A method of constructing a micro-valve includes providing a substrate for an actuating beam of the micro-valve, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a plurality of constituent layers on the first surface of the actuating beam, including a layer of piezoelectric material. The method also includes removing a portion of the substrate from at least one of the first surface or the second surface to define a cantilevered portion of the actuating beam. The method also includes providing an orifice plate including an orifice. The method also includes providing a valve seat on a surface of the orifice plate, the valve seat having an opening aligned with the orifice. The method also includes attaching the surface of the orifice plate to the second surface via an adhesive such that an overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion overlaps the orifice.

A liquid ejecting head includes a liquid ejecting section, a first-valve-unit adjusting a pressure of liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting section, and a housing accommodating the liquid ejecting section and the first-valve-unit, in which the first-valve-unit includes a first-flow-path communicating with the liquid ejecting section, a first flexible film that has a first-inner-surface defining a part of the first-flow-path and a first-outer-surface being opposite from the first inner surface, and is configured to displace in a first-direction from the first-outer-surface toward the first-inner-surface and in a second-direction opposite to the first-direction, and a first-valve-body that is moved between an opening position and a closing position, due to displacement of the first flexible film, and the housing has a first-opening-portion facing at least a part of the first-outer-surface.

A printing unit includes: three elongate printheads positioned in a staggered overlapping arrangement for spanning across a media feed path, wherein a first printhead and a second printhead are longitudinally spaced apart and positioned in a row across the media feed path and a third printhead is offset from and overlaps with both the first and second printheads; three wipers for longitudinally wiping respective printheads in a direction perpendicular to a media feed direction, each wiper being parked at one longitudinal end of its respective printhead. One of the wipers, in its parked position, is positioned in a space between the first and second printheads.

A micro-valve includes an orifice plate including a first surface and a second surface, and an orifice extending from the first surface to the second surface. The micro-valve also includes a spacing member disposed on the first surface and offset from the orifice, a valve seat disposed on the first surface. The valve seat defines an opening in fluid communication with the orifice in a flow direction. The micro-valve also includes an actuating beam disposed on the spacing member extending from the spacing member toward the orifice, the actuating beam being moveable between an open position and a closed position. The micro-valve also includes a sealing member affixed to an end portion of the actuating beam. In a closed position, a sealing surface of the sealing member contacts the valve seat to close the micro-valve.

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head configured to eject a liquid; and a flow channel member including a flow channel coupling member detachably coupled to the liquid ejecting head, a supply channel coupled to a flow channel inside the flow channel coupling member, and a displacement member configured to be displaced between a closing position at which the displacement member closes the supply channel and an opening position at which the displacement member opens the supply channel. The displacement member restricts disconnection of coupling between the liquid ejecting head and the flow channel coupling member when the displacement member is located at the opening position. The displacement member does not restrict disconnection of coupling between the liquid ejecting head and the flow channel coupling member when the displacement member is located at the closing position.

A drive controller includes circuitry. The circuitry generates multiple types of drive pulses to be applied to a driver of a liquid discharge head including a valve to open and close a discharge port, and applies the multiple types of drive pulses to the driver to cause the driver to move the valve to open and close the discharge port. Each of the multiple types of drive pulses causes the valve to move away from the discharge port at a valve-opening speed to open the discharge port, keep opening the discharge port for an open time, and move toward the discharge port at a valve-closing speed to close the discharge port. Further, the circuitry generates the multiple types of drive pulses, the open time and the valve-closing speed of which are different, and changes the valve-closing speed according to the open time.

A method of manufacture of a composite moulding material (1100) comprising a fibrous layer (1102) and a graphene/graphitic dispersion (1104) applied to the fibrous layer (1102) at one or more localised regions (1106) over a surface (1108) of the fibrous layer(1102) in which the graphene/graphitic dispersion (1104) is comprised of graphene nanoplates, graphene oxide nanoplates, reduced graphene oxide nanoplates, bilayer graphene nanoplates, bilayer graphene oxide nanoplates, bilayer reduced graphene oxide nanoplates, few-layer graphene nanoplates, few-layer graphene oxide nanoplates, few-layer reduced graphene oxide nanoplates, graphene/graphite nanoplates of 6 to 14 layers of carbon atoms, graphite flakes with nanoscale dimensions and 40 or less layers of carbon atoms, graphite flakes with nanoscale dimensions and 25 to 30 layers of carbon atoms, graphite flakes with nanoscale dimensions and 25 to 35 layers of carbon atoms, graphite flakes with nanoscale dimensions and 20 to 35 layers of carbon atoms, or graphite flakes with nanoscale dimensions and 20 to 40 layers of carbon atoms, in which the dispersion (1104) is applied to the fibrous layer (1102) using at least one valvejet print head (1112).

A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle plate, a housing, a channel, and a positioning member. The nozzle plate has a nozzle hole and a first positioning hole penetrating through the nozzle plate in a thickness direction of the nozzle plate. The housing is bonded to the nozzle plate to form a single bonded body and has a second positioning hole extending in a thickness direction of the housing. A liquid flows through the channel between the nozzle plate and the housing to the nozzle hole. The positioning member fits into the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole to position the nozzle plate relative to the housing. A length of the positioning member is smaller than a sum of a length of the first positioning hole and a length of the second positioning hole in the thickness direction of the nozzle plate, and larger than the length of the second positioning hole.

A pressure head is for dispensing a water-binder mixture in a controlled manner, the mixture including water and at least one hydraulic binder, in particular a cementitious binder. The pressure head includes at least one supply channel for supplying the water-binder mixture, at least one outlet opening fluidically connected to the at least one supply channel, and at least one valve by which the at least one outlet opening can be opened and closed in a controlled manner. A specified dose of the water-binder mixture can be dispensed through the at least one outlet opening.

A micro-valve includes an orifice plate including an orifice. The micro-valve further includes an actuating beam having a first end and a second end. The actuating beam also includes a base layer and a layer of piezoelectric material disposed on the base layer, a bottom electrode layer, and a top electrode layer. At an electrical connection portion of the actuating beam, the layer of piezoelectric material includes a first via, and a portion of the top electrode layer disposed within the first via, and a portion of the bottom electrode disposed beneath the first via. The actuating beam includes a base portion extending from the electrical connection portion and a cantilevered portion extending from the base portion. The cantilevered portion is movable in response to application of a differential electrical signal between the bottom electrode layer and the top electrode layer to one of open or close the micro-valve.