Global Patent Index - EP 0437062 A3

EP 0437062 A3 19911227 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH A DROP-ON-DEMAND INK JET PRINT HEAD USING AN ELECTRIC FIELD

Title (en)

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH A DROP-ON-DEMAND INK JET PRINT HEAD USING AN ELECTRIC FIELD

Publication

EP 0437062 A3 19911227 (EN)

Application

EP 90313723 A 19901214

Priority

US 45108089 A 19891215

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0437062A2] A drop-on-demand ink jet has an ink chamber (12) coupled to a source of ink (14), and an ink drop orifice (16) with an outlet (18). An acoustic driver (30) produces a pressure wave in the ink and causes the ink to pass outwardly through the ink drop orifice and outlet (18). A high voltage electric field is oriented to accelerate ink drops along a path from the outlet to print medium (20). The electric field is time invariant and is the only electric field present along the path during drop formation and accelaration. The size of the ink drops may be varied, such as by driving the acoustic driver with varying drive signals. One preferred form of acoustic drive signal comprises of individual or combinations of plural bipolar drive pulses. The combination of energy imparted by the acoustic driver (30) and the electric field accelerates small and large drops such that the time for the drops to travel to the print medium (20) is substantially the same. The ink jet printer of the present invention may be used to print with a wide variety of inks, including phase change inks. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

B41J 2/06

IPC 8 full level

B41J 2/045 (2006.01); B41J 2/055 (2006.01); B41J 2/21 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B41J 2/2128 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

  • [AD] US 4513299 A 19850423 - LEE FRANCIS C [US], et al
  • [AD] US 4710784 A 19871201 - NAKAYAMA TETSUROH [JP]
  • [A] US 4393384 A 19830712 - KYSER EDMOND L
  • [A] IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN. vol. 16, no. 6, November 1973, NEW YORK US page 1936; W.H. CHEN: 'Magnetic ink jet printer'
  • [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 11, no. 330 (M-636)(2777) 28 October 1987 & JP-A-62 111 757 ( K. SAKURAI ) 22 May 1987
  • [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 34 (M-357)(1757) 14 February 1985 & JP-A-59 176 055 ( S. MURAKAMI ) 5 October 1984

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE FR GB IT NL

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0437062 A2 19910717; EP 0437062 A3 19911227; JP H07125193 A 19950516

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 90313723 A 19901214; JP 41096690 A 19901214