The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 27, 2014

Filed:

Jul. 19, 2012
Applicants:

Zhanjun Gao, Rochester, NY (US);

Yonglin Xie, Pittsford, NY (US);

Inventors:

Zhanjun Gao, Rochester, NY (US);

Yonglin Xie, Pittsford, NY (US);

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/05 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

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.


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