A system includes a print head including multiple nozzles formed in a bottom surface of the print head. The nozzles are configured to eject a liquid onto a substrate. The system includes a gas flow module configured to provide a flow of gas through a gap between the bottom surface of the print head and the substrate. The gas flow module can include one or more gas nozzles configured to inject gas into the gap. The gas flow module can be configured to apply a suction to the gap.

A printing assembly has a frame having two side walls, between which, a transport path for the transport of printing material, extends. A transport direction is defined by the transport path. The printing assembly has at least three cross bars which extend in a transverse direction between the side walls. They are arranged one behind the other with respect to the transport direction. The printing assembly has at least three printing heads which are arranged one behind the other. At least one first additional device, is arranged on each of the cross bars. At least one second additional device, is arranged on each of the crossbars.

A printing assembly has a frame having two side walls, between which, a transport path for the transport of printing material, extends. A transport direction is defined by the transport path. The printing assembly has at least three cross bars which extend in a transverse direction between the side walls. They are arranged one behind the other with respect to the transport direction. The printing assembly has at least three printing heads which are arranged one behind the other. At least one first additional device, is arranged on each of the cross bars. At least one second additional device, is arranged on each of the crossbars.

In one example, an inkjet web printer includes: an arched printing unit and an aerosol control system. The printing unit has a series of printheads arranged along an arc and multiple rollers to support a print substrate web along the arc through a print zone adjacent to each printhead. The aerosol control system has a vacuum duct through which air may be sucked away from the web leaving a print zone adjacent to one of the printheads and a pressure duct through which air may be blown on to the web leaving the print zone. The pressure duct is positioned downstream from the vacuum duct and configured to blow air diagonally upstream directly on to the web at the same location the vacuum duct is to suck air away from the web.

In one example, an inkjet web printer includes: an arched printing unit and an aerosol control system. The printing unit has a series of printheads arranged along an arc and multiple rollers to support a print substrate web along the arc through a print zone adjacent to each printhead. The aerosol control system has a vacuum duct through which air may be sucked away from the web leaving a print zone adjacent to one of the printheads and a pressure duct through which air may be blown on to the web leaving the print zone. The pressure duct is positioned downstream from the vacuum duct and configured to blow air diagonally upstream directly on to the web at the same location the vacuum duct is to suck air away from the web.

A system includes a print head including multiple nozzles formed in a bottom surface of the print head. The nozzles are configured to eject a liquid onto a substrate. The system includes a gas flow module configured to provide a flow of gas through a gap between the bottom surface of the print head and the substrate. The gas flow module can include one or more gas nozzles configured to inject gas into the gap. The gas flow module can be configured to apply a suction to the gap.

A system includes a print head including multiple nozzles formed in a bottom surface of the print head. The nozzles are configured to eject a liquid onto a substrate. The system includes a gas flow module configured to provide a flow of gas through a gap between the bottom surface of the print head and the substrate. The gas flow module can include one or more gas nozzles configured to inject gas into the gap. The gas flow module can be configured to apply a suction to the gap.

In a method of depositing a fibroin structure, a fibroin ink is generated. The fibroin ink is aerosol jet printed onto a substrate. To prepare the ink, a plurality of biologically-generated silk cocoons are each cut into at least two pieces of raw silk and are degummed to remove sericin, leaving fibroin fibers. The fibroin fibers are dissolved into a lithium bromide solution. The salt is removed by placing the fibroin/salt solution in a dialysis membrane tube and submerging it in deionized water. The fibroin solution is centrifuged to remove impurities therefrom, leaving fibroin ink. The fibroin ink is atomized into a fibroin ink aerosol, which is directed to a print nozzle. A focusing gas sheath is directed around the print nozzle to deposit fibroin onto a surface.

In a method of depositing a fibroin structure, a fibroin ink is generated. The fibroin ink is aerosol jet printed onto a substrate. To prepare the ink, a plurality of biologically-generated silk cocoons are each cut into at least two pieces of raw silk and are degummed to remove sericin, leaving fibroin fibers. The fibroin fibers are dissolved into a lithium bromide solution. The salt is removed by placing the fibroin/salt solution in a dialysis membrane tube and submerging it in deionized water. The fibroin solution is centrifuged to remove impurities therefrom, leaving fibroin ink. The fibroin ink is atomized into a fibroin ink aerosol, which is directed to a print nozzle. A focusing gas sheath is directed around the print nozzle to deposit fibroin onto a surface.

A focused spray jet printing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an atomization unit which atomizes ink by a carrier gas to make generate atomization droplets; a head unit including a virtual impactor which uniformizes sizes of supply atomization droplets ejected from the atomization unit to eject uniform atomization droplets; a focusing unit which is provided in the head unit to focus the uniform atomization droplets introduced into the head unit with sheath gas to spray the uniform atomization droplets onto a substrate; a sheath MFC which supplies the sheath gas, and a valve unit which is selectively connected to any one of an atomization droplet flow path which is formed in the head unit to flow the uniform atomization droplets to connect the virtual impactor and the focusing unit and a flow path formed at the outside of the head unit to flow the sheath gas.