Patent · US Expired

Ink-jet printing apparatus and method using laser initiated acoustic waves

US6474783B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
27References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 1999
Grant dateNov 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2202/08
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A printing device including a laser for generating at least one laser beam, a controller, a print head having a plurality of orifices, and an ink supply for supplying ink to the print head. The controller modulates the at least one modulated laser beam according to image data to be printed. The at least one modulated laser beam selectively generates a directional acoustic wave within the print head, thereby inducing an ink droplet to exit a selected one of the orifices onto a printing substrate. A print head including a single buffer chamber, a body, and a single ink chamber. The buffer chamber stores a buffer liquid therein with the body forming one wall of that chamber. The ink chamber shares the body as a wall. The ink chamber stores ink therein and has a plurality of orifices on a wall opposite to the body.

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