摘要:
Printer apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of selectively actuatable side walls defining respective channels therebetween of different depths. Each channel receives an associated one of a plurality of ink bodies therein and the substrate is formed of piezoelectric material responsive to electric stimuli. The pairs of side walls are preferably separated one from another by means of an intervening cut-out for reducing mechanical coupling between the ink channels. A cover plate is connected to the substrate and has a plurality of orifices therethrough in registration with respective ones of the channels such that the orifices are off-set one from another. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, the channels have different depths and, therefore, the orifices, which are in registration with the channels, are off-set one from another to accommodate the different depths of the channels. A selected ink channel, which belongs to a first group of channels having a first predetermined depth, pressurize as its pairs of side walls are actuated. Also, a non-selected ink channel, which belongs to a second group of channels having a second predetermined depth, remains unpressurized as the selected channel is actuated. Moreover, the two groups of channels are interleaved. The channels of the first group are actuated at a later time that the channels of the second group as the printhead traverses a receiver medium. This feature of the invention reduces mechanical and hydraulic coupling between channels because actuation of selected channels belonging the two groups are spaced-apart in time.
摘要:
A mandrel for forming a nozzle plate having orifices of precise size and location, and method of making the mandrel. The nozzle plate is formed by overcoating a substrate with a metal film. The film is covered with a photoresist material. Portions of the photoresist are exposed to light passing through a photomask having an annular light-transparent regions, of precise diameters and pitch. The photoresist is subjected to a developer bath which dissolves the photoresist exposed to the light, thereby revealing selected portion of the film. Next, an etchant is brought into contact with the film for etching-away the film so as to an annular opening in the film defining a column of precise diameter at the center of each opening. A new photoresist layer is then applied to the film. Portions of the new photoresist layer is exposed to light passing through a second photomask. The new photoresist material is then subjected to the developer which dissolves the new photoresist material to reveal the film beneath the photoresist and selected areas of the substrate. A second etchant is applied to create an annular recess extending into the substrate. The column resides at the center of the recess. This forms the nozzle plate mandrel. Next, a metal layer that will form the nozzle plate is deposited onto the film and grows into the recess to substantially fill the recess, except for the space occupied by the column. The finished nozzle plate is separated from the film/substrate structure to obtain orifices with precise diameters and pitch.
摘要:
A method for presenting a microfluidic displayed image of a plurality of pixels including providing at least one reservoir containing a meltable ink having a colorant; providing an array of ink delivery chambers from which hot-melted ink is delivered to form a display; and heating the meltable ink and delivering such meltable ink to the ink delivery chambers to form a display image.
摘要:
Ink jet printing apparatus accommodating printing mode control for printing an output image on a receiver medium in response to an input image file having a plurality of pixel values. The printing mode is selected in such a manner that image artifacts are eliminated without excessively increasing printing time or ink laydown. The apparatus comprises a printhead and at least one nozzle integrally connected to the printhead, which nozzle is capable of ejecting an ink droplet therefrom. The apparatus also comprises a waveform generator associated with the nozzle for generating an electronic waveform to be supplied to the nozzle, so that the nozzle ejects the ink droplet in response to the waveform supplied thereto. In addition, a printer mode look-up table is also provided for storing a printing mode assigned to the waveform. A calibrator is connected to the first calibrator and is also associated with the waveform generator for adjusting the electronic waveform. An image halftoning unit is connected to the second calibrator for halftoning the calibrated image file in order to generate a halftoned image file having the pixel value defined by the waveform serial number. All the pixels are obtained without increasing the number of printing passes.
摘要:
A microfluidic printing apparatus for transferring ink to a receiver includes at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber. Air is delivered to isolate ink in the chamber so that a predetermined amount of ink in the chamber can be transferred to a receiver, and the microfluidic pumps are operated for delivering the predetermined amount of ink to each chamber.
摘要:
A process of forming a dye transfer image comprising:a) imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having a N-H group which is part of a conjugated system,b) imagewise transferring the dye to a dye image-receiving layer of a dye-receiver element which contains acid moieties capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye, andc) subjecting the dye-receiver element to heat from a heat source immediately prior to, during, or after the imagewise transfer of the dye.
摘要:
A platen-driven thermal dye printer mechanism (1), and more particularly to a cone-shaped scuff roller (7) which aligns a dye print receiver media sheet (2) with the receiver guide wall (8) during printing in a reciprocating direction (5). Using at least one conical shaped scuff roller (7) at one end of a platen roller (4) to transport the precut dye receiver media (2). The conical scuff roller (7) presses the back surface of the dye receiver media (2) against the non-imaging margin of the thermal dye printer mechanism (1). The invention uses a smooth guiding plate (28) and platen (4) thus, preventing scratches on the front surface of the receiver media (2). The invention is not subject to costly breakdowns, in that it uses the clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the platen (4) to provide perfect alignment of the receiver media (2) and printer head (9).
摘要:
Apparatus for printing labels onto circular discs of predetermined diameter includes a linear printhead having a length equal to at least the diameter of the discs to be printed. A carrier has a planar surface with a circular recess into which a compact disc can be tightly inserted. The recess is of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the disc to be printed, whereby the planar surface and a surface of an inserted disc form a substantially flat surface. The carrier is formed of a substrate and a member which defines the outer boundary of the recess. The substrate is at least partially formed of an elastic material having a compliance selected so as to provide a pressure on the printhead optimal for dye transfer. A second rigid member fits into a center hole in the inserted compact disc.
摘要:
A resistive thermal printer has a platen drive mechanism which includes (1) a thermal printhead having an array of selectively-activatable thermal elements and (2) a rotatably-driven platen roller opposed to the printhead and forming a nip with the printhead through which a receiver medium is driven by the platen roller while the thermal elements are selectively activated. The platen roller has an inner core and an outer sleeve formed of a heat shrunk material. The platen roller includes a compliant layer below the outer sleeve.
摘要:
An ink jet printing ink composition is disclosed for use with an ink jet printing apparatus comprising a printhead, an ink delivery system adapted to provide the ink to the printhead, and a sensor associated with the ink delivery system adapted to produce a signal which is characteristic of the concentration of a label material in a printing ink, where said signal is used to indicate the appropriateness of using a particular printing ink. The ink composition comprises a carrier, a colorant, and a predetermined concentration of a distinct label material, the weight ratio of the label material to the colorant being less than 1. The label material may be easily detected by a sensor associated with the ink delivery system.