Patent · US Expired

Liquid ejector which uses a high-order ultrasonic wave to eject ink droplets and printing apparatus using same

US6155671A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 1997
Grant dateDec 5, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2/14008
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The particle diameter of droplets is controlled without improvements on a nozzle plate. An ultrasonic wave causes a radiation pressure to be intermittently applied to an opening in a cycle having a period shorter than the fundamental vibration period of a liquid surface in the opening. A high-order standing wave is then generated at the liquid surface in the opening to cause a plurality of droplets to be emitted simultaneously. Since the plurality of droplets are simultaneously emitted from a plurality of mounds of the high-order standing wave, the droplets have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening and are emitted vertically upwardly. The diameter of the droplets is controlled by the order of the high-order standing wave to be generated. The order of the standing wave is increased by shortening the period for which the radiation pressure is applied to the opening.

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