Drop Deflection Means Patents (Class 347/77)
  • Patent number: 12059896
    Abstract: A printer having: an ink nozzle; an extractor laterally spaced from the ink nozzle; a plurality of gas nozzles arranged around the ink nozzle; and three modes of operation, including an electrohydrodynamic mode, an aerodynamic mode, and a combined mode. The modes operate as follows: a voltage is applied across the ink nozzle and the extractor in the electrohydrodynamic mode; a jet of gas is discharged from each of the gas nozzles in the aerodynamic mode; and the voltage is applied and the jets of gas are discharged in the combined mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Lai Yu Leo Tse, Kira Barton
  • Patent number: 11712752
    Abstract: According to some examples in the disclosure, a method may comprise providing a first stream of discrete volumes of material; and directing a pulsed laser beam at a first discrete volume of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Boaz Tagansky, Gil Fisher, Michael Plotkin, Mark Sandler, Albert Teishev
  • Patent number: 11491779
    Abstract: A liquid discharge method of discharging a liquid from a nozzle of a liquid discharge head by applying a drive pulse to a drive element of the liquid discharge head includes an acquisition step of acquiring a recording condition including a first discharge characteristic and a second discharge characteristic of the liquid from the liquid discharge head, a determination step of determining the drive pulse to be applied to the drive element, based on the recording condition, and a driving step of applying the drive pulse determined in the determination step to the drive element. In the liquid discharge method, in the determination step, the drive pulse is determined by a determination method subjected to weighting in which a weight of the first discharge characteristic is greater than a weight of the second discharge characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Murayama, Takahiro Katakura, Nobuaki Ito
  • Patent number: 11298943
    Abstract: To prevent a printing head not placed on a cleaning placing unit from being cleaned and prevent contamination of an ambient environment by cleaning liquid. An ink jet recording system includes a placement detecting unit configured to detect that a printing head 1 is placed on a cleaning placing unit 200. The placement detecting unit is configured to, when detecting that the printing head 1 is placed, transmit a signal based on placement confirmation for the printing head 1 to a controller connected to the printing head 1 placed on the cleaning placing unit 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kitamura, Takanori Ando, Minoru Taneda, Mamoru Idaka
  • Patent number: 11040538
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a maintenance solution supply mechanism. In response to switching of a three-way valve provided in an ink pipe, a maintenance solution is supplied from a maintenance tank to each head through a maintenance pipe. The maintenance tank is a common tank. This suppresses size increase of the printer compared to provision of an individual maintenance tank for each head. The maintenance pipe is connected to the ink pipe at a position downstream of an intermediary tank. This eliminates the need of replacement of ink in the intermediary tank by the maintenance solution during supply of the maintenance solution. This allows reduction in the consumptions of the ink and the maintenance solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto Suzuki, Katsuaki Takeuchi, Mitsuru Tanemoto
  • Patent number: 10703095
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device that is capable of minimizing contamination, by floating ink, of the inside and outside of a print head without increasing the volatilization volume of a solvent. In order to attain the purpose, provided is an inkjet recording device having: a nozzle which applies print onto a printing medium by discharging ink; and a print head which houses therein a deflection electrode for deflecting the discharged ink by means of an electrostatic force, the inkjet recording device being provided with an ink suction unit which sucks in floating ink by means of the electrostatic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Matsushita, Mamoru Okano, Mitsuo Igari, Takahiro Arima
  • Patent number: 10661560
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a first substrate which includes a drive circuit which generates a drive signal and a first connector, a discharge head which includes greater than or equal to 300 nozzles per inch and a total of greater than or equal to 600 nozzles, which receives the drive signal and which discharges a liquid from the nozzles, and a second substrate which includes a second connector which is connected to the first connector, in which at least one of the first connector and the second connector includes a detection terminal for detecting a connection with the other of the first connector and the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nakajima, Kunihiro Kawada
  • Patent number: 10647114
    Abstract: The invention describes a method and apparatus for characterising EHT tripping events and thus discriminating between false trip events and those that warrant the printer being shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Domino UK Limited
    Inventors: Daniel John Lee, Simon Brierley, Christopher Adrian Chapman
  • Patent number: 10132735
    Abstract: There is provided a microparticle sorting device that automatically optimizes a fluid stream. There is provided a microparticle sorting device that includes a voltage supply unit that supplies a driving voltage to a vibratory element that applies vibration to an orifice that produces a fluid stream, a charge unit that imparts charge to at least some droplets ejected from the orifice, deflecting plates, arranged opposing each other with the fluid stream S therebetween, that vary a travel direction of the droplets, and a first image sensor that acquires an image of the droplets passing between the deflecting plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yosuke Muraki
  • Patent number: 10124584
    Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head (10), including: an ink droplet generator (116) configured to emit an ink droplet (158) along an undeflected droplet flight path (30); a charge electrode (118) configured to impart a charge to the ink droplet; deflector plates (120A, 120B) adjacent the undeflected droplet flight path, downstream from the charge electrode, and configured to deflect the ink droplet to a deflected droplet flight path that lies within a range of deflected flight paths bounded by at least deflected droplet flight path and a most deflected droplet flight path; a gutter (122) configured to receive an ink droplet traveling along the undeflected droplet flight path; and an ink buildup sensor (102) configured to detect an accumulation of ink (140) relative to a droplet flight path disposed within the range of deflected flight paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Robert Smith, Salhadin Omer
  • Patent number: 10046091
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein related to a printing system configured to print a three-dimensional object on a region of interest. The printing system can include one or more steerable actuators that are coupled to and configured to controllably steer the one or more dispense elements. Other embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such printing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Jordin T. Kare
  • Patent number: 9994048
    Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head unit that discharges a liquid from each of a plurality of nozzles and causes a liquid column to extend downwardly; a liquid droplet generating unit that irradiates the liquid column with a laser beam from a position separated from the plurality of nozzles and separates liquid droplets from the liquid column; and a direction changing unit that applies energy to the liquid droplets and changes a flying direction of the liquid droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keigo Sugai
  • Patent number: 9770906
    Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head (10), including: an ink droplet generator (116) configured to emit an ink droplet (158) along an undeflected droplet flight path (30); a charge electrode (118) configured to impart a charge to the ink droplet; deflector plates (120A, 120B) adjacent the undeflected droplet flight path, downstream from the charge electrode, and configured to deflect the ink droplet to a deflected droplet flight path that lies within a range of deflected flight paths bounded by at least deflected droplet flight path and a most deflected droplet flight path; a gutter (122) configured to receive an ink droplet traveling along the undeflected droplet flight path; and an ink buildup sensor (102) configured to detect an accumulation of ink (140) relative to a droplet flight path disposed within the range of deflected flight paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Robert Smith, Omer Salhadin
  • Patent number: 9555621
    Abstract: A continuous printhead drop deflector system includes a gas flow duct including a wall, the wall including a porous member having pores through which liquid can flow and a liquid flow channel, the flow channel being separated from the air flow duct by the porous member, the flow channel includes; a first port for extracting liquid from a first portion of the liquid flow channel; a second port for supplying liquid to a second portion of the liquid flow channel; one or more paths in the liquid channel permitting fluid to flow from the second portion to the first portion; wherein liquid, supplied through the second port to the second portion of the liquid channel and through the one or more paths to the first portion of the liquid channel, contacts and wicks into the porous member before being extracted through the first port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: David Louis Jeanmaire, Scott Bernard Mahon
  • Patent number: 9505220
    Abstract: A catcher (42) for collecting ink from non-printed drops and returning the ink to a fluid reservoir (40), the catcher includes a flow channel (47) having a plurality of branches (110); a structure to split a portion of each branch into two parallel sections to permit fluid to pass through either section; and wherein the flow of the two parallel sections (122) merge into a single flow downstream of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert J. Simon, Chang-Fang Hsu, Seth C. Clark, Charles D. Rike
  • Patent number: 9452602
    Abstract: A liquid jet printing apparatus is provided having a nozzle for emitting a stream of liquid droplets toward a substrate, a charging section for providing an electrical charge to liquid droplets and a pair of electrically conductive deflection plates for creating an electrical field capable of deflecting the liquid droplets to a desired location on the substrate, wherein a resistor is provided between a power source and the electrical field to limit current from the power source during electrical arcing between the deflection plates, thereby minimizing disruption to the electrical field and minimizing electromagnetic pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Franklin S. Love, III, David M. Hyslop, Frank M. Pitman, Rajib Mondal, Jeffrey J. Lillie
  • Patent number: 9346261
    Abstract: A gas flow duct for use in redirecting drops of liquid ejected from a printhead in a continuous inkjet printer, including a sump, a first duct portion upstream of the sump, and a second duct portion downstream of the sump. The first duct portion rises from an entrance to an apex and then turns downward and exits into the sump, and the second duct portion rises from the sump toward an exit port. A cross-sectional area of the first duct portion is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity sufficient to transport entrained liquid through the first duct portion past the apex and into the sump. A cross-sectional area of the second duct portion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the first duct portion and is adapted to produce a gas flow velocity insufficient to transport entrained liquid through the second duct portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, David F. Tunmore
  • Patent number: 9085120
    Abstract: Solid state nanopore devices for nanopore applications and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The method includes forming a membrane layer on an underlying substrate. The method further includes forming a hole in the membrane layer. The method further comprises plugging the hole with a sacrificial material. The method further includes forming a membrane over the sacrificial material. The method further includes removing the sacrificial material within the hole and portions of the underlying substrate. The method further includes drilling an opening in the membrane, aligned with the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann Astier, Jingwei Bai, Satyavolu Papa Rao, Kathleen Reuter, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9028024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new control method for controlling the printing of a binary continuous inkjet printer provided with a printhead (20) with a set of deflection electrodes (8a, 8b; 9a, 9b) shared by all of the nozzles of the head, at least one pair of electrodes (8, 9) supplied in phase opposition relative to each other, and actuators (6) to which pulses are sent to form a distance Lbr from the plane of the nozzles (11), from the break of a jet discharged by a nozzle (3) in communication with a stimulation chamber (2) to which said actuator is mechanically coupled, drops not able to be electrically charged or jet segment subjected to the electrostatic influence of the deflection electrodes. According to the invention, the pulses are controlled so as to minimize the total electrical charge taken on by the ink jet segments inside a volume of influence of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Markem-Imaje
    Inventors: Bruno Barbet, Damien Bonneton
  • Patent number: 8991986
    Abstract: A method of printing an image with a continuous inkjet printer system employing bimodal drop size generation with pigmented inkjet ink compositions comprising a polymer additive, wherein the liquid ink is an aqueous inkjet ink comprises dispersed pigment colorant particles having a mean particle size of less than 150 nanometers and at least about 0.1 wt % of polymer additive distinct from any polymer dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles, and recirculating liquid ink supplied to the nozzle if the printer system from a liquid ink source is in-line filtered with a filter selected to be effective at retaining particles having particle sizes equal to and greater than 0.6 micrometers from the liquid ink and to pass the dispersed pigment particles. The invention enables high quality drop control in a continuous inkjet printing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Allan Francis Sowinski, Simon C. Haseler, Robert Link, Rajesh Vinodrai Mehta, Todd Russell Griffin
  • Patent number: 8985750
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ink jet device and to an associated method. Said device (1) comprises a chamber (60) comprising at least one ink jet head (10), an inlet (66) for a gas having a lower molar mass than air, and at least one outlet (21) for said gas, said head (10) being arranged in the chamber (60) in such a way that the gas can be injected around the head (10) and removed from the chamber along with the ink supplied by the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Norbert Fabre, Véronique Conedera, Paul Fadel, Fabien Mesnilgrente
  • Patent number: 8974029
    Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and printing control method are provided in which when a moving speed of a printing object is changed, a difference in writing start position is reduced and printing quality is improved. The apparatus includes an ink container, a nozzle connected to the container for ejecting ink, a charging electrode to charge the ejected ink, a deflecting electrode to deflect the charged ink, a gutter to collect ink not used for printing, a writing start timing control circuit to generate a first line clock signal, a printing width control circuit to generate a second line clock signal, and a control part. The control part controls print start timing based on the first clock signal, and when the printing object reaches the printing start timing, the control part performs a width adjustment of a character string of printing content based on the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: An Qiu, Tsuneaki Takagishi, Takashi Kawano, Nobuhiro Harada, Shinichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8974041
    Abstract: A method and droplet selection device are provided for a continuous printer for selectively deflecting a droplet from a predetermined printing trajectory. In particular, a droplet selection device is provided for a continuous printer, comprising a droplet ejection system arranged to generate a continuous stream of droplets from a first fluid jetted out of an outlet channel; and a jet system arranged to generate a second jet for colliding the jet into the stream of droplets. The jet system comprises a deflector to selectively deflect the second jet into the continuous stream of droplets, so as to selectively deflect the droplets from a predefined printing trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Ronaldus Jacobus Johannes Boot, René Jos Houben, Gerrit Oosterhuis, Antonius Paulus Aulbers
  • Patent number: 8919934
    Abstract: A voltage is applied between first and second deflecting electrodes from a deflecting voltage controller, whereby an electric field is formed between the first and second deflecting electrodes in a direction perpendicular to electrode surfaces. An electric line of force is generated from a direction perpendicular to the electrode surface of the first deflecting electrode and made perpendicularly incident on the electrode surface of the second deflecting electrode. Since the first and second deflecting electrodes are parallel to each other, a plurality of parallel electric lines of force are formed perpendicularly to the electrode surfaces of the first and second deflecting electrodes. Droplets after passing charged electrodes fly in a region where this deflecting electric field is formed, whereby charged droplets are deflected in a direction in which the charged droplets approach the second electrode having opposite charging polarity. The charged droplets form a printing pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Ikegawa, Eiji Ishii, Nobuhiro Harada, Tsuneaki Takagishi
  • Patent number: 8857954
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzle array. For a given groove, the groove is positioned at an angle relative to the drop contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Patent number: 8840229
    Abstract: A continuous inkjet method includes modulating a liquid jet having a wavelength ?, and causing first and second droplets to break off from the liquid jet and travel along a path. The second droplet has a break off length that is longer than the break off length of the first droplet. The first and second break off lengths have a difference of at least one wavelength ? in response to stimulation pulses. A charge differential is produced between the first and second droplets. The trajectories of the first and second droplets are caused to diverge so that one of the first and second droplets is collected and the other of the first and second droplets is deposited on a surface. A transition in droplet creation is identified between stimulation cycles that produce the first and second droplets. A skip cycle is introduced between the stimulation cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Piatt, Randy Lee Fagerquist
  • Publication number: 20140253642
    Abstract: A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a linear array of nozzles having a pitch and extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module is configured to form drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism is configured to cause selected drops to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept drops travelling along one of the first and second paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface having an array of grooves extending in the same direction as that of the nozzle array. For a given groove, the groove is positioned at an angle relative to the drop contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas W. Palone, Kathleen M. Vaeth, Kam C. Ng
  • Patent number: 8794179
    Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a pattern formed body by the electric field jet method, capable of stabilizing the discharge amount and the discharge direction of a liquid. The present invention achieves the object by providing a method for manufacturing a pattern formed body characterized in that a pattern is formed on a substrate by: discharging a liquid from a discharge orifice by applying a voltage between a first electrode, disposed in the vicinity of the discharge orifice of a nozzle of a discharge head, and a second electrode, disposed in between the discharge orifice and the substrate, having an opening for discharge; and adhering the liquid onto the substrate by passing through the opening for discharge of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Tsuchiya, Masato Idegami
  • Patent number: 8764169
    Abstract: In an inkjet recording device, nozzles are arranged orthogonally to a deflection direction of deflection electrodes. Ink jetted from each nozzle is charged by a pair of charging electrodes. Charged droplets are deflected by an electric field formed thereby. Voltages applied to each electrode and timings thereof can be independently adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Harada, Akira Miyao, Koji Horikawa, Hisashi Umetsu, Takuya Moriai
  • Patent number: 8764145
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink particle generation unit that makes a pressurized ink injected from a nozzle into particles, a charging unit that electrically charges the ink particle of those subjected to particulation, which corresponds to a dot to be printed, a polarizing unit that polarizes the electrically charged ink particle in a polarizing electric field, a collection unit that allows a gutter to collect the ink particle corresponding to the dot that is not printed, and a character forming unit that forms a character as a dot matrix on a printing object. A phase detection charging signal is applied to the ink particle that is not used for printing when forming the dot matrix character so as to detect an optimum charging timing in a process of forming the dot matrix character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Moriai, Nobuhiro Harada, Takashi Kawano
  • Patent number: 8721056
    Abstract: A continuous multi-nozzle inkjet recording apparatus includes a multi-nozzle inkjet head including a liquid chamber, an ink nozzle plate, and a heating unit, a gas flow applicator, a cap, and a gutter unit. The ink nozzle plate includes ink jetting nozzles to jet ink column. The heating unit stimulates the pressurized ink at an exit opening of the ink jetting nozzles to separate ink droplets from the ink column. The gas flow applicator applies a gas flow to flying ink droplets. The gas flow applicator includes an opening to jet the gas flow. The cap shields an area of the gas flow from an ambient atmosphere space existing around a transporting and image forming area for the recording medium. The gutter unit catches ink droplets. Ink droplets not caught by the gutter unit are directed onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuro Sekiya
  • Patent number: 8668312
    Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate and monolithic liquid jetting structure including a nozzle, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The nozzle, through which a liquid jet is ejected in a direction substantially parallel to a first surface of the substrate, includes material layers formed on the first surface of the substrate. At least one of the material layers of the nozzle includes a drop forming mechanism actuated to form liquid drops from the liquid jet. The deflection mechanism is associated with the liquid jet and deflects portions of the liquid jet between first and second paths. Liquid drops formed from portions of the liquid jet following the first path and the second path continue to follow the first path and the second path, respectively. The catcher, including a material layer formed on the first surface of the substrate, collects liquid drops following one of the paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 8668313
    Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate, catcher, and monolithic liquid jetting structure including a nozzle and deflection mechanism. A liquid jet is ejected through the nozzle in a direction substantially parallel to a first surface of the substrate. The nozzle includes material layers formed on the first surface of the substrate. At least one of the material layers of the nozzle includes a drop forming mechanism actuated to form liquid drops from the liquid jet. The deflection mechanism is associated with the liquid jet and deflects portions of the liquid jet between first and second paths. The liquid drops formed from portions of the liquid jet following the first path and second path continue to follow the first path and second path, respectively. The catcher includes a liquid drop contact surface including a portion of the first surface of the substrate and collects liquid drops following the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang
  • Patent number: 8641307
    Abstract: A printer is provided having a printhead assembly having a carrier frame, a pagewidth printhead with a corresponding pagewidth print zone defined by a plane adjacent the printhead assembly mounted at a base of the carrier frame, an approach guide mounted to the carrier frame on a first side of the printhead and an exit guide mounted to the carrier frame on a second side of the printhead, and a feed mechanism for continuously feeding a web of print media through the print zone. The web is unsupported in the print zone and is guided therethrough by the guides. The approach guide curves about the carrier frame base to terminate upstream with a leading angular edge abutting with the web such that the natural path of the web is deflected downwards and around the approach guide, and the exit guide curves about the carrier frame base to terminate downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Zamtec Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Nagesh Ramachandra, Jan Waszczuk
  • Publication number: 20140028761
    Abstract: An ink supply system for an ink jet printer, particularly a continuous ink jet printer, has a manifold assembly of two parts that are brought together at interfacing surfaces. At least one of the surfaces has a plurality of ink flow channels for conveying ink around an ink circuit between components. The other of the interfacing surfaces is configured to close and seal the channels. A plurality of ports is provided in fluid communication with the channels, the circuit components being connectable to the ports. The manifold assembly provides for a compact and neat arrangement free of many tubes and pipes. The lower number of connections significantly reduces the risk of leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Tomlin, Ian Fost, Jerzy Zaba, Ammar Lecheheb
  • Patent number: 8628176
    Abstract: A method of driving an electromechanical converter of a print head of a continuous inkjet printer, wherein the electromechanical converter is arranged to break up a continuous stream of ink into a plurality of drops. The method includes determining a modulation voltage to drive the electromechanical converter, at least a property of the modulation voltage being controlled to take into account movement of a break up point of the continuous stream of ink, and to ensure that in a characteristic of modulation voltage versus a property at least indicative of a break up point of the continuous stream of ink, the characteristic has a predetermined gradient, or a gradient related to this predetermined gradient; and driving the electromechanical converter at the determined modulation voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ammar Lecheheb, Robert Smith, Matthew Tomlin, Peter Kassner, Michael Jeffrey Stamp
  • Patent number: 8585189
    Abstract: A liquid jet is modulated to selectively cause the jet to break off into drop pairs and third drops traveling along a path using a drop formation device associated with the jet. Each drop pair is separated on average by a drop pair period and includes a first and second drop in response to input image data. The third drops, separated on average by the same drop pair period, are larger than the first and second drops in response to input image data. A waveform provided by a charging device has a period that is equal to the drop pair period, includes first and second distinct voltage states, and is independent of input image data. The charging device, synchronized with the drop formation device, produces first and second charge states on the first and second drops, respectively, of the drop pairs and a third charge state on the third drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Marcus, Hrishikesh V. Panchawagh
  • Publication number: 20130286109
    Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate, catcher, and monolithic liquid jetting structure including a nozzle and deflection mechanism. A liquid jet is ejected through the nozzle in a direction substantially parallel to a first surface of the substrate. The nozzle includes material layers formed on the first surface of the substrate. At least one of the material layers of the nozzle includes a drop forming mechanism actuated to form liquid drops from the liquid jet. The deflection mechanism is associated with the liquid jet and deflects portions of the liquid jet between first and second paths. The liquid drops formed from portions of the liquid jet following the first path and second path continue to follow the first path and second path, respectively. The catcher includes a liquid drop contact surface including a portion of the first surface of the substrate and collects liquid drops following the second path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang
  • Publication number: 20130286108
    Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate and monolithic liquid jetting structure including a nozzle, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The nozzle, through which a liquid jet is ejected in a direction substantially parallel to a first surface of the substrate, includes material layers formed on the first surface of the substrate. At least one of the material layers of the nozzle includes a drop forming mechanism actuated to form liquid drops from the liquid jet. The deflection mechanism is associated with the liquid jet and deflects portions of the liquid jet between first and second paths. Liquid drops formed from portions of the liquid jet following the first path and the second path continue to follow the first path and the second path, respectively. The catcher, including a material layer formed on the first surface of the substrate, collects liquid drops following one of the paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang
  • Publication number: 20130278682
    Abstract: A continuous inkjet method includes modulating a liquid jet having a wavelength ?, and causing first and second droplets to break off from the liquid jet and travel along a path. The second droplet has a break off length that is longer than the break off length of the first droplet. The first and second break off lengths have a difference of at least one wavelength ? in response to stimulation pulses. A charge differential is produced between the first and second droplets. The trajectories of the first and second droplets are caused to diverge so that one of the first and second droplets is collected and the other of the first and second droplets is deposited on a surface. A transition in droplet creation is identified between stimulation cycles that produce the first and second droplets. A skip cycle is introduced between the stimulation cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Piatt, Randy Lee Fagerquist
  • Patent number: 8465130
    Abstract: A printhead includes a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory, and a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow that interacts with the large volume drop and the small volume drop in a drop deflection zone such that at least the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory, the gas flow being provided by a gas flow source connected in fluid communication with a gas flow duct, the gas flow deflection system including a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure located between the gas flow source and the drop deflection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jinquan Xu, Joseph E. Yokajty, Todd R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8459775
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including: a head main body that has a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid, a rectifying plate that is disposed in a position away from the liquid ejecting surface on which the nozzle opening is opened and has an opening disposed in an area facing the nozzle opening, and an air stream generating unit that generates an air stream between the liquid ejecting surface and the rectifying plate along the surface direction of the liquid ejecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Kaieda, Shinichi Itaya
  • Publication number: 20130141492
    Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer has a line (69a) for venting at least some of the air that has been sucked along the gutter line (17), and a line (69b) for recirculating back to the printhead (25) at least some of the air that has been sucked down the gutter line (17). Preferably the relative proportions of vented air and recirculated air can be varied, so as to reduce solvent loss during normal operation but allow increased solvent loss if the ink is over-dilute. Preferably the air recirculated to the printhead is connected directly into the flow path from the gutter orifice to the source of gutter suction, without opening into the space containing the ink jet. This reduces the tendency of solvent in the recirculated air condense on the printhead electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Linx Printing Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Linx Printing Technologies Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8414111
    Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus is able to realize, with a simple electrode configuration, functions for both converging effects that cause charged particles to head towards a single axis as well as deflecting effects that change the orientation of the axis of convergence. This can improve droplet landing precision in a charge deflection continuous stream droplet ejection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Nakakubo
  • Patent number: 8398221
    Abstract: A method of printing provides liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a stationary porous surface is also provided. A liquid film is caused to flow over the stationary porous surface of the catcher using a liquid source. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism. The liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Comapny
    Inventors: Yonglin Xie, Qing Yang, Roger S. Kerr, Chang-Fang Hsu
  • Patent number: 8287089
    Abstract: A print head is provided in which influence on ink to be ejected from an ejection port by an air flow generated by ink previously ejected from the ejection port is suppressed evenly for respective ejection ports in the print head. A print head has an ejection port for ejecting ink. On an ejection port forming face formed with the ejection port, a projection projecting from the ejection port forming face is formed. The projection is arranged at a position where the distance from a center of the ejection port is within the maximum of a diameter of a vortex core of a vortex that is formed when liquid droplets are ejected in the case without a projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yumi Kimura, Ken Tsuchii, Hiroshi Arimizu, Shinji Kishikawa, Arihito Miyakoshi, Nobuhito Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8289570
    Abstract: A method relating to ascertaining and adjusting friction between media pages in a document feeder. The method includes: detecting slipping of a media page when traversing from a stack of media pages to passing through a path defined by the document feeder; and sending a signal to a fluid-containing cartridge to spray small drops of fluid onto the slipping media page soon after the slipping is detected while the media page passes through the document feeder. A system and apparatus are also associated with the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Troy Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120242759
    Abstract: A printhead includes a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory, and a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow that interacts with the large volume drop and the small volume drop in a drop deflection zone such that at least the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory, the gas flow being provided by a gas flow source connected in fluid communication with a gas flow duct, the gas flow deflection system including a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure located between the gas flow source and the drop deflection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Jinquan Xu, Joseph E. Yokajty, Todd R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8274691
    Abstract: A system and method for printing documents on a continuous web of printable material by merging document data with form information and formatting the merged result into a printable simplexed or duplexed lazy-portrait narrow-edge-to-narrow-edge page format and printing the merged result to produce simplexed or duplexed lazy-portrait narrow-edge-to-narrow-edge pages on the continuous web of printable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: DST Output
    Inventor: Frank W. Delfer
  • Patent number: 8226199
    Abstract: A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gilbert A. Hawkins, Michael J. Piatt, John C. Brazas, Stephen F. Pond