Eastman-kodak Company

Michael E Meichle

Ravi Sharma

John A Quenin

Christopher Newell Delametter

Gilbert Allan Hawkins

Omid A Moghadam

Walter S Stevens

Steven C Dohmeier

Klaus-Dieter Bier

John M Noonan

Zhihao Yang

Clarke K Eastman

Michael G Fairchild

Jeffrey T Klaus

The present invention comprises a self-cleaning print head having an orifice plate defining an ink jet orifice, cleaning orifice and drain orifice. The orifice plate further defines an outer surface between the orifices. The print head has a source of pressurized cleaning fluid connected to the cleaning orifice and a fluid return connected to the drain orifice for storing used cleaning fluid. During cleaning operations, the source of pressurized cleaning fluid causes cleaning fluid to flow from the cleaning orifice, and the cleaning orifice directs the flow of cleaning fluid across the outer surface and the ink jet orifice and into the drain orifice.

Self-cleaning printer and print head and method for manufacturing same

A self-cleaning printer includes a print head having a surface that is susceptible to a contaminate build up. A cleaning liquid containing a concentration of macroscopic cleaning particles is flowed in frictive contact with the contaminate such that a combined effect of frictive force and hydrodynamic shearing force acting on the contaminate effectively removes the contaminate from the surface. Preferably, the cleaning particles are adapted to attach to the contaminate. They may include polymeric beads such as polystyrene spheres. The cleaning particles preferably have surfaces to which polymeric chains are attached, the polymeric chains having end groups which adhere to the contaminate.

Ink jet print head cleaning

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a print head comprises a print head body defining an interior chamber and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an outer surface and further defines a cleaning fluid orifice through the orifice plate for conducting a flow of a cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid orifice and onto an outer surface of said orifice plate. The orifice plate also defines a drain orifice for conducting a flow of cleaning fluid from the surface to the interior chamber. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is disposed in said cavity and connected to the cleaning fluid passageway. During cleaning operations, the fluid flow system defines a flow of a cleaning fluid from the passageway and onto said outer surface. The drain orifice receives cleaning fluid from the outer surface and channels the cleaning fluid into the fluid return.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer and print head with cleaning fluid flow system

Correction method for continuous ink jet print head

Self-cleaning printer having ultrasonics and method of assembling same for cleaning a print head surface and ink ejection orifices. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Particulate matter may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes an ultrasonic transducer in communication with the fluid for generating ultrasonic vibrations causing pressure waves within the fluid. Presence of the pressure waves induces a hydrodynamic force in the fluid. This force acts against the particulate matter to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. A pump is also provided for pumping the fluid from the surface and/or orifice as the surface and/or orifice is cleaned. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the particulate matter is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the particulate matter from the fluid.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer using ultrasonics and method of assembling same

A self-cleaning ink jet printer with oscillating septum and ultrasonics and method of assembling the printer. The printer has a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes an oscillatable septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to &ldquo;sweep&rdquo; the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. Also included is an ultrasonic transducer in communication with the fluid for generating a plurality of pressure waves in the fluid for dislodging the contaminant. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer with oscillating septum and ultrasonics and method of assembling the printer

Multi-fluidic cleaning for an ink jet print head (,) and a method for assembling the same. The print head (,) has a surface (,) defining at least one orifice (,) therethrough, the at least one orifice (,) being susceptible to being obstructed by contaminants. A cleaning assembly (,) of the invention is disposed proximate the surface (,) for directing a flow of fluid along the surface (,) and across the at least one orifice (,) to clean contaminants from the surface (,) and the at least one orifice (,). The cleaning assembly (,) includes a cup (,) sealingly surrounding the at least one orifice (,), the cup (,) defining a cavity (,) therein. The cleaning assembly (,) further includes a valve system (,) in fluid communication with the cavity (,) for allowing a fluid flow stream (,) consisting of alternating segments (,) of at least one liquid cleaning agent from a liquid cleaning agent source (,) and another element such as a gas from a gas source (,) or a second liquid cleaning agent from a liquid cleaning agent source (,) into the cavity (,).

Multi-fluidic cleaning for ink jet print heads

Self-cleaning printer with reverse fluid flow and ultrasonics and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes a septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid. In addition, a valve system in fluid communication with the gap is operable to direct flow of the fluid through the gap in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite the first direction to enhance cleaning effectiveness. Moreover, an ultrasonic transducer induces pressure waves in the fluid to dislodge the contaminant and thus clean the surface and/or orifice.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer having ultrasonics with reverse flow and method of assembling same

Self-cleaning printer system with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer system. The printer system comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes a septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid. In addition, a valve system in fluid communication with the gap is operable to direct flow of the fluid through the gap in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite the first direction to enhance cleaning effectiveness. Moreover, the print head itself has integral passageways formed therein for conducting the flow of fluid to the surface of the print head.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer system with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer system

Self-cleaning printer with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes an oscillatable septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the oscillatable septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer with oscillating septum and method of assembling the printer

Self-cleaning printer and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Particulate matter may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes a septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the particulate matter to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the particulate matter is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the particulate matter from the fluid.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer and method of assembling same

Self-cleaning printer with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes a septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid. In addition, a valve system in fluid communication with the gap is operable to direct flow of the fluid through the gap in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite the first direction to enhance cleaning effectiveness.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer with reverse fluid flow and method of

Method for correcting the length of marks and lands representing information taken from an optical disk is disclosed. The method includes digitizing amplified analog data having marks and lands played back from an optical disk and providing a data synchronization clock by using a phase lock loop (PLL). The method further includes providing an adjustment to a threshold signal level based upon the difference in timing position in mark and land edge marks with reference to the data synchronization clock and changing the data mark and land lengths with reference to the adjusted threshold signal.

Correcting recorded marks and land lengths taken from an optical disk

An optical recording system and method which provide verification of recorded data, while the data is being written onto an optical recording medium, by detecting the rate of change of a reflected write pulse. The system includes an optical source for supplying a intensity-modulated incident write signal, having at least one write pulse, to an optical recording medium. The write signal records a logic level of the data on the medium as a mark having a distinct reflectivity. An optical detector detects a reflection of the incident write signal from the medium to provide a reflected write signal which includes a reflected write pulse corresponding to the incident write pulse. The reflected write pulse has a rate of change resulting from a change in reflectivity of the optical medium as the mark is formed thereon. A mark formation effectiveness signal generator receives the reflected write signal and generates a mark formation effectiveness signal which estimates a normalized rate of change of the reflected pulse, to provide an indication of the quality of mark formation on the medium. Comparison means may be included for comparing the measured mark formation effectiveness signal with a predetermined range of acceptable rates of change in order to verify proper mark formation.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Michael E Meichle