Eastman-kodak Company

David S Ross

John Andrew Lebens

Antonio Cabal

David P Trauernicht

Edward P Furlani

Stephen P Singer

Christopher Newell Delametter

Stephen F Pond

Gilbert Allan Hawkins

James Michael Chwalek

Louis Elbert Friedrich

Philip A Allway

Paul B Merkel

Ravi Sharma

Constantine N Anagnostopoulos

Pranab Bagchi

Jerrold N Poslusny

David B Bailey

John W Harder

Paul L Zengerle

Tienteh M Chen

Bernard A Clark

Drake M Michno

David A Steele

David P Hamblen

Janet N Younathan

Robert C Stewart

Richard K Rothrock

Christopher W Grote

Thierry G Vachette

Constance N Anagnostopoulos

This invention relates to a multilayer silver halide photographic element, generally processed with phenylenediamine based developer solutions, comprising a support bearing a cyan dye image-forming unit comprised of at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one cyan dye-forming coupler, a magenta dye image-forming unit comprising at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one magenta dye-forming coupler, and a yellow dye image-forming unit comprising at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith at least one yellow dye-forming coupler, wherein at least one layer additionally contains a 2-substituted-5-amino-1-napthol DIR according to Formula (I): wherein: It has been found that such 2-substituted-5-amino-1-napthol based DIRs have improved properties and can provide a conventional silver halide photographic element with excellent image structure and color reproduction.

Photographic material with improved development inhibitor releases

An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.

Tapered multi-layer thermal actuator and method of operating same

An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter for use in an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the baffler layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers.

A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device, for example, a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve, is disclosed. The snap-through actuator includes a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further includes apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.

Snap-through thermal actuator

A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device such as a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve is disclosed. The snap-through actuator is comprised of a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further comprises apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element. The deformable element initially bows farther outward in the first direction, then, due to thermomechanical torque's acting at the opposing anchor edges, reverses and snaps through the central plane to bow outward in a second direction toward the second layer, and then relaxes to the residual shape as the temperature decreases. The snap-through thermal actuator is configured with a liquid chamber having a nozzle, a fluid flow port to form a liquid drop emitter or a fluid control microvalve, or to activate an electrical microswitch. Heat pulses are applied to the deformable element by resistive heating or by light energy pulses.

A snap-through thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device is provided. The snap-through actuator includes a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges which define a central plane. A deformable element, attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges, is constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The deformable element is formed to have a residual shape bowing outward from the central plane in a first direction away from the second layer. The snap-through thermal actuator further includes apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element which causes a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element.

An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element including a thermo-mechanical bender portion extending from the base element to a free end tip. The thermo-mechanical bender portion includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers. The thermo-mechanical bender portion further has a base end and base end width, w , adjacent the base element, and a free end and free end width, w , adjacent the free end tip, wherein the base end width is substantially greater than the free end width. A first heater resistor is formed in the first deflector layer and adapted to apply heat energy having a first spatial thermal pattern which results in a first deflector layer base end temperature increase, &Dgr;T , that is greater than a first deflector layer free end temperature increase, &Dgr;T . A second heater resistor is formed in the second deflector layer and adapted to apply heat energy having a second spatial thermal pattern which results in a second deflector layer base end temperature increase, &Dgr;T that is greater than a second deflector layer free end temperature increase, &Dgr;T . Application of an electrical pulse to either the first or second heater resistors causes deflection of the cantilevered element, followed by restoration of the cantilevered element to an initial position as heat diffuses through the barrier layer and the cantilevered element reaches a uniform temperature. For liquid drop emitter embodiments, the thermal actuator resides in a liquid-filled chamber that includes a nozzle for ejecting liquid. Application of electrical pulses to the heater resistors is used to adjust the characteristics of liquid drop emission. The barrier layer exhibits a heat transfer time constant &tgr; . The thermal actuator is activated by a heat pulses of duration &tgr; wherein &tgr; <&frac12;&tgr; .

The invention provides a color negative photographic element comprising a light sensitive silver halide emulsion imaging layer having associated therewith a cyan dye-forming coupler dispersion comprising a first 2-ureido-5-acylamino substituted phenolic cyan dye-forming coupler &lsqb;P&rsqb;, a second phenolic cyan dye-forming coupler &lsqb;AP&rsqb; where the 2-substituent is other than an ureido group, a substantially non-color-developable phenolic activator compound &lsqb;ACT&rsqb;, and a non-phenolic organic coupler solvent having a boiling point of at least 150C; wherein compounds represented by &lsqb;P&rsqb;, &lsqb;AP&rsqb;, and &lsqb;ACT&rsqb; are present in the coupler dispersion in relative weight fractions of from 0.30 to 0.65 for &lsqb;P&rsqb;, from 0.15 to 0.35 for &lsqb;AP&rsqb;, and from 0.15 to 0.35 for &lsqb;ACT&rsqb;, provided the sum of the relative weight fractions for &lsqb;P&rsqb;&plus;&lsqb;AP&rsqb;&plus;&lsqb;ACT&rsqb;&equals;1, and the weight ratio of the non-phenolic coupler solvent in the coupler dispersion is from 0.30 to 2.0 relative to the sum of &lsqb;P&rsqb;&plus;&lsqb;AP&rsqb;&plus;&lsqb;ACT&rsqb;. Photographic elements incorporating the dispersion formulation of this invention provide good activity, a cyan dye of high density and acceptable absorption maximum for color negative films. In addition, partial substitution of less expensive cyan auxiliary phenolic coupler &lsqb;AP&rsqb; and activator &lsqb;ACT&rsqb; for cyan phenolic coupler &lsqb;P&rsqb; advantageously allows cost savings.

Cyan coupler dispersion with increased activity

An apparatus for a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator includes a base element and a cantilevered element extending from the base element a length L and normally residing at a first position before activation. The cantilevered element includes a layer constructed of an electrically resistive material, patterned to have a uniform resistor portion extending a length L, from the base element, wherein 0.3L&lE;L &lE;0.7L. The cantilevered element includes a second layer constructed of a dielectric material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion attached to the first layer. A pair of electrodes connected to the uniform resistor portion to apply an electrical pulse to cause resistive heating, resulting in a thermal expansion of the uniform resistor portion of the first layer relative to the second layer and deflection of the cantilevered element.

Thermal actuator with optimized heater length

An apparatus for and method of operating a thermal actuator for a micromechanical device, especially a liquid drop emitter such as an ink jet printhead, is disclosed. The disclosed thermal actuator comprises a base element and a cantilevered element extending a length L from a base element and normally residing at a first position before activation. The cantilevered element includes a barrier layer constructed of a dielectric material having low thermal conductivity, a first deflector layer constructed of a first electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion and patterned to have a first uniform resistor portion extending a length L from the base element, wherein 0.3L&lE;L &lE;0.7L, and a second deflector layer constructed of a second electrically resistive material having a large coefficient of thermal expansion and patterned to have a second uniform resistor portion extending a length L from the base element, wherein 0.3L&lE;L &lE;0.7L, and wherein the barrier layer is bonded between the first and second deflector layers. The thermal actuator further comprises a first pair of electrodes connected to the first uniform resistor portion and a second pair of electrodes is connected to the second uniform resistor portion for applying electrical pulses to cause resistive heating of the first or second deflector layers, resulting in thermal expansion of the first or second deflector layer relative to the other. Application of an electrical pulse to either pair of electrodes causes deflection of the cantilevered element away from its first position and, alternately, causes a positive or negative pressure in the liquid at the nozzle of a liquid drop emitter. Application of electrical pulses to the pairs of electrodes is used to adjust the characteristics of liquid drop emission. The barrier layer exhibits a heat transfer time constant &tgr; . The thermal actuator is activated by a heat pulses of duration &tgr; wherein &tgr; <&frac12; &tgr; .

Multi-layer thermal actuator with optimized heater length and method of operating same

Color photographic element containing speed-improving benzotriazole polymer

An ink jet printing apparatus and method for generating droplets of a printing liquid from a nozzle of an inkjet printhead features a temperature responsive vibrating beam constrained at both ends of the beam within or near a nozzle having an exit opening, the beam being continuously vibrated within the printing liquid in response to electrical pulsing applied to the beam so that the beam vibrates at a predetermined frequency and the beam is at a temperature that is characterized by frequency of vibration that is substantially at a local minimum point whereby minor excursions in temperature of the beam from the local minimum point temperature provides substantially minimal changes in frequency and amplitude of vibration of the beam. A heating element located at or near the exit outlet of the nozzle is selectively heated to provide a heat pulse to a meniscus of the printing liquid at the nozzle exit outlet to selectively control droplet formation and/or droplet direction leaving the printhead.

Beam micro-actuator with a tunable or stable amplitude particularly suited for ink jet printing

An apparatus and method for drying a receiver media ( ) in an ink jet printer. The apparatus generally comprises a means for creating a pressure differential between the upper surface ( ) and the lower surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ), wherein the pressure at the lower surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ) is lower than the pressure at the upper surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ). The pressure differential-creating means may include a vacuum pump ( ) adapted to generate a vacuum at the lower surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ) or an air pump ( ) adapted to pass air currents ( ) across the lower surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ) to cause a &ldquo;Bernoulli effect&rdquo;. The method generally comprises the steps of depositing ink droplets ( ) onto the upper surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ); and creating a pressure differential between the upper surface ( ) and the lower surface ( ) of the receiver media ( ), whereby carrier fluid contained in ink droplets ( ) is drawn through the receiver media ( ) from the upper surface ( ) to the lower surface ( ).

Apparatus and method for drying receiver media in an ink jet printer

Apparatus for controlling ink in an ink jet printer includes an ink delivery channel; a source of pressurized ink communicating with the ink delivery channel; a nozzle bore which opens into the ink delivery channel to establish an ink flow path, the nozzle bore defining a nozzle bore perimeter, inherent surface tension of pressurized ink in the nozzle bore forming an ink meniscus; and a selectively-actuated heater associated with the nozzle bore to cause a reduction in the surface tension of the ink when activated such that ink flows from the nozzle bore in a continuous stream substantially for the duration of activation of the heater only.

Growing community of inventors

Fairport, NY, United States of America

David S Ross