Abstract: A microfluidic delivery device and method of dispensing a fluid composition therefrom is provided. The microfluidic delivery device includes a housing electrically connectable with a power source; a cartridge releasably connectable with the housing; and a fan connected with the housing. The cartridge has a reservoir for containing a fluid composition and microfluidic die in fluid communication with the reservoir. The die is configured such that substantially all of the fluid composition exits the microfluidic die in a horizontal direction or downward direction relative to horizontal. The fan is configured to generate air flow that converges with and redirects the fluid composition dispensed from the microfluidic die in an upward direction relative to horizontal.

Abstract: A microfluidic delivery device and method of dispensing a fluid composition therefrom is provided. The microfluidic delivery device includes a housing electrically connectable with a power source; a cartridge releasably connectable with the housing; and a fan connected with the housing. The cartridge has a reservoir for containing a fluid composition and microfluidic die in fluid communication with the reservoir. The die is configured such that substantially all of the fluid composition exits the microfluidic die in a horizontal direction or downward direction relative to horizontal. The fan is configured to generate air flow that converges with and redirects the fluid composition dispensed from the microfluidic die in an upward direction relative to horizontal.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional back pressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing different levels of ink in the ink supply tank and out-of-ink/ink-low conditions in the backpressure device and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes a tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead for use in ink jet printing includes a substrate and a nozzle plate. The substrate has an oblong recessed region forming a ceiling and interior side walls of a bubble chamber. The oblong recessed region has a length dimension that is greater than its width dimension. The oblong recessed region has a first end spaced apart from a second end in the length dimension. The substrate has an ink inlet channel passing through the ceiling to form an ink inlet port near the first end of the oblong recessed region. The nozzle plate is attached to the substrate to form a floor of the bubble chamber. The nozzle plate has an ink jet nozzle passing through the nozzle plate. The ink jet nozzle is positioned in fluid communication with the bubble chamber at a location near the second end of the recessed region.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing different levels of ink in the ink supply tank and out-of-ink/ink-low conditions in the backpressure device and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes a tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional backpressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A fluid height backpressure system includes a printhead, a fluid supply tank, a backpressure device, and an air removal device. The backpressure device responsible for supplying system backpressure includes at least one tower disposed in an upright position and having a plurality of walls defining first and second chambers for respectively communicating with the ink supply tank and a fluid supply reservoir of the printhead. The air removal device provides additional back pressure in the second chamber, allows backpressure in the system to be maintained even with an empty fluid supply tank, and also supply of ink to the fluid supply reservoir of the printhead substantially without air bubbles being introduced therein. Also, ink sensors are utilized for sensing out-of-ink/ink-low conditions and also to help establish and continue the operation of the backpressure device.

Abstract: A method of forming a conduit providing fluid communication between respective reservoirs of an ink tank, the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first orifice extending through a first external wall portion of an ink tank defining part of a first ink reservoir of the ink tank; (b) forming a second orifice extending through a second external wall portion of the ink tank defining part of a second ink reservoir of the ink tank; and (c) attaching a substrate over the first and second external wall portions at least about a first continuous seal line surrounding both the first and second orifices to define an external conduit communicatively connecting the first ink reservoir with the second ink reservoir.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead for use in ink jet printing includes a substrate and a nozzle plate. The substrate has an oblong recessed region forming a ceiling and interior side walls of a bubble chamber. The oblong recessed region has a length dimension that is greater than its width dimension. The oblong recessed region has a first end spaced apart from a second end in the length dimension. The substrate has an ink inlet channel passing through the ceiling to form an ink inlet port near the first end of the oblong recessed region. The nozzle plate is attached to the substrate to form a floor of the bubble chamber. The nozzle plate has an ink jet nozzle passing through the nozzle plate. The ink jet nozzle is positioned in fluid communication with the bubble chamber at a location near the second end of the recessed region.

Abstract: A printhead body for mounting a micro-fluid ejection chip includes a floor having an interior side and an exterior side, the exterior side being configured for mounting at least one micro-fluid ejection chip. A plurality of body vias extends through the floor from the interior side to the exterior side. The plurality of body vias is positioned to supply ink to each micro-fluid ejection chip. A plurality of ink flow channels is formed over the interior side of the floor. The plurality of ink flow channels include at least a first ink flow channel vertically overlapping a separate and independent second ink flow channel. Each individual ink flow channel of the plurality of ink flow channels is in fluid communication with at least one body via of the plurality of body vias.

Abstract: A printhead body for mounting a micro-fluid ejection chip includes a floor having an interior side and an exterior side, the exterior side being configured for mounting at least one micro-fluid ejection chip. A plurality of body vias extends through the floor from the interior side to the exterior side. The plurality of body vias is positioned to supply ink to each micro-fluid ejection chip. A plurality of ink flow channels is formed over the interior side of the floor. The plurality of ink flow channels include at least a first ink flow channel vertically overlapping a separate and independent second ink flow channel. Each individual ink flow channel of the plurality of ink flow channels is in fluid communication with at least one body via of the plurality of body vias.

Abstract: An ink container is provides ink to a vented printhead, where both the ink container and the vented printhead are positioned on a moveable carriage. The ink container receives ink from an off-carriage ink supply via an ink conduit. Air is removed from the printhead and ink container via a low pressure vacuum pump coupled to the ink container via an air conduit. The low pressure vacuum pump generates low pressure to pull air from the ink container. A higher pressure pump may be used in conjunction with a pressure relief valve that limits the pressure in the ink container.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a printhead having a chip feed extending between an ink reservoir and printhead nozzles, wherein the chip feed has an inlet, and outlet, and one or more projections or recesses in a transition surface of the chip feed. The transition surface and the projection or recess can be inclined with respect to the outlet of the chip feed, and in some cases can be curved to present a concave or convex shape toward the outlet of the chip feed.

Abstract: A replacement component for printing operations that includes a recess that is adapted to be engaged by a projection of a replacement component holder associated with a printing apparatus to mount the replacement component to the replacement component holder, the replacement component also including an actuatable release adapted to operatively contact at least one of the projection and the recess to substantially disengage the projection from the recess.

Abstract: A multi-chamber inkjet print head includes a plurality of individual print head ink chambers that share a common ink filter and are in fluid communication with an ink flow regulator. An associated method of assembling a print head base having at least two separate fluid conduit paths filtered by a single piece of filter includes the steps of: (a) positioning a single piece filter between at least two separate ink receptacles associated with a print head and at least two respective ink conduits; and (b) sealing at least two separate ink paths between the at least two separate ink receptacles associated with the print head and the at least two ink conduits, such that the single piece of filter is in concurrent fluid communication with the at least two separate ink paths.

Abstract: A multi-chamber inkjet print head includes a plurality of individual print head ink chambers that share a common ink filter and are in fluid communication with an ink flow regulator. An associated method of assembling a print head base having at least two separate fluid conduit paths filtered by a single piece of filter includes the steps of: (a) positioning a single piece filter between at least two separate ink receptacles associated with a print head and at least two respective ink conduits; and (b) sealing at least two separate ink paths between the at least two separate ink receptacles associated with the print head and the at least two ink conduits, such that the single piece of filter is in concurrent fluid communication with the at least two separate ink paths.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet pen including a cartridge body having a printhead and a replaceable ink cartridge removably positionable on the cartridge body. At least one cooperating elongate recess and at least one projection are located on the mutually facing surfaces of the ink cartridge and the cartridge body. The projection and recess are engageable with one another for guidably positioning the ink cartridge to a desired position relative to the cartridge body.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming a heater chip module comprising a carrier adapted to be secured to an ink-filled container, at least one heater chip having a base coupled to the carrier, and at least one nozzle plate coupled to the heater chip. The carrier includes a support substrate having at least one passage which defines a path for ink to travel from the container to the heater chip. The heater chip is secured at its base to a portion of the support substrate. At least the portion of the support substrate is formed from a material having substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the heater chip base. A flexible circuit is coupled to the heater chip module such as by TAB bonding or wire bonding.