Ink-jet nozzle
US5407136A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/02
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nozzle for an ink-jet printer is provided having a gradually converging inner diameter leading to an orifice less than 15 microns in diameter and having an outer nozzle diameter proximate the orifice at least as great as the outer diameter at other points along the nozzle. The nozzle is produced by heating a vitreous tube while rotating it, until a portion of the tube is sufficiently viscous to cause the inner diameter to converge at an angle between 5 and 25 degrees with respect to the axis of symmetry of the tube, and until the inner diameter is less than a selected orifice diameter. The gradual taper is achieved without drawing or pulling the tube and it facilitates achieving a desired orifice dimension during removal of a portion of the tube having an inner diameter less than the selected orifice diameter. The extremely small orifice size enables an ink-jet printer to deposit droplets of ink sufficiently small to make photographic-quality gray scale and color images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.