Printer having improved gas flow drop deflection

A method of printing comprising:

• selectively forming a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with a drop generator, the drop having the first size and the drop having the second size traveling along a drop trajectory, the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other, each of the drops having a drop velocity;
• directing a gas flow toward a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory using a gas flow deflection system, the gas flow in the deflection zone including a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component, the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory, the parallel velocity component being greater than 0.25 times the drop velocity, and the perpendicular velocity component being sufficient to deflect the drop having the first size and the drop having the second size to a first size drop trajectory and a second size drop trajectory;
• and
• intercepting the drops traveling along one of the first drop size trajectory and the second drop size trajectory using a catcher positioned relative to one of the first drop size trajectory and the second drop size trajectory while not intercepting drops traveling along the other of the first drop size trajectory and the second drop size trajectory.

A printhead comprising:

• a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory;
• a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow provided by a positive pressure source through a first gas flow duct, the gas flow being directed at a non-perpendicular non-parallel angle relative to the initial drop trajectory such that the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory by the gas flow and begins traveling along a deflected small volume drop trajectory;
• and
• a catcher positioned relative to the deflected small volume drop trajectory such that the small volume drop is intercepted by the catcher, a portion of the gas flow provided by the first gas flow duct being removed from the printhead through a second gas flow duct located between the catcher and the drop generator.

A method of printing comprising:

• selectively forming a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle using a drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory;
• providing a gas flow created by a positive pressure source through a first gas flow duct of a gas flow deflection system;
• directing the gas flow at a non-perpendicular non-parallel angle relative to the initial drop trajectory to deflect the small volume drop from the initial drop trajectory to a deflected small volume drop trajectory;
• intercepting the small volume drop using a catcher positioned relative to the deflected small volume drop trajectory;
• and
• removing a portion of the gas flow provided by the first gas flow duct from the printhead through a second gas flow duct located between the catcher and the drop generator.

A printhead comprising:

• a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory;
• a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow provided by a positive pressure source through a first gas flow duct, the gas flow being directed at a non-perpendicular non-parallel angle relative to the initial drop trajectory such that the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory by the gas flow and begins traveling along a deflected small volume drop trajectory;
• and
• a catcher positioned relative to the initial drop trajectory such that the large volume drop is intercepted by the catcher, the first gas flow duct being located between the catcher and the drop generator.

A method of printing comprising:

• selectively forming a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle using a drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory;
• providing a gas flow created by a positive pressure source through a first gas flow duct of a gas flow deflection system;
• directing the gas flow at a non-perpendicular non-parallel angle relative to the initial drop trajectory to deflect the small volume drop from the initial drop trajectory to a deflected small volume drop trajectory;
• and
• intercepting the large volume drop using a catcher positioned relative to the initial drop trajectory, the first gas flow duct being located between the catcher and the drop generator.