Eastman-kodak Company

Corning Incorporated

Zhanjun Gao

Jinquan Xu

Robert Fredric Mindler

Po-Jen Shih

Yonglin Xie

Edward P Furlani

Gilbert Allan Hawkins

Kam Chuen Ng

John F Corman

Alphonse D Camp

Chang-Fang Hsu

Mridula Nair

Debasis Majumdar

James Alan Katerberg

Guangli Hu

David Louis Jeanmaire

Yeh-Hung Lai

David John Nelson

William H Simpson

Todd Russell Griffin

John Charles Brazas, Jr

Joseph E Yokajty

Robert J Simon

YuanQiao Rao

Thomas Walter Steiner

Aparna V Bhave

Randolph Brost

Michael Frank Baumer

Roger A Fields

Eric J Connor

Bradley A Phillips

Michael S Hanchak

James Mazzarella

Theodore J Skomsky

Ralph Edward Truitt

Randolph Carl Brost

John Charles Brazas

Robert James Simon

Joseph Edward Yokajty

Bradley Allen Phillips

Methods and apparatus are provide for: a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, and an elastic modulus; and layer(s) having a thickness between first and second opposing surfaces thereof, the first surface of the layer contacting the second surface of the substrate, forming an interface. The layer may exhibit one or more of: a first elastic modulus proximate to the first surface thereof and a second elastic modulus proximate to the second surface thereof, the second elastic modulus being substantially higher than the elastic modulus value, the first elastic modulus being lower than the elastic modulus of the substrate, the second elastic modulus being higher than the elastic modulus of the substrate, and the layer exhibiting an increasing elastic modulus gradient through the thickness thereof from the first elastic modulus to the second elastic modulus.

Methods and apparatus providing a substrate having a coating with an elastic modulus gradient

A liquid dispenser includes first and second liquid chambers. The second liquid chamber is in fluid communication with liquid supply and liquid return channels. A flexible membrane separates and fluidically seals the first and second liquid chambers from each other. The flexible membrane, residing in a first position, includes a residual compressive stress that exceeds an onset buckling stress of the flexible membrane. A heater, associated with the second liquid chamber, is selectively actuated to create a pressure pulse in a liquid that causes the flexible membrane to move from the first position to a second position to eject liquid through a nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one embodiment, a liquid supply provides liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.

Liquid dispenser including passive pre-stressed flexible membrane

A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. The second chamber is in fluid communication with a liquid supply channel and a liquid return channel. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber from each other. The flexible membrane includes a bimorph actuator that causes the flexible membrane to move from a first position to a second position to eject liquid through the nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one example embodiment, a liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.

Liquid dispenser including active membrane actuator

A printhead includes a jetting module that forms liquid drops travelling along a first path. A deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path. A catcher includes a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source that causes a liquid film to exit the liquid outlet and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. The catcher is positioned relative to the first path such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.

Liquid film moving over solid catcher surface

A method of printing includes providing liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a liquid outlet, a stationary surface, and a liquid source is also provided. A liquid film provided by the liquid source is caused to exit the liquid outlet of the catcher and flow over the stationary surface of the catcher. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism such that the liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.

Printing using liquid film solid catcher surface

A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that guides the fluid; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by guiding the fluid using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Device for controlling direction of fluid

A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, a portion of the fluid control surface being moveable; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device by moving the moveable portion of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the fluid control surface such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device depending on the position of the moveable portion of the fluid control surface.

Device including moveable portion for controlling fluid

A device and a method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow velocity characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern that changes the velocity of the fluid; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow velocity characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Device for controlling fluid velocity

A device and method of controlling fluid flow are provided. The method includes providing a moving fluid including a fluid flow characteristic; providing a fluid control device including a fluid control surface, the fluid control surface including a pattern; causing the fluid to contact the fluid control surface of the fluid control device; and causing the fluid to interact with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device using the pattern of the fluid control surface that, when activated, causes adjacent fluid drops to merge or coalesce while the fluid is in contact with the pattern of the fluid control device such that the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid after interacting with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device is different from the fluid flow characteristic of the fluid before interaction with the fluid control surface of the fluid control device.

Device for merging fluid drops or jets

A printing system includes a liquid source including a liquid with the liquid including particles. An acoustic transducer is associated with the liquid source. A controller is operably associated with the acoustic transducer and is configured to actuate the acoustic transducer to generate a standing sound wave including a nodal point in the liquid such that the particles are caused to move toward the nodal point of the standing sound wave.

Printing system particle removal device and method

A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid flow device, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid flow device includes a first section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition and a second section comprising a plurality of sub-channels created by a partition. Each partition has a height as viewed from a wall of the fluid flow device. The height of the partition of the second section is less than the height of the partition of the first section. The fluid flow source is operable to produce a fluid flow through the fluid flow device. The fluid flow interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Continuous printing apparatus having improved deflector mechanism

A printing system and method of printing are provided. The system includes a liquid drop ejector operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a first fluid flow that interacts with the liquid drops to cause liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path. A fluid flow source is operable to produce a second fluid flow. The second fluid flow including a flow component substantially parallel to the first path.

Fluid flow device for a printing system

A printing system includes a source of liquid including a liquid outlet. The source of liquid includes a liquid with particles. A liquid vibrating mechanism is operably associated with the source of liquid. A controller is operably associated with the liquid vibrating mechanism. The controller is configured to control a desired direction of movement of the particles of the liquid by causing the liquid vibrating mechanism to vibrate the liquid with a non-symmetric energy such that movement of the particles is biased in the desired direction.

A printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow source. The liquid drop ejector is operable to form liquid drops having a plurality of volumes moving along a first path. The fluid passage includes a wall. A source of acoustic energy is associated with the wall. A fluid flow source is associated with the passage and is configured to provide a fluid flow through the passage. Interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.

Acoustic fluid flow device for printing system

A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Zhanjun Gao