Patent ID: 7144103

Claim:
A drop selection assemblage for use in a printhead comprising a drop generator with an orifice device forming a jet array for releasing a drop stream along a normal drop path, wherein the drop stream consists of print media drops and recycle drops; wherein said drop selection assemblage comprises: a. a charge structure disposed in a spaced apart relationship to the jet array; comprising: i. a substrate with a first side comprising a non-beveled portion and a beveled portion, wherein the beveled portion comprises a surface sloped at an angle ranging between 3 degrees and 25 degrees relative to the normal drop path; ii. at least one drop charging electrode disposed on the non-beveled portion; and iii. at least one short detection electrode disposed on the beveled portion; and b. a catcher disposed adjacent to the charge structure for catching recycle drops that have passed along the first side of the substrate, and wherein print media drops are selected without contacting the first side and recycle drops are deflected without contacting the first side.