(19)
(11) EP 0 738 602 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
11.06.1997 Bulletin 1997/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
23.10.1996 Bulletin 1996/43

(21) Application number: 96106318.7

(22) Date of filing: 22.04.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B41J 2/045
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 21.04.1995 JP 97239/95
21.04.1995 JP 97240/95
08.06.1995 JP 166971/95
08.06.1995 JP 166969/95
08.06.1995 JP 166970/95
05.04.1996 JP 110384/96

(71) Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Shinjuku-ku Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Morikoshi, Koji
    Suwa-shi, Nagano (JP)
  • Kitahara, Tsuyoshi
    Suwa-shi, Nagano (JP)
  • Momose, Kaoru
    Suwa-shi, Nagano (JP)
  • Okazawa, Noriaki
    Suwa-shi, Nagano (JP)
  • Yoshida, Masahiko
    Suwa-shi, Nagano (JP)
  • Suzuki, Kazunaga
    Suwa-shi, Nagano (JP)

(74) Representative: Diehl, Hermann, Dr. Dipl.-Phys. et al
DIEHL, GLÄSER, HILTL & PARTNER Patentanwälte Flüggenstrasse 13
80639 München
80639 München (DE)

   


(54) Ink jet print head


(57) Described is an ink jet print head which prevents the generation of ink mist by supplying a signal to a piezoelectric vibrator (9) which causes a pressure generating chamber (3) to expand by a volume smaller than the volume expanded to jet out an ink droplet, when the vibration of the meniscus generated after jetting out an ink droplet moves to the position closest to the pressure generating chamber (3). When the vibration of the meniscus generated after jetting out an ink droplet goes to the nozzle hole (2), the pressure generating chamber (3) is expanded again, to effectively attenuate the kinetic energy of the meniscus and to hold the meniscus at a position suitable for jetting out the next ink droplet.






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