Abstract:
A method for identifying an angle of roll for a multi-nozzle extruder includes moving the extruder in a first process direction to form a first set of swaths of extrusion material using two nozzles in the extruder and moving the extruder in a second process direction to form a second set of swaths of extrusion material. The method further includes identifying a location of one nozzle relative to the other nozzle in two dimensions based on cross-process direction distances between the first and second sets of swaths and identifying the angle of extruder roll for the extruder based on the location of the one nozzle and a predetermined geometry of the extruder.
Abstract:
A print head includes a substrate having a hole, a circuit on the substrate, the circuit having traces and a hole corresponding to the hole in the substrate, the hole forming a fluid path, and a raised structure on the substrate around the fluid path, the raised structure positioned to seal the circuit from the fluid path.
Abstract:
A three-dimensional object printing system improves the interlayer adhesion of an object. The printing system includes a platform on which a three-dimensional object is built. A material applicator in the printing system expels material to form layers of the object on the platform. The material applicator also includes a heater configured to heat the layer of the object ahead of the material applicator when the material applicator moves in a first direction and a second direction, both directions being parallel to the platform.
Abstract:
An apparatus for a piezoelectric ink-jet printhead is disclosed. Piezoelectric printheads, while more expensive are favored because they use a wider variety of inks. The piezoelectric printhead includes a plurality of ink ejectors with a nozzle, an ink chamber, at least one body chamber, at least one diaphragm material, and a top electrode. The diaphragm material consists of a foil with built up piezoelectric material. The deflection of the diaphragm on the body chamber contributes to a pressure pulse that is used to eject a drop of liquid from the nozzle. According to an exemplary embodiment disclosed, a thin-film piezoelectric printhead uses existing low-cost adhesive based jet stack fabrication processed with polymers and metal foil layers and avoids the cost and complexity of a Micro-electrical-mechanical (MEMS) based fabrication system. According to another exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, provided is a thick hybrid film piezoelectric printhead.
Abstract:
An electrostatic actuator for a printhead. The electrostatic actuator may include a substrate. A dielectric layer may be disposed on the substrate. An electrode layer may be disposed on the dielectric layer. A first standoff layer may be disposed at least partially on the electrode layer. A second standoff layer may be disposed at least partially on the electrode layer and at least partially on the first standoff layer. A portion of the second standoff layer disposed on the electrode layer may be removed to form one or more landing pads. A membrane may be disposed at least partially on the second standoff layer.
Abstract:
A flex circuit board provides islands of electrically isolated material surrounding openings in the flex circuit board to preserve fluid integrity of passageways passing through an electrically insulating layer of the flex circuit board. The electrically isolated islands surround exits of the passageways through the electrically insulating material and extend the passageways through an electrically conductive layer of the flex circuit board. Consequently, fluid passing through the passageways and electrically isolated islands in the flex circuit board is not subjected to electrical current.
Abstract:
A method is provided for using a single-pixel imager in order to spatially reconstruct an image of a scene. The method can comprise the following: configuring a light filtering device including an array of imaging elements to a spatially varying optical filtering process of incoming light according to a series of spatial patterns corresponding to sampling functions. The light filtering device can be a transmissive filter including a first membrane, a second membrane, and a variable gap therebetween. The method further comprises tuning a controller for manipulating a variable dimension of the gap; and, measuring, using a photodetector of the single-pixel imager, a magnitude of an intensity of the filtered light across pixel locations in the series of spatial patterns. The magnitude of the intensity can be equivalent to an integral value of the scene across the pixel locations.
Abstract:
A nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers, where each nanotip cantilever includes a nanotip at an end of a cantilever, and a method for forming the nanoprinthead. Each nanotip may be individually addressable through use of an array of piezoelectric actuators. Embodiments for forming a nanoprinthead including an array of nanotip cantilevers can include an etching process from a material such as a silicon wafer, or the formation of a metal or dielectric nanotip cantilever over a substrate. The nanoprinthead may operate to provide uses for technologies such as dip-pen nanolithography, nanomachining, and nanoscratching, among others.
Abstract:
An ink jet printhead including a thermo-pneumatic actuator array for ejecting ink from an array of nozzles. The actuator array may include the use of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor wafer including a device layer, a handle layer, and a dielectric layer that physically separates the device layer from the handle layer to simplify printhead formation. During an exemplary process, the SOI wafer is attached to a heater wafer and a nozzle plate is attached to the dielectric layer such that, during use of the printhead, the device layer functions as an actuator membrane. Deflection of the device layer during use of the printhead creates a pressure within an ink chamber which causes ejection of ink from one of the nozzles of the array of nozzles.
Abstract:
A structure and method for a post plate of a die set that can be used to emboss a plurality of contact pads of a flexible printed circuit during the formation of a printer printhead. In one embodiment, a plurality of post plate posts can be formed, where each post plate post has a flat upper surface, generally straight sides, and a sharp corner where the flat upper surface and the generally straight sides intersect. Each post can be polished using, for example, a pad and an abrasive polishing compound or an electrochemical polishing process, to round the sharp corners to form a post having a rounded contour. In another embodiment, a plurality of post plate posts each having a rounded contour can be formed using a molding process.