An ink jet process is used to deposit a material layer to a desired thickness. Layout data is converted to per-cell grayscale values, each representing ink volume to be locally delivered. The grayscale values are used to generate a halftone pattern to deliver variable ink volume (and thickness) to the substrate. The halftoning provides for a relatively continuous layer (e.g., without unintended gaps or holes) while providing for variable volume and, thus, contributes to variable ink/material buildup to achieve desired thickness. The ink is jetted as liquid or aerosol that suspends material used to form the material layer, for example, an organic material used to form an encapsulation layer for a flat panel device. The deposited layer is then cured or otherwise finished to complete the process.

When a filter for example is provided in a liquid supply path in the manufacture of a liquid ejection head, the filter can be prevented from being displaced or deformed. A manufacture method of a liquid ejection head having a liquid ejection unit for ejecting liquid and a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid to the liquid ejection unit has a processing of abutting a filter to a melting unit provided in the liquid supply unit and applying heat to the melting unit via the filter to melt the melting unit to thereby fix the filter to the melting unit, and a processing of burying the melting unit fixed to the filter by molding material.

Disclosed is a method to mitigate deterioration of printing fluid in a tank of a printer. The method comprises: draining printing fluid from a tank of a printer, and stopping the draining before the tank is empty, wherein the printing fluid comprises solids suspended in imaging oil, filtering the printing fluid drained from the tank, to separate at least some of the solids from the imaging oil, passing the filtered imaging oil to a reservoir; and then passing imaging oil from the reservoir to the tank. Also disclosed is a printer and a system to perform the method.

An electronic apparatus includes a drive roller, a contamination detection device that detects a degree of uncontaminatedness of a surface of the drive roller, a drive motor, a controller, and a display device. The controller executes a first feedback control, when the degree of uncontaminatedness is equal to or higher than a first threshold, executes a second feedback control including increasing the driving force to the drive motor, and displays a first screen announcing necessity to prepare for restoration of the drive roller on the display device, when the degree of uncontaminatedness is lower than the first threshold, and equal to or higher than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, and restricts the drive roller from rotating, and displays a second screen requesting restoration of the drive roller on the display device, when the degree of uncontaminatedness is lower than the second threshold.

An electronic apparatus includes a drive roller, a contamination detection device that detects a degree of uncontaminatedness of a surface of the drive roller, a drive motor, a controller, and a display device. The controller executes a first feedback control, when the degree of uncontaminatedness is equal to or higher than a first threshold, executes a second feedback control including increasing the driving force to the drive motor, and displays a first screen announcing necessity to prepare for restoration of the drive roller on the display device, when the degree of uncontaminatedness is lower than the first threshold, and equal to or higher than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, and restricts the drive roller from rotating, and displays a second screen requesting restoration of the drive roller on the display device, when the degree of uncontaminatedness is lower than the second threshold.

An ink storage unit capable of stirring ink by ink circulation is proposed. The ink storage unit, which is configured to store ink for supplying the ink to an inkjet head including a plurality of nozzles to discharge the ink, includes an ink storage container having an inside space configured to store the ink therein, a head supply tube configured to supply the ink stored in the ink storage container to the inkjet head, a head recovery tube configured to recover remaining ink remained in the inkjet head to the ink storage container, a circulation tube configured to drain the ink through a first end thereof connected to the ink storage container and to receive the ink through a second end thereof connected to the ink storage container, and a circulation pump provided in the circulation tube to transfer the ink.

A fluid ejection device includes a fluid slot, at least one fluid ejection chamber communicated with the fluid slot, a drop ejecting element within the at least one fluid ejection chamber, a fluid circulation channel communicated with the fluid slot and the at least one fluid ejection chamber, and a fluid circulating element communicated with the fluid circulation channel. The fluid circulating element is to provide on-demand circulation of fluid from the fluid slot through the fluid circulation channel and the at least one fluid ejection chamber.

Disclosed is a method to mitigate deterioration of printing fluid in a tank of a printer. The method comprises: draining printing fluid from a tank of a printer, and stopping the draining before the tank is empty, wherein the printing fluid comprises solids suspended in imaging oil, filtering the printing fluid drained from the tank, to separate at least some of the solids from the imaging oil, passing the filtered imaging oil to a reservoir; and then passing imaging oil from the reservoir to the tank. Also disclosed is a printer and a system to perform the method.

A fluid ejection and circulation apparatus may include a fluid ejection device, a filter to filter fluid supplied to the fluid ejection device and a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator may include a fluid chamber having a fluid port and a first port extending from the fluid chamber to the filter. The pressure regulator may further include a valve to open and close the fluid port and a compliant chamber within the fluid chamber. The compliant chamber is to undergo different inflation levels in response to fluid chamber pressure. The valve is to open and close the fluid port in response to changes in an inflation level of the compliant chamber. The fluid chamber comprises a second port cooperating with the first port to form a circulation path through the fluid chamber that is directed away from the filter.

An apparatus may include an electrical interface to access a memory. Based on data receivable from the memory, an actuator may allow fluid flow from a print fluid supply external to the apparatus to a print fluid reservoir of the apparatus.