Xerox Corporation

Palo Alto Research Center Inc.

David Alan Tence

Terrance Lee Stephens

John Richard Andrews

Ryan J Evens

Jeffrey J Folkins

David Lyell Knierim

Steven E Ready

Yeqing Zhang

Christine Ann Steurrys

Matthew D Savoy

James D Buehler

David B Tait

An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each of the single jet elements includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, and a channel for receiving ink, the channeling including a recirculation portion configured to receive ink during a non-jetting event. The print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation portion of the channel. The ink flows from the inlet portion to the second outlet portion during non-jetting through the second outlet portion.

Single jet recirculation in an inkjet print head

An inkjet print head including a plurality of single jet elements. Each single jet element includes an aperture configured to eject ink during a jetting event, a channel for receiving ink. The inkjet print head also includes a first manifold structured to supply ink to the channel; and a plurality of recirculation paths. Each recirculation path configured to receive ink during the jetting event and a non-jetting event. Each recirculation path includes a recirculation channel connected to the channel for receiving ink, the recirculation channel is formed by half-etching one of the steel plates that forms part of the each of the single jet elements and the recirculation paths, and a second manifold structured to receive ink from the recirculation channel. The ink flows from the first manifold to the second manifold through each of the plurality of single jet elements and the recirculation paths during a non-jetting event.

An optical sensor enables a level of reflective fluid to be detected. The optical sensor includes a prism mounted at one end of a housing. The prism has an exterior surface that is parallel to the end of the housing and a width that corresponds to a width of the end of the housing. A photoemitter and a photodetector are mounted at another end of the housing to enable light emitted by the photoemitter to be reflected by the prism when the prism contacts reflective fluid and to enable light emitted by the photoemitter to pass out of the sensor when the prism is in contact with air.

Optical level sensor for reflective liquids

Systems and methods for sensing degradation of a piezoelectric actuator in a print head. One or more electrical pulses may be transmitted to the piezoelectric actuator that cause the piezoelectric actuator to bend, thereby creating a pressure wave. The pressure wave may be sensed and converted into an electrical signal. The electrical signal may be compared to a reference signal.

Method of sensing degradation of piezoelectric actuators

A method of operating a printer enables the mass of the ink drops ejected by the printheads in the printer to maintained in an optimal range without measuring the drop mass being ejected by the inkjets in the printheads. After calibration of the printheads, the printheads are operated with electrical signals having different peak-to-peak voltages. The number of inoperable inkjets for each printhead is determined from image data of the ejected ink on the image receiving member and the number of inoperable inkjets for each printhead is compared to a predetermined threshold. The peak-to-peak voltage for the electrical signals used to operate a printhead is adjusted with reference to the number of inoperable inkjets and the predetermined threshold.

Method and system for adjusting printhead voltage parameters in an inkjet printer

A method of assembly produces a printhead having a polymer aperture plate and outlet plate that are at least 25 mm in length. The method includes bonding the polymer aperture plate to the outlet plate, which is configured with outlets. A laser is aligned with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate and the outlet plate is bonded to an inkjet stack to couple the outlets in the outlet plate to pressure chambers in a body plate in the inkjet stack.

Method for assembling a printhead having an inkjet ejector with a polymer aperture plate attached to an outlet plate

A method forms apertures in a polymer aperture plate configured for use in a piezoelectric print head. The method includes bonding a polymer aperture plate to an outlet plate configured with outlets, and aligning a laser with the outlets in the outlet plate to ablate apertures in the polymer aperture plate that are aligned with the outlets.

Growing community of inventors

Tualatin, OR, United States of America

David Alan Tence