Michael T Piatt

US Patent:

7249830, Jul 31, 2007

Filed:

Sep 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/229467

Inventors:

Gilbert A. Hawkins - Mendon NY, US
Stephen F. Pond - Williamsburg VA, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 29/393

US Classification:

347 78, 347 19, 347 81

Abstract:

A jet break-off length control apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus further comprises a control apparatus adapted to calculate a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes and adapted to provide a break-off length calibration signal to the resistive heater apparatus wherein the break-off length calibration signal is determined at least by the characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops. The present inventions are additionally configured to control break-off lengths for a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes by determining a break-off length calibration signal that contains information specific to the plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes.

US Patent:

7401906, Jul 22, 2008

Filed:

Jun 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/758786

Inventors:

Gilbert A. Hawkins - Mendon NY, US
Stephen F. Pond - Williamsburg VA, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/02

US Classification:

347 75

Abstract:

A jet break-off length control apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Resistive heater apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. The jet break-off length control apparatus further comprises a control apparatus adapted to calculate a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes and adapted to provide a break-off length calibration signal to the resistive heater apparatus wherein the break-off length calibration signal is determined at least by the characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops. The present inventions are additionally configured to control break-off lengths for a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes by determining a break-off length calibration signal that contains information specific to the plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes.

US Patent:

7434919, Oct 14, 2008

Filed:

Sep 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/229454

Inventors:

Gilbert A. Hawkins - Mendon NY, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US
John C. Brazas - Hilton NY, US
Stephen F. Pond - Williamsburg VA, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/07

US Classification:

347 74

Abstract:

A jet break-off length measurement apparatus for a continuous liquid drop emission system is provided. The jet break-off length measurement apparatus comprises a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with at least one nozzle for emitting a continuous stream of liquid. Heater resistor apparatus is adapted to transfer pulses of thermal energy to the liquid in flow communication with the at least one nozzle sufficient to cause the break-off of the at least one continuous stream of liquid into a stream of drops of predetermined volumes. A sensing apparatus adapted to detect the stream of drops of predetermined volumes is provided. A control apparatus is adapted to determine a characteristic of the stream of drops of predetermined volumes that is related to the break-off length. Further apparatus is adapted to inductively charge at least one drop and to cause electric field deflection of charged drops. Jet stimulation apparatus comprising a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of nozzles and adapted to transfer pulses of energy to the liquid sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes is also disclosed.

US Patent:

7914109, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

Nov 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/944658

Inventors:

Yonglin Xie - Pittsford NY, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US
Joseph Jech, Jr. - Webster NY, US
Qing Yang - Pittsford NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/015
B41J 2/07
B41J 2/105

US Classification:

347 21, 347 74, 347 82

Abstract:

A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid supply adapted to feed a stream of liquid through the supply channel, a liquid return channel adapted to receive liquid from the supply channel, a liquid dispensing outlet opening, and a diverter member selectively movable into the supply channel to divert droplets to the dispensing outlet opening. The liquid flows from the liquid supply channel to the liquid return channel by Coanda effect when not diverted. The motion of the diverter member is substantially orthogonal to and opposes the direction of liquid flow, so that energy associated with moving the diverter member imparts no energy to the diverted droplets. The energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 100 nJ per pL droplet volume. In some embodiments, the energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 10 nJ per pL droplet volume.

US Patent:

7914121, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

Feb 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/024360

Inventors:

Yonglin Xie - Pittsford NY, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US
Joseph Jech, Jr. - Webster NY, US
Qing Yang - Pittsford NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/04
B41J 2/105

US Classification:

347 54, 347 82

Abstract:

A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid supply adapted to feed a stream of liquid through the supply channel, a liquid return channel adapted to receive liquid from the supply channel, a liquid dispensing outlet opening, and a diverter member forming at least a portion of a wall of the liquid supply channel, said diverter member being selectively movable to form a convex surface along which liquid remains attached, thereby to divert droplets from the supply channel through the dispensing outlet opening. The motion of the diverter member is substantially orthogonal to the direction of liquid flow, so that energy associated with moving the diverter member imparts no energy to the diverted droplets. The energy associated with moving the diverter member is less than 100 nJ per pL droplet volume.

US Patent:

8033646, Oct 11, 2011

Filed:

Jan 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/010815

Inventors:

Yonglin Xie - Pittsford NY, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US
Joseph Jech, Jr. - Webster NY, US
Qing Yang - Pittsford NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/04

US Classification:

347 54

Abstract:

A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel and a liquid ejector channel that includes an outlet opening. A liquid supply provides a flow of a pressurized liquid through the liquid ejector channel from the liquid supply channel. The pressurized liquid has a momentum as the liquid moves through the liquid ejector channel. A liquid return channel receives the liquid after the liquid passes through the liquid ejector channel. A diverter member forms at least a portion of a wall of the liquid ejector channel. A portion of the diverter member is selectively movable away from the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel. The momentum of the liquid causes some of the liquid to be diverted through the outlet opening when the portion of the diverter member is moved away from the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel.

US Patent:

8033647, Oct 11, 2011

Filed:

Jan 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/010820

Inventors:

Yonglin Xie - Pittsford NY, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US
Joseph Jech, Jr. - Webster NY, US
Qing Yang - Pittsford NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/04

US Classification:

347 54

Abstract:

A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel and a liquid ejector channel that includes an outlet opening. A liquid supply provides a flow of a pressurized liquid through the liquid ejector channel from the liquid supply channel. The pressurized liquid has a momentum as the liquid moves through the liquid ejector channel. A liquid return channel receives the liquid after the liquid passes through the liquid ejector channel. A diverter member forms at least a portion of a wall of the liquid ejector channel. A portion of the diverter member is selectively movable into the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel. The momentum of the liquid causes some of the liquid to be diverted through the outlet opening when the portion of the diverter member is moved into the liquid flowing through the liquid ejector channel.

US Patent:

8201924, Jun 19, 2012

Filed:

Jun 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/494350

Inventors:

Yonglin Xie - Pittsford NY, US
Joseph Jech, Jr. - Webster NY, US
Michael J. Piatt - Dayton OH, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/05

US Classification:

347 65, 347 54

Abstract:

A liquid dispenser includes a liquid supply channel, a liquid dispensing channel including an outlet opening, and a liquid return channel. A liquid supply provides liquid under pressure from the liquid supply channel through the liquid dispensing channel to the liquid return channel. A selectively actuatable diverter member imparts heat energy directly to a first portion of the liquid to divert a second portion of the liquid toward outlet opening of the liquid dispensing channel.