CA1210989A - Ink jet apparatus with improved transducer support - Google Patents
Ink jet apparatus with improved transducer supportInfo
- Publication number
- CA1210989A CA1210989A CA000418853A CA418853A CA1210989A CA 1210989 A CA1210989 A CA 1210989A CA 000418853 A CA000418853 A CA 000418853A CA 418853 A CA418853 A CA 418853A CA 1210989 A CA1210989 A CA 1210989A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ink jet
- transducers
- compliant
- jet array
- electrical connection
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/14201—Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2002/14387—Front shooter
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An ink jet array comprises a plurality of elongated transducers (204) coupled to a plurality of ink jet chambers (200). The transducers (204) are supported at longitudinal extremities only so as to minimize cross-talk between jets within the array. The support at the extremity remote from the chamber (200) is provided by a compliant clamp (230) such that no substantial reaction force the axis of elongation of the transducers (204) occurs. The support at the other extremity includes bearings (224) precluding sub-stantially lateral movement transverse to the axis of elongation but permitting longitudinal movement along the axis of elongation.
An ink jet array comprises a plurality of elongated transducers (204) coupled to a plurality of ink jet chambers (200). The transducers (204) are supported at longitudinal extremities only so as to minimize cross-talk between jets within the array. The support at the extremity remote from the chamber (200) is provided by a compliant clamp (230) such that no substantial reaction force the axis of elongation of the transducers (204) occurs. The support at the other extremity includes bearings (224) precluding sub-stantially lateral movement transverse to the axis of elongation but permitting longitudinal movement along the axis of elongation.
Description
1 ~
2 This invention relates to apparatus wherein
3 droplets of ink are ejected from an orifice of an ink
4 jet, and more particularly, to the manner in which the transducers which control the ejectîon of droplets 6 from an orifice are supported 7 SUMMAR~ OF rrHE INVENTIO~
8 It is an object of this invention to provide 9 improved transducer support in an ink jet array.
It is a more ~pecific ob~ect of this 11 invention to provide improved transducer support such 12 that crosstalk between ink jets in an array may be 13 minimized~
14 In accordance with the present invention, there is thus provided an ink jet array comprising a 16 plurality of chambers having ink jet droplet ejection 17 orifices therein. A plurality of elongated transdu-18 cers are respectively coupled to the chambers for 19 expanding and contracting the transducers in response to energization thereof, the transducers having one 21 end juxtaposed to the chambers and another end 22 opposite therefrom. A transducer supporting means is 23 provided comprising a rigid portion and a compliant 24 clamping portion between the rigid portion and the transducers in an area along the axis of elongation of 26 the transducers for precluding contact between the 27 rigid portion and the opposite end of the transducers 28 in the area of the clamping portion.
29 According to a preferred embodimenk of the invention, the compliant clamping portion comprises 31 an elastomeric material. Silicone rubber has been 32 found to be particularly suitable.
~2~
1 According to another preferred embodiment 2 of the invention, the ink jet array further com~rises 3 compliant electrical connections to the transducers~
4 The electrical connections may comprise flexible wires or a flexible printed circuit.
6 According to a further preferred embodiment 7 of the invention, the compliant clamping means may substantially surround a transverse cross section of 9 the transducers. As an alternative, the compliant clamping portion may only partially surround a trans-11 verse cross-section of the transducers.
12 BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
13 Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the ink jet 14 apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, 16 Fig. la is an enlarged view of a portion 17 of the ink jet apparatus of Fig. 1, 18 Fig. 2 is a top view of the ink jet apparatus 19 shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus 21 shown in Fig. 2 taken along line 3-3, 22 Fig. 4 is a ~iew comparable to the view of 23 Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention;
24 Fig. 5 is a view comparable to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention, and 26 Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus 27 shown in FigO 5 taken along 6-6.
28 DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED E_BODIME~NTS
29 Referring to Figs. 1-3, an ink jet apparatus ~ \
1 comprises a plurality o chambers 200 having orifices 2 202 and an orifice plate 218 for ejecting droplets of 3 ink in response to the state of energization of the 4 transducers 204. The transducers 204 which are rectang-ular in cross-section transverse to the axis of elonga-6 tion expand and contract along the axis of elongation 7 as depicted by the arrowheads shown in Yig. la. The 8 resulting move~ent of the transducers 204 along the axis 9 of elongation is coupled into the chamber 200 by coupl-ing means 205 including a foot 207, a viscoelastic 11 material 208 juxtaposed to the foot 207 and a diaphragm 12 210 which is preloaded to a position best shown in Fig.
13 la.
14 Ink flows into the chamber 200 from a reser-voir 212 through a restricted inlet means provided by a 16 restricted opening 214 best shown in Fig. 3. The 17 opening 214 is located in a restrictor plate 216 best 18 shown in Fig. 2.
19 The reservoir 212 is formed by a concave region in a chamber plate 220 which is covered by the 21 restrictor plate 216 so as to form an acute angle along 22 one side of the reservoir 212 leading to the inlet 214.
23 A feeder input tube 223 communicates with the reservoir 24 212 at one end thereof as shown in Fig. 1. A heater assembly 225 is also shown in Fig. 1.
26 ~ach of the transducers 204 are supported at 27 the extremities thereof with intermediate portions being 2~ essentially unsupported as best shown in Fig. 1. ~ore 29 specifically, Fig 1 discloses a tran.sducer support means including a plate 226 and a plate 228. The plate 31 226 of the transducer support means includes bearing 32 means in the form of a hole 224 which receives the foot 33 207 attached to an extremity of the transducer 204.
~2~9~3~
1 It will be appreciated that the foot 207 is free to move 2 longitudinally within the hole 22~ thereby permitting 3 longitudinal motion of the transducer along the axis of 4 elongation of the transducer while substantially pre-venting lateral motion of the transducer.
6 Mounting means for the transducer 204 provided 7 by the plate 228 includes slots 232 best shown in Fig.
8 2. In accordance with this invention, compliant mount-g ing means 230 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 clamp the transducers 204 adjacent the extremities of the trans-11 ducers 20~ remote from the chambers 200. It will be 12 appreciated that the compliant mounting means 230 3 provides a shear bond with the transducer 204.
14 In accordance with this invention, the com-pliant mounting means 230 provide a sufficient clamping 16 action with respect to the transducers 204 so as to 17 substantially prevent any longitudinal motion of the 1~ transducers along the axis of elongation at the com-19 pliant clamping means 230 such that expansion and contraction of the transducer 204 is translated along 21 the transducer 204 and into the movernent of the foot 207 22 through the bearing holes 224 in the p~ate 226. At the 23 same time~ the compliant mounting means 230 has a 24 sufficient stiffness in the direction of elongation of the transducers 204 so as to achieve substantial 26 movement in the direction of expansion and contraction.
27 The low mechanical stiffness minimizes the reaction 28 force that one transducer 204 transmits to other trans-29 ducers 204 in the array when driven or energized.
The plate 228 includes a recessed area 229 31 shown in Fig. 1 below the slots 232 which is spaced from 32 the transducers 204. Thus, there is no contact along 33 the area 229. Moreover, it will be appreciated that 1 portions of the plate 228 including the slots 232 in 2 conjunction with the area 229 and the portion of the 3 plate 226 extending toward the holes 224 forms a C-shape 4 cross-section designated with broken lines identified with the character C where the region 229 forms the 6 center of the C. Note that ~he space between ~he region 7 229 and the transducer permits the transducer to have a 8 substantially larger dimension than the foot 207 while 9 still avoiding contact with the plate 228. Moreover, the foot 207 extends sufficiently far upwardly toward 11 the slots 232 so as to assure that the transducer 204 12 may expand and contract without con~acting any portion 13 of the plate 226. Thus, the transducer 204 may be 14 rec~angular in cross-section having a substantially greater dimension in the direction shown in the plane of 16 Fig. 1 as compared with the direction shown in the 17 plane of Fig. 2.
18 As shown in Fig. 1, the overall leng~h of the 19 longitudinal bearing surface represented by the hole 224 in the direction of the axis of elongation of the 21 transducer 204 is substantially less than the overall 22 length of the transducer 204 along that axis. Prefer-23 ably, the overall length of the bearing surface 224 24 along the axis is less than twice the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the transducer as also shown in 26 Fig, 1.
27 Referring to Figs. 1-3, it will be observed 28 that the compliant material 230 surround all four sides 29 of the transducers 204 and the slots 232. However, it will be appreciated that the compliant material 230 31 need not surround all four sides. In the embodiment as 32 shown in Fig. 4, the compliant material 330 is located 33 between a single side of the transducers 204 in one wall 34 of the slots 232. It will be appreciated that any ~2~
~ 6 1 number of walls of the transducers 204 may be surrounded 2 by the compliant material. Therefore, lt will be 3 appreciated that regardless of the amount of compliant 4 material utilized to clamp the transducers 204 in place, the magnitude of the mechanical disturbance from one 6 transducer to another is substantially minirnized. As a 7 consequence, the erroneous ejection of a droplet from 8 a nei3hboring channel or ink jet chamber is minimized.
9 In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, coMpliance is also provided in the 11 electrical connection to electrodes 236 and 238 of the 12 transducers 204 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This com-13 pliant electrical coupling is provided by flexible wire 14 leads 240 and 242. The wire leads 240 and 242 are connected to pins 250 extending into a planar insulator 16 244 extending across the top of the plate 228. Each of 17 the pins 250 is capable of coupling an electrical signal 18 to a particular transducer 204 for selectively ejecting 19 a droplet on demand. The flexible wire leads 242 are connected to a bus 248 which in turn is connected to 21 ground as shown in Fig. 2.
22 It will be appreciated that the compliant 23 electrical connection to the transducer 204 minimizes 24 the possibility of any mechanical disturbances being transmitted from one channel or one chamber to another 26 channel or chamber by means of ~he electrical connection 27 ~herefore, compliance is provided in both the mechanical 28 mounting through means of the compliant ma~erial 230 as 29 well as the electrical connection by means of the fle~ible or compliant leads 240 and 242. It will be 31 appreciated that various types of electrical connections 32 may be made at the electrodes 236 and 238 as well as at 33 the pins 250 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, e.g., solder.
34 The same compliant electrical connection is achieved in 1 the embodimen~ of Fig. ~ utilizing flexible wire leads 2 240 and 242.
3 Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, an embodiment 4 of the invention is shown wherein another compliant electrical connection is utilized. More specifically, 6 in this connection, a flexible prin~ed circuit board 7 having a flexible substrate 300 is unsecured and free to 8 move with respect to the top of the plate 2280 The 9 substrate 300 includes a series oE slots 302 which generally correspond and are aligned with the slots 11 232 in the plate 228 which are filled with the compliant 12 material 230. The printed circuit board also includes 13 planar conductive portions 304 mounted on the substrate 14 300 which are coupled to the electrodes 23~ of the transducers 204 by solder points 308. These planar 16 conductive members 304 are selectively energized so as 17 to produce ~rops on demand from the various chambers 18 associated with the ink jets. Additional planar con-19 ductive members 306 are connected to the electrodes 238 and a flexible ground bus bar 24~ by solder points 21 308 to complete the electrical connection between the 22 planar conductive members 304 and 306 and the electrodes 23 236 and 238. Other techniques may be employed to 24 minimize cross-talk including the slitting of the substrate 300 between transducers. It may also be 26 desirable to employ other conductive patterns so as to 27 permit a planar ground bus bar to be utilized.
28 It will be appreciated that the compliant ~9 clamping material may comprise a variety of elastomeric 3~ materials. For example, silicone rubber has been found 31 to be particularly suitable for use. Other elastomeric 32 materials suitable for use include latex and Neoprene.
33 In general, it is desirable to have a compliant material 34 characterized by a stiffness at least in order of 9~3~
l magnitude less than the compressive stiffness of the 2 transducer along the transducer axis.
3 As described in the foregoinq, the electrical 4 coupling may comprise wire leads or a flexible printed circuit board. In ~eneral, flexible leads having a 6 lesser diameter than the thickness of the transducers 7 204 (e.g., less than .25 mm) have been found to provide 8 the necessary compliance. The thickness of the flexible 9 circuit board substrate 300 should also be less than the 13 thickness of the transducers 204 (eOg., less than .25 mm).
11 Although a particular embodiment of the 12 invention has been shown and described t it will be 13 appreciated that other embodiments and modifications 14 will fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
8 It is an object of this invention to provide 9 improved transducer support in an ink jet array.
It is a more ~pecific ob~ect of this 11 invention to provide improved transducer support such 12 that crosstalk between ink jets in an array may be 13 minimized~
14 In accordance with the present invention, there is thus provided an ink jet array comprising a 16 plurality of chambers having ink jet droplet ejection 17 orifices therein. A plurality of elongated transdu-18 cers are respectively coupled to the chambers for 19 expanding and contracting the transducers in response to energization thereof, the transducers having one 21 end juxtaposed to the chambers and another end 22 opposite therefrom. A transducer supporting means is 23 provided comprising a rigid portion and a compliant 24 clamping portion between the rigid portion and the transducers in an area along the axis of elongation of 26 the transducers for precluding contact between the 27 rigid portion and the opposite end of the transducers 28 in the area of the clamping portion.
29 According to a preferred embodimenk of the invention, the compliant clamping portion comprises 31 an elastomeric material. Silicone rubber has been 32 found to be particularly suitable.
~2~
1 According to another preferred embodiment 2 of the invention, the ink jet array further com~rises 3 compliant electrical connections to the transducers~
4 The electrical connections may comprise flexible wires or a flexible printed circuit.
6 According to a further preferred embodiment 7 of the invention, the compliant clamping means may substantially surround a transverse cross section of 9 the transducers. As an alternative, the compliant clamping portion may only partially surround a trans-11 verse cross-section of the transducers.
12 BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
13 Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the ink jet 14 apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, 16 Fig. la is an enlarged view of a portion 17 of the ink jet apparatus of Fig. 1, 18 Fig. 2 is a top view of the ink jet apparatus 19 shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 2-2, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus 21 shown in Fig. 2 taken along line 3-3, 22 Fig. 4 is a ~iew comparable to the view of 23 Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention;
24 Fig. 5 is a view comparable to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention, and 26 Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus 27 shown in FigO 5 taken along 6-6.
28 DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED E_BODIME~NTS
29 Referring to Figs. 1-3, an ink jet apparatus ~ \
1 comprises a plurality o chambers 200 having orifices 2 202 and an orifice plate 218 for ejecting droplets of 3 ink in response to the state of energization of the 4 transducers 204. The transducers 204 which are rectang-ular in cross-section transverse to the axis of elonga-6 tion expand and contract along the axis of elongation 7 as depicted by the arrowheads shown in Yig. la. The 8 resulting move~ent of the transducers 204 along the axis 9 of elongation is coupled into the chamber 200 by coupl-ing means 205 including a foot 207, a viscoelastic 11 material 208 juxtaposed to the foot 207 and a diaphragm 12 210 which is preloaded to a position best shown in Fig.
13 la.
14 Ink flows into the chamber 200 from a reser-voir 212 through a restricted inlet means provided by a 16 restricted opening 214 best shown in Fig. 3. The 17 opening 214 is located in a restrictor plate 216 best 18 shown in Fig. 2.
19 The reservoir 212 is formed by a concave region in a chamber plate 220 which is covered by the 21 restrictor plate 216 so as to form an acute angle along 22 one side of the reservoir 212 leading to the inlet 214.
23 A feeder input tube 223 communicates with the reservoir 24 212 at one end thereof as shown in Fig. 1. A heater assembly 225 is also shown in Fig. 1.
26 ~ach of the transducers 204 are supported at 27 the extremities thereof with intermediate portions being 2~ essentially unsupported as best shown in Fig. 1. ~ore 29 specifically, Fig 1 discloses a tran.sducer support means including a plate 226 and a plate 228. The plate 31 226 of the transducer support means includes bearing 32 means in the form of a hole 224 which receives the foot 33 207 attached to an extremity of the transducer 204.
~2~9~3~
1 It will be appreciated that the foot 207 is free to move 2 longitudinally within the hole 22~ thereby permitting 3 longitudinal motion of the transducer along the axis of 4 elongation of the transducer while substantially pre-venting lateral motion of the transducer.
6 Mounting means for the transducer 204 provided 7 by the plate 228 includes slots 232 best shown in Fig.
8 2. In accordance with this invention, compliant mount-g ing means 230 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 clamp the transducers 204 adjacent the extremities of the trans-11 ducers 20~ remote from the chambers 200. It will be 12 appreciated that the compliant mounting means 230 3 provides a shear bond with the transducer 204.
14 In accordance with this invention, the com-pliant mounting means 230 provide a sufficient clamping 16 action with respect to the transducers 204 so as to 17 substantially prevent any longitudinal motion of the 1~ transducers along the axis of elongation at the com-19 pliant clamping means 230 such that expansion and contraction of the transducer 204 is translated along 21 the transducer 204 and into the movernent of the foot 207 22 through the bearing holes 224 in the p~ate 226. At the 23 same time~ the compliant mounting means 230 has a 24 sufficient stiffness in the direction of elongation of the transducers 204 so as to achieve substantial 26 movement in the direction of expansion and contraction.
27 The low mechanical stiffness minimizes the reaction 28 force that one transducer 204 transmits to other trans-29 ducers 204 in the array when driven or energized.
The plate 228 includes a recessed area 229 31 shown in Fig. 1 below the slots 232 which is spaced from 32 the transducers 204. Thus, there is no contact along 33 the area 229. Moreover, it will be appreciated that 1 portions of the plate 228 including the slots 232 in 2 conjunction with the area 229 and the portion of the 3 plate 226 extending toward the holes 224 forms a C-shape 4 cross-section designated with broken lines identified with the character C where the region 229 forms the 6 center of the C. Note that ~he space between ~he region 7 229 and the transducer permits the transducer to have a 8 substantially larger dimension than the foot 207 while 9 still avoiding contact with the plate 228. Moreover, the foot 207 extends sufficiently far upwardly toward 11 the slots 232 so as to assure that the transducer 204 12 may expand and contract without con~acting any portion 13 of the plate 226. Thus, the transducer 204 may be 14 rec~angular in cross-section having a substantially greater dimension in the direction shown in the plane of 16 Fig. 1 as compared with the direction shown in the 17 plane of Fig. 2.
18 As shown in Fig. 1, the overall leng~h of the 19 longitudinal bearing surface represented by the hole 224 in the direction of the axis of elongation of the 21 transducer 204 is substantially less than the overall 22 length of the transducer 204 along that axis. Prefer-23 ably, the overall length of the bearing surface 224 24 along the axis is less than twice the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the transducer as also shown in 26 Fig, 1.
27 Referring to Figs. 1-3, it will be observed 28 that the compliant material 230 surround all four sides 29 of the transducers 204 and the slots 232. However, it will be appreciated that the compliant material 230 31 need not surround all four sides. In the embodiment as 32 shown in Fig. 4, the compliant material 330 is located 33 between a single side of the transducers 204 in one wall 34 of the slots 232. It will be appreciated that any ~2~
~ 6 1 number of walls of the transducers 204 may be surrounded 2 by the compliant material. Therefore, lt will be 3 appreciated that regardless of the amount of compliant 4 material utilized to clamp the transducers 204 in place, the magnitude of the mechanical disturbance from one 6 transducer to another is substantially minirnized. As a 7 consequence, the erroneous ejection of a droplet from 8 a nei3hboring channel or ink jet chamber is minimized.
9 In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, coMpliance is also provided in the 11 electrical connection to electrodes 236 and 238 of the 12 transducers 204 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This com-13 pliant electrical coupling is provided by flexible wire 14 leads 240 and 242. The wire leads 240 and 242 are connected to pins 250 extending into a planar insulator 16 244 extending across the top of the plate 228. Each of 17 the pins 250 is capable of coupling an electrical signal 18 to a particular transducer 204 for selectively ejecting 19 a droplet on demand. The flexible wire leads 242 are connected to a bus 248 which in turn is connected to 21 ground as shown in Fig. 2.
22 It will be appreciated that the compliant 23 electrical connection to the transducer 204 minimizes 24 the possibility of any mechanical disturbances being transmitted from one channel or one chamber to another 26 channel or chamber by means of ~he electrical connection 27 ~herefore, compliance is provided in both the mechanical 28 mounting through means of the compliant ma~erial 230 as 29 well as the electrical connection by means of the fle~ible or compliant leads 240 and 242. It will be 31 appreciated that various types of electrical connections 32 may be made at the electrodes 236 and 238 as well as at 33 the pins 250 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, e.g., solder.
34 The same compliant electrical connection is achieved in 1 the embodimen~ of Fig. ~ utilizing flexible wire leads 2 240 and 242.
3 Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, an embodiment 4 of the invention is shown wherein another compliant electrical connection is utilized. More specifically, 6 in this connection, a flexible prin~ed circuit board 7 having a flexible substrate 300 is unsecured and free to 8 move with respect to the top of the plate 2280 The 9 substrate 300 includes a series oE slots 302 which generally correspond and are aligned with the slots 11 232 in the plate 228 which are filled with the compliant 12 material 230. The printed circuit board also includes 13 planar conductive portions 304 mounted on the substrate 14 300 which are coupled to the electrodes 23~ of the transducers 204 by solder points 308. These planar 16 conductive members 304 are selectively energized so as 17 to produce ~rops on demand from the various chambers 18 associated with the ink jets. Additional planar con-19 ductive members 306 are connected to the electrodes 238 and a flexible ground bus bar 24~ by solder points 21 308 to complete the electrical connection between the 22 planar conductive members 304 and 306 and the electrodes 23 236 and 238. Other techniques may be employed to 24 minimize cross-talk including the slitting of the substrate 300 between transducers. It may also be 26 desirable to employ other conductive patterns so as to 27 permit a planar ground bus bar to be utilized.
28 It will be appreciated that the compliant ~9 clamping material may comprise a variety of elastomeric 3~ materials. For example, silicone rubber has been found 31 to be particularly suitable for use. Other elastomeric 32 materials suitable for use include latex and Neoprene.
33 In general, it is desirable to have a compliant material 34 characterized by a stiffness at least in order of 9~3~
l magnitude less than the compressive stiffness of the 2 transducer along the transducer axis.
3 As described in the foregoinq, the electrical 4 coupling may comprise wire leads or a flexible printed circuit board. In ~eneral, flexible leads having a 6 lesser diameter than the thickness of the transducers 7 204 (e.g., less than .25 mm) have been found to provide 8 the necessary compliance. The thickness of the flexible 9 circuit board substrate 300 should also be less than the 13 thickness of the transducers 204 (eOg., less than .25 mm).
11 Although a particular embodiment of the 12 invention has been shown and described t it will be 13 appreciated that other embodiments and modifications 14 will fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims (10)
1. An ink jet array comprising:
a plurality of chambers having ink jet droplet ejection orifices therein, a plurality of elongated transducers respectively coupled to said chambers for expanding and contracting the transducers in response to ener-gization thereof, said transducers having one end juxtaposed to said chambers and another end opposite therefrom; and a supporting means for said transducers comprising a rigid portion and a compliant clamping portion between said rigid portion and said transdu-cers in an area along the axis of elongation of the transducers for precluding contact between said rigid portion and said opposite end of said transducers in the area of said clamping portion.
a plurality of chambers having ink jet droplet ejection orifices therein, a plurality of elongated transducers respectively coupled to said chambers for expanding and contracting the transducers in response to ener-gization thereof, said transducers having one end juxtaposed to said chambers and another end opposite therefrom; and a supporting means for said transducers comprising a rigid portion and a compliant clamping portion between said rigid portion and said transdu-cers in an area along the axis of elongation of the transducers for precluding contact between said rigid portion and said opposite end of said transducers in the area of said clamping portion.
2. The ink jet array of claim 1 wherein said compliant clamping portion comprises an elasto-meric material.
3. The ink jet array of claim 2 wherein said elastomeric material comprises silicone rubber.
4. The ink jet array of claim 2 wherein said elastomeric material is characterized by a stiffness at least an order of magnitude less than the stiffness of said transducer.
5. The ink jet array of claim 1 wherein a transverse cross-section through each of said trans-ducers is substantially surrounded by said compliant clamping portion.
- 9a -
- 9a -
6. The ink jet array of claim 1 wherein a transverse cross-section through each of said transducers is only partially surrounded by said compliant clamping portion.
7. The ink jet array of claim 1 further comprising a compliant electrical connection to said transducers.
8. The ink jet array of claim 7 wherein said compliant electrical connection comprises a flexible substrate and planar conductors thereon.
9. The ink jet array of claim 7 wherein said compliant electrical connection comprises flexible planar conductors.
10. The ink jet array of claim 7 wherein said compliant electrical connection comprises wire leads.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US33660082A | 1982-01-04 | 1982-01-04 | |
| US336,600 | 1982-01-04 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1210989A true CA1210989A (en) | 1986-09-09 |
Family
ID=23316833
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000418853A Expired CA1210989A (en) | 1982-01-04 | 1983-01-04 | Ink jet apparatus with improved transducer support |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0083876A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS58119871A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1210989A (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6186619B1 (en) | 1990-02-23 | 2001-02-13 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head |
| JP3041952B2 (en) * | 1990-02-23 | 2000-05-15 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Ink jet recording head, piezoelectric vibrator, and method of manufacturing these |
| DE69224975T2 (en) * | 1991-12-26 | 1998-07-30 | Seiko Epson Corp | Inkjet printhead and its manufacturing process |
| US5764257A (en) * | 1991-12-26 | 1998-06-09 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink jet recording head |
| US5444467A (en) * | 1993-05-10 | 1995-08-22 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Differential drive system for an ink jet printhead |
| JP4607201B2 (en) * | 2008-03-19 | 2011-01-05 | クラスターテクノロジー株式会社 | Droplet discharge apparatus and manufacturing method thereof |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4138687A (en) * | 1977-07-18 | 1979-02-06 | The Mead Corporation | Apparatus for producing multiple uniform fluid filaments and drops |
| JPS5519523A (en) * | 1978-07-28 | 1980-02-12 | Canon Inc | Recording device |
| DE3007189A1 (en) * | 1979-04-25 | 1980-11-06 | Xerox Corp | DEVICE WORKING WITH PRESSURE IMPULSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIQUID DROPS |
| JPS55166653U (en) * | 1979-05-21 | 1980-12-01 | ||
| US4243995A (en) * | 1979-06-01 | 1981-01-06 | Xerox Corporation | Encapsulated piezoelectric pressure pulse drop ejector apparatus |
| US4459601A (en) * | 1981-01-30 | 1984-07-10 | Exxon Research And Engineering Co. | Ink jet method and apparatus |
-
1982
- 1982-12-28 JP JP22789482A patent/JPS58119871A/en active Granted
- 1982-12-31 EP EP82307016A patent/EP0083876A3/en not_active Ceased
-
1983
- 1983-01-04 CA CA000418853A patent/CA1210989A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0083876A3 (en) | 1984-08-29 |
| JPH0431867B2 (en) | 1992-05-27 |
| JPS58119871A (en) | 1983-07-16 |
| EP0083876A2 (en) | 1983-07-20 |
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