Long-life stable-jetting thermal ink jet printer
US6565176B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/04591
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal ink jet printing apparatus maintains stable printing output as certain characteristics of the apparatus change over its operational lifetime. The apparatus includes an ink jet print head with resistive heating elements for receiving electrical energy pulses having a voltage level and for transferring heat energy pulses having a desired energy level into adjacent ink based on the electrical energy pulses. The print head includes nozzles associated with the resistive heating elements through which droplets of the ink are ejected when the heat energy pulses are transferred into the ink. The apparatus further includes a printer controller in electrical communication with the print head. The printer controller determines a pulse count indicative of a number of electrical energy pulses, applies the electrical energy pulses having a first pulse width to the resistive heating elements when the pulse count is less than a threshold value, and applies the electrical energy pulses having an adjusted pulse width to the resistive heating elements when the pulse count exceeds the threshold value. The difference in the first and the adjusted pulse widths compensates for changes in the el…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.