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: An actuator taking the form of a piezoelectric wall separating two chambers, which utilizes two actuation modes. Both actuation modes cause volume displacements in both chambers, but act to reinforce one another in one chamber and cancel one another in the other chamber. A fluid pump for droplet deposition having an array of channels separated by such actuators can be operated with each channel acting substantially independently of its neighbors.

Abstract: An ink jet or other printer serves to print for each row of input pixels, two superimposed rows of contiguous “super pixels,” each print pixel being capable of receiving print contributions from N super pixels. The super pixels are twice the width of the input pixels and one row of super pixels is offset by half a super pixel width from the next row of super pixels. Redundancy is thus provided against the loss of a print element. The effects of smoothing or an image are reduced by edge enhancement processes.

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 nozzle in a nozzle plate for an inkjet printhead is formed by directing a laser beam at a nozzle plate. Accurate control of the divergence of the beam is achieved by splitting the beam into sub-beams, each sub-beam having divergence with an origin lying apart from the point at which the beam is created by splitting, and thereafter recombining the sub-beams. Greater accuracy in the taper and inlet shape of the manufactured nozzle is thereby obtained.

Abstract: A component for a printhead is created by forming a PZT wafer forming a region of SU8 photoresist material on one side of the PZT wafer; sawing in a second side of said planar body, opposite said first side, actuator channels to a depth sufficient to expose an area of the photoresist material; forming a nozzle through the layer of photo-resist material in the exposed area such that then nozzle is in communication with the actuator channels. The region of photoresist material may be used to form a nozzle plate using photolithography.

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 actuator taking the form of a piezoelectric wall separating two chambers, which utilizes two actuation modes. Both actuation modes cause volume displacements in both chambers, but act to reinforce one another in one chamber and cancel one another in the other chamber. A fluid pump for droplet deposition having an array of channels separated by such actuators can be operated with each channel acting substantially independently of its neighbors.

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: A method and apparatus for supplying fluid to a deposition device or printhead using the through flow principle. The pressure of fluid entering and exiting the printhead is controlled directly at the printhead by respective pressure controllers, preferably a transducer and control system or a weir. The pressure controllers can be integrated together and mounted on or further integrated with the printhead. The supply system preferably forms a closed loop including a remote reservoir, and the entire system can be arranged such that the overall free surface of fluid is exposed on average to a negative gauge pressure.

Abstract: Printed circuit board or other tracks are formed by the deposition of liquid to form dots on a substrate from nozzles mutually spaced by a distance s. A set of n dot diameters Di=2 s(1/2+i/n), is used to produce linear tracks at one or more directions with respect to an axis X; each track having a minimum track width Tw=s(n?2)/n; and the minimum spacing of tracks along the axis X being Ts=s/n.

Abstract: An inkjet printer has ink channels extending through a body, each channel being offset relative to a central plane with respect to the adjacent channel. A manifold extends through the body, intersecting each channel to define a channel end profile. The channel end profile of one channel is substantially a mirror image of the channel end profile of the adjacent channel, so that the acoustic was refection coefficient of the boundary between each channel and the manifold is substantially equal for all channels. An inclined region of the channel end profile facilitates the formation of connecting tracks for the channel electrodes.

Abstract: An ink jet printer with ink flowing through an ink chamber and over an ink ejection port leading to a nozzle has a deflection surface such as a chamfer at the junction of the chamber and the ejection port to inhibit debris from entering the port.

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical support for a plurality of flow-through inkjet print heads has two folded wall sections cooperating to define elongate inlet and outlet ink manifolds, one wall section being thermally conducting so as to promote heat transfer along the length of the support, the other wall section being thermally insulating so as to inhibit heat transfer between the inlet and outlet manifolds. The thermally insulating section serves to trap a boundary layer of fluid, for example in a cavity wall or cellular material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for contacting an oxidizing solution such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide composition of hydrogen peroxide and at least one additive that catalyzes the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into hydroxyl radicals with an atmospheric effluent containing odorous and/or noxious components. These components are absorbed by the aqueous hydrogen peroxide composition to produce an atmospheric effluent having reduced amounts of the odorous and/or noxious components. Various methods are described for adding the hydrogen peroxide and the decomposition additive.

Abstract: An ink supply system for a droplet deposition apparatus wherein the pressure at the nozzle is controlled by a remote point, said remote point being positioned in parallel with said print head. The flow restrictions in the printhead arm and the pressure control arm of the circuit being selected to achieve this.

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: For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the “Guidance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations” appearing at the beginning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette.

Abstract: A drop on demand ink jet printer, has a passive component defining ink ejector chambers with respective ejection nozzles; and an actuator component comprising a body with an opening and an actuator structure located within the opening. The actuator structure is formed of piezoelectric material by molding from a slurry or vacuum forming of flexible sheets using formers that are burned away. MEMs techniques may also be employed to build the structure on a silicon wafer using a succession of masked deposition; etch back and similar process steps.