Abstract: Microinjectors are provided. A microinjector includes a substrate, a manifold formed by the substrate, and a plurality of jet units. The jet unit comprises a nozzle plate disposed on the substrate, a chamber formed between the substrate and the nozzle plate, a channel connecting the chamber and the manifold, a nozzle formed on the nozzle plate, a heater disposed on an outer surface of the nozzle plate and adjacent to the nozzle, and a temperature sensor disposed on the outer surface of the nozzle plate. The heater heats the chamber to eject liquid through the nozzle. The sensor is located substantially at the center of the channel for temperature detection.

Abstract: Microinjectors are provided. A microinjector includes a substrate, a manifold formed on the substrate, and at least a jet unit. The jet unit includes a nozzle layer connected to the substrate, a nozzle disposed on the nozzle layer, a reservoir, a first heater disposed on a first side of the nozzle and a second heater disposed on a second side of the nozzle. The reservoir is formed between the nozzle layer and the substrate, connecting the nozzle and the manifold. Specifically, the first and second heaters are actuated by individual drive circuits, to heat the reservoir and eject a droplet through the nozzle.

Abstract: An inkjet finger manifold is provided that includes a longitudinal manifold chamber with an entrance at a first end adjacent to a first longitudinal side. A purge vent is located at a second end on a second longitudinal side opposite the first longitudinal side. A first ramp is located at the first end sloping away from the entrance toward the second longitudinal side. A second ramp is located near the second end and slopes from the second longitudinal side toward the second end and the first longitudinal side to alter the laminar flow of the ink through the longitudinal manifold.

Abstract: A drop generator including a pressure chamber defined by a chamber wall structure, a diaphragm plate disposed on the chamber wall structure and covering the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric transducer attached to the diaphragm plate, and a recess formed in the diaphragm plate and underlying an associated peripheral portion of the piezoelectric transducer such that the associated peripheral portion overhangs the recess.

Abstract: Microinjectors are provided. A microinjector includes a substrate, a channel, a nozzle formed at an end of the channel, and a deformable mechanism disposed on the substrate. A droplet is generated by ejecting fluid through the nozzle. The deformable mechanism comprises a piezoelectric layer and a flexible member. The flexible member connects the piezoelectric layer and the substrate, defining a part of the channel. When an electrical field is applied to the piezoelectric layer, the flexible member and the piezoelectric layer are deformed, altering profile of the channel.

Abstract: A droplet ejecting head includes a first substrate, a nozzle plate, a second substrate, an annular symmetrically channel plate and an actuator device. The nozzle plate with a nozzle is disposed on a first surface of the first substrate. The second substrate with a liquid inlet is disposed over the first substrate. The annular symmetrically channel plate with a fluid channel is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate so that a pressure chamber is formed between the second substrate and the annular symmetrically channel plate. The liquid to be ejected flows to the fluid channel from the liquid inlet and overflows to the pressure chamber from the fluid channel. The actuator device is disposed on the second substrate. The second substrate is deformed by the actuator device for changing volume of the pressure chamber, and then the liquid in the pressure chamber is ejected via the nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid droplet discharging piezoelectric device 1 provided with a cavity member 11 with a built-in cavity 3; an introduction member 13 having introduction channel 5 connecting with the cavity 3; and a nozzle member 12 having nozzle channel 4 connecting with the cavity 3 on a side opposite to the channel 5. This liquid droplet discharging piezoelectric device 1 is provided with an introduction port 6, attached to the introduction member 13, capable of introducing a liquid into the cavity 3 via the introduction channel 5, and a discharge port 7, attached to the nozzle member 12, capable of discharging as droplets a liquid filled in the cavity 3 via the nozzle channel 40. Even in a case where an amount of liquid droplets is of a nanoliter (nl) order, excellent stability and reproducibility are attained, and the unit can stably be operated when attached to an apparatus.

Abstract: The ink jet head ejects ink droplets by exerting an electrostatic force on ink having dispersed charged particles, and includes an insulating ejection substrate having through holes, ejection electrodes, each being arranged in each through hole and ink guides, each passing through each through hole. Each ink guide includes a support part and a tip end part that extends from an end portion of the support part, the tip end part is formed so that a back surface of the tip end part is flush with a back surface of the support part, and the tip end part is thinner than the support part to form a step on a front surface side and is gradually narrowed toward the ink droplet ejection side, and the electrostatic force has at least a component directed toward a tip end of an ink guide along the tip end part. The image recording apparatus includes the ink jet head and records an image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An ink cartridge loading device has: a casing, a door, and a guiding member. The casing has a chamber that accommodates an ink cartridge, and an opening communicated with the chamber for loading and unloading the ink cartridge therethrough. The door is provided at the casing. The door is movable between a first position and a second position. The door closes the opening at the first position. The door opens the opening at the second position. The guiding member is provided on the door. The guiding member partially guides the ink cartridge from the chamber through the opening to outside when the door moves from the first position to the second position. The guiding member supports the ink cartridge together with the door when the door is at the second position. The guiding member guides the ink cartridge into the chamber when the door moves from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes a substrate provided with an energy generating element to generate energy used for discharging ink, a discharge port through which the ink is discharged, a supply port for supplying the ink, and an ink path formed on the substrate for making the discharge port and the supply port communicate with each other, wherein wall members forming the ink path are made of an inorganic material, and a space between adjacent ink paths is filled up by a metal layer.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a plate-shaped microfluidic chip having a flow path, a liquid introduction tube for supplying liquid to the flow path, the liquid introduction tube having an end communicating with an end of the flow path and its other end that can be soaked in the liquid that is to be supplied to the flow path, and a liquid discharge head communicating with the other end of the flow path for discharging liquid that has passed through the flow path.

Abstract: In an ink-jet head as a liquid-droplet jetting apparatus, a manifold channel which supplies an ink to pressure chambers has a first area communicating with the pressure chambers and a second area communicating with a dummy nozzle formed therein, with the first and second areas sandwiching a projection therebetween. Air exists at an upper portion of the second area, and the air is in contact with the ink in the manifold channel. When a pressure is applied to the ink in the pressure chambers by a piezoelectric actuator so as to jet the ink from nozzles, a pressure wave is generated in the pressure chambers and is propagated to the manifold channel. The pressure wave propagated to the manifold channel is attenuated in the second area by the air which is in contact with the ink in the manifold channel.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall. The ink cartridge also includes an ink chamber, an ink supply portion extending from the first wall in a first direction, and a communication path coupled to the ink supply portion and to the ink chamber. The ink cartridge includes a third wall which is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and the second wall, and a fourth wall which is substantially perpendicular to the first wall, the second wall and the third wall. The third wall has a recess formed therein, and the recess extends from the first wall towards the second wall in a second direction opposite the first direction. A plane which is parallel to the first direction and the fourth wall intersects at least a portion of the recess and at least a portion of the communication path.

Abstract: A refill unit that includes an ink cartridge formed by jointing a pair of body members, a case, a door for closing an opening of the case, a pushing unit disposed on the door and pushing the ink cartridge into the case, and a leg portion disposed on the pushing unit for contacting evenly with the ink cartridge.

Abstract: A refill unit that includes: an ink cartridge; a case having an opening formed in a front face thereof for inserting/extracting the ink cartridge and a holding portion communicated with the opening for housing the ink cartridge; an urging mechanism disposed in the case and engaging with an upper face of the ink cartridge housed in the holding portion, the urging mechanism urging the ink cartridge elastically toward the opening; a door disposed on the case and capable of moving between a closed position, at which the opening is closed with the ink cartridge being housed in the holding portion, and an opened position; and a presser member disposed on the door and capable of pressing the ink cartridge housed in the holding portion toward the opening when the door moves from the closed position to the opened position.

Abstract: The phase change ink a viscosity of from about 4 mPa-s to about 50 mPa-s at a first temperature and has a viscosity of from 104 mPa-s to about 109 mPa-s at a second lower temperature. The second temperature may be below the first temperature by at least 10° C. but by no more than 50° C. The first temperature may be from about 60° C. to about 110° C. and the second temperature may be from about 20° C. to about 70 ° C. A curve of log10 viscosity of the phase change ink plotted against temperature in degrees Celsius may have a slope having an absolute value less than 0.02 at the first temperature and have a slope having an absolute value greater than 0.08 for at least a region second temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising a colorant, an initiator, and a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (A) a compound which is the reaction product of a mixture comprising (1) an isocyanate; and (2) a component comprising (a) an alcohol having at least one ethylenic unsaturation; (b) an amine having at least one ethylenic unsaturation; (c) an acid having at least one ethylenic unsaturation; or (d) mixtures thereof, (B) a phase change inducing component, said phase change inducing component containing at least one hydroxyl group, said phase change inducing component having a melting point of about 40° C. or higher, and (C) an optional curable viscosity modifying ester, said ink being curable upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising a colorant, an initiator, and an ink vehicle, said ink vehicle comprising (a) at least one radically curable monomer compound, and (b) a compound of the formula wherein R1 is an alkylene, arylalkylene, or alkylarylene group, R2 and R2? each, independently of the other, are alkylene, arylene, arylalkylene, or alkylarylene groups, R3 and R3? each, independently of the other, are either (a) photoinitiating groups, or (b) groups which are alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl groups, provided that at least one of R3 and R3? is a photoinitiating group, and X and X? each, independently of the other, is an oxygen atom or a group of the formula —NR4—, wherein R4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730, a polydispersity of from about 1.03 to about 3.0, and an asymmetrical molecular weight distribution skewed toward the high molecular weight end. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730, a polydispersity of from about 1.03 to about 3.0, and an asymmetrical molecular weight distribution skewed toward the high molecular weight end; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a bubble removing apparatus to remove bubbles from a channel and a chip of a printhead by applying a pressure to an ink circulation line using a pumping unit. The pumping unit includes a housing, a vibration unit to generate pressure variations to move ink from the intake to the outlet including a circulation cam to circulate ink contained in the channel of the printhead along the ink circulation line and a purging cam to vibrate the vibration unit to discharge the ink contained in the chip of the printhead through a nozzle, and a clutch unit to transmit power from the motor to the circulation cam or the purging cam in a selective manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid ejection head, a liquid supply apparatus, a liquid ejection apparatus, and a liquid supply method which enable the channel resistance and pressure loss of liquid in the liquid ejection head to be reduced to increase the speed at which liquid is supplied to the nozzles. To achieve this, an ink supply chamber (44) is placed so as to be laminated on a main ink supply chamber (42). A filter (40) interposed between the main ink supply chamber (42) and the ink supply chamber (44) extends along a surface substantially parallel to a nozzle arrangement plane on which a plurality of nozzles are arranged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) an amide and (ii) a Fischer-Tropsch wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 300 to about 800 and a polydispersity of from about 1.001 to about 3. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) an amide and (ii) a Fischer-Tropsch wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 300 to about 800 and a polydispersity of from about 1.001 to about 3; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising (a) a phase change ink carrier comprising (1) an amide; and (2) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about 1.0001 to about 1.5; and (b) a colorant compound of the formula or mixtures thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, M, A, E, G, J, m, n, and p are as defined herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about 1.0001 to about 1.500. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about 1.0001 to about 1.500; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about 1.05 to about 3.0. Also disclosed is a process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising (a) a colorant and (b) a phase change ink carrier, said carrier comprising (i) a branched triamide and (ii) a polyethylene wax having an average peak molecular weight of from about 350 to about 730 and a polydispersity of from about 1.05 to about 3.0; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising a phase change ink carrier and a colorant compound of the formula or mixtures thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, M, A, E, G, J, m, n, and p are as defined herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition and a method for forming the ink composition.

Abstract: An ink for inkjet comprising: a dye; and water and/or a water-miscible organic solvent, wherein the dye comprises a dye compound having at least one heterocyclic structure, and the ink further comprises, as an additive, at least one compound capable of chemically interacting with the dye compound.

Abstract: A radiation curable phase change ink preferably used in piezoelectric ink jet devices includes an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable epoxy-polyamide gellant, and at least one colorant. The use of the gellant enables the ink to form a gel state having a viscosity of at least 103 mPa·s at very low temperatures of about 25° C. to about 100° C. The ink may thus be jetted, for example onto an intermediate tansfer member surface or directly to an image receiving substrate, at very low jetting temperatures of, for example, about 40° C. to about 110° C.

Abstract: An ink jettable overprint composition includes at least one of a polymerizable monomer and/or a polymerizable oligomer; at least one photoinitiator; and at least one wax.

Abstract: Overcoat compositions include film-forming resins and organic liquids. Overcoat compositions are included in ink sets that also include oil-based ink compositions. Methods for ink-jet printing use oil-based ink compositions and overcoat compositions.

Abstract: A radiation curable phase change ink preferably used in piezoelectric ink jet devices includes an ink vehicle that includes at least one gellant comprised of a curable polyamide-epoxy acrylate component and a polyamide component, and at least one colorant. The use of the gellant enables the ink to form a gel state having a viscosity of at least 103 mPa·s at very low temperatures of about 25° C. to about 100° C. The ink may thus be jetted at very low jetting temperatures of, for example, about 40° C. to about 110° C. The ink may be used to form an image by heating the ink to a first temperature at which the ink may be jetted, jetting onto a member or substrate maintained at a second temperature at which the ink forms a gel state, and exposing the ink to radiation energy to polymerize curable components of the ink.

Abstract: Curable monomer that is liquid at 25° C., curable wax and colorant together from a radiation curable ink. This ink may be used to form images by providing the radiation curable ink at a first temperature; applying the radiation curable ink to the substrate to form an image, the substrate being at a second temperature, which is below the first temperature; and exposing the radiation curable ink to radiation to cure the ink.

Abstract: Ink systems and combinations thereof that include neutral gray or black ink and at least one other pigment with matched light fastness are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of printing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising an ink carrier and a colorant, said ink being suitable for use in an indirect printing process wherein the ink is jetted from a printhead onto a heated intermediate transfer member and subsequently transferred from the intermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate, wherein: (a) the ink can be jetted from the printhead onto the intermediate transfer member when the ink is maintained at a temperature of about 125° C. or lower; (b) the ink can be jetted without purging from a printer maintained at a standby temperature of about 100° C. or lower; and (c) the ink has a cohesive failure temperature of at least about 56° C.

Abstract: Inkjet ink formulations and methods using the same, with improved performance, wherein the inks are formulated to work as an ink set with darker inks having a higher dynamic surface tension.

Abstract: An ink jet process includes: providing a substrate; performing a ink jet step for spraying a paste on the surface of the substrate; and performing an in-situ and partial heating process to directly heat the paste sprayed on the surface of the substrate and control the shape and location of the paste.

Abstract: In a tonerless imaging process, an inked image layer jetted on an image receptor is simultaneously transferred and fused to a recording medium. A radiation-curable material is incorporated in the image layer such that irradiation of the image layer cures the radiation-curable material therein. An ink jet printing apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a substrate (10) having a thin film pattern layer (114) thereon includes the steps of: providing a preformed substrate (11) including a number of partition walls with ink repellent characteristic (104) and receiving spaces (106) bounded by the corresponding partition walls; filling the receiving spaces with an ink (112) containing a solidifiable content, wherein the ink received in each of the receiving spaces has a volume greater than that of the corresponding receiving space; and solidifying the ink so that the solidifiable content in the ink is formed into the thin film pattern layer in the receiving space.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus has a droplet ejection head, a laser radiation device, and a suction device. The droplet ejection head ejects droplets of liquid onto a target. The laser radiation device radiates laser beams onto an area on the target opposed to the droplet ejection head. The suction device is provided between the laser radiation device and a radiating position on the target at which the laser beams are radiated, and draws elements that have evaporated from the droplets.

Abstract: A printing system includes a first image applying component configured for applying one or more primary colorants to print media for rendering an image. A second image applying component is configured for applying a second colorant, such as black colorant, to print media for rendering an image. A first pathway conveys print media between the first image applying component and the second image applying component. A second pathway bypasses the first image applying component for conveying print media which is printed by the second image applying component. Where an image is to be rendered With the primary colorants and optionally also black, the print media is directed on the first pathway to both the first and second image applying components. Where an image is to be rendered only with black colorant, the print media may be directed to the second image applying component via the bypass pathway. In this way, during black printing, the first image applying component can be placed in a standby mode.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to the printing of mixed output jobs automatically as a single integrated job. More particularly, a merging module connects two print systems, for example, at approximately 90 degrees to one another, although other configurations are possible. The merging module includes at least one sheet rotator in a plane that is common to both the paper paths of both print engines. It also includes at least two bypass paths (one above and one below the rotator) to route the two paper paths around the rotator and enable both print engines to deliver their output to the appropriate finishing device.

Abstract: A media path crossover for a printing system includes a first crossover pathway on which sheets of print media are conveyed across a crossover junction without interruption and a second crossover pathway on which sheets of print media are conveyed across the crossover junction without interruption. The second crossover pathway intersects the first crossover pathway at a crossover junction. The first crossover pathway comprises a first input path and a first output path and the second crossover pathway comprises a second input path and a second output path. At least the first input path includes a first access panel, whereby a sheet can be cleared therefrom while continuing conveyance of media along the second crossover pathway.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, which uses an electrostatic force to hold a recording medium during conveyance, includes a rotary belt, an image forming mechanism, a driving mechanism, a contact member in contact with the rotary belt, a charging mechanism and a controller. The controller may cause the contact member to be held in contact with the rotary belt, may cause the bias voltage to vary so as to reduce the electrostatic force during a time other than the image forming operation by the image forming mechanism, and may cause the driving mechanism to drive the rotary belt when the contact member is held in contact with the rotary belt.

Abstract: System and method for hand-held printing. The method can include detecting a direction of initial movement of the hand-held printer. The method can include establishing a mode of operation including either a left-justified mode when the direction of initial movement is left to right or a right-justified mode when the direction of initial movement is right to left. The method can include maintaining the mode of operation for an entire print job.

Abstract: Reflex writing is a group of algorithms developed to maintain color registration in xerographic systems using multiple imagers. Unlike conventional imaging, in which the individual color separations are imaged based on events in a time domain, in a reflex write implementation sequential color separations are written based on events in the spatial domain. Once the initial color separation is written, the distance that color separation travels is tracked until the color separation is under the next imaging station, where the next color separation is written properly registered with respect to the existing color separation. The imaging system includes a raster output scanner imager for the black station and a light emitting diode bar for the color station.

Abstract: An image-forming device which is equipped with an image-holding member, an exposure section provided with plural light-emitting portions arranged in a first direction, a movement section that relatively moves the exposure section and the image-holding member in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, and a light-emission control section. The light-emission control section causes the plural light-emitting portions to periodically emit light in accordance with image data representing an image that is to be formed on the image-holding member, to form the image on the image-holding member. The light-emission control section varies a light-emission period during formation of the image, so as to correct for periodic fluctuations within the image of at least one of density and magnification ratio in the second direction.

Abstract: An image drum, for selectively adsorbing a toner on the image drum so as to form an image in a printing apparatus, includes a hollow cylindrical drum body and an electrode member. The electrode member includes a flexible substrate adapted to surround an outer circumferential surface of the drum body; a plurality of ring-shaped electrodes formed circumferentially on a top surface of the flexible substrate so as to be electrically insulated from one another; and a control unit disposed on a bottom surface of the flexible substrate for independently applying a voltage to each of the ring-shaped electrodes. The electrode member is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the drum body.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes a plurality of main heat-producing resistor sections (31) formed on a substrate (1) and arranged at predetermined intervals in a primary scanning direction (X), a plurality of auxiliary heat-producing resistor sections (32) each of which is spaced from a respective one of the main heat-producing resistor sections (31) by a predetermined distance in a secondary scanning direction (Y), a plurality of first electrodes (43) each connecting, in series, at least one of the main heat-producing resistor sections (31) and the corresponding auxiliary heat-producing resistor section (32) which are arranged in the secondary scanning direction (Y), and a plurality of second electrodes (41), (42) for energizing the series circuits of the main heat-producing resistor sections (31) and the auxiliary heat-producing resistor sections (32) connected in series by the first electrodes (43).

Abstract: A dual-sided imaging direct thermal recording material comprises an opaque substrate, and temperature sensitive coatings for direct thermal printing in different colors on opposite sides of the substrate. Recording material such as a paper transaction receipt on which direct thermal printing on the front side is in one color and direct thermal printing on the reverse side is in a different color is disclosed.