Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080218552 | PRINTING SYSTEM PARTICLE REMOVAL DEVICE AND METHOD - A printing system includes a source of liquid including a liquid outlet. The source of liquid includes a liquid with particles. A liquid vibrating mechanism is operably associated with the source of liquid. A controller is operably associated with the liquid vibrating mechanism. The controller is configured to control a desired direction of movement of the particles of the liquid by causing the liquid vibrating mechanism to vibrate the liquid with a non-symmetric energy such that movement of the particles is biased in the desired direction. | 09-11-2008 |
20080278547 | CONTINUOUS PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING IMPROVED DEFLECTOR MECHANISM - A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid flow device, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid flow device includes a first section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition and a second section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition. Each partition has a height as viewed from a wall of the fluid flow device. The height of the partition of the second section is less than the height of the partition of the first section. The fluid flow source is operable to produce a fluid flow through the fluid flow device. The fluid flow interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278548 | PRINTER HAVING IMPROVED GAS FLOW DROP DEFLECTION - A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278549 | PRINTER DEFLECTOR MECHANISM INCLUDING LIQUID FLOW - A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path and a passage including a wall. A gas flow source is operable to cause a gas to flow in a direction through the passage. A liquid flow source is operable to cause a liquid to flow in a direction along the wall of the passage with the flow direction of the liquid being in the same direction as that of the gas flow. Interaction of the gas flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278550 | FLUID FLOW DEVICE FOR A PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system and method of printing are provided. The system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a first fluid flow that interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a second fluid flow. The second fluid flow including a flow component substantially parallel to the first path. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278551 | FLUID FLOW DEVICE AND PRINTING SYSTEM - A fluid flow device, a method of moving fluid, and a printing system incorporating the device are provided. The fluid flow device includes a passage for a fluid including a wall with the wall having a travel path. A fluid flow source is operable to cause the fluid to flow in a direction through the passage. The travel path of the wall is in the same direction as that of the fluid flow. | 11-13-2008 |
20090002446 | ACOUSTIC FLUID FLOW DEVICE FOR PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to form liquid drops having a plurality of volumes moving along a first path. The fluid passage includes a wall. A source of acoustic energy is associated with the wall. A fluid flow source is associated with the passage and is configured to provide a fluid flow through the passage. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002463 | PERFORATED FLUID FLOW DEVICE FOR PRINTING SYSTEM - A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid passage includes a wall with the wall including a perforated portion. A fluid flow source is operable to cause the fluid to flow through the passage along the perforated portion of the wall. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. | 01-01-2009 |
20090021567 | PRINTING SYSTEM PARTICLE REMOVAL DEVICE AND METHOD - A printing system includes a liquid source including a liquid with the liquid including particles. An acoustic transducer is associated with the liquid source. A controller is operably associated with the acoustic transducer and is configured to actuate the acoustic transducer to generate a standing sound wave including a nodal point in the liquid such that the particles are caused to move toward the nodal point of the standing sound wave. | 01-22-2009 |
20090091605 | PRINTER INCLUDING OSCILLATORY FLUID FLOW DEVICE - A method and printing system are provided. The printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid passage includes a wall. The fluid flow source is operable to cause fluid to flow in a direction through the passage. A vibrating mechanism is operably associated with the wall of the fluid passage and is configured to vibrate the wall of the fluid passage. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. | 04-09-2009 |
20090102896 | PRINTER INCLUDING TEMPERATURE GRADIENT FLUID FLOW DEVICE - A method and printing system are provided. The printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid passage includes a temperature gradient in the passage. The fluid flow source is operable to cause a fluid to flow in a direction through the passage, wherein interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. | 04-23-2009 |
20100053270 | PRINTHEAD HAVING CONVERGING DIVERGING NOZZLE SHAPE - A printhead includes a nozzle plate and a nozzle bore located in the nozzle plate. In one embodiment, the nozzle bore includes a first section, a second section, and a third section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the nozzle plate. The first section and the second section are spaced apart from each other by the third section. The first section includes a converging area portion and the second section includes a diverging area portion. In another embodiment, the first section and the second section of the nozzle bore are adjacent to each other. The first section includes a converging area portion and the second section includes a diverging area portion. The diverging area portion and the converging area portion are asymmetrical relative to each other when viewed along the plane perpendicular to the nozzle plate. | 03-04-2010 |
20100258195 | DEVICE INCLUDING MOVEABLE PORTION FOR CONTROLLING FLUID - A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, a portion of the fluid control surface being moveable; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by moving the moveable portion of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the fluid control surface such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device depending on the position of the moveable portion of the fluid control surface. | 10-14-2010 |
20100258205 | INTERACTION OF DEVICE AND FLUID USING FORCE - A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface; providing a mechanism applies a force to the fluid to cause the fluid to temporarily contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the mechanism such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259584 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DIRECTION OF FLUID - A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that guides the fluid; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by guiding the fluid using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259585 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING FLUID VELOCITY - A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow velocity characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that changes the velocity of the fluid; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259586 | DEVICE FOR MERGING FLUID DROPS OR JETS - A device and method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface that, when activated, causes adjacent fluid drops to merge or coalesce while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device. | 10-14-2010 |
20120026259 | LIQUID FILM MOVING OVER SOLID CATCHER SURFACE - A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A catcher includes a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source that causes a liquid film to exit the liquid outlet and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. The catcher is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film. | 02-02-2012 |
20120026260 | PRINTING USING LIQUID FILM SOLID CATCHER SURFACE - A method of printing includes providing liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source is also provided. A liquid film provided by the liquid source is caused to exit the liquid outlet of the catcher and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film. | 02-02-2012 |
20140022307 | LIQUID DISPENSER INCLUDING ACTIVE MEMBRANE ACTUATOR - A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. The second chamber is in fluid communication with a liquid supply channel and a liquid return channel. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber from each other. The flexible membrane includes a bimorph actuator that causes the flexible membrane to move from a first position to a second position to eject liquid through the nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one example embodiment, a liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022313 | LIQUID DISPENSER INCLUDING ASYMMETRIC NOZZLE ACTUATOR CONFIGURATION - A liquid dispenser includes first and second liquid chambers. The first chamber includes a nozzle having a center axis. The second chamber is in fluid communication with liquid supply and return channels. A flexible membrane separates and fluidically seals the first and second chamber. A heater, associated with the second chamber, includes a center point and is selectively actuated to create a pressure pulse in a liquid that causes the flexible membrane to move from a first position to a second position to eject liquid through the nozzle of the first chamber. The center point of the heater is located off of the center axis of the nozzle. In one embodiment, a liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the supply through the liquid supply channel through the second chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the supply during a drop dispensing operation. | 01-23-2014 |
20150037554 | Methods and Apparatus Providing a Substrate Having a Coating with an Elastic Modulus Gradient - Methods and apparatus are provide for: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, and an elastic modulus; and layer(s) having a thickness between first and second opposing surfaces thereof, the first surface of the layer contacting the second surface of the substrate, forming an interface. The layer may exhibit one or more of: a first elastic modulus proximate to the first surface thereof and a second elastic modulus proximate to the second surface thereof, the second elastic modulus being substantially higher than the elastic modulus value, the first elastic modulus being lower than the elastic modulus of the substrate, the second elastic modulus being higher than the elastic modulus of the substrate, and the layer exhibiting an increasing elastic modulus gradient through the thickness thereof from the first elastic modulus to the second elastic modulus. | 02-05-2015 |