Inkjet printing with air movement system to improve dot shape

US6491364B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Joe R. Pietrzyk () · Village of La Jolla, US
• Thomas M. Sabo · San Diego, US
• John M. Kniffin · Tualatin, US
• Dustin Blair · Escondido, US
• Grant Webster · Valley Center, US
• Stephen W. Bauer · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 27, 2001
• Grant date: Dec 10, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 27, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2202/02
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An inkjet printer for printing on a print medium includes a printhead having an ink orifice formed therein through which an ink drop is ejected into a print zone between the printhead and the print medium during printing, and an air movement system which directs a stream of gas through the print zone as the ink drop is ejected during printing. When ejected, the ink drop forms a head and a tail. As such, the stream of gas converges the tail of the ink drop and the head of the ink drop during printing so as to improve the shape of a dot formed by the ink drop on the print medium.