Drop-on-demand Patents (Class 347/54)
  • Patent number: 8764166
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a main liquid ejecting head body, in which is formed a liquid flow channel through which a liquid flows, that ejects the liquid from a nozzle opening using a pressurizing unit; a driving board configured so as to supply power to the pressurizing unit; a connector provided at an end portion of the driving board; and a holding member configured so as to hold the driving board in a bent state and erected relative to one end surface of the main liquid ejecting head body. The holding member has a stopping portion that holds an end of the driving board in which the connector is provided, and the configuration is such that the stopping portion prevents the driving board from opening in the direction of the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Miyajima, Kimiyasu Otsuki
  • Patent number: 8757775
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus has a head component that ejects a liquid through nozzle openings to attach the liquid to an object. The liquid contains a tabular grain material, and the head component discharges the liquid in droplets weighing 1 ng to 7 ng, both inclusive, in a way that the droplets reach the object at a velocity of 5 m/s to 8 m/s, both inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Itaya, Kinya Ozawa
  • Patent number: 8757776
    Abstract: An ink to be applied to a recording head having a common liquid chamber, pressure chambers developing pressure applied to the liquid, individual channels through which the liquid is introduced into the pressure chambers from the common liquid chamber, and a group of nozzles which communicate with the pressure chambers and eject the liquid, where first nozzles having short individual channels and second nozzles having long ones are alternately arranged at arrangement intervals of less than 30 ?m along one side or sides of the common liquid chamber, contains an aqueous medium, a surfactant and a coloring material. The aqueous medium consists of water and a water-soluble organic compound containing at least one alkanediol and has a surface tension of from 40 mN/m or more to less than 60 mN/m in an environment of temperature 25° C. and humidity 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Yamakami, Daiji Okamura, Hiroshi Tomioka, Chiaki Muraoka, Masaki Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20140168320
    Abstract: A liquid jet head 1 including: an actuator substrate 2 having a plurality of elongated grooves 6 arrayed from an upper surface to a lower surface thereof. The grooves are formed from a vicinity of a peripheral end on one side of the actuator substrate to a peripheral end the other side thereof, ends of the grooves in a longitudinal direction thereof have respective inclined surfaces 22 rising from the lower surface to the upper surface of the actuator substrate, and a crossing angle at crossing portions at which the inclined surfaces and the lower surface cross each other is in a range of 3 degrees to 80 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SII PRINTEK INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi HORIGUCHI, Yuzuru KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 8752939
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises a plurality of plates stacked together. The plates form a flow path having an inlet and a nozzle. An ejection chamber is in fluid connection with the flow path. A diaphragm is in operable connection with the ejection chamber. A micro actuator is in operable connection with the diaphragm, the micro actuator being configured to actuate the diaphragm. An adhesive layer bonds at least two of the plurality of plates together. The adhesive comprises silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Casella, Santokh S. Badesha, Gregory C. Brockway, Bryan R. Dolan, Yanjia Zuo
  • Publication number: 20140160206
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a first member including a communication flow path communicating with a pressure chamber, and a second member joined to the first member and including a nozzle communicating with the communication flow path. The communication flow path includes a first flow path section adjacent to the pressure chamber, a second flow path section adjacent to the nozzle and wider than the first flow path section, and an intermediate flow path section including a sloped surface formed between the first flow path section and the second flow path section. An equation “H?Wtan(?/4??/2)?0” is satisfied in which H represents a length of the second flow path section, W represents a maximum width of the second flow path, and ? represents an angle between an imaginary plane parallel to the bottom face of the communication flow path and the sloped surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keigo YAMASAKI
  • Patent number: 8746848
    Abstract: Systems and methods of ejecting ink drops from an inkjet printer are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a printhead with one or more actuators with associated nozzles and membranes. A voltage waveform can be applied to the actuators to fill the actuators with a volume of ink and eject the ink through the nozzles as ink drops. The voltage waveform can have associated pre-fill voltage to fill the actuator with ink and a firing voltage to eject the ink. The actuator membranes can have multi-height dimples to protect the membranes from contacting electrodes and reduce the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W Hays, Richard P Germain, Joseph A Degroot, Peter J Nystrom, Jun Ma
  • Patent number: 8740350
    Abstract: An inkjet recording head substrate having an electrothermal transducer for generating thermal energy used to discharge ink and a drive element for driving the electrothermal transducer mounted thereon includes a first circuit portion for outputting selection signals for selecting the electrothermal transducer to be driven at a amplitude level of a second voltage higher than a first voltage based on an input signal of the amplitude level of the first voltage, a second circuit portion for inputting the selection signals from the first circuit portion and controlling the drive element corresponding to the electrothermal transducer to be driven based on the selection signals subject to the second voltage, and a plurality of signal lines for transmitting the selection signals between the first and second circuit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Sakurai, Tatsuo Furukawa, Hidenori Watanabe, Nobuyuki Hirayama, Ryo Kasai
  • Patent number: 8721047
    Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a member having a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting liquid, and a substrate having first and second element arrays having plural elements for generating energy used for ejecting liquid, and a supply port array having plural supply ports for supplying liquid to the elements. A wiring for driving the elements, which is connected to the elements of the second element array, passes between the supply ports of the supply port array and extends to a first element array side. A length of each of the supply ports of the supply port array is greater than a length of each of the elements of the first and second element arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masataka Sakurai, Ken Tsuchii
  • Publication number: 20140125737
    Abstract: The print head includes an energy generating element, a chamber for accommodating liquid, and an ejection opening arranged in a position corresponding to the energy generating element. The ejection opening includes at least one projection projecting inside of the ejection opening, the ejection opening having a first region between a front end of the projection and an inner wall of the ejection opening positioned at the shortest distance from the front end, and second regions positioned in both sides of the projection and different from the first region, and when a width of the projection at a chamber-side opening face is represented as a1 and the maximum width of the projection is represented as a2, a relation a1<a2 is established and the width of the projection decreases gradually or step by step from a position having the width of a2 to the chamber-side opening face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Tomizawa, Masaki Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20140125736
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of working a small recess portion. In the method, prior to press-forming small recess portions arrayed in a row by pressing a predetermined number of pieces of aligned male dies to a metal base plate, the metal base plate is previously formed with a highly rigid portion at a predetermined portion at a vicinity of an imaginary line extending in a row direction along end portions of predicted press portions to which the respective male dies are pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki OGAWA, Koichi SAITO, Nagamitsu TAKASHIMA, Katsunori ONO
  • Patent number: 8714674
    Abstract: A continuous printing system includes a printhead and a controller. The printhead includes a nozzle and a jet control element including a continuous heater element positioned to surround the nozzle. A plurality of three or more electrical contacts is in electrical communication with the continuous heater element and define a plurality of three or more continuous heater element portions that are actuatable with sufficient independence so as to control jet steering. The number of the continuous heater element portions equals the number of electrical contacts. A controller is configured to apply a waveform to at least one of the plurality of three or more electrical contacts to affect at least one of the plurality of independently actuatable continuous heater element portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James A. Katerberg, Ronald J. Duke, Gilbert A. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8714716
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a method and system for pulsed air-actuated micro-droplet on demand jetting, especially for jetting high viscosity liquids. A needle extends from a liquid chamber and terminates in a drop-forming orifice outlet from which micro-droplets are generated. At least two air jets direct a timed pulse of air at the drop-forming orifice outlet of the needle. The pulsed air is synchronized with the formation of a desired volume of liquid at the orifice outlet to extract and propel a micro-droplet at high velocity to a substrate. The air jets are turned on prior to the forming of the desired volume at the orifice outlet of the needle, and turned off after the micro-droplet had been produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Kui-Chiu (KC) Kwok
  • Patent number: 8714675
    Abstract: A method of printing includes providing a printhead including a jet control element including a continuous heater element positioned to surround a nozzle. A plurality of three or more electrical contacts is in electrical communication with the continuous heater element. The plurality of three or more electrical contacts define a plurality of three or more continuous heater element portions that are actuatable with sufficient independence so as to control jet steering. The number of the continuous heater element portions equals the number of electrical contacts. A liquid is provided under a pressure sufficient to eject a jet of liquid through the nozzle. A waveform is applied to at least one of the plurality of three or more electrical contacts using a controller to affect at least one of the plurality of independently actuatable continuous heater element portions to control the jet of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James A. Katerberg, Ronald J. Duke, Gilbert A. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20140118443
    Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head includes a channel which is in communication with a nozzle opening and which includes a pressure-generating chamber, a circulation channel that serves to circulate a liquid in the channel, and a pressure generator that serves to generate pressure change. The circulation channel has a narrow portion including a first wall and a second wall, the first wall tilting with respect to a forward direction of a liquid flows and serving to gradually decrease the cross-sectional area, the second wall tilting with respect to the flow direction and serving to gradually increase the cross-sectional area. The tilt angle of the first wall with respect to the inner surface of the circulation channel is larger than the tilt angle of the second wall with respect to the inner surface of the circulation channel at the downstream side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Akahane, Tomoaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8708462
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead includes: an ink chamber having an elliptical nozzle opening defined in a roof of the ink chamber and an ink inlet; a heater element positioned in the ink chamber, the heater element having an elongate linear beam for generating a vapor bubble in the ink chamber, the elongate linear beam having a longitudinal axis extending parallel with a major axis of the elliptical nozzle opening; and a pressure-diffusing structure positioned relative to the ink inlet. The pressure-diffusing structure is configured for diffusing pressure pulses in ink supplied to the ink chamber via the ink inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8702208
    Abstract: A system for achieving accurate page yields includes a first droplet generator comprising a nozzle aperture with a first cross sectional area and a first passageway to an ink reservoir. A second droplet generator includes a nozzle aperture with a second cross sectional area that is larger than the first cross sectional area and a second passageway to the ink reservoir with minimum cross sectional area that is smaller than the second cross sectional area. A method for achieving accurate page yields is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Marvin G. Wong
  • Patent number: 8691274
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for printing cells which includes an electrospinning device and an inkjet printing device operatively associated therewith. Methods of making a biodegradable scaffold having cells seeded therein are also provided. Methods of forming microparticles containing one or more cells encapsulated by a substrate are also provided, as are methods of forming an array of said microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: Tao Xu, James J. Yoo, Anthony Atala, Dennis Dice
  • Publication number: 20140092174
    Abstract: Examples described herein illustrate techniques related to satellite aerosol generation. In some examples, aerosols are sensed based on the interaction between satellite aerosols and a corona discharge from a corona source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicants: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Napoleon J. Leoni, Henryk Birecki, Omer Gila
  • Patent number: 8684500
    Abstract: Diaphragms for electrostatic actuators for inkjet printers and methods for manufacturing are provided. The method includes electroplating a first layer on a mandrel, and applying a photoresist to the first layer. The method also includes electroplating a second layer on the first layer adjacent the photoresist, such that the first and second layers form a substantially homogenous structure, and separating the photoresist from the first and second layers to expose one or more flexure recesses where the photoresist was positioned, with the diaphragm having a reduced stiffness proximal the flexure recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Nystrom
  • Patent number: 8684499
    Abstract: A method enables multiple inkjet printhead dies to be manufactured by bonding a single wafer to a single polymer layer. Multiple die sites on the single wafer are arranged in a predetermined pattern that corresponds to the pattern in which a plurality of aperture arrays are arranged in the polymer layer. The die sites on the wafer and the aperture arrays in polymer layer are aligned, the wafer and polymer layer are bonded, and the bonded wafer and polymer layer are cut to form a plurality of inkjet printhead dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Andrews, Thomas E. Orlowski
  • Publication number: 20140087295
    Abstract: Techniques for coating print media are described herein. In an example, a photo imaging assembly is to receive a liquid electrophoretic coating composition assembly on a chargeable surface so as to form a coating layer thereon using electrostatic forces. The coating layer is to be transferred to a print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Omer Gila, Napoleon J. Leoni
  • Patent number: 8678556
    Abstract: A liquid discharge recording head includes: a recording element substrate, an electric wiring board, and a supporting plate that supports the recording element substrate and the electric wiring board, with a gap formed between the recording element substrate and the electric wiring board, and a connecting member that electrically connects, across the gap, an electrode provided in the recording element substrate and an electrode terminal provided in the electric wiring board. A first resin agent that is filled in the gap, a second resin agent seals the electrode, the electrode terminal, and the connecting member, and a third resin agent that is provided between the first resin agent and the supporting plate and has a lower modulus of elasticity than the first resin agent and the second resin agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuzo Iwanaga, Shogo Kawamura, Yasuhiko Osaki
  • Patent number: 8678299
    Abstract: A hollow actuator-driven droplet dispensing apparatus may include an elastic tube having an elastic body, defining a storage space therein, and extending a predetermined length, and a hollow actuator fitted around the elastic tube so as to generate a force and a displacement in the longitudinal direction when an electric field is applied. The hollow actuator is expanded or contracted in the longitudinal direction of the elastic tube when the external voltage is applied, thereby reducing or enlarging the volume of an inner space of the elastic tube. The droplet dispensing apparatus can press the elastic tube to expand or contract the volume of the inner space of the tube using the hollow actuator capable of quickly generating a displacement in response to an application voltage so that a fixed amount of content can be discharged out and taken into the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Young Bog Ham, Jung Ho Park, So Nam Yun, Sang Gyu Choi
  • Publication number: 20140078222
    Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus where printing is possible by easily and rapidly acquiring a desired image, a multi-functional tablet device is provided with an imaging section which acquires an image, a display section which displays the image, an designating section for designating using a fingertip with regard to the displayed image, a printing section which prints an imaging image on a medium, and a control section which creates the imaging image, which is based on the image, based on designation from the designating section and which prints the created imaging image in the printing section, where the control section determines the printing range with regard to the image which is captured by the imaging section based on the designation from the designating section, creates the imaging image by editing the image in the printing range, and determines a printing position where the imaging image is printed on the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki SAKAI, Koichi OTSUKI, Hideki KATO, Shinya MOMOSE
  • Patent number: 8672454
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a ceramic nozzle plate having a plurality of movable portions defined therein and a polymeric material covering the nozzle plate and the plurality of movable portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook, Emma Rose Kerr, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor
  • Publication number: 20140071205
    Abstract: A phase change inkjet printer including a heated phase change ink reservoir configured to reduce or prevent improper jetting of ink from a printhead. The reservoir includes a vent to atmosphere to provide substantially consistent and accurate jetting of the heated ink. A selective barrier, such as a filter, disposed adjacent to the vent substantially prevents ink from entering the vent while still enabling the vent to direct a pressure into the reservoir during printing and during purging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Paul Platt, David L. Knierim, Tesfalem Zewdneh
  • Patent number: 8662641
    Abstract: A method includes attaching multiple layers to a back side of at least a portion of a fluid dispensing subassembly having at least one inlet port to form a fluid dispensing assembly, aligning a laser to a region of the fluid dispensing assembly, the region corresponding to the inlet port, and forming at least one hole in the region using a laser, the hole completing a path through the layers to the inlet port. A fluid dispensing assembly has a fluid dispensing subassembly having at least one inlet port, a fluid manifold having at least one outlet, at least two layers between the fluid dispensing subassembly and the manifold, and a fluid path in the at least two layers between the outlet and the inlet port, the fluid path having smooth walls and substantially uniform width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Andrews, Terrance L. Stephens, Dan Leo Massopust
  • Patent number: 8664037
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for forming a metal oxide pattern and a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor using the patterned metal oxide. The method for forming a metal oxide pattern includes: preparing an ink composition including at least one metal oxide precursor or metal oxide nanoparticle, and a solvent; ejecting the ink composition on a substrate to form a pattern on the substrate; and photosintering the formed pattern. Herein, the metal oxide precursor is ionic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong-Won Song, Jae-Min Hong, Jung Ah Lim, Hak-Sung Kim, Seong-Ji Kwon
  • Patent number: 8656578
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer includes an array of PZT elements mounted on a non-recessed distal surface of a backing block. Between each element and the backing block is a conductive region formed as a portion of a metallic layer sputtered onto the distal surface. Traces on a longitudinally extending circuit board—preferably, a substantially rigid printed circuit board, which may be embedded within the block—connect the conductive region, and thus the PZT element, with any conventional external ultrasound imaging system. A substantially “T” or “inverted-L” shaped electrode is thereby formed for each element, with no need for soldering. At least one longitudinally extending metallic member mounted on a respective lateral surface of the backing block forms a heat sink and a common electrical ground. A thermally and electrically conductive layer, such as of foil, transfers heat from at least one matching layer mounted on the elements to the metallic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: MR Holdings (HK) Limited
    Inventor: Xiacong Guo
  • Patent number: 8651624
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid ejector structure includes: a chamber; a bridge spanning at least part of the chamber; a channel through which fluid may enter the chamber; a fluid ejector element on the bridge; and an outlet through which fluid may be ejected from the chamber at the urging of the fluid ejector element. The outlet is disposed opposite the fluid ejector element across a depth of the chamber and the chamber, ejector element and outlet are configured with respect to one another such that substantially all of the fluid in the chamber is ejected through the outlet upon actuation of the ejector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alfred I-Tsung Pan, Erik D. Torniainen
  • Publication number: 20140043397
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinao MIYATA
  • Patent number: 8646878
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ink-jet head that can suppress occurrence of the crosstalk and facilitate a smooth ink circulation in pressure chambers. The ink jet head includes two or more pressure chambers 110 configured to be supplied with ink and each having a nozzle; ink supply channel 101 communicating with each of pressure chambers 110 and configured to allow the ink to flow to each of pressure chambers 110; ink discharge channel 102 communicating with each of pressure chambers 110 and configured to allow the ink discharged from each of pressure chambers 110 to flow; ink inlet channel 107 connecting each of pressure chambers 110 to ink supply channel 102; ink outlet channel 108 connecting each of pressure chambers 110 to ink discharge channel 102. An inner surface of ink outlet channel 108 includes unevenness 109.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Fukada, Hidehiro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20140036001
    Abstract: A system for ejecting droplets of a fluid is described. The system includes a substrate having a flow path body that includes a fluid pumping chamber, a descender fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, and a nozzle fluidically connected to the descender. The nozzle is arranged to eject droplets of fluid through an outlet formed in an outer substrate surface. The flow path body also includes a recirculation passage fluidically connected to the descender. The system for ejecting droplets of a fluid also includes a fluid supply tank fluidically connected to the fluid pumping chamber, a fluid return tank fluidically connected to the recirculation passage, and a pump fluidically connecting the fluid return tank and the fluid supply tank. In some implementations, a flow of fluid through the flow path body is at a flow rate sufficient to force air bubbles or contaminants through the flow path body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Hoisington, Mats G. Ottosson, Tadashi Kyoso, Kanji Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8641160
    Abstract: A method of printing includes ejecting ink drops onto a bottom portion of a print media from ink orifices of a first portion of a printhead; after ejecting ink drops from the first portion of the printhead, advancing the print media; and after advancing the print media, ejecting ink drops onto the bottom portion of the print media from ink orifices of a second portion of the printhead. The second portion of the printhead is smaller than the first portion of the printhead and excludes ink orifices toward an end of the printhead opposite a direction of the advancing of the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Erick Blane Kinas, Alvin Marion Post
  • Patent number: 8641172
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes first and second element substrates including: a discharge port array; energy generating elements; and electric contacts electrically connected to the energy generating elements and including first and second electric contacts disposed linearly along one end and the other end. The first and second element substrates are configured such that a distance between the gravity center of the first electric contact and that of a discharge port provided at an end of the discharge port array on the first electric contacts side is different from a distance between the gravity center of the second electric contact and that of a discharge port provided at an end of the discharge port array on the second electric contacts side. The first electric contacts of the first element substrate and the second electric contacts of the second element substrates are disposed linearly, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Muraoka, Yukuo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140022308
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes first and second liquid chambers. The second liquid chamber is in fluid communication with liquid supply and liquid return channels. A flexible membrane separates and fluidically seals the first and second liquid chambers from each other. The flexible membrane, residing in a first position, includes a residual compressive stress that exceeds an onset buckling stress of the flexible membrane. A heater, associated with the second liquid chamber, is selectively actuated to create a pressure pulse in a liquid that causes the flexible membrane to move from the first position to a second position to eject liquid through a nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one embodiment, a liquid supply provides liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Zhanjun Gao, Yonglin Xie
  • Publication number: 20140022307
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. The second chamber is in fluid communication with a liquid supply channel and a liquid return channel. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber from each other. The flexible membrane includes a bimorph actuator that causes the flexible membrane to move from a first position to a second position to eject liquid through the nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one example embodiment, a liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Zhanjun Gao, Yonglin Xie
  • Publication number: 20140022309
    Abstract: A print head and an ink jet printing apparatus are provided which can have smaller sizes if a print head is used which includes a substrate with a plurality of ejection port arrays and a substrate with ejection port arrays longer than the plurality of ejection port arrays. A drive circuit formed in a substrate is formed outside ejection port arrays in the substrate along the extending direction of the ejection port arrays. The drive circuit formed on an overlapping side of the substrate where the ejection port arrays overlap is formed to be longer, along the extending direction of the ejection port arrays, than a drive circuit formed on a side of the substrate which is opposite to the overlapping side. Furthermore, the ejection port arrays and the ejection port arrays overlap in the extending direction of ink supply ports, and the substrates are mounted on a support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20140022306
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. A liquid supply channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A liquid return channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A heater is associated with the second liquid chamber. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber relative to each other. A liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 8632170
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head according to the present invention comprises a passage unit and an actuator unit. The passage unit includes a first opening and a plurality of second openings. One end of a dummy passage extends from and is connected to one or more third openings formed within a fix area of the actuator unit on a surface of a first plate, and an other end of the dummy passage is connected to one or more fourth openings formed on a surface of any of plates, via a space formed in a plate other than the first plate. The dummy passage is opened to the atmosphere through the one or more fourth openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8632165
    Abstract: A liquid-ejecting head includes a channel which is in communication with a nozzle opening and which includes a pressure-generating chamber, a circulation channel that serves to circulate a liquid in the channel, and a pressure generator that serves to generate pressure change. The circulation channel has a narrow portion including a first wall and a second wall, the first wall tilting with respect to a forward direction of a liquid flows and serving to gradually decrease the cross-sectional area, the second wall tilting with respect to the flow direction and serving to gradually increase the cross-sectional area. The tilt angle of the first wall with respect to the inner surface of the circulation channel is larger than the tilt angle of the second wall with respect to the inner surface of the circulation channel at the downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Fujio Akahane, Tomoaki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140017461
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ink composition that contains a pigment, a dispersant, a hydrosoluble solvent; and water, wherein the pigment is represented by the following chemical formula 1: where R represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having one to three carbon atoms, or chlorine, wherein the ink composition satisfies the following relations 1 and 2: 0.050?X/Y?0.120??Relation 1 0.700?Z/Y?1.050??Relation 2 where X represents a minimum absorbance in a wavelength range of from 400 nm to 450 nm, Y represents an absorbance of a maximum peak in a wavelength range of from 500 nm to 550 nm, and Z represents an absorbance of a maximum peak in a wavelength range of from 550 nm to 600 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Akihiko MATSUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140015878
    Abstract: A method of producing a print on a recording medium includes receiving positive and negative image data for the print to be produced. A selected region of the recording medium is discharged. First-sign charged fluid is deposited in a selected first-sign charged-fluid pattern on the selected region of the recording medium, the first-sign charged-fluid pattern corresponding to the positive image data. Second-sign charged fluid is deposited in a selected second-sign charged-fluid pattern on the selected region of the recording medium, the second-sign charged-fluid pattern corresponding to the negative image data and the second sign being different from the first, sign. Charged dry ink having charge of the second sign is deposited onto the recording medium. The deposited dry ink is attracted to the first-sign charged-fluid pattern and adheres to the recording medium in the first-sign charged-fluid pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Alan Marcus, Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh
  • Publication number: 20140015884
    Abstract: A printer and a method of printing by depositing liquid droplets (26) onto a substrate (12), wherein a line is printed in a printing direction (B), wherein the droplets (26) forming the line are continuously printed wet-on-wet, and wherein, at least in a middle part of said line, the droplets (26) are printed according to a regular droplet pattern, and wherein, at least in one end part of the line, at least an outermost droplet (26) of the line is printed deviating from the regular droplet pattern, thereby adapting the continuously wet-on-wet printed line for compensating for ink flow behavior which causes deviation from the image to be printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Hylke VEENSTRA, Matheus WIJNSTEKERS, Johan Alexander DUIJVE
  • Publication number: 20140015901
    Abstract: A method of producing a print on a recording medium includes receiving negative image data for the print to be produced. A selected region of the recording medium is discharged. Charged fluid is deposited in a selected charged-fluid pattern corresponding to the negative image data on the selected region of the recording medium. Charged dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charge in the deposited charged-fluid pattern is deposited onto the recording medium. The deposited dry ink is repelled by the charged-fluid pattern and adheres to the recording medium outside the charged-fluid pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Alan Marcus, Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh
  • Publication number: 20140009523
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of ejecting liquid drops includes modulating a liquid jet to cause it to break off into drop clusters, including first and second drops traveling along a path, separated on average by a drop cluster period. An input image data independent charging waveform of a charging device includes a period that is equal to the cluster period and first and second voltage states having opposing polarities. The charging device produces first and second charge states on the first and second drops, respectively, of each cluster. The first and second drops are deflected away from the path toward first and second catchers, respectively. Relative velocity of drops of a selected drop cluster is modulated in response to input print data causing the drops to form a merged drop traveling along the path having a third charge state that prevents it from being deflected to either catcher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Michael A. Marcus, James A. Katerberg, Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh
  • Publication number: 20140002548
    Abstract: A printhead assembly comprises a plurality of plates stacked together. The plates form a flow path having an inlet and a nozzle. An ejection chamber is in fluid connection with the flow path. A diaphragm is in operable connection with the ejection chamber. A micro actuator is in operable connection with the diaphragm, the micro actuator being configured to actuate the diaphragm. An adhesive layer bonds at least two of the plurality of plates together. The adhesive comprises silicone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: James M. Casella, Santokh S. Badesha, Gregory C. Brockway, Bryan R. Dolan, Yanjia Zuo
  • Patent number: 8616676
    Abstract: A sub-carriage includes a housing unit that houses at least part of each of multiple recording heads, and a head passage opening and an upper opening serving as opening portions through which the housing unit passes. A flow channel anchoring member for anchoring a flow channel member is attached to the sub-carriage so as to span across the aforementioned opening portions, and each of the recording heads is sequentially anchored to the sub-carriage to which the flow channel anchoring member has been attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20130342609
    Abstract: A printhead substrate, comprising a plurality of printing elements which are assigned to a plurality of groups, a plurality of driving circuits which are arranged in correspondence with the respective groups and drive the printing elements, a first current source configured to generate currents of a plurality of current amounts corresponding to the respective groups, second current sources which are arranged in correspondence with the respective driving circuits and configured to generate currents to be supplied to the printing elements, and setting units configured to generate voltages in accordance with currents generated by the first current source and set currents to be generated by the second current sources based on the voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Hidenori Yamato, Nobuyuki Hirayama