Eastman-kodak Company

Thomas E Kocher

Omid A Moghadam

Christopher Newell Delametter

Anthony R Lubinsky

David Erdtmann

Thomas W Martin

Alan R Pitt

Kwok L Yip

John C Boutet

Alexandra DiLauro Bermel

Apparatus calibrates a micro-array receiver. The apparatus includes a micro-array receiver including a substrate having coated a biologically active region with a composition including a first set of micro-spheres modified with a biological probe and containing an optical bar code generated from at least one colorant associated with the micro-spheres; and a calibration region associated with the substrate, the region being outside the biologically active region and having an area containing the optical bar code color.

Micro-array calibration means

An ink jet printing method of the steps: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with ink-receptive substrates; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition of from about 30 to about 90% by weight of water, from about 0.5 to about 30% by weight of a pigment, from about 0.125 to about 7.5% by weight of an anionic dispersant, from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight of an ethoxylated trimethylnonanol, and from about 10 to about 50% by weight of a humectant of a polyhydric alcohol; and D) printing on an ink-receptive substrate using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Ink jet printing method using a pigmented ink

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

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 ink jet ink composition comprising from about 30 to about 90% by weight of water, from about 0.5 to about 30% by weight of a pigment, from about 0.125 to about 7.5% by weight of an anionic dispersant, from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight of an ethoxylated trimethylnonanol, and from about 10 to about 50% by weight of a humectant comprising a polyhydric alcohol.

Additive for ink jet ink

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

A color ink jet ink set for color printing; comprising

Color pigmented ink jet ink set

Printhead container and method. The container comprises an enclosure surrounding a printhead body having an ink channel terminating in a nozzle orifice. The ink channel has ink therein. The enclosure is capable of being pressurized to a predetermined internal pressure. The internal pressure acts on the ink to retain the ink in the channel, so that the ink is prevented from flowing along the channel and through the orifice. A one-way valve is in communication with the interior of the enclosure for ingress of a pressurizing medium into the interior of the enclosure, while avoiding reverse flow through the valve in order to allow sustained pressurization of the enclosure. Moreover, a support frame disposed in the enclosure may be provided, the frame defining a well sized to matingly receive the printhead body for constraining movement of the printhead body during transport of the enclosure.

Printhead container and method

In a photothermographic laser imaging system including a laser printer for exposing photothermographic media to digital data, a thermal processor for thermally developing the exposed photothermographic media to render a visual image of the digital data and a densitometer for reading the density of the visual image, a method for establishing calibration of the system comprising the steps of: reading optimum thermal processing parameters including processor temperature from a bar code associated with unexposed photothermographic media; setting the thermal processor to operate at the read parameters; exposing a calibration media by the laser printer, the calibration media including a multiple step gray scale pattern including a minimum density step, D.sub.min, and an upper density step, D.sub.UDP ; reading with the densitometer the densities of the multiple step gray scale pattern from the developed calibration media; calculating a code value to optical density look-up-table from the read densities; and if the D.sub.min and D.sup.UDP values are within tolerances, using the calculated look-up-table to process successive media; but if the D.sub.min is greater than a predetermined value, adjusting the thermal processor temperature down, and if said D.sub.UDP is less than a predetermined value, adjusting the thermal processor temperature up.

Establishment of calibration of a photothermographic laser printer and

In a photothermographic laser imaging system including a laser printer for exposing photothermographic media to digital data, a thermal processor for thermally developing the exposed media to render a visual image of the digital data, and a densitometer for reading the density of the visual image; a method for maintaining calibration of the system comprising the steps of: exposing by means of the laser printer successful photothermographic media with digital data and simultaneously with the digital data, density patches on an edge of the media representing minimum density, D.sub.min, and mid density, D.sub.mid ; reading with the densitometer the D.sub.min and D.sub.mid density patches of successive media developed by the thermal processor for a predetermined number of media or over a predetermined interval; averaging the read D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values to obtain average D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values; comparing the averaged D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values with preferred D.sub.min and D.sub.mid values; and if the comparisons are within tolerances, determining that calibration is maintained, but if the averaged D.sub.min value is greater than the preferred D.sub.min value, adjusting the processing temperature of the thermal processor down, and/or if the averaged D.sub.mid value is less than the preferred D.sub.mid value, adjusting the processing temperature of the thermal processor up, or if the averaged D.sub.mid value is greater than the preferred D.sub.mid value, adjusting the processing temperature of the thermal processor down.

Maintenance of calibration of a photothermographic laser printer and

A laser film scanner scans film as it is translated in a substantially horizonally plane past a diffuse light collector. The light collector includes an elongated housing enclosing a collection cavity having a slot at its top through which light enters. The cavity has diffuse reflective surfaces to diffusely reflect light to a photodetector communicating with the cavity. Positioned opposite the slot is a slanted face from which light entering the cavity is directly reflected. The slanted face avoids streak artifacts in a detected image by permitting dirt particles falling through the slot to roll down to a lower region in the cavity. The slaned face may be formed from a removable insert of low adhesion fluorocarbon material to permit cleaning without disassembling the collector.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Thomas E Kocher