Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080218562 | DROP DEFLECTION SELECTABLE VIA JET STEERING - A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid stream generator, an electrode system, and a stream deflector. The liquid stream generator includes a nozzle and is operable to produce a stream of liquid through the nozzle. The electrode system is operable to produce an electric field including a first region having a first magnitude and a second region having a second magnitude. The stream deflector is operable to selectively cause the stream to move into one of the first region and the second region. | 09-11-2008 |
20090027459 | INK JET BREAK-OFF LENGTH MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD - 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. Jet stimulation apparatus comprising a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of nozzles and adapted to transfer pulses of energy to the liquid sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes is also disclosed. Methods of measuring the jet break-off length using phase sensitive amplification circuitry are disclosed. | 01-29-2009 |
20090031579 | MICRO-STRUCTURED DRYING FOR INKJET PRINTERS - A dryer operable in close proximity to and in series with an inkjet printhead comprises a heat source and an air bearing structure on one side of the predetermined path and having a pressurized air inlet and an air outlet adjacent to the drying position of the receiver medium. Air flow from the air bearing structure outlet forms an air bearing for the receiver medium. A microporous filter positioned at the outlet and being adapted to convert the air flow from the outlet to a diffuse flow, the microporous filter being formed of an inner layer of very fine screen for optimum air diffusion and an outer layer of courser woven screen to add rigidity and protection from scuffing. | 02-05-2009 |
20090135223 | LIQUID DROP DISPENSER WITH MOVABLE DEFLECTOR - A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid supply adapted to feed a stream of liquid through the supply channel, a liquid return channel adapted to receive liquid from the supply channel, a liquid dispensing outlet opening, and a diverter member selectively movable into the supply channel to divert droplets to the dispensing outlet opening. The liquid flows from the liquid supply channel to the liquid return channel by Coanda effect when not diverted. The motion of the diverter member is substantially orthogonal to and opposes the direction of liquid flow, so that energy associated with moving the diverter member imparts no energy to the diverted droplets. The energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 100 nJ per pL droplet volume. In some embodiments, the energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 10 nJ per pL droplet volume. | 05-28-2009 |
20090195612 | LIQUID DROP DISPENSER WITH MOVABLE DEFLECTOR - A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid supply adapted to feed a stream of liquid through the supply channel, a liquid return channel adapted to receive liquid from the supply channel, a liquid dispensing outlet opening, and a diverter member forming at least a portion of a wall of the liquid supply channel, said diverter member being selectively movable to form a convex surface along which liquid remains attached, thereby to divert droplets from the supply channel through the dispensing outlet opening. The motion of the diverter member is substantially orthogonal to the direction of liquid flow, so that energy associated with moving the diverter member imparts no energy to the diverted droplets. The energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 100 nJ per pL droplet volume. | 08-06-2009 |
20100033542 | CONTINUOUS INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SELECTIVE DEFLECTION OF DROPLETS FORMED FROM TWO DIFFERENT BREAK OFF LENGTHS - A continuous inkjet system and method has a stimulation device producing a modulation in a liquid jet having a wavelength λ and causing a first liquid droplet to break off from the liquid jet and travel along a path and causing a second liquid droplet to break off from the liquid jet and travel along the path. The first liquid droplet has a first break off length and the second liquid droplet has a second break off length longer than the first break off length. The first break off length and the second break off length have a difference of at least one wavelength λ in response to stimulation pulses. A charge electrode produces a charge differential between the first liquid droplet and the second liquid droplet, and a deflection mechanism causes trajectories of the first liquid droplet and the second liquid droplet to diverge so that a trajectory of one droplet of the first and second liquid droplets causes the one droplet to be directed for collection and prevented from depositing on the surface and a trajectory of the other droplet of the first and second liquid droplets causes the other droplet to be directed for depositing on the surface. A stimulation controller identifies a transition in droplet creation between a stimulation cycle that is to produce a droplet having a second break off length and a stimulation cycle that is to produce a droplet having a first break off length and introduces a skip cycle between the stimulation cycle that is to produce the droplet having a second break off length and the stimulation cycle that is to produce the droplet having the first break off length. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033543 | CONTINUOUS INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SELECTIVE DEFLECTION OF DROPLETS FORMED DURING DIFFERENT PHASES OF A COMMON CHARGE ELECTRODE - A continuous inkjet system includes a plurality of nozzles producing a respective liquid jet through each nozzle. A stimulation device at each nozzle is responsive to different types of stimulation signals to produce a modulation in the respective liquid jet to selectively control droplet break off relative to phases of the cycle of a varying voltage source that is connected to a charge electrode. The break off phase of a droplet relative to the voltage phase of the voltage source will determine whether the droplet is charged or not charged. Droplets that become charged may be deflected from their paths and a deflection mechanism including the charge electrode determines which droplets are allowed to reach a surface for say printing and which droplets are collected and not deposited upon the surface. | 02-11-2010 |
20100118071 | CONTINUOUS INK JET APPARATUS AND METHOD USING A PLURALITY OF BREAK-OFF TIMES - A continuous liquid drop emission apparatus is disclosed comprising a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with a plurality of nozzles formed in a common nozzle member for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid. A jet stimulation apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of nozzles and adapted to transfer energy to the liquid in corresponding flow communication with the plurality of nozzles sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid at a plurality of predetermined break-off times into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes. Sensing apparatus is provided adapted to measure a characteristic value for each of the plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes; and control apparatus is adapted to provide a plurality of break-off time setting signals to the jet stimulation apparatus to cause the plurality of predetermined break-off times determined, at least, by the characteristic value of each of the plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes. Alternately, a sensing apparatus is used in an off-line calibration set-up and characteristic values are measured for the plurality of streams and stored in a stream memory that is included in the continuous liquid drop apparatus. The present inventions are also configured to provide a plurality of the break-off times for a plurality of liquid streams in a continuous liquid drop emission apparatus that is further adapted to inductively charge at least one drop in a each of a plurality of streams and having electric field deflection apparatus adapted to generate a Coulomb force on an inductively charged drop. Methods of operating a continuous liquid drop emission apparatus utilizing a plurality of predetermined break-off times are disclosed. | 05-13-2010 |
20100271436 | PRINTHEAD WITH LIQUID FLOW THROUGH DEVICE - A liquid drop ejector is disclosed including a nozzle structure and a thermal actuator. The nozzle structure includes a nozzle and a wall. The nozzle includes an end and the wall extends from the end of the nozzle. The thermal actuator is associated with at least one of the nozzle and the wall, and is operable to add surface energy to at least one of the nozzle and the wall to cause a directional change in a liquid flowing through the nozzle structure. | 10-28-2010 |
20100328403 | LIQUID DIVERTER FOR FLOW THROUGH DROP DISPENSER - A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A selectively actuatable diverter member imparts heat energy directly to a first portion of the liquid to divert a second portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel. | 12-30-2010 |
20110109698 | LIQUID DROP DISPENSER WITH MOVABLE DEFLECTOR - A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel and a liquid ejector channel that includes an outlet opening. A liquid supply provides a flow of a pressurized liquid through the liquid ejector channel from the liquid supply channel. The pressurized liquid has a momentum as the liquid moves through the liquid ejector channel. A liquid return channel receives the liquid after the liquid passes through the liquid ejector channel. A diverter member forms at least a portion of a wall of the liquid ejector channel. A portion of the diverter member is selectively movable away from the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel. The momentum of the liquid causes some of the liquid to be diverted through the outlet opening when the portion of the diverter member is moved away from the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109699 | LIQUID DROP DISPENSER WITH MOVABLE DEFLECTOR - A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel and a liquid ejector channel that includes an outlet opening. A liquid supply provides a flow of a pressurized liquid through the liquid ejector channel from the liquid supply channel. The pressurized liquid has a momentum as the liquid moves through the liquid ejector channel. A liquid return channel receives the liquid after the liquid passes through the liquid ejector channel. A diverter member forms at least a portion of a wall of the liquid ejector channel. A portion of the diverter member is selectively movable into the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel. The momentum of the liquid causes some of the liquid to be diverted through the outlet opening when the portion of the diverter member is moved into the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel. | 05-12-2011 |
20120223117 | WEB MEDIA MOVING METHOD - A method of moving a continuous web of print media includes providing a roller having an axis of rotation. The roller includes a pattern of recesses and ridges positioned along the axis of rotation of the roller. A second section of the roller is located between a first section of the roller and a third section of the roller as viewed along the axis of rotation. The roller includes a profile as viewed along the axis of rotation in which the diameter of the ridges located in the first section of the roller and the diameter of ridges located in the third section of the roller are greater than the diameter of the ridges located in the second section of the roller. A web of print media is caused to contact and wrap around a portion of the roller as the web of print media moves past the roller. | 09-06-2012 |
20120223118 | WEB MEDIA MOVING APPARATUS - An apparatus for moving a continuous web of print media includes a roller having an axis of rotation. The roller includes a pattern of recesses and ridges positioned along the axis of rotation of the roller. A second section of the roller is located between a first section of the roller and a third section of the roller as viewed along the axis of rotation. The roller includes a profile as viewed along the axis of rotation in which the diameter of the ridges located in the first section of the roller and the diameter of ridges located in the third section of the roller are greater than the diameter of the ridges located in the second section of the roller. | 09-06-2012 |
20120224009 | PRINTING SYSTEM INCLUDING WEB MEDIA MOVING APPARATUS - A digital printing system for printing on a continuous web of print media includes a printhead configured to selectively moisten at least a portion of the web of print media as the web of print media is guided through the printing system. A roller, positioned downstream from the printhead, contacts the print media and causes the print media to wrap around a portion of the roller as the print media moves past the roller. The roller, having an axis of rotation, includes a pattern of recesses and ridges positioned along the axis of rotation of the roller. A second section of the roller is located between a first section of the roller and a third section of the roller as viewed along the axis of rotation. The roller includes a profile as viewed along the axis of rotation in which the diameter of the ridges located in the first section of the roller and the diameter of ridges located in the third section of the roller are greater than the diameter of the ridges located in the second section of the roller. | 09-06-2012 |
20120224010 | PRINTING METHOD INCLUDING WEB MEDIA MOVING APPARATUS - A method of printing includes providing a printhead and providing a roller positioned downstream from the printhead. The printhead is used to selectively moisten at least a portion of the web of print media as the web of print media is guided through the printing system. The print media is caused to contact and wrap around a portion of the roller as the print media moves past the roller. The roller, having an axis of rotation, includes a pattern of recesses and ridges positioned along the axis of rotation of the roller. A second section of the roller is located between a first section of the roller and a third section of the roller as viewed along the axis of rotation. The roller includes a profile as viewed along the axis of rotation in which the diameter of the ridges located in the first section of the roller and the diameter of ridges located in the third section of the roller are greater than the diameter of the ridges located in the second section of the roller. | 09-06-2012 |
20130321544 | VACUUM PULLDOWN OF A PRINT MEDIA IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system includes one or more lineheads disposed opposite a first side of a print media and at least one vacuum assembly having a vacuum manifold disposed opposite a second side of the print media. The linehead or lineheads has one or more print zones where a liquid or ink is deposited onto the first side of the print media. The vacuum manifold is aligned with a non-print zone of each linehead and outputs a vacuum force proximate to the second side of the print media such that at least a portion of the second side of the print media is deflected away from the lineheads. The printing system can also include another component, such as a dryer, disposed over the print media and laterally adjacent to the linehead. Another vacuum manifold can be disposed adjacent to the second side print media between the linehead and the component. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321545 | VACUUM PULLDOWN OF A PRINT MEDIA IN A PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system includes one or more lineheads disposed opposite a first side of a print media and at least one vacuum assembly having a vacuum manifold disposed opposite a second side of the print media. The linehead or lineheads has one or more print zones where a liquid or ink is deposited onto the first side of the print media. The vacuum manifold is aligned with a non-print zone of each linehead and outputs a vacuum force proximate to the second side of the print media such that at least a portion of the second side of the print media is deflected away from the lineheads. The printing system can also include another component, such as a dryer, disposed over the print media and laterally adjacent to the linehead. Another vacuum manifold can be disposed adjacent to the second side print media between the linehead and the component. | 12-05-2013 |
20140085390 | VACUUM PULLDOWN OF WEB IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - According to the present invention, a printing system adapted to print on a print side of a print media is disclosed. The printing system comprises one or more vacuum assemblies. Each vacuum assembly has a vacuum manifold disposed opposite a non-print side of the print media. Each vacuum manifold has an opening proximate to the non-print side of the print media and produces a vacuum that pulls the print media towards the vacuum manifold as the print media is moved through the printing system. The vacuum manifold further includes a plurality of edge seals. Each of the edge seals includes a channel for vacuum to be applied to the non-print side of the print media, the channel having at least one opening formed in a print media contact surface of the edge seal connected to at least one opening formed in a side surface of the edge seal. | 03-27-2014 |
20140204137 | PRINTHEAD COLOR DENSITY CORRECTION IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - A method for color density correction in a printing system that includes a linehead, with one or more printheads, that jets ink onto a moving print media and an integrated imaging system that captures images of content printed on the moving print media is provided. One or more pixel data values and a measured density value trace for a printed test block are produced by scanning the test block and averaging pixel data in a print media transport direction. A color and a density of the ink in the printed test block are determined using the pixel data values. The measured density value trace is compared with a respective reference density value. It is determined whether there is a difference between the measured density value trace and a reference density value is determined. If there is a difference, ink laydown for the printhead is adjusted based on the difference. | 07-24-2014 |
20140204147 | PRINTHEAD COLOR DENSITY CORRECTION IN PRINTING SYSTEMS - A printing system includes a linehead that jets ink onto a moving print media to print a test block and an integrated imaging system positioned downstream of the linehead with respect to a media transport direction. The integrated imaging system includes an opening in a housing for receiving light reflected from a moving print media. A folded optical assembly in the housing receives the reflected light and transmits the light a distance. One or more image sensors, having known color filter arrays, within the housing each receive the light and capture one or more images of the printed test block. An image processing device is connected to the integrated imaging system for receiving pixel data from the one or more image sensors and configured to determine a color of the ink and a density of the printed test block using the pixel data. | 07-24-2014 |
20150035893 | MEDIA-TRACKING SYSTEM USING MARKING LASER - A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A laser provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark. A sensor at a downstream position along the media path is adapted to sense the reference mark providing a sensed signal. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark. | 02-05-2015 |