Liquid surface control with an applied pressure signal in acoustic ink printing
US5229793A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 26, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2002/14322
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention is an acoustic ink printer. It has a pool of ink (33) with a free surface (36). Underneath the ink is a print head (10) which has droplet ejectors (14) for irradiating the free surface (36) of the pool of ink (33) with focused acoustic radiation (44). Over the free surface (36) of the pool of ink (33) is a membrane (16), with one or more apertures (20) aligned with the droplet ejectors (14), in intimate contact with the free surface (36) of the pool of ink (33). The apertures 20 are substantially larger than the waist diameter (46) of the focused acoustic radiation (44). An external pressure source (50) maintains the meniscus (48) of the pool of ink (33) substantially in the focal plane (52) of the focused acoustic radiation (44) during operation of the droplet ejectors (14). A piezoelectric crystal (24) is in intimate contact with the pool of ink (33). An electrical signal source (32) energizes the piezoelectric crystal (24) in order to apply a pressure signal (54) on demand to the pool of ink (33) during operation of the droplet ejectors (14). The different pressure signals (54) resulting from application of different electrical signals (29) to the piezoelectric cr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.