Eastman-Kodak Company

Scitex Digital Printing, Inc.

Randal L Mullins

Randy Dae Vandagriff

James D McCann

Russell L Bartley

David John Nelson

Joseph E Yokajty

Robert J Simon

Lawrence R Young

Michael S Hanchak

Gregory J Sexton

Brian D Bradley

Kevin P Egan

In an inkjet printhead using a gas flow, typically air, to deflect select drop into catch, gas flow (air) ducts are employed to direct the air across the drop trajectories. Improved air ducts include liquid flow channels in a wall of the air duct are provided to allow ink to be removed from the air duct without disrupting the air flow in the duct. A process for cleaning the air duct using the liquid flow channel is also provided.

Continuous printhead gas flow duct including drain

A print engine module for use with a remote print head is an integral unit having removable drawers and permanently installed drawers, each drawer containing a component of an ink jet printer. The removable drawers contain a fluid system unit, a charge power unit, a power supply unit, and a card cage unit. Also within the print engine module are two fixed components that are in drawers permanently attached to the print engine module cabinet. The permanent units include power distribution unit and a computer unit.

Four inch print engine module

A fluid system is usable with a four inch print head of a continuous ink jet printer. The fluid system controls all critical ink jet functions. The fluid functions electronically feedback-controlled by the fluid system include pressure control at the print head. The fluid system also controls ink temperature during startup and ink concentration. Finally, the fluid system controls vacuum level.

Four inch fluid system

An ink concentration sensor maintains ink concentration in an ink jet printing system. The ink concentration sensor includes a transparent fluid chamber and an infrared light source for directing a beam of IR light at the fluid chamber. A first sensor is located for receiving IR light reflected from the surface of the chamber and providing a reference signal and a second sensor is located for receiving IR light transmitted through the chamber to produce a concentration signal. A circuit receives the reference signal and generates a corrected concentration signal.

Ink concentration sensor for maintaining dye concentration in an ink jet

The detection system includes a cartridge having a first detection port for detecting the pressure condition in the top portion of the cartridge and a second detection port and tube for detecting the pressure condition in a bottom portion of the cartridge. The cooperative printer structure couples these ports to a pressure differential sensor that signals a printer refill condition.

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Jamestown, OH, United States of America

Randal L Mullins