Abstract:
A nozzle arrangement for a printhead integrated circuit includes a nozzle chamber; an ink ejection nozzle in fluid communication with said nozzle chamber, the ink ejection nozzle defining a nozzle rim around an aperture of the ink ejection nozzle; an elongate actuator adapted to displace towards and away from the ink ejection nozzle; an ink ejection paddle attached to an end of elongate actuator and positioned within the nozzle chamber for acting on ink within the nozzle chamber upon displacement of the elongate actuator; and an ink spread prevention rim provided partially around the nozzle rim, the ink spread prevention rim for catching ink spread from the nozzle rim. The elongate actuator includes an actuator arm of a laminated structure comprising a resiliently flexible inner layer, a conductive layer and a compensation layer. The inner layer is interposed between the conductive and compensation layers.
Abstract:
A printhead for an inkjet printer comprises a wafer assembly defining a plurality of spaced apart groups of ink supply channels and a plurality of groups of ink ejection nozzle arrangements. Each ink ejection nozzle arrangement comprises a nozzle chamber structure mounted to the wafer assembly. Each ink ejection nozzle arrangement further comprises an anchor extending from the wafer assembly in a location external to the nozzle chamber; and an elongate thermal actuator mechanism extending from the anchor and into the nozzle chamber. The thermal actuator mechanism comprises an elongate arm which terminates in a free end within the nozzle chamber, and a pair of layers of conductive material located on either side of the elongate arm. One of the layers is connected to a current supply for causing a differential thermal expansion in the elongate thermal actuator mechanism. A pit is defined adjacent each nozzle chamber structure for catching ink. The ink ejection nozzle arrangements of each group are arranged in a pair of rows, with the elongate thermal actuator mechanism of ink ejection nozzle arrangements of a first row extending away from those of ink ejection nozzle arrangements of a second row.
Abstract:
A printhead 380 for use in camera photo-printing, the printhead 380 including a plurality of segments 381, each of the plurality of segments 381 including a plurality of nozzles, the plurality of nozzles being grouped, where nozzles of a particular group share an ink reservoir.
Abstract:
A printhead assembly is provided for a print-on-demand camera system. The printhead assembly includes an ink ejection printhead integrated circuit (IC). An ink distribution molding is provided to which the IC is mounted, and though which ink is distributed to the IC. A filter covers the ink distribution molding to filter ink passing to the ink distribution molding. A baffle unit is provided in which the ink distribution molding and filter is received, and includes spaced apart baffles to retard ink acceleration. A housing is provided in which the baffle unit is housed.
Abstract:
A printhead integrated circuit (IC) for an inkjet printer. The printhead IC has a wafer substrate with drive circuitry and a plurality of nozzle arrangements located thereon. Each nozzle arrangement includes nozzle chamber structures defining a nozzle chamber and an ink ejection nozzle in fluid communication with said nozzle chamber, as well as an elongate actuator attached to the substrate for displacement towards and away from the substrate in response to actuating signals from the drive circuitry. Each arrangement also includes an ink ejection member attached to the actuator, the ejection member being positioned for acting on ink within the nozzle chamber to eject a drop of ink from the ink ejection nozzle. Each elongate actuator further includes an actuator arm of a laminated structure comprising a resiliently flexible inner layer, a conductive layer and a compensation layer, the inner layer being interposed between the conductive and compensation layers.
Abstract:
An ink supply arrangement is provided for supplying ink to an inkjet printhead. The ink supply arrangement includes an elongate ink distribution molding, in turn, defining a printhead channel in which the printhead can be received. The ink distribution molding further defines sets of passages for supplying respective types of ink to the printhead. A baffle unit is configured to be engaged relative to the ink distribution molding, and defines a plurality of elongate walls and a plurality of baffles extending from the walls. A housing can receive the baffle unit to define a plurality of ink storage chambers in fluid communication with respective sets of passages.
Abstract:
An inkjet printhead IC is fabricated using a wafer substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet channels. A plurality of nozzle structures fabricated on the substrate to define nozzle chambers are in fluid communication with the ink inlet channels and an ink ejection nozzle in fluid communication with each nozzle chamber. Each nozzle structure has a chamber, an ejection nozzle in fluid communication with the chamber, and an ejection member for acting on ink within the chamber. A plurality of actuators attached to the substrate move each of the ejection members respectively, the movement being substantially parallel to the ink inlet flow direction; such that, ink is ejected through the ejection nozzle upon activation of the actuator corresponding to that nozzle structure.
Abstract:
Engineered composite coated flat-rolled steel strip is produced in continuous line operations, in which flat-rolled steel strip, free of surface iron oxide, having a metallic corrosion-protective coating, is polymer coated in continuous-line operations in which a plurality of adherent thin-film layers of polymeric material are deposited on a strip surface. In a dual-surface polymeric coating embodiment, each surface is separately-pretreated for surface adhesion, solidified, and polymeric overhang is removed. Finish processing re-melts the polymer coating and rapidly cools that coating through glass-transition temperature to establish amorphous characteristics in the polymeric coating materials. An anhydride-modified polypropylene, first contacts the strip, an intermediate layer can include about fifteen to twenty five percent, by weight, polybutylene with the balance polypropylene; an outer surface polymeric layer includes about five to ten percent, by weight, polybutylene with the balance polypropylene.
Abstract:
Methods for combining conductive filled low surface energy substrates, such as but not limited to polyolefins, and flame applied nitrogen based coupling agents are described. The methods include adding a conductive material to a surface and or matrix of the thermoplastic substrate so as to form a conductive thermoplastic substrate and a flame applied nitrogen-based coupling agent to form functional groups on the conductive thermoplastic substrate. The methods provide improved paint transfer efficiency, paint coverage, and adhesion durability characteristics. The methods are especially suitable for paintable automotive components, such as but not limited to exterior body panels, fascias, and the like.
Abstract:
An inkjet printhead is provided comprising ink drop generators formed in a substrate at a density of greater than approximately ten ink drop generators per square millimeter of the substrate and ink channels formed in the substrate for supplying ink to ink drop generators. The ink drop generators are arranged in approximately parallel rows. The ink channels are arranged to supply ink to the rows of ink drop generators. The ink drop generators in each row are arranged in a plurality of groups, with each group in fluid communication with a respective ink supply channel.