Patent · US Expired

Printhead structure for improved dot size control in direct electrostatic image recording devices

US6011944A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
84References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 1996
Grant dateJan 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2217/0025
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A printhead structure for a direct electrostatic printing device selectively conveys a stream of charged toner particles from a particle source directly onto an image receiving substrate. The printhead structure includes an electrode plate having openings which surround the apertures. A voltage applied to the electrode plate causes a converging electric field to applied to the toner particles passing through the apertures. The converging electric field causes the toner particles to converge toward respective central axes of the apertures to thereby focus the stream of toner particles. The focusing of the toner particles considerably reduces the dot sizes on the printed image. The use of the printhead structure results in increased print resolution and improved image quality.

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