With Thermal Force Ejection Patents (Class 347/56)
  • Publication number: 20110242185
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure generation chamber which fluidly communicates with a nozzle opening through which liquid is discharged, a pressure generation unit which causes pressure change on liquid in the pressure generation chamber, a manifold which serves as a liquid chamber common to a plurality of the pressure generation chambers, a flexible film which is configured to cover the manifold so as to absorb a pressure change generated in the manifold, and a heat generation unit which is formed on the flexible film at a region opposed to the manifold and is made of a pattered metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8029107
    Abstract: An ink jet printhead has a plurality of nozzles and a bubble forming chamber corresponding to each of the nozzles respectively. The bubble forming chambers are adapted to contain a bubble forming liquid and a heater element is disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers respectively. The heater elements are configured for thermal contact with the bubble forming liquid and, a pair of electrodes for each of the heater elements are positioned adjacent each other such that the heater element provides a single current path between the electrodes of each pair. Each of the heater elements has a double omega shape in which a smaller, inner omega shape is concentric with, and encircled by, a larger, outer omega shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8029105
    Abstract: A method of treating a printer component, a printhead, and a printer are provided. The method includes providing an electrode proximate to the printer component to be treated; introducing a plasma treatment gas in an area proximate to the printer component to be treated; and treating the printer component by applying power to the electrode thereby producing a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure, the micro-scale plasma acting on the printer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kurt D. Sieber, Jeremy M. Grace, Gilbert A. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8025362
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head is arranged in a manner that in the cross-section of a discharge port in a liquid discharge direction, the discharge port includes at least one projection that is convex inside the discharge port; a first area, for holding a liquid surface connecting a pillar-shaped liquid that is elongated outside the discharge port; and second areas where a fluid resistance is lower than that in the first area so as to pull the liquid in the discharge port in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction. The first area is formed in the direction in which the projection is convex, and the second areas are formed on both sides of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Murakami, Yasunori Takei
  • Publication number: 20110228009
    Abstract: A printhead has a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each nozzle arrangement includes an ink inlet aperture for receiving ink into the nozzle arrangmenet; a wall portion bounding the ink inlet aperture; a crown portion arranged opposite the ink inlet aperture and defining a nozzle opening; a skirt portion depending from the crown portion to form part of a peripheral wall of the nozzle arrangement, the crown and skirt portions being displaceable with respect to the wall portion towards the substrate to alter a volume of a nozzle chamber defined by the wall, crown and skirt portions; and a thermal actuator interconnecting the crown portion with the substrate, the actuator for displacing the crown and skirt portions. The wall portion is angled inwardly with respect to the nozzle chamber defined by the wall, crown, and skirt portions. The wall portion defines a lip at a to free end thereof, the lip for facilitating the formation of a fluidic seal with the skirt portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110228008
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having a substrate having a droplet ejection side and a liquid supply side opposite the droplet ejection side, at least one nozzle formed on the droplet ejection side of the substrate having a drop ejection actuator and an associated drop ejection aperture for ejecting drops of liquid, ducting extending from the liquid supply side into the substrate and terminating before reaching the droplet ejection side, and at least one liquid inlet for establishing fluid communication between the ducting and the nozzle. The ducting has a smaller cross section transverse to flow direction than that of the drop ejection aperture of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110211023
    Abstract: A printhead ejection nozzle is provided having a substrate defining a supply passage for ejection fluid, a chamber in fluid communication with the supply passage and an ejection port, an ejection member disposed between the supply passage and the ejection port, and a heater element coupled to the ejection member for causing ejection of the ejection fluid supplied via the supply passage from the ejection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7998555
    Abstract: A beam having a base material of silicon monocrystal and at least one projection which is integrally formed so as to be supported at least at one end thereof and which has two surfaces having an orientation plane (111), includes a bottom surface in a plane which is common with a plane of the base material; a groove penetrating from the bottom surface to a top of the projection; and a protecting member having a resistance property against a crystal anisotropic etching liquid and covering an inner wall of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ushijima, Takeo Yamazaki, Makoto Terui, Kazuhiro Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7997687
    Abstract: A printhead nozzle arrangement is provided having a wafer defining a chamber for holding ejection fluid, an ejection port supported by a plurality of bridge members which extend from the ejection port to sides of the chamber, and a plurality of heater elements interleaved between the bridge members for causing ejection of fluid held in the chamber through the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 7997697
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuji Arawaka, Kazufumi Oya
  • Publication number: 20110193911
    Abstract: A method of minimizing kogation of a heater element in a thermal inkjet printhead. The method comprises the steps of: (i) supplying an inkjet ink to a nozzle chamber of the printhead; and (ii) repeatedly actuating a heater element in the nozzle chamber so as to heat a portion of the ink to a temperature sufficient to form a bubble therein, thereby causing droplets of ink to be ejected from a nozzle opening associated with the nozzle chamber. The ink comprises an acrylic polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than about 100° C., which minimizes kogation of the heater element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Adrian Bisson, Roger Michael Davey, Alexander Grant, Damon Donald Ridley, Kia Silverbrook, Steven Carter
  • Patent number: 7988260
    Abstract: A recording element substrate includes a recording element array including a plurality of recording elements, a drive circuit configured to drive the recording elements, and a heater located to surround the recording element array as viewed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the recording element substrate and located above or below a capacitive element or a resistive element included in the drive circuit as viewed on a cross section of the recording element substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoko Kudo, Tatsuo Furukawa, Nobuyuki Hirayama, Ryo Kasai
  • Patent number: 7988250
    Abstract: A printer includes a printhead and a source of liquid. The printhead includes a nozzle bore. The liquid is under pressure sufficient to eject a column of the liquid through the nozzle bore. The liquid has a temperature. A thermal modulator is associated with the nozzle bore. The thermal modulator is operable to transiently lower the temperature of the liquid as the liquid is ejected through the nozzle bore. An electrical pulse source is in electrical communication with the thermal modulator. The electrical pulse source is operable to provide a series of pulses to the thermal modulator that control the transient temperature lowering of the liquid. The series of pulses includes a first pulse applied at a first power level for transferring heat to the liquid, a second pulse applied at a second power level for transferring heat to the liquid, and a third pulse applied at a third power level for transferring heat to the liquid. The third power level is in between the first power level and the second power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Siddhartha Ghosh, Christopher N. Delametter, Edward P. Furlani
  • Patent number: 7984974
    Abstract: There is disclosed a printhead integrated circuit (IC) which comprises a plurality of nozzles and one or more heater elements 10 corresponding to each nozzle. Each heater element 10 is configured to heat a bubble forming liquid 11 in the printhead to a temperature above its boiling point to form a gas bubble 12 therein. The generation of the bubble 12 causes the ejection of a drop of an ejectable liquid (such as ink) through an ejection aperture 5 in each nozzle, to effect printing. In each nozzle, the heater element 10 requires an electrical pulse with a voltage less than 8 volts and a duration less than 1.5 microseconds, to form the vapor bubble that causes the ejection of the drop. With the realization that drive pulse voltages above, say, 12 volts are not a fixed parameter of printhead design, the benefits of low voltage printhead operation can be incorporated into a design that yields efficiencies that negate the circumstances that created the initial demand for high voltage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7984973
    Abstract: A thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of elements, is provided. The actuator comprises a first active element for connection to drive circuitry a second passive element mechanically cooperating with the first element. When a current is passed through the first element, the first element expands relative to the second element, resulting in bending of the actuator. The first element is comprised of an aluminium alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Misty Bagnat, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Emma Rose Kerr, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7984972
    Abstract: A unit cell of a printhead is provided having a multi-layer substrate defining an ink inlet, one or more side walls extending from the substrate around the ink inlet, a nozzle plate supported by the side walls to define a chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet, where the nozzle plate defines an aperture through which ink in the chamber can be ejected, and a looped and elongate heater element suspended within the chamber, which can be heated so that bubbles are generated in ink within the chamber and ink is ejected from the aperture. The nozzle plate defines a protruding rim bounding the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: SIlverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7980677
    Abstract: An ink jet recording head includes recording element substrates each including at least one nozzle array and heat generating resistors, a common liquid chamber having introducing and discharging ports, and a supporting member mounting the recording element substrates and in which a plurality of individual liquid chambers for supplying the ink to respective recording element substrates and a plurality of ink inlet ports for supplying the ink from the common liquid chamber to respective individual liquid chambers are formed. The individual liquid chambers are arranged in a direction of flow of the ink from the ink introducing port toward the discharging port. At least in a most upstream individual liquid chamber with respect to the direction, a center line of an associated inlet port with respect to the direction is located downstream of a center line of the upstream individual liquid chamber with respect to the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriyuki Chino, Shoji Kanemura, Hiroyasu Nomura
  • Patent number: 7980673
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly comprises: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening defined in a roof thereof; and a bubble-forming heater element positioned in the nozzle chamber. The heater element is suspended in the nozzle chamber and parallel with a plane of the roof. The heater element is comprised of solid material having a total mass of less than 10 nanograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7980663
    Abstract: A print head can improve an ink refill speed to reduce the time from the end of one ejection of ink droplets until the beginning of a next ejection of ink droplets and maintain the high quality of images obtained by printing. An ink jet print head has an ejection port portion including a first ejection port portion communicating with atmosphere, and a second ejection port portion having a cross-section which extends in a direction orthogonal to an ejecting direction and which is larger than that of the first ejection port portion. The second ejection port portion is formed between a bubbling chamber and the first ejection port portion. In the ink jet print head, an ejection port portion first axis is located away from an ejection port portion second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Matsumoto, Keiji Tomizawa, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7976125
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead that has a nozzle layer defining an array of nozzle apertures, each nozzle aperture having an associated heater element positioned for heating the ejectable liquid above its boiling point to form a vapor bubble to eject a drop of the ejectable liquid through the nozzle aperture. The nozzle aperture is less than 5 microns thick in the drop ejection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110164092
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head is arranged in a manner that in the cross section of a discharge port in a liquid discharge direction, the discharge port includes: at least one projection that is convex inside the discharge port; a first area, for holding a liquid surface connecting a pillar-shaped liquid that is elongated outside the discharge port; and second areas where a fluid resistance is lower than that in the first area so as to pull the liquid in the discharge port in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction; and the first area is formed in the direction in which the projection is convex, and the second areas are formed on both sides of the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi MURAKAMI, Yasunori TAKEI
  • Patent number: 7971971
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly includes: a nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a thermal bend actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. The actuator includes: an active beam for connection to drive circuitry; a first passive beam fused to the active beam; and a second passive beam fused to the second first passive beam. The first passive beam is sandwiched between the active beam and the second passive beam such that when a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam expands relative to the passive beams, resulting in bending of the actuator and ejection of ink through the nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Vincent Patrick Lawlor, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7971970
    Abstract: An ink drop ejection device with a bubble forming chamber for holding an ejectable liquid, a nozzle in fluid communication with the bubble forming chamber, and at least one heater element in the bubble forming chamber for thermal contact with the bubble forming liquid. Heating the heater element to a temperature above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid forms a gas bubble to eject a drop of the ejectable liquid through the nozzle. The bubble forming chamber has a circular cross section and the heater element has arcuate sections that are concentric with the circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7971974
    Abstract: A printhead IC with an array of nozzles 3. A chamber 7 and a heater 14 correspond to each nozzle respectively. The heater has a heater element 10 extending between a pair of electrodes 15. The heater element 10 is suspended in the chamber 7 by the electrodes 15 to heat printing fluid and generate a vapour bubble to cause a drop of the printing fluid to eject through the nozzle 3. Integrated circuit metalization layers corresponding to each of the nozzles supply electrical energy to the heater 14. The heater 14 and the integrated circuit metalization layers 23 are substantially planar and at least partially overlapping, the metallization layers electrically connected to the heater electrodes 15 by vias, the cross sectional area of all the vias being greater than 50% of the surface area of one side of the heater 14. A relatively large number of vias lowers the electrical resistance between the electrodes and the CMOS metalization layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7967419
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead comprises a plurality of nozzles; a supply of printing fluid in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles; and a plurality of heater elements corresponding respectively to each of the nozzles, the heater elements for heating the printing fluid to form a gas bubble for ejecting a drop of printing fluid of a predetermined volume from the nozzle. Each of the heater elements has an area proportional to the predetermined volume. The area being such that an amount of energy generated by each heater element to form the gas bubble is substantially equal to or less than an amount of energy absorbable by a drop of printing fluid having the predetermined volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Angus John North, Samuel George Mallinson, Mehdi Azimi, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Publication number: 20110148989
    Abstract: An ink ejection device for ejecting ink from a nozzle chamber includes an anchor block extending from a supporting substrate, the anchor block including a heating circuit; a first group of elongate corrugated arms attached at a first end thereof to the heating circuit, the first group of elongate corrugated arms being in a first horizontal plane; a second group of elongate corrugated arms attached at a first end to the anchor block and electrically insulated from the heating circuit, the second group of elongate corrugated arms being in a second horizontal plane different from the first horizontal plane; a cross arm joining the first group of at least two elongate corrugated arms and the second group of at least two elongate corrugated arms at a second end of the corrugated arms; and a paddle attached to the cross arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7959260
    Abstract: A method for discharging liquid from a recording head including a first discharge port configured to discharge a liquid, a second discharge port configured to discharge a liquid, an amount of which is smaller than an amount of the liquid discharged from the first discharge port, and a substrate including a first heating element corresponding to the first discharge port, a second heating element corresponding to the second discharge port and the liquid supply port, wherein a distance between the liquid supply port and the second heating element is longer than a distance between the liquid supply port and the first heating element, and wherein discharge of the liquid from the first discharge port is performed by a discharge method in which a bubble formed by the first heating element communicates with atmosphere and an amount of the liquid discharged from the second discharge port is less than 2 pico liters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichiro Tsukuda, Ken Tsuchii, Mineo Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20110128326
    Abstract: A printhead is provided which has a plurality of fluid chambers and nozzles for ejection of fluid from the chambers defined on a substrate having electrical circuitry. Each chamber has an actuator cantilevered on the substrate with a first arm connected to the electrical circuitry and a second arm connected at each end to the first arm. Electrical current from the electrical circuitry causing heating and expansion of the first arm relative to the second arm thereby deflecting the actuator relative to the substrate. Each actuator has an ejection member connected to the free end and positioned within the chamber so that the deflection of the actuator causes displacement of the ejection member resulting in ejection of fluid from the chamber through the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7950777
    Abstract: An ejection nozzle assembly is provided having a substrate defining a fluid supply passage, drive circuitry on the substrate, a chamber on the drive circuitry and in fluid communication with the fluid supply passage and an ejection port, an ejection member disposed between the fluid supply passage and the ejection port, and a heater element electrically coupled to the drive circuitry and the ejection member for causing ejection of fluid from the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110122201
    Abstract: A printhead is provided having chambers for fluid, ejection ports defined in the chambers, and ejection arms positioned in the chambers, each arm having a displacement area which is displaced against fluid in the respective chamber to eject the fluid from the respective ejection port. Each displacement area is greater than half an area of the respective ejection port and less than twice the area of that ejection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7947336
    Abstract: An epoxy resin composition, including: an epoxy resin (A) represented by Formula (1); an epoxy resin (B) having an epoxy equivalent of 220 or less and having twice or more epoxy groups in a molecule than epoxy groups of the epoxy resin (A); and a photocationic polymerization initiator (C), in which: the epoxy resins (A) and (B) constitute main components; and a weight of the epoxy resin (A) is 40% or more and a weight of the epoxy resin (B) is 30% or more with respect to a total weight of the epoxy resins (A) and (B): where: R represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a t-butyl group; n represents an integer of 0 or more and 4 or less; and m represents an integer of 1 or more and 3 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shimpei Otaka, Kazunari Ishizuka, Isamu Horiuchi, Isao Imamura
  • Publication number: 20110115854
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a die having a heating element formed thereon. The inkjet printhead also includes a graded die carrier. The graded die carrier is coupled to the die. The graded die carrier has lands that are separated by an ink slot. Each of the lands is graded such that its proximity to the die varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Alok Sharan, Robert N. K. Browning
  • Publication number: 20110115852
    Abstract: A fluid ejector includes a fluid ejection module and an integrated circuit element. The fluid ejection module includes a substrate having a plurality of fluid paths, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of conductive traces, each actuator configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle of an associated fluid path. The integrated circuit element is mounted on the fluid ejection module and is electrically connected with the conductive traces of the fluid ejection module such that an electrical connection of the module enables a signal sent to the fluid ejection module to be transmitted to the integrated circuit element, processed on the integrated circuit element, and output to the fluid ejection module to drive the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Andreas Bibl, Deane A. Gardner, John A. Higginson, Kevin von Essen
  • Publication number: 20110115853
    Abstract: A method and system for purging bubbles from a fluid ejection head comprising a plurality of fluid flow channels including a first plurality of fluid flow channels flowing a first ink to a first actuator device and a second plurality of fluid flow channels for flowing a second ink to a second actuator device. During a bubble purging operation the first and second actuator devices are pulsed with different energies that depend on the viscosity of the first ink and the second ink. Heating the inks with different energies, results in the viscosity of the first ink to be same as the viscosity of the second ink. In one embodiment, a test pattern that includes a plurality of dots is printed to determine a clogged fluid ejection nozzle. Based on the determination, an actuator device corresponding to the clogged fluid ejection nozzle is pulsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory Alan Long
  • Patent number: 7942505
    Abstract: Provided is an inkjet nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The arrangement includes a wafer substrate defining sidewalls and a roof portion to form an ink chamber, the roof portion further defining a nozzle aperture, as well as a heater element suspended inside the ink chamber for thermal expansion and subsequent ejection of ink from the chamber via the nozzle aperture. The arrangement also includes a nozzle rim defined about the aperture on the roof portion, said rim having an inner and an outer lip to facilitate ink drop misdirection during ink ejection to minimise cavitation corrosion of the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Matthew Taylor Worsman, Mehdi Azimi, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7942506
    Abstract: An inkjet printer head includes a substrate, an insulating layer having a groove and disposed on the substrate, a heating member having a concavely curved upper surface and disposed on an upper portion of the groove, an electrode to make contact with the heating member to apply electric current to the heating member, a chamber layer disposed on the heating member, and a nozzle layer having one or more nozzles and disposed on the chamber layer. According to the inkjet printer head, the heating member has a curved structure to increase a length of the heating member, so that resistance of the heating member can be increased. Thus, the heating member can stably operate regardless of current variation applied thereto, and the printing work can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Joon Park, Tae-Jin Kim, Young Hye Park, Dai Geun Kim
  • Patent number: 7937835
    Abstract: A composite ceramic substrate for receiving an ejection head chip for a micro-fluid ejection head and a method for making the composite ceramic substrate. The substrate includes a high temperature previously fired ceramic base having a substantially planarized first surface and at least one fluid supply slot therethrough. A low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape layer bundle having at least two LTCC tape layers is attached to the ceramic base at an interface between the LTCC tape layer bundle and the first surface of the ceramic base. The LTTC tape layer bundle has at least one chip pocket therein and at least one of the LTCC tape layers includes a plurality of conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Edward Anderson, Michael John Dixon, Eric Spencer Hall, Elios Klemo, Bryan Dale McKinley, Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh
  • Patent number: 7938512
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate to slotted substrates. One exemplary method forms a feature into a substrate, at least in part, by directing a laser beam at the substrate. During at least a portion of said directing, the method supplies a conductive material proximate the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jong-Souk Yeo, Mark Huth, Mehrgan Khavari, Alexey S Kabalnov, Craig M. Gates, Sean P Mcclelland
  • Patent number: 7934809
    Abstract: A printhead integrated circuit includes an ink chamber for storing a fluid; an ink ejection port in fluid communication with the ink chamber; a plurality of actuators radially positioned about the ink ejection port in a petal formation; and a heater structure provided in each actuator, the heater structure operable to conduct current therethrough to heat a respective actuator, whereby a differential thermal expansion is established in the respective actuator to urge the respective actuator into the ink chamber. The heater structure is positioned in each actuator to heat the actuator unevenly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Patent number: 7934811
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an ink flow path including a nozzle through which ink is ejected and is formed of a conductive epoxy resin, the conductive epoxy resin is a hardening result of a conductive cross-linked polymer resist composition formed by actinic radiation, and the conductive cross-linked polymer resist composition includes (a) at least one epoxy precursor polymer selected from a phenol novolak precursor polymer and an alicyclic precursor polymer including glycidyl ether group, (b) a metal alkoxide compound represented by the following formula R?M(OR)n, where R? refers to a functional group including an oxirane group or an oxetanyl group, R refers to a C1-10alkyl group, and M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Ti, and Zr, (c) a cationic photoinitiator, and (d) a solvent. The inkjet printhead includes an ink flow path formed of a conductive epoxy resin and a trench formed around a heater of the inkjet printhead to dissipate residual heat generated by the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-ha Park, Young-ung Ha
  • Patent number: 7926912
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head is arranged in a manner that in the cross-section of a discharge port in a liquid discharge direction, the discharge port includes at least one projection that is convex inside the discharge port; a first area, for holding a liquid surface connecting a pillar-shaped liquid that is elongated outside the discharge port; and second areas where a fluid resistance is lower than that in the first area so as to pull the liquid in the discharge port in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction. The first area is formed in the direction in which the projection is convex, and the second areas are formed on both sides of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Murakami, Yasunori Takei
  • Patent number: 7926915
    Abstract: An inkjet nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber comprising a floor and a roof. The roof has a nozzle opening defined therein, and a moving portion moveable towards the floor. The assembly further comprises a thermal bend actuator, defining at least part of the moving portion of the roof, for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. The thermal bend actuator comprises an upper first beam for connection to drive circuitry and a lower second beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam, such that when a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam resulting in bending of the moving portion towards the floor of the nozzle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Gregory John McAvoy, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7922296
    Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a nozzle chamber. The nozzle chamber has a wafer defining a chamber with an ink ejection port and ink supply channel along with a plurality of radially positioned actuators about the port. Each actuator has an internal serpentine core arranged in signal communication with a CMOS layer on the wafer. The method includes the steps of supplying the chamber with ink via the ink supply channel, and passing current through the serpentine cores for a predetermined period of time. The current produces thermal expansion of the actuators into the chamber to increase a chamber ink pressure to eject ink from the ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Gregory John McAvoy
  • Publication number: 20110080453
    Abstract: The liquid ejection head comprises: a nozzle from which liquid is ejected; a pressure chamber which accommodates the liquid to be ejected from the nozzle; a pressurizing device which deforms to pressurize the liquid in the pressure chamber to eject the liquid from the nozzle; and a nozzle flow channel through which the pressurized liquid flows from the pressure chamber to the nozzle, the nozzle flow channel having at least a portion in which forces acting toward an axis of the nozzle flow channel onto the liquid flowing inside the nozzle flow channel are not uniform within a cross-section perpendicular to the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Kanji NAGASHIMA
  • Patent number: 7918541
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical integrated circuit device comprises a substrate; drive circuitry positioned on the substrate; and a plurality of elongate actuators. Each actuator comprises a fixed end portion fast with the substrate, a free end portion that is spaced from the substrate, and a heating circuit that is connected to the drive circuitry to heat the actuator. A portion of the actuator is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion such that the material is capable of performing work by thermal expansion. The heating circuit is positioned to generate differential thermal expansion and contraction when heated and cooled to cause reciprocal displacement of the free end portion of the actuator. Each actuator is a laminated structure having a first metal layer and a dielectric layer, the first metal layer being interposed between the dielectric layer and the substrate and defining the heating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7914122
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement comprises a substrate incorporating drive circuitry and defining an ink inlet channel; side walls extending from the substrate; a roof fast with the side walls and defining an ink ejection port in fluid communication with an ink chamber defined by the roof, the side walls, and the substrate, the ink chamber being in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel; an ink ejection member interposed between the ink inlet channel and the ink ejection port such that reciprocal movement of the ink ejection member causes ejection of ink from the ink ejection port; an actuator connected to the drive circuitry at a fixed end and having a free end reciprocally displaceable with respect to the substrate on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry; and a motion transmitting structure interposed between the free end of the actuator and the ink ejection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kia Silverbrook
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110069122
    Abstract: There is provided is an ink for inkjet recording, comprising: a pigment coated with a water-insoluble resin including a structural unit represented by the following formula (1) and a structural unit having an ionic group; a nitrogen-containing organic solvent; resin particles; and water, wherein a mass ratio [nitrogen-containing organic solvent/resin particles] is from 2.0 to 6.0: wherein, in formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a halogen atom; L1 represents *—COO—, —OCO—, *—CONR2—, *—O—, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, wherein “*—” represents a bond linking to the main chain; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and L2 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and a image forming method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 7909424
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dispensing liquid are disclosed. The method includes the steps of storing one or more liquids in a thermal inkjet print head and providing a well plate having at least one well. At least one of the liquids is dispensed from the thermal inkjet print head into at least one well. The volume of the dispensed liquid is a fraction of the total required volume of the liquid in the at least one well, and the dispensing step is performed multiple times to dispense the required volume of the at least one liquid in at least one well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Manish Giri, Joshua M. Yu, Chris H. Bakker, Kevin F. Peters, Vincent Remcho
  • Patent number: 7909437
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a substrate having a plurality of energy generating elements for generating heat energy for use in discharging liquid and a plurality of nozzles provided correspondingly to the plurality of energy generating elements. Each of the nozzles includes a chamber provided with the energy generating element, a second discharge portion, and a first discharge portion. The central axis of the second discharge portion is offset from the central axis of the first discharge portion in the nozzle arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Ide, Mineo Kaneko, Ken Tsuchii
  • Publication number: 20110063371
    Abstract: A method of ejecting ink from a thermal inkjet printhead. The method comprises the steps of: (i) supplying an ink to at least one nozzle chamber of the printhead; and (ii) actuating a heater element in the nozzle chamber and heating the ink to a temperature sufficient to form a bubble therein, thereby causing the ink to be ejected from a nozzle opening associated with the nozzle chamber. The ink is a solvent-based ink composition comprising: (a) 20-80 wt. % of a compound of formula (B); wherein: R5 is a C1-6 alkyl group and R6 is a C1-6 alkyl group; or R5 and R6 are together joined to form a C3-12 cycloalkylene group; (b) 10-70 wt. % of a C1-6 alcohol; and (c) 0.01-25 wt. % of a colorant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Alexander Grant, Simon Fielder, Damon Donald Ridley, Kia Silverbrook