Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for driving multiple ink jet printheads with a single set of drive outputs

US5867183A · kind A · utility

121Cited by
13References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 1996
Grant dateFeb 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/04581
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An ink jet printing apparatus includes a printhead controller including a printhead driver circuit having a set of ink jet nozzle control outputs and a printhead select circuit having a plurality of printhead select outputs. A plurality of printheads are provided, wherein each printhead includes a plurality of ink jet nozzles, a plurality of individually controllable ink jet nozzle firing circuits, and a printhead enable circuit, wherein the printhead enable circuit is electrically coupled between the plurality of individually controllable ink jet nozzle firing circuits and the set of ink jet nozzle control outputs, and wherein the printhead enable circuit is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of printhead select outputs and enables the electrical conduction of the plurality of controllable ink jet nozzle firing circuits upon receipt of a printhead select signal from one of the printhead select outputs of the printhead select circuits.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.