Global Patent Index - EP 0678384 B1

EP 0678384 B1 19970820 - Drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head

Title (en)

Drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head

Title (de)

Auf Abruf arbeitender Tintenstrahldruckknopf

Title (fr)

Tête d'impression à jet d'encre générant des gouttelettes à la demande

Publication

EP 0678384 B1 19970820 (EN)

Application

EP 95108677 A 19910225

Priority

  • EP 91102760 A 19910225
  • JP 4378790 A 19900223
  • JP 33727890 A 19901130

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0678384A1] A drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head provided with an array of a plurality of piezoelectric elements (12,12') arranged at regular intervals and fixed at their one ends to a base (2), the other ends of the respective piezoelectric elements being free ends which are disposed in opposition to nozzle respective apertures (10, 10'), the piezoelectric elements being formed by cutting, at predetermined width, a piezoelectric plate obtained by firing a lamination of paste-like piezoelectric material and conductive material stacked alternately in layers. Since each piezoelectric element is composed of a thin piezoelectric plate interposed between electrodes, if a voltage of only about 30V, which is sufficient to drive the thin piezoelectric plate, is applied across the electrodes, it is possible to largely flex the whole of the piezoelectric element. By this transformation, ink between the top end of the piezoelectric element (12, 12') and the nozzle aperture (10, 10') is discharged to the outside as an ink drop. Because the driving voltage required for forming an ink drop is as low, it is possible to simplify a driving circuit, and because of cutting a piezoelectric plate, it is possible to form small-sized piezoelectric elements with the same accuracy as in a process of producing a semiconductor. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

B41J 2/045; B41J 2/14; B41J 2/16

IPC 8 full level

B41J 2/14 (2006.01); B41J 2/16 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B41J 2/14274 (2013.01); B41J 2/14282 (2013.01); B41J 2/161 (2013.01); B41J 2/1612 (2013.01); B41J 2/1614 (2013.01); B41J 2/1623 (2013.01); B41J 2/1626 (2013.01); B41J 2/1632 (2013.01); B41J 2002/14387 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE FR GB

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0678384 A1 19951025; EP 0678384 B1 19970820

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 95108677 A 19910225