning fluid discharges a flow of a cleaning fluid into the capillary fluid flow path and pressurized cleaning fluid from the capillary flow path passes through the drain orifice and into the fluid return.

Abstract: An electrostrictive micro-pump is provided for controlling a fluid flow through a cannula or other narrow liquid conduit. The micro-pump includes a pump body having a passageway for conducting a flow of fluid, a pump element formed from a piece of viscoelastic material and disposed in the passageway, and a control assembly coupled to the viscoelastic material for electrostatically inducing a peristaltic wave along the longitudinal axis of the pump element to displace fluid disposed within the pump body. The control assembly includes a pair of electrodes disposed over upper and lower sides of the pump element. The lower electrode is formed from a plurality of uniformly spaced conductive panels, while the upper electrode is a single sheet of conductive material. A switching circuit is provided for actuating the conductive panels of the lower electrode in serial, multiplex fashion to induce a peristaltic pumping action.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from an ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles, the method comprising:

Abstract: A cleaning assembly (170) for removing contaminants from the surface (90) of an ink jet print head (60) in a self-cleaning ink jet printer (10). The print head (60) defines a plurality of ink channels (31) terminating in orifices (25) with a surface (90) surrounding the orifices (25). A gutter (17) is disposed opposite the print head surface (90) for collecting ink droplets (100) ejected from the orifices (25). A cleaning assembly (170) includes a cup (190) defining a cavity (197) with an open end (195) adapted to make contact with the print head surface (90). An inflow channel (210) provides the entry pathway for cleaning liquid to flow into the cavity (197) via a gap (220). An outflow channel provides an exit pathway for the flow of cleaning liquid from cavity (197).

Abstract: A method for correcting the performance of a continuous ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles each having an orifice, at least one of the nozzles being a malfunctioning nozzle, the method including: a) determining which nozzle of the nozzle plate is malfunctioning; b) applying a heat-activatable material over the surface of the nozzle plate; c) applying heat to the malfunctioning nozzle, thereby causing the heat-activatable material to flow into the orifice of the malfunctioning nozzle to block it; and d) removing any excess heat-activatable material.

Abstract: A pump includes two opposing plates having a space there between to define a secondary fluid passage. A first aperture is formed through the first plate and a second aperture is formed in the second plate to define a primary fluid channel extending across the secondary fluid channel. A heater on the second plate moves primary fluid through the primary fluid channel due to the Marangoni type effect. A heater on the first plate causes a meniscus to enlarge to thereby form a drop of fluid ejected out of the primary fluid channel.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in the form of an inkjet printer and a printing method utilizes a light-activated ink release system. The apparatus includes at least one nozzle having an ink body that is comprised of light-sensitive ink. The ink can form an unextended droplet meniscus. By directing a light beam onto the unextended droplet meniscus, the surface tension of the light-sensitive ink decreases, and provides for an extended droplet meniscus. The formation of the extended meniscus droplet meniscus permits the transfer of ink to a receiver or media.

Abstract: A microfluidic valve for controlling the flow of a material through a microfluidic channel comprising: a) a microfluidic channel comprising a passageway, b) a heater in contact with at least a portion of the microfluidic channel, c) a carrier fluid comprising the material and an amount of thermally-responsive material so that the carrier fluid can be thickened by heat from the heater to cause a reduction in flow of the carrier fluid through the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A self-cleaning printer system (400) with cleaning liquid supply (270) and print head cleaning assembly (32) and method of assembling a self-cleaning printer. The printer system (400) comprises a print head (16) defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in one or more ink ejection nozzles (25). The print head (16) also has a surface (15) thereon surrounding all the nozzles (25). Contaminant may reside on the surface (15) and also may completely or partially obstruct one or more of the nozzles (25). Therefore, the print head cleaning assembly (32) includes a roller (190) disposed relative to the surface (15) and/or nozzles (25) for cleaning the surface (15) and/or the nozzles (25). A cleaning assembly control (40) directs sliding contact of the roller (190) with the surface (15) and/or nozzles (25). The print head cleaning assembly (32) is configured to introduce cleaning liquid (300) to the print head surface (15) to facilitate and augment cleaning by the roller (190).

Abstract: A nozzle plate for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle plate having the following layers in the order recited: a) a first monomolecular layer of an organic material having first and second functional groups, the first functional group of the first monomolecular layer being bound to the surface of the nozzle plate, and the second functional group of the first monomolecular layer being bound to a second monomolecular layer, and b) the second monomolecular layer of an organic material having first and second functional groups, the first functional group of the second monomolecular layer being bound to the second functional group of the first monomolecular layer, and the second functional group of the second monomolecular layer is an anti-wetting group.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process comprising the steps of; a) providing an ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink jet ink is emitted from a nozzle that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; c) loading the printer with an inkjet ink comprising a thermally-responsive polymeric material; and d) ejecting ink from a thermally-steered continuous ink jet print head onto one of the ink jet recording elements in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in the form of an inkjet printer and a printing method utilizes a light-activated ink release system. The apparatus includes at least one nozzle having an ink body that is comprised of light-sensitive ink. The ink can form an unextended droplet meniscus. By directing a light beam onto the unextended droplet meniscus, the surface tension of the light-sensitive ink decreases, and provides for an extended droplet meniscus. The formation of the extended meniscus droplet meniscus permits the transfer of ink to a receiver or media.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process comprising the steps of; a) providing an ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink jet ink is emitted from a nozzle that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; c) loading the printer with an aqueous inkjet ink comprising water, a dye, a humectant, an organic solvent and a deflection-enhancing additive comprising a diethanolamine or 1-amino-2-propanol; and d) ejecting ink from a thermally-steered continuous ink jet print head onto one of the ink jet recording elements in response to the digital data signals.