US Patent 7517066 Printer including temperature gradient fluid flow device

A method and printing system are provided. The printing system includes a liquid drop ejector, a fluid passage, and a fluid flow. The liquid drop ejector is operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of volumes along a first path. The fluid passage includes a temperature gradient in the passage. The fluid flow source is operable to cause a fluid to flow in a direction through the passage, wherein interaction of the fluid flow and the liquid drops causes liquids drops having one of the plurality of volumes to begin moving along a second path.