Eastman-kodak Company

Omid A Moghadam

John R Squilla

James D Allen

Gilbert Allan Hawkins

Thomas E Kocher

Christopher Newell Delametter

Ravi Sharma

Anthony R Lubinsky

John A Quenin

Michael E Meichle

Majid Rabbani

Stuart F Ring

Allen D Heberling

Dale Frederick McIntyre

David Louis Jeanmaire

Edward Weissberger

Walter S Stevens

Joseph P DiVincenzo

Donna M Romer

Kevin Arnold Townsend

A photographic system involves the collection of data from a scene, e.g., a visitor attraction site, that is capable of interactive communication with a user. The attraction site stores content data related to the site, and the user communicates with the attraction site through a camera capable of communication with the site. Besides capturing an image associated with the site, the camera stores predetermined personality data that relates an interest of the user to at least a portion of the content data and includes means for transferring the personality data to the attraction site. The camera further includes means for receiving and displaying the portion of the content data from the attraction site, and a user interface for selecting from the displayed content data that part which the user wants to keep. In this manner, information relevant to a user's interests about a photographed item can be easily requested, accessed and stored with the specific pictures that the user has captured.

Photographic system for enabling interactive communication between a camera and an attraction site

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

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

A photographic system involves the collection of data from a scene, e.g., a visitor attraction site, that is capable of interactive communication with a user. The attraction site stores content data related to the site, and the user communicates with the attraction site through a camera capable of conmmunication with the site. Besides capturing an image associated with the site, the camera stores predetermined personality data that relates an interest of the user to at least a portion of the content data and includes means for transferring the personality data to the attraction site. The camera further includes means for receiving and displaying the portion of the content data from the attraction site, and a user interface for selecting from the displayed content data that part which the user wants to keep. In this manner, information relevant to a user's interests about a photographed item can be easily requested, accessed and stored with the specific pictures that the user has captured.

Apparatus for separating a receiver from a micro-fluidic contact print head after ink image pixels have been printed by the print head on the receiver, including a print head having a plurality of ink channels for delivering ink to the receiver when the receiver is in ink transfer contact with the print head; including an air supply device and air plenum which are associated with each ink channel and defining an air channel for conducting air to the air plenum; and the apparatus is effective after the ink has been transferred from the plurality of ink channels to the receiver for causing air to be delivered from the air supply device to the air channel and into the air plenum to exert a pressure which causes the separation of the receiver from the print head.

Continuous tone microfluidic printing

An ink jet printer and method capable of forming a plurality of registration marks on a receiver and sensing the marks formed thereby. The method includes a print head for printing an image of predetermined length on the receiver. The receiver has an image area for receiving the image therein and a border area adjacent to the image area. A marker forms the plurality of registration marks in the border area, so that the marks extend the length of the image. In addition, a sensor is disposed in sensing relationship to the marks for sensing the marks. The invention provides a combination marker for marking a receiver and a sensor for sensing the marks so that each image line is in registration with other lines of the image. Also, use of the invention avoids need for costly precision motors to advance the receiver during printing of image lines.

Ink jet printer and method capable of forming a plurality of registration marks on a receiver and sensing the marks formed thereby

An apparatus for removing foam from an ink container of a printer including a nozzle disposed within the ink container such that the nozzle floats upon a surface of the ink located within the container. The nozzle contains a plurality of inlet channels located therein and an outlet communicating with the inlet channels. A vacuum source is coupled with the outlet of the nozzle to create a suction force within the inlet channels of the nozzle to remove foam located on the surface of the ink. As the level of the ink is depleted or added to the container, the nozzle remains on the surface of the ink and the foam is actively removed from the surface through the inlet channels.

Method and apparatus for foam removal in an ink container

Image answering apparatus comprising: an interface for connecting to a public telephone system; and memory for storing audio and image information received over the public telephone system.

Image answering machine

An imaging apparatus capable of inhibiting inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling same. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having the ink body disposed therein. The transducer is in fluid communication with the ink body for inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying voltage waveforms to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to otherwise inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets. Thus, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion and is connected to the transducer for inducing a second pressure wave in the ink body. The second pressure wave has an amplitude and phase damping the reflected portion of the first pressure wave in order to the inhibit inadvertent ejection of satellite ink droplets.

Imaging apparatus capable of inhibiting inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet therefrom and method of assembling same

An image forming method including a print head having plurality of micromachined ink channel pistons, and method of assembling the method and print head. The method comprises a piston for pressurizing an ink body so that an ink meniscus extends from the ink body. An ink droplet separator is also provided for lowering surface tension of the meniscus as the meniscus extends from the ink body. The extended meniscus severs from the ink body to form an ink droplet as the droplet separator lowers the surface tension to a predetermined value.

Image forming system including a print head having a plurality of ink channel pistons, and method of assembling the system and print head

Pagewidth image forming system and method. The system features a plurality of mechanically isolated transducers capable of pressurizing an ink body associated with each of plural nozzle so that an ink meniscus extends from the ink body. The transducers are operated such that the ink bodies are uniformily intermittently pressurized. An ink droplet separator is also provided for lowering surface tension of the meniscus. In this regard, the droplet separator lowers the surface tension of the meniscus at a selected nozzle as the meniscus extends from the ink body, so that the meniscus forms a neck portion thereof. The extended meniscus severs from the ink body at the neck portion as the droplet separator lowers the surface tension to a predetermined value so as to form an ink droplet.

Pagewidth image forming system and method

An imaging apparatus capable of suppressing inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling the apparatus. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having an ink body disposed therein. The transducer is capable of inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an intended ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying a voltage waveform to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body to eject the ink droplet. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets following ejection of the intended ink droplet. To avoid formation of satellite ink droplets, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion. A feedback circuit interconnects the transducer and the sensor for inducing a second pressure wave in the ink body in response to the reflected portion sensed by the sensor. The second pressure wave has an amplitude and phase damping the reflected portion of the first pressure wave in order to the suppress inadvertent ejection of the satellite ink droplets.

Imaging apparatus capable of suppressing inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet therefrom 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

A photographic and data communication system includes a camera used with a magnetic communication system in which information is stored on a magnetic medium external to the camera. The camera includes means for capturing an image, a magnetic read section for reading a magnetic signal from the magnetic medium, and a recording section for storing the magnetic signal in association with the image. More specifically, the camera is capable of receiving digital data through a magnetic recording head and saving received data along with the captured image. In case of a digital camera this extra information is stored in solid state memory on the camera. In case of a camera utilizing a film with magnetic tracks or regions, the received data is stored on the magnetic portion of the film. In case of a camera using regular film, the received information is stored on the camera in solid state memory to be downloaded later on. The invention is described in a tradeshow environment, although its use is not limited to such settings.

Photographic and data transmission system for capturing images and

Apparatus for separating a receiver from a micro-fluidic contact print head after ink image pixels have been printed by the print head on the receiver, including a print head having a plurality of ink channels for delivering ink to the receiver when the receiver is in ink transfer contact with the print head; air plenums which are associated with each ink channel and a member defining an air channel for conducting air to the air plenum; and the apparatus is effective after the ink has been transferred from the plurality of ink channels to the receiver for causing air to be delivered from the air channel into the air plenum to exert a pressure which causes the separation of the receiver from the print head.

Growing community of inventors

Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Omid A Moghadam