Abstract:
A device for moving an object, such as a sheet of paper (20) or other substrate, includes a base element (10), a drive mechanism (15) to move the base element (10) in first and second directions (7), such as by vibration, and a plurality of flexible ratchets (5) fixedly secured to the base element (10). As the base element vibrates, the ratchets (5) advance the sheet of paper in a direction (9) perpendicular to the direction (7) of vibration of the base element (10). Pluralities of base elements and drive mechanisms can be provided (Figs. 6,7) to direct movement of the substrate in various directions.
Abstract:
An acoustic ink printer transducer comprises a piezoelectric layer (13) positioned between two suitable electrode materials (12,14). To enable ejection of a number of different ink droplet sizes from the acoustic ink printer, thereby facilitating grey scale printing, the piezoelectric layer (13) and one (14) of the electrode layers have an acoustic thickness of lambda /4, where lambda is the wavelength at the fundamental resonant frequency omega o of the transducer.
Abstract:
This invention is an acoustic ink printer a pool of ink (33) with a free surface (36). Underneath the ink is a print head (10) which has droplet ejectors (14) for irradiating the free surface (36) of the pool of ink (33) with focused acoustic radiation (44). Over the free surface (36) of the pool of ink (33) is a membrane (16), with an aperture (20) aligned with each droplet ejector (14), in intimate contact with the free surface (36) of the pool of ink (33). The apertures (20) are substantially larger than the waist diameter (46) of the focused acoustic radiation (44). An external pressure source (50) maintains the meniscus (48) of the pool of ink (33) substantially in the focal plane (52) of the focused acoustic radiation (44) during operation of the droplet ejectors (14). A piezoelectric crystal (24) is in intimate contact with the pool of ink (33). An electrical signal source (32) energizes the piezoelectric crystal (24) in order to apply a pressure signal (54) on demand to the pool of ink (33) during operation of the droplet ejectors (14). The different pressure signals (54) resulting from application of different electrical signals (29) to the piezoelectric crystal (24) can be utilized to eject individual droplets (38) of ink (33) from the free surface (34) of the ink (33) on demand, or to effect finer control over the free surface (34) of the ink (33) than is possible with the external pressure source (50) by itself.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, an acoustic ink printer comprises a pool of liquid ink having a free surface in intimate contact with the inner face of a perforated membrane. The printer addresses all pixel positions within its image field via substantially uniform, relatively large diameter apertures which extend through the membrane on centers that are aligned with respective ones of the pixel positions. In operation, one or more focused acoustic beams selectively eject individual droplets of ink from the ink menisci that extend across the apertures. Accordingly, the membrane is positioned and the bias pressure that is applied to the ink is selected so that the menisci essentially remain within the focal plane of such beam or beams.
Abstract:
An acoustic ink printhead with an integrated liquid level control layer has a spacer layer (27) fixed to a substrate (20). Apertures (28A, 28B) are created in the spacer layer, which is then used as a mask, to define acoustic lenses (36A) and ink supply channels (36B) in the substrate. The apertures in the spacer layer define self-aligned acoustic lenses and form cavities to hold the ink reservoirs for each ejector. The thickness of the spacer layer is set so that acoustic waves from the acoustic lens below are focused at the free surface of the ink which maintains its level at the top of the spacer layer by capillary action.
Abstract:
A printhead for an acoustic ink printer has a piezoelectric transducer (11,12,13) on one surface of a substrate (10). A layer (14) of a dielectric material is provided on the surface of the transducer away from the substrate. A Fresnel lens (15) is formed in the surface of the dielectric layer away from the transducer, for focusing sound energy near the surface of a body of ink adjacent the dielectric layer. A pit (19) may be formed in the substrate under the transducer. The transducer may be a body (12) of piezoelectric material sandwiched between a pair of electrodes (11,13), the lower electrode of which has a thickness that is a quarter wave at the excitation frequency of the transducer. An anti-reflective coating (30) may be provided on the lower surface of the substrate, with a body (31) of an absorptive material abutting the anti-reflective layer, or an absorptive material (32) having an acoustic impedance approximately matching that of the substrate may be coated on the lower surface of the substrate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately work a bioliquid particle discharging apparatus from the start of a discharge process as bioliquid is expensive and the liquid particle must be formed at a very exact position. SOLUTION: A priming device 250 is disposed above a nozzle 204 having a structure discharging bioliquid from a discharge liquid reservoir 192. The priming device 250 is equipped with a vacuum nozzle 252 connected to a vacuum unit 254. A tube or sleeve 256 is disposed around the vacuum nozzle 252. The vacuum nozzle 252 is set above the discharge nozzle 204, and then the vacuum nozzle 252 moves downward, which causes slight contact of the tube 256 with the nozzle 204. The discharge liquid reservoir 192 is vacuum-deaerated by the vacuum action.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a multistage fine lithographic structure, such as a Fresnel lens for acoustic ink printing which is economical with high reliability. SOLUTION: Layers 602, 606, 610 of SiON as a Fresnel lens material are deposited by a known method and the chemical composition for depositing material is selectively altered to form middle etching stopping layers 604, 608 at appropriate positions. The depositing process is not interrupted for the end half process. The objective multistage structure, that is, a Fresnel lens is then formed by masking, patterning and etching. Desired uniformity is easily obtained, unequal stage heights are allowed and the degree of requirements to the selectivity of regions to be etched, and the thickness of etching stopping layers can be relieved.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a metal required for sputtering. SOLUTION: A flattening structure for use with an associated marking device selected from a plurality of marking device types for making a mark on an associated substrate is provided. The flattening structure includes: a substrate; and a self-lifting spring finger having a non-raising anchor part mounted to the substrate and a separated part extending to the substrate where the separated part has a proximal end and distal end, and the distal end includes a tip for promoting the discharge of a marking fluid, and the separated part of the self-lifting spring finger rises from the surface by etching. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT