(19)
(11) EP 1 013 422 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
04.04.2001 Bulletin 2001/14

(43) Date of publication A2:
28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26

(21) Application number: 99309513.2

(22) Date of filing: 29.11.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B41J 2/025
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 14.12.1998 US 211059

(71) Applicant: Scitex Digital Printing, Inc.
Dayton, Ohio 45420-4099 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Katerberg, James A.
    Kettering, Ohio 45429 (US)
  • Baumer, Michael F.
    Dayton, Ohio 45440 (US)
  • Fagerquist, Randy L.
    Fairbern, Ohio 45324 (US)
  • Braun, Hilarion
    Gilbert, AZ 85233 (US)

(74) Representative: Freed, Arthur Woolf et al
Reginald W. Barker & Co., Clifford's Inn, Fetter Lane
London EC4A 1BY
London EC4A 1BY (GB)

   


(54) Drop generator for long array ink jet printer


(57) A drop generator for use in an ink jet printer is capable of stimulating long ink jet arrays at high operating frequencies. The drop generator comprises a substantially uniform cross section for a central portion and two end sections with different cross sections. The end sections have features to adjust a resonant frequency of the end sections to match that of the central portion. In particular, these features comprise cuts on a top of the drop generator. The drop generator utilizes multi-lobed radial bending modes for vibration of an array of orifices, and the vibrational modes are driven by at least two rows of transducers which extend substantially the length of the drop generator. The transducers are placed consistent with a lobe structure of an operational radial bending mode.






Search report