Abstract: A micro-fluid ejection head and methods for improving the fabrication and operation of the micro-fluid ejection head. The ejection head includes a photoimaged thick film layer attached to a substrate containing fluid ejection actuators. An orifice plate is laminated to the thick film layer. The orifice plate has a plurality of concentric orifices therein and is derived from a first photoresist material that is heated to a temperature sufficient to relieve film stresses in the photoresist material prior to exposing and developing the orifices in the orifice plate.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes: a substrate in which an ink feed hole is formed; a chamber layer which is formed on the substrate by performing a photolithography process and which includes a first photosensitive resin; and a nozzle layer which is formed on the chamber layer by performing a photolithography process and which includes a second photosensitive resin. The first photosensitive resin and the second photosensitive resin are materials which are developed by different developing solutions, respectively. Additional layers and components may be incorporated into the inkjet printhead and may be formed on an upper surface of the substrate. The additional layers and components may include an insulating layer, one or more heaters, one or more electrodes, a passivation layer, a glue layer, and an anti-cavitation layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fluid receiving member having fluid receiving cells in which the fluid receiving cells are configured to receive at least one of an ink repellant and an ink, a fluid ejector unit configured to eject the ink repellant to a first set of the fluid receiving cells, and an inking unit configured to apply the ink to a second set of the fluid receiving cells.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an inkjet recording head includes an orifice member, a first cover member and a second cover member. The orifice member includes an ejection hole which ejects ink. The first cover member includes a peripheral surface, which surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the orifice member, one end face arranged near the orifice member, and an other end and an ink regulating section formed on the peripheral surface and suppresses movement of ink. The second cover member is arranged to extend to the other end of the peripheral surface of the first cover member.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording head unit, on a surface of an ejection outlet surface of an ink jet recording head, a tape is applied so that a portion of the tape with a relatively high adhesiveness corresponds to an area of the ejection outlet surface with a relatively high hydrophobicity and a portion of the tape with a relatively low adhesiveness corresponds to an area of the ejection outlet surface with a relatively low hydrophobicity.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head having a high durability and high ink resistance can enable high-quality image recording by employing a material capable of reducing the internal stress and having satisfactory patterning characteristics. Such an ink jet recording head can be produced with high precision. A cationically photopolymerizable resin composition containing a condensate of a hydrolysable organosilane compound, employed as a material for forming a flow path forming member, enables a reduction of internal stress and a highly precise pattern in the flow path forming member, thereby providing an ink jet recording head having high durability and high ink resistance and capable of high-quality printing over a prolonged time.

Abstract: There is disclosed a removable radiation cured member suitable for use in protecting a micro-fluid ejection head. Further, a reactant mixture suitable for sealing a micro-fluid ejection head comprising a vinyl-containing oligomer, a filler, and optionally a reactive diluent and/or a photoinitiator is disclosed.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is a process for producing a liquid ejection head including an ejection orifice member provided with ejection orifices for ejecting liquid. The process includes supplying to a surface of a base material for forming the ejection orifice member a mixture of a first composite for imparting a hydrophobic characteristic to the surface and a second composite being able to exhibit a hydrophilic characteristic by being irradiated with light; imparting a hydrophobic characteristic to the entire or a part of the surface by utilizing the first composite; and then irradiating the second composite with light in a partial region of the surface for imparting a hydrophilic characteristic to the region irradiated with the light.

Abstract: A method of providing a printhead assembly having a hydrophilic ink pathway and a hydrophobic ink ejection face. The method includes the steps of: providing a printhead assembly comprising a printhead attached to an ink supply manifold, the printhead comprising a nozzle plate having a hydrophobic coating and a protective metal film disposed on the hydrophobic coating; treating surfaces of an ink pathway in the printhead assembly with a solution comprising an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine; drying the surfaces; and removing the protective metal film so as to reveal the hydrophobic coating.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprising a hydrophilic ink pathway. The surfaces of the ink pathway comprise a layer of an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide materials, systems and methods for ink jet printhead, wherein a low-adhesion coating can be applied to at least one surface portion of an ink chamber within the printhead to reduce or eliminate actuator membrane damage during ink freeze/thaw cycles.

Abstract: A method of hydrophilizing surfaces of an ink pathway configured for supplying ink to nozzles in an inkjet printhead. The method includes the steps of: treating the surfaces of the ink pathway with a solution comprising an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine; and drying the surfaces.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate through which an ink supply passage is formed, a chamber plate stacked on the substrate having an ink chamber filled with ink supplied through the ink supply passage and heating resistors to heat the ink formed in the ink chamber, a nozzle plate formed on the chamber plate and through which a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected are formed, and a water repellent layer formed on the nozzle plate, wherein portions of a covalent bond formed by reaction between the material forming the nozzle plate and a hydrolysis material used to form the water repellent layer are discontinuously formed.

Abstract: The same water-repellent process is provided on a nozzle forming part and the outer circumferential part of a nozzle formation member. A first water-repellent layer is formed through a first water-repellent process on the surface of a nozzle forming part (which forms nozzles on a surface of a nozzle plate, and a second water-repellent layer is formed through a second water-repellent process different from the first water-repellent process on the surface of the outer circumferential part (outer portion of surface) of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a substrate having an exterior surface and an interior surface. A non-wetting coating can cover at least a portion of the exterior surface and can be substantially absent from the flow path. A non-wetting coating can be formed of a molecular aggregation. A precursor of a non-wetting coating may flow into a chamber at a higher temperature higher than the substrate. A non-wetting coating can be over a seed layer. An outer portion of the seed layer can have a higher concentration of water molecules or a greater density than an inner portion. The outer portion can be deposited at a ratio of partial pressure water to partial pressure matrix precursor that is higher than the ratio for the inner portion. An oxygen plasma can be applied to a seed layer on the exterior surface, and the non-wetting coating can be applied on the seed layer.

Abstract: A fluid ejector device, including: a fluid nozzle layer defining an orifice therein; and at least one epoxy resin layer established on the nozzle layer, the at least one epoxy resin layer having first and second opposed surfaces with a thickness there between and a fluorine gradient formed therein such that the gradient extends into at least a portion of the thickness of the at least one epoxy resin layer, wherein an amount of a fluorinated species present in the at least one epoxy resin layer at the first opposed surface is greater than an amount of the fluorinated species present in the at least one epoxy resin layer at the second opposed surface that is adjacent the fluid nozzle layer.

Abstract: A nozzle plate component manufactured by forming a layer of photoresist on a substrate and selectively exposing and removing material to define an array of distinct bodies. Nickel is then electroformed around the bodies to form a plate, with nozzles subsequently formed by ablation through the photoresist. The process can essentially be repeated to form a guard structure around each nozzle.

Abstract: A fluid ejector is provided, having an internal surface, an external surface, an orifice that allows fluid in contact with the internal surface to be ejected, a first non-wetting region of the external surface, and one or more second regions of the external surface that are more wetting than the first non-wetting region. A process for cleaning the fluid ejectors is provided that includes detachably securing a faceplate to the fluid ejector and moving a wiper laterally across the faceplate.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a nozzle plate includes: a lyophobic film forming step of preparing a nozzle plate having a recess-shaped counterbore section and a nozzle opened in a bottom surface of the counterbore section, and forming a lyophobic film on a surface of the nozzle plate including the bottom surface of the counterbore section of the nozzle plate and at least a portion of an inner wall of the nozzle; an abutting step of preparing a protective plate having a projecting section, and abutting a top surface of the projecting section of the protective plate against the bottom surface of the counterbore section of the nozzle plate in such a manner that the top surface of the projecting section of the protective plate makes tight contact with an opening edge of the nozzle on a liquid ejection side of the nozzle plate; a lyophobic film removing step of removing the lyophobic film from the inner wall of the nozzle of the nozzle plate by etching the nozzle plate from a liquid supply side which is opposite to

Abstract: A liquid ejection head including: a plate base material; and an actuator; wherein the plate base material has: ejection holes having recessed portions; and an ejection face having ejection openings; wherein the recessed portions include pairs thereof each constituted by two recessed portions located side by side and at least one of which has the ejection openings; wherein, where a shortest line segment of a certain pair is equal to or shorter than that of another pair, an average value of lengths of the respective recessed portions constituting the certain pair is not larger than that of lengths of the respective recessed portions constituting said another pair; and wherein a liquid repellent layer is formed on the bottom portion of the recessed portion having the ejection openings, wherein the liquid repellent layer formed on the bottom portion is a layer having not been removed due to a masking material having entered into the recessed portion and covered the liquid repellent layer.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head including: a base plate member having ejection holes and an ejection face having ejection openings; and an actuator; wherein the ejection face has first and second recessed portions extending in one direction and arranged in a perpendicular direction, wherein the ejection openings are formed in bottom portions of the respective first recessed portions; wherein each second recessed portion and a corresponding first recessed portion are arranged side by side such that a separation distance therebetween is not smaller than a separation distance between two first recessed portions located side by side at the shortest distance among first recessed portions and is shorter than a separation distance between two first recessed portions located side by side at the greatest distance among the first recessed portions; and wherein on the bottom portions is formed a liquid repellent layer having not been removed due to a masking material having entered into the first recessed portions to cover the l

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzle holes may include the step of forming a plurality of through-holes extending through a plate member in a thickness direction of the plate member. The manufacturing method may also include the step of forming a water repellant film in a region of one surface of the plate member where apertures of the through-holes are not positioned. The manufacturing method may further include the step of pressing individual regions on the one surface of the plate member, the individual regions respectively including the apertures of the through holes, to separate at least portions of the water repellant film formed in the individual regions from the water repellant film formed on the one surface.

Abstract: A liquid droplet transporting apparatus includes a first electrode which is arranged on a surface of a substrate, a second electrode which is arranged apart from the first electrode on the surface of the substrate, an insulating layer which is arranged to cover each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid repellent property on a surface of the insulating layer changes according to an electric potential difference between the electrode and an electroconductive liquid droplet on the surface, and a third electrode which cooperates with the second electrode to detect the liquid droplet on the second electrode. Consequently, it is possible to transport a liquid droplet between two areas, and also to detect as to in which area out of the two areas, the liquid droplet exists.

Abstract: A method of hydrophobizing an ejection face of a printhead is provided which avoids hydrophobizing fluid distribution structures of the printhead. The method involves (a) filling fluid distribution structures of the printhead exposed to the ejection face with a liquid, and (b) depositing a hydrophobizing material onto the ejection face of the printhead, provided that step (a) is performed prior to step (b).

Abstract: A method for producing an ink jet recording head having high durability and high ink resistance can enabling enable high-quality image recording by employing a material capable of reducing the internal stress and having satisfactory patterning characteristics. Such an ink jet recording head can be produced with high precision. A cationically photopolymerizable resin composition containing a condensate of a hydrolysable organosilane compound, employed as a material for forming a flow path forming member, enables a reduction of internal stress and a highly precise pattern in the flow path forming member, thereby providing an ink jet recording head having high durability and high ink resistance and capable of high-quality printing over a prolonged time.

Abstract: A droplet discharge head including a nozzle substrate having nozzle openings, a cavity substrate having discharge chambers that communicate with the nozzle openings and discharge droplets from the nozzle openings, a reservoir substrate having a reservoir concave portion that serves as a reservoir which communicates commonly with the discharge chambers. The reservoir substrate is provided between the nozzle substrate and the cavity substrate and a resin thin film is formed on a whole inner face of the reservoir concave portion and on a bottom face of a second concave portion. The second concave portion is provided in a peripheral of the reservoir concave portion and has a depth which is smaller than the depth of the reservoir concave portion. The resin thin film is cut circularly so as to surround the reservoir concave portion, and a part of the resin thin film serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation. serves as a diaphragm buffering pressure variation.

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: An inkjet ink contains a pigment, a water-soluble resin having a hydrophobic group, an inclusion compound, and water. The water-soluble resin includes a part adsorbed to the pigment and a part not adsorbed to the pigment. The inclusion compound is cyclodextrin or a cyclodextrin derivative. The mass ratio of the part not adsorbed of the water-soluble resin to the inclusion compound is in the range of 0.30 to 9.00.

Abstract: A nozzle plate includes: a nozzle plate main body made of metal, the nozzle plate main body having nozzle rows formed of nozzles arranged in parallel and penetrating the nozzle plate main body in a thickness direction, wherein at the outer edge of the nozzles on a droplet discharge surface of the nozzle plate main body, a water-repellent film is provided, and primer treatment is performed on at least part of the periphery of the droplet discharge surface of the nozzle plate main body, the periphery outside the water-repellent film.

Abstract: A liquid jet head includes a plurality of individual flow paths where nozzles configured to jet liquid are in communication; wherein a layer of an adhesive is formed on a side wall surface of the individual flow path; and the layer of the adhesive contains a material capable of having a photocalytic reaction obtaining hydrophilicity by light irradiation.

Abstract: A coating for an ink jet printhead front face, wherein the coating comprises a low adhesion coating, wherein when the low adhesion coating is disposed on an ink jet printhead front face surface, jetted drops of ultra-violet gel ink or jetted drops of solid ink exhibit a low sliding angle with the printhead front face surface, wherein the low sliding angle is less than about 1° to less than about 30°. In embodiments, the low adhesion coating is an oleophobic coating that exhibits a contact angle of greater than about 35° with ultra-violet gel ink or solid ink.

Abstract: A nozzle plate includes: a plate substrate in which a nozzle is formed, ink being ejected through an ejection port of the nozzle in the plate substrate; and a p-type doped layer which forms a whole perimeter of an edge portion defining an inner perimeter of the ejection port of the nozzle in the plate substrate.

Abstract: A nozzle plate suited for a droplet generator is provided. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle layer and at least one filler. The nozzle layer has a nozzle and at least one trench. The nozzle passes through the nozzle layer. The trenches apart from the nozzle are formed on a surface of the nozzle layer around the nozzle. The filler is filled in the trench. The wetting angle of the surface of the filler is different from the wetting angle of the surface of the nozzle layer. The nozzle plate has higher surface wear resistance and lower probability of jamming at the nozzle.

Abstract: A nozzle plate for an inkjet head and a method of manufacturing the nozzle plate includes a silicon substrate having a nozzle, a thermally oxidized silicon layer formed on an outer surface of the silicon substrate and an inner wall of the nozzle, an adhesion layer deposited on the thermally oxidized silicon layer formed on the outer surface of the silicon substrate and formed of silicon oxide, and an ink-repellent coating layer deposited on the adhesion layer.

Abstract: A liquid droplet transporting apparatus includes a first electrode which is arranged on a surface of a substrate, a second electrode which is arranged apart from the first electrode on the surface of the substrate, an insulating layer which is arranged to cover each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid repellent property on a surface of the insulating layer changes according to an electric potential difference between the electrode and an electroconductive liquid droplet on the surface, and a third electrode which cooperates with the second electrode to detect the liquid droplet on the second electrode. Consequently, it is possible to transport a liquid droplet between two areas, and also to detect as to in which area out of the two areas, the liquid droplet exists.

Abstract: Printing devices are described that have a printing die with a coplanar adjacent layer. The coplanar adjacent layer is sufficiently non-wetting to fluids that the layer can be easily wiped clean of fluid that is inadvertently deposited thereon. A non-stick surface is optionally applied to the adjacent layer which can withstand both mechanical and chemical abrasion that can be caused by corrosive ejection fluids or wiping mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a droplet ejection head having a liquid ejection energy driving device to eject a liquid from a nozzle, the droplet ejection head including: a nozzle plate provided with a nozzle to eject liquid droplets; a tetrahedral amorphous carbon film provided on the nozzle plate; and a water-repellent film provided on the tetrahedral amorphous carbon film.

Abstract: The method of forming an organic film includes: a pre-processing step including a plasma treatment step of carrying out plasma treatment to a surface of a base member, and an exposure processing step of exposing the surface of the base member that has undergone the plasma treatment, in an atmosphere containing at least water; an organic film formation step of thereafter forming an organic film on the surface of the base member using a silane coupling agent; and a post-processing step including a water vapor introduction step of holding the base member on which the organic film has been formed in an atmosphere containing at least water vapor, and a dehydration processing step of holding the base member in an atmosphere having a smaller presence of water vapor than the atmosphere in the water vapor introduction step.

Abstract: The method forms a liquid-repellent film on a surface of a nozzle plate having nozzle apertures through which droplets of liquid are ejected. The method includes: a termination process step of carrying out a hydrogen termination process or a halogen termination process on a surface of a nozzle plate, at least a portion of the surface of the nozzle plate being made of a material containing silicon; and a liquid-repellent film formation step of forming a liquid-repellent film on the surface of the nozzle plate after the termination process step by bringing a liquid-repellent film raw material into contact with the surface of the nozzle plate while applying energy to the surface. Each molecule constituting the liquid-repellent film raw material has an unsaturated carbon bond at an end and has a liquid-repellent functional group. The liquid-repellent film is bonded to the surface of the nozzle plate through silicon-carbon bonds.

Abstract: The method of forming an organic film, includes: a pre-processing step including a plasma treatment step of carrying out plasma treatment to a surface of a base member, and an exposure processing step of exposing the surface of the base member that has undergone the plasma treatment, in an atmosphere containing at least water; and an organic film formation step of thereafter forming an organic film on the surface of the base member using a silane coupling agent.

Abstract: The method of forming an organic film, includes: an organic film formation step of forming an organic film on a surface of a base member using a silane coupling agent; and a post-processing step including a water vapor introduction step of holding the base member on which the organic film has been formed in an atmosphere containing at least water vapor, and a dehydration processing step of holding the base member in an atmosphere having a smaller presence of water vapor than the atmosphere in the water vapor introduction step.

Abstract: A droplet discharge head includes a nozzle substrate having a nozzle opening for discharging a liquid as a droplet; a flow path substrate having a flow path for the liquid, the flow path communicating with the nozzle opening; and a diaphragm constituting a wall surface of the flow path. The nozzle substrate, the flow path substrate, and the diaphragm are bonded together in layers using an adhesive, and a liquid-resistant film resistant to the liquid is continuously formed on surfaces of the nozzle substrate, the flow path substrate, and the diaphragm, the surfaces being in contact with the liquid.

Abstract: A head main body includes a passage unit having nozzles and pressure chambers, and an actuator unit adhered to the passage unit to change the volume of the pressure chambers. On a piezoelectric sheet of the actuator unit, formed are not only individual electrodes corresponding to the respective pressure chambers, but also a land and a dummy land in a pair corresponding to each of the individual electrodes. The land is connected to the individual electrode, and the dummy land is spaced from the individual electrode. The land and the dummy land have substantially the same height from a surface of the piezoelectric sheet, which is higher than that of the individual electrodes. The individual electrodes are connected, through the land, to a cable member to supply a drive signal to the actuator unit.

Abstract: A fluid discharge device suppresses discharge defects caused by adhesion of fluid spray and maintains a good fluid discharge condition. A printer and a media processing device include the fluid discharge device. An inkjet head has ink nozzles for discharging ink. A box-shaped head cap 82 has an opening that can seal the nozzle surface to which the ink nozzles of the inkjet head are disposed. The head cap 82 has a lip 92 that can contact the nozzle surface. The lip 92 has an inside slope 93 and an outside slope 94 that incline gradually toward the nozzle surface to a point when seen in cross section. The inside slope 93 of the lip 92 is rendered as a smooth part 93a with lower surface roughness than a coarse part 94b rendered on the outside slope 94.

Abstract: A method for assembling a micro-fluidic device better preserves the integrity of a filter in a filter layer and simplifies the bonding of the filter layer to the channel layers on each side of the filter layer. The method includes aligning a polymer layer having a plurality of filter elements and a plurality of fluid passages arranged between the filter elements between two substrates of a micro-fluidic device, and bonding the polymer layer between the two substrates to seal an area between the filter elements and the fluid passages to enable fluid flow through the filter elements to be segregated from fluid flow through the fluid passages.

Abstract: A nozzle plate usable with an inkjet printhead includes a substrate through which a plurality of nozzles are formed, an ink-philic material layer formed on an outer surface of the substrate and inner walls of the nozzles, and a plurality of nonwetting coating layers sequentially formed on the ink-philic material layer formed on the outer surface of the substrate, each nonwetting coating layer including an adhesive layer and an ink-phobic material layer deposited on the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for an inkjet printer is disclosed. The printhead assembly has an elongate printhead chip with a nozzle face defining an array of nozzles. A support structure supports the elongate printhead chip on an external surface thereof. An epoxy resin is also provided adjacent a long side edge of the elongate printhead chip. The epoxy resin is profiled such that the epoxy resin is flush with the nozzle face of the elongate printhead chip. The epoxy resin is thixotropic prior to setting.

Abstract: A printhead having an ink ejection face, wherein at least part of the ink ejection face is coated with a polymeric material. The polymeric material is comprised of a polymerized siloxane incorporating nanoparticles. The printhead may be compatible with various printhead maintenance operations, ink characteristics and inkjet nozzle types.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead for ejection of an ejectable fluid. The printhead has an ink ejection face coated with a polymeric material incorporating nanoparticles. The nanoparticles impart predetermined characteristics to the ink ejection face, which complement an inherent property of the ejectable fluid, a printhead maintenance regime associated with the printhead or a type of nozzle actuator.

Abstract: A printing device (10) including a substrate (22) having an aperture (20) extending therethrough, wherein the aperture includes a side wall and defines a liquid ink flow path, an ink firing chamber (24) fluidically connected to the aperture, and a coating positioned on the side wall of the aperture, the coating being impervious to etching by liquid ink, and wherein the coating is chosen from one of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide and silicon nitride.