Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Medium and processing means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-24
2001-05-15
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Medium and processing means
C428S211100, C428S195100, C346S140100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231177
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a print array and, more particularly, the invention relates to a print array that incorporates pumping means such as electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) micropumps, microchannels and reservoir(s) that allow electronic fluid modulation (EFM) to selectively dispense fluid from a reservoir onto a receptor and a method of transferring fluids to a receptor.
BACKGROUND
Current technology offers a variety of techniques to print information, e.g., text and images, onto a receptor, such as paper, Mylar sheet or coated material. Many of the printing techniques are based on the physical transport of a pigment or ink from a reservoir to a receptor in a controlled manner. In
FIG. 1
a printing system
100
, which can be represented by three broad parts: 1) a storage
110
for the pigment, 2) a transport mechanism
120
to deliver the pigment and 3) a receptor
130
to receive the pigment, e.g., a print media, is shown.
The storage
110
can be implemented in a number of different manners, e.g., a toner cartridge for a laserjet printer that carries pigment in powder form, an inkjet cartridge for an inkjet printer that carries liquid pigment or a print ribbon in a dot matrix printer.
Similarly, the transport mechanism
120
can be implemented in a number of different ways e.g., the formation and propulsion of droplets by thermal evaporation, acoustic waves or electrical means. Typically, the droplets exit the storage medium and travel a gap to reach the receptor as shown for example by Choi et al., in Society for Imaging Science and Technology, pages 33-35, (1996) and by Crowley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,958.
These printing technologies are often-components of a much larger system or they must be manipulated or serviced by a larger system to perform their primary printing function. More importantly, the transport mechanism generally requires a significant amount of energy to perform properly, e.g., a high voltage is needed to evaporate droplets onto a paper. This limitation significantly reduces the portability of the printing device. Thus, a need exists in the art for a print array that is capable of forming precise droplets that can be dispensed onto a receptor in a high-density formation with relatively low power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a method and apparatus for selectively transferring fluid(s) from the reservoir(s) to a receptor. The invention includes print array having a plurality of layers for delivering a fluid to a receptor, said print array comprising a reservoir for carrying the fluid, a microchannel, coupled to said reservoir, said microchannel having a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region, and a micropump, coupled to said microchannel, where said micropump, responsive to a control signal, causes said fluid to flow to a location onto the receptor. The print array may comprise a plurality of layers for delivering fluid to a receptor, the array comprising a distribution channel for carrying a fluid, wherein said distribution channel is located on a first layer having a plurality of air relief, and a dispenser, coupled to said distribution channel, wherein said dispenser has a micropump that is responsive to a control signal that causes said fluid to flow to a location on the receptor, wherein said dispenser is located on a second layer.
The invention also includes a print medium for receiving a fluid from the print array, the print medium comprising a target region for receiving said fluid, and a hydrophobic region.
The invention also includes a printing system comprising a general-purpose controller, a print array interface and a print array.
The invention also includes a method of operating a print array, comprising the steps of determining an amount of fluid to be dispensed onto a receptor from the print array and applying a modulating control signal to dispense said determined amount of fluid.
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Cherukuri Satyam C.
Ladd Judith Ann
McBride Sterling E.
York Pamela K.
Barlow John
Brooke Michael S
Burke William J.
Sarnoff Corporation
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