Patent · US Expired

Imaging apparatus capable of inhibiting inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet therefrom and method of assembling same

US6276774A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
4References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 22, 1998
Grant dateAug 21, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 22, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2202/10
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An imaging apparatus capable of inhibiting inadvertent ejection of a satellite ink droplet and method of assembling same. The imaging apparatus comprises a print head transducer including a pair of sidewalls defining a chamber therebetween, the channel having the ink body disposed therein. The transducer is in fluid communication with the ink body for inducing a first pressure wave in the ink body in order to eject an ink droplet. A waveform generator is connected to the transducer for supplying voltage waveforms to the transducer, so that the transducer induces pressure waves in the ink body. However, the first pressure wave has a reflected portion formed by the first pressure wave reflecting from the sidewalls. The reflected portion is sufficient to otherwise inadvertently eject unintended satellite ink droplets. Thus, a sensor is in fluid communication with the ink body for sensing the reflected portion and is connected to the transducer for inducing a second pressure wave in the ink body. The second pressure wave has an amplitude and phase damping the reflected portion of the first pressure wave in order to the inhibit inadvertent ejection of satellite ink droplets.

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