Eastman-kodak Company

Charles F Faisst

Ravi Sharma

Todd Russell Griffin

John Andrew Lebens

Gilbert Allan Hawkins

Yonglin Xie

James Michael Chwalek

Gregory James Garbacz

Christopher Newell Delametter

Constantine N Anagnostopoulos

David Louis Jeanmaire

Timothy John Wojcik

Yung-Rai R Lee

Joseph R West

John Sechrist

A method of manufacturing a printhead includes providing a substrate and a filter membrane structure. A first portion of the substrate defines a plurality of nozzles and a second portion of the substrate defines a plurality of liquid chambers. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles. The filter membrane structure is adhered, for example, laminated, to the second portion of the substrate. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a distinct portion of the filter membrane structure. Pores are formed in the filter membrane structure using a photo-lithography process.

Method of manufacturing printhead including polymeric filter

A printhead includes a substrate, a filter membrane structure, and a liquid source. A first portion of the substrate defines a plurality of nozzles. A second portion of the substrate defines a plurality of liquid chambers. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles. The filter membrane structure is in contact with the second portion of the substrate. Each liquid chamber of the plurality of liquid chambers is in fluid communication with a distinct portion of the filter membrane structure. The filter membrane structure includes a polymeric material layer. The liquid source provides liquid under pressure through the filter membrane structure. The pressure is sufficient to jet an individual stream of the liquid through each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles after the liquid flows through the filter membrane structure.

Continuous printhead including polymeric filter

An apparatus for printing an image is provided. The apparatus includes an ink droplet forming mechanism operable to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes traveling along a first path. A droplet deflector is positioned at an angle with respect to the stream of ink droplets. The droplet deflector includes a gas flow operable to interact with the stream of ink droplets such that ink droplets having one of the plurality of volumes begin traveling along a second path and ink droplets having another of the plurality of volumes begin traveling along a third path. At least a portion of a catcher including a porous material is at least partially positioned in one of the first, second, and third paths.

Continuous ink-jet printing apparatus having an improved droplet deflector and catcher

A cleaning system for a continuous inkjet printer comprises a cleaning chamber positioned substantially parallel to an ink supply chamber and nozzle plate, and a gas supply, such as air or nitrogen. The cleaning chamber is formed by a cover and the nozzle plate, wherein the gas is routed between the cover and the nozzle plate so as to remove debris and excess ink from the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area. A fluid may also be applied in addition to the gas, and a deflector may be positioned on the cover to increase the angle of incidence of air and fluid as it contacts the inkjet nozzles and surrounding area.

Start-up and shut down of continuous inkjet print head

Methods are disclosed for fabricating page wide Drop-on-Demand and continuous ink printheads in which the nozzle array, the heaters, their drivers and data carrying circuits are all integrated on the same non-silicon and non-semiconducting substrate.

Page wide ink jet printing

An inkjet printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a source of ink and a printhead. The printhead includes an end nozzle and a second nozzle adjacent to the end nozzle. A portion of the printhead is shaped to balance forces acting on the ink ejected from the end nozzle.

Apparatus and method of balancing end jet forces in an ink jet printing system

A self-cleaning printer system ( ) with cleaning liquid ( ) and cleaning mechanism ( ) with a rotating disk cleaning assembly ( ) can be used to remove contaminants from a print head ( ) in the self-cleaning ink jet printer system ( ). A rotating disk cleaning assembly ( ) is disposed relative to the surface ( ) of a print head ( ) for directing a flow of cleaning liquid ( ) along the surface ( ) and to direct sliding contact of a disk ( ) to clean the contaminants from the surface ( ). The rotating disk cleaning assembly ( ) is configured to introduce cleaning liquid ( ) to the print head surface ( ) to facilitate and augment cleaning by the disk ( ). Flow of the cleaning liquid ( ) is facilitated by vacuum pump ( ) which directs cleaning liquid ( ) from a cleaning liquid reservoir ( ) to the rotating disk cleaning assembly ( ).

Rotating disk cleaning assembly apparatus and method for an ink jet print head with fixed gutter

A screen mesh ink drop catcher assembly, which is adapted to catch non-printed ink drops while not catching printed ink drops, includes a housing having a fluid return channel, and a screen extending from the housing operable to collect unwanted ink drops. The housing of the ink drop catcher assembly may include at least one surface, at least a portion of which is grooved and operatively associated with the screen thereby improving ink drop flow from the screen to the fluid return channel. The housing of the ink drop catcher assembly may include a screen support with the screen being at least partially positioned about the screen support. The screen support of the ink drop catcher assembly may include at least one surface, at least a portion of which is grooved and operatively associated with the screen thereby improving ink drop flow from the screen to the fluid return channel.

Screen mesh catcher for a continuous ink jet printer and method for making same

An ink jet printer with wiper blade cleaning mechanism, and method of cleaning. A print head surface includes a plurality of ink ejection orifices. A solvent delivering wiper has a first passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The first passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. The wiper also includes a plurality of wicking channels alignable with the surface and a second passageway in communication with the wicking channels. A vacuum pump is in communication with the second passageway for vacuuming the solvent and entrained contaminant from the surface, along the wicking channels and through the second passageway.

Ink jet printer and cleaning blade and method of cleaning

An ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism, and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A vacuum hood capable of sealingly surrounding at least one of the orifices has having a first passageway therethrough capable of being disposed in communication with the orifice for vacuuming contaminant from the ink channel by way of the orifice. A solvent delivering wiper is connected to the hood and has a second passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The second passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes contaminant from the surface. A vacuum canopy is connected to the wiper and has a third passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The canopy vacuums the solvent and entrained contaminant from the surface. Moreover, a piping circuit is associated with the print head for filtering the particulate matter from the solvent and for recirculating clean solvent to the surface of the print head.

Ink jet printer with cleaning mechanism and method of assembling same

A cleaning assembly ( ) for removing contaminants from the surface ( ) of an ink jet print head ( ) in a self-cleaning ink jet printer ( ). The print head ( ) defines a plurality of ink channels ( ) terminating in orifices ( ) with a surface ( ) surrounding the orifices ( ). A gutter ( ) is disposed opposite the print head surface ( ) for collecting ink droplets ( ) ejected from the orifices ( ). A cleaning assembly ( ) includes a cup ( ) defining a cavity ( ) with an open end ( ) adapted to make contact with the print head surface ( ). An inflow channel ( ) provides the entry pathway for cleaning liquid to flow into the cavity ( ) via a gap ( ). An outflow channel provides an exit pathway for the flow of cleaning liquid from cavity ( ). The inflow channel ( ) and outflow channel are arranged to direct the flow of cleaning liquid into the cavity ( ), over the print head surface ( ) and orifices ( ) so that contaminants are removed from the print head surface ( ) and orifices ( ).

Method and cleaning assembly for cleaning an ink jet print head in a self-cleaning ink jet printer system

A self-cleaning printer system ( ) with cleaning liquid supply ( ) and print head cleaning assembly ( ) and method of assembling a self-cleaning printer. The printer system ( ) comprises a print head ( ) defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in one or more ink ejection nozzles ( ). The print head ( ) also has a surface ( ) thereon surrounding all the nozzles ( ). Contaminant may reside on the surface ( ) and also may completely or partially obstruct one or more of the nozzles ( ). Therefore, the print head cleaning assembly ( ) includes a roller ( ) disposed relative to the surface ( ) and/or nozzles ( ) for cleaning the surface ( ) and/or the nozzles ( ). A cleaning assembly control ( ) directs sliding contact of the roller ( ) with the surface ( ) and/or nozzles ( ). The print head cleaning assembly ( ) is configured to introduce cleaning liquid ( ) to the print head surface ( ) to facilitate and augment cleaning by the roller ( ). In addition, the roller ( ) is combined with channels ( ) for delivery and suction of cleaning liquid ( ).

Print head cleaning assembly with roller and method for an ink jet print head with fixed gutter

An ink jet printer with wiper blade cleaning mechanism, and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head having a surface thereon surrounding a plurality of ink ejection orifices. The orifices are in communication with respective ones of a plurality of ink channels formed in the print head. A solvent delivering wiper has a first passageway therethrough alignable with the surface. The first passageway delivers a liquid solvent to the surface to flush contaminant from the surface. Contaminant residing on the surface is entrained in the solvent while the wiper flushes contaminant from the surface. The wiper also includes a plurality of wicking channels alignable with the surface and a second passageway in communication with the wicking channels. A vacuum pump is in communication with the second passageway for vacuuming the solvent and entrained contaminant from the surface, along the wicking channels and through the second passageway. Moreover, a piping circuit is associated with the print head for filtering the particulate matter from the solvent and for recirculating clean solvent into the first passageway and thus onto the surface of the print head.

Ink jet printer with wiper blade cleaning mechanism and method of assembling the printer

A self-cleaning printer system (,) with a cleaning liquid supply and a wiper blade assembly (,) includes a print head (,) defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection nozzle (,). The print head (,) also has a surface (,) thereon surrounding all the nozzles (,). The wiper blade assembly (,) is disposed relative to the surface (,) and/or nozzles (,) for directing a flow of cleaning liquid along the surface (,) and/or across the nozzles (,) and to direct sliding contact of a wiper blade (,) to clean a contaminant from the surface (,) and/or nozzles (,). The wiper blade assembly (,) is configured to introduce the cleaning liquid to the print head surface (,) to facilitate and augment cleaning by the wiper blade (,). In addition, the wiper blade (,) is combined with channels for delivery of the cleaning liquid and vacuum suction to remove cleaning liquid (,and,, respectively).

Growing community of inventors

Avon, NY, United States of America

Charles F Faisst