CN1293111A

CN1293111A - Ink-jet printing machine and method of ink-jet printing

Info

Publication number: CN1293111A
Application number: CN 00128594
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·瓦戈
Original assignee: Imaje SA
Current assignee: Markem Imaje SAS
Priority date: 1999-10-15
Filing date: 2000-10-15
Publication date: 2001-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-15
Also published as: ES2254117T3; DE60025320T2; EP1092542A1; CN1170677C; FR2799688B1; DE60025320D1; FR2799688A1; EP1092542B1

Abstract

A continuous ink-jet printing machine forms a ink drop directed to a printing substrate by the role of a digital data of the limited print image, which is characterized in that the ink-jet broken is controlled by the requirement worked by said digital data so as to form a ink drop and a portion. A group of deflection electrodes direct the drop sections towards an ink recuperator. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a DB for ink drop formation is protected by an electrode group so as not to be impacted by the deflection electric field. A deflection electrode and a shield electrode co-operate to a ink-jet assembly.

Description

Ink-jet printer and inkjet printing methods

The present invention relates to the continous inkjet printers field.It also relates to a kind of method, and this method is used for the selectivity of conducting liquid spout part sprays, and relates to a kind of continous inkjet Method of printing particularly.The method according to this invention with print function and be used for particularly with record, mark, encode, write all relevant industrial circles such as address and industrial decoration.

In the prior art, there are two kinds of main continous inkjet printing techniques.They are respectively deflection continous inkjet technology and overlap the continous inkjet technology.

The typical operation of continous inkjet printers will be described below.The electrically conductive ink that remains under the pressure is discharged from a nozzle of demarcating.Under the effect of one-period property exciting bank, the ink-jet of Xing Chenging is broken in regular characteristic point of time period internal space like this.Below the break-up point of spraying, continuous injection is transformed into same and regular ink droplet series at interval.One first electrode group be positioned at break-up point near, its formal function is the electric charge that is transferred to each ink droplet one predetermined quantity in a selectivity mode usually.

The ink droplet set by second electrode arrangement, has a steady electric field to change the track of charging ink droplet in this electrode arrangement with a kind of selection mode charging then like this.

In being called first kind of printer of deflection continous inkjet, the amount of charge that is transferred to ink droplet in ink-jet is variable.During it was by second electrode arrangement with steady electric field, each ink droplet showed a deflection, and this deflection increases with the amount of charge of before distributing to it, and pointed to and print an on-chip accurate point.This technology because these a plurality of deflection levels, makes the whole pattern of the row that a nozzle can be by a section or frame-an assigned altitute point-print.Process from one section to another section realizes that by the substrate continuous dislocation with respect to printhead said displacement is perpendicular to said section.

Second kind of type of printer is to overlap continous inkjet.This technology is different from a kind of of front, particularly because the current potential of ink droplet overlaps.By during the deflecting electrode, ink droplet does not come deflection according to the size of the quantity of electric charge that it received with a kind of same way as deflection at it.Thereby the printing of character or pattern requires to use the multiinjector printhead usually, and the centre distance in hole is consistent with the distance of shock point on the printing substrate.Should be noted that the ink droplet that is generally used for printing is non-deflected droplets, that is to say that overlapping current potential is 0.

In two kinds of technology, promptly depart from continous inkjet technology and the coincidence continous inkjet technology, the printing ink of not leaving a trace on substrate directly points to a spent ink groove or returnable, and recycles in the printing ink loop by this way, and promptly printing ink returns printing nozzle.

Described a kind of broken method of spraying ink droplet that is used in patent application US-A-4220958, the inventor of this application is CROWLEY.According to the described method of CROWLEY, conductive ink-jet is periodically by bringing the electrode of ink-jet high potential.Under the effect of these electrodes, the ink-jet charging.Electric charge is attracted by electrode in such a way, promptly makes the areal deformation of ink-jet transverse to the power of ink-jet.The speed of ink-jet and the transverse movement of ink discharging surface are such combinations, and promptly on the certain distance of ionization electrode, ink-jet is fractured into continuous ink droplet.

In the description of the Prior Art before his invention, CROWLEY has quoted the patent application US-A-3596275 of Richard G.SWEET.Quoting according to this, is the formation of ink droplet for the ink-jet printer emphasis.Ink droplet preferably forms with a fixed frequency with constant-quality and speed.For reaching this purpose, SWEET has disclosed Fig. 1 in his patent application, 2 and 10 represented three kinds of technology.

According to first kind of technology, inkjet nozzle vibrates.According to second kind of technology, liquid sprays and carries out the electricity-excitation of surging with an electricity-(EHD) driver that surges.The third technology is by with a piezo-electric crystal distributing nozzle supply chamber, applies a pressure and change on nozzle level place liquid.A kind of technology in back accounts for main flow in the literature, for example is used in IBM6640 (registration mark) machine.

With respect to the situation of this prior art, the invention of CROWLEY relates to a kind of electricity-driver that surges, and the electrode length that ink-jet is passed through in this driver equals half of distance between the ink droplet.

For example in the patent US-A-4638328 of DRAKE etc., described another and ink-jet has been changed into the motivational techniques of ink droplet.It relates to heat-resistant element encourages.

Second kind of so-called drop on demand ink jet inkjet printing is used on the office printer basically.Comprise with colored paper or plastic substrate print text or picture pattern.Opposite with the continous inkjet printing, the drop on demand ink jet technology directly and only produces the ink droplet that is enough to print required pattern.Therefore in this printer without any electrode or be used at the face that leaves of nozzle and print the groove that reclaims printing ink between the substrate.The drop on demand ink jet printer must be the multiinjector machine and need a driver that is used for printing ink jetting nozzle hole.

By the density of the point that these printers produced, reach per inch 600 magnitude of counting, result from the material that develops for microelectronics industry and the application of production technology.

In industry printing field, the performance of continous inkjet printhead substantially exceeds the ability of drop on demand ink jet pattern.At first provide:

The printing substrate of-one a widely used printing ink scope and a more kind,

-one higher drop ejection frequency, thus print speed (approximately several meters of 100kHz and per seconds are to several centimetres of about 10kHz and per seconds) increased,

-one printing distance, this distance are the distance (approximately 15mm to 1mm) of bottom surface above substrate from printhead.

Yet, in overlapping the continous inkjet multiinjector, also do not find the simple designs of drop on demand ink jet printhead.Give the electrode of each ink-jet charging must be under the frequency that ink droplet forms and can reach driving respectively under 350 volts the potential level.Under a point-device degree, all nozzles of printhead and the production of electrode and arrangement will expose some subject matters:

◆ produce and expense: the increase of the high-tension circuit that is connected with charging electrode and the increase of these identical electrodes will need a complexity and expensive electronic control system,

◆ use and performance: the intensive high-tension connector technology near ink-jet will produce undesirable phenomenon, this phenomenon will influence print quality, described connector only can limit by the speed that reduces the ink droplet application, thereby reduces print speed, and/or loss resolution ratio.

Described the drop sorter of a continuous hydrojet among the patent application US4230558 (Fulwyler, 1980), this device is used for the biological cell classification according to production and needs.During operation, on continuous insulation drop, spray, partly constitute by the liquid of variable-length.

" intermittently " situation of spraying is guaranteed by an electric liquid driver (high potential electrode) or the external heat source (laser) facing to hydrojet.The EHD excitation of hydrojet and the further details of intermittent drive can be found in patent application US4220958 (J.M.Crowley) and one piece of document, the author of above-mentioned document is D.W.Hrdina and J.M.Crowley (IEEE transactions on Industry Application, Vol.25, No.4, July/August 1989, and entitled " Drop-on-demand Operation of Continuous Jets UsingEHD Techniques " (pages705-710)).

In the device by the Fulwyle suggestion, the generation of drop is to be triggered in such a way by a special detection system, that is, each drop in these drops is comprising the biological substrate of insulation.Actual classification is similar to by one that method used in the continous inkjet printers finishes:

-one electrode, this electrode and driver are fully synchronous, starting electrode when the drop separation of each classification and when responding to a certain amount of electric charge.Be important to note that during drop formed, the stability of charging process and repeatability required accurately in proper order: be positioned at before the separation of the part that separating of part below the drop must be on be positioned at drop;

-hydrojet is by a steady electric field, and the liquid track partly that making the droplet trajectory that stands a deflection be different from does not have to use becomes possibility.

It is possible that this sorting technique is applied to the inkjet printing field, but under the form of the patent of being quoted, and can not obtain any hydrojet of passing through a steady electric field, thereby makes that the common method of operating under might than whenever is superior.

Especially, this technology is extended to printing and mean that multiinjector must have the parts that are respectively applied for to the drop charge of each nozzle ejection.

An object of the present invention is to preserve the advantage of continuous injection technology, and also combine with some advantage of drop on demand ink jet technology.

Target of the present invention is to suppress each injection of single charging electrode scope of drop and the control circuit that interrelates with single electrode scope.Also having a target is the phenomenon of being discord that suppresses between the different hydrojets of same printhead.See that according to prior art, ink-jet is divided into continuous ink droplet under pressure.Printing to on-chip ink droplet classification is to be undertaken by an electrode arrangement below ink droplet forms point, and said point is so-called ink-jet break-up point.The arrangement of the single electrode of Here it is each nozzle has produced the complexity of product on the one hand, has produced the problem of being discord on the other hand.

Deflection is that said data generally are numerical datas by what finish from the data of the data acquisition system that limits print pattern to the ink droplet classification of substrate or accumulator tank.

According to first key character of the present invention, after ink droplet forms, do not re-use the numerical data that limits print pattern, but but be not like this in the past.These are that some are used for determining or are not used for determining the data that ink droplet forms.Thereby according to the present invention, the ink-jet of nozzle will no longer be divided into continuous ink droplet, but be divided into continuous printing ink part and continuous ink droplet.

With the same in the Fulwyler patent application, be placed on electrode below the ink-jet break-up point with described printing ink part rather than ink droplet deflection to accumulator tank.On the other hand, the drop trajectory not influence of these identical deflecting electrodes to arriving substrate.Thereby the printing that relates to an ink-jet printer comprises:

-one printing nozzle, this nozzle sprays ink-jet at an axis of pressure lower edge nozzle,

-one device that forms ink droplet, this device act in the ink-jet by nozzle ejection, form ink droplet by broken ink-jet on the preset distance on the nozzle-axis,

-one device that reclaims printing ink, said printing ink is not printed substrate and receives,

-one memory that is used for the numerical data of storage representation print pattern,

-one print control unit, this device have an input and an output, and said input combines with memory, receive in a continuous manner the expression print pattern to the small part numerical data.

It is characterized in that, the output of print control unit combines with the device that is used for ink droplet formation, these devices come broken ink-jet according to each control signal that receives, thereby ink-jet changed into continuous ink droplet and printing ink part, printer comprises an arrangement for deflecting, and this device is used for said part deflection to the device that reclaims printing ink.

When printhead is multiinjector, generally be the situation that overlaps continous inkjet printers, it does not comprise the only situation of a nozzle, but comprises that a nozzle adds the situation of additional nozzle.In the case, each nozzle comprises a device that is used to form ink droplet.Each device that forms ink droplet combines with print control unit.

In the case, according to a concrete advantage feature of the present invention, the ink droplet and the printing ink part sorter that are used for each ink-jet are shared to all ink-jets.Said part deflection reaches substrate to printing ink retracting device and ink droplet.Because limited and given the single electrode integral body of each ink-jet ink-droplet charging in the prior art, thereby obtain very big simplification to the ink droplet sorter.

Each nozzle of multiinjector device has the device that forms ink droplet in ink-jet of itself.This device is by signal controlling, and said signal is made of the numerical data relevant with nozzle institute print wire.

The zone that better preserved ink droplet of the present invention forms is not subjected to electric field effects, and this electric field is that the deflection by said part causes.The device that said protection ink droplet is not influenced by printing ink part deflecting electric field is best to be made of one or more electrodes or electrode pair, they be placed on deflecting electrode above, the protection ink droplet forms the electric field effects that deflecting electrode that the zone is not subjected to said part produces.

Thereby ink droplet will form in one 0 electromotive force zone or a negligible electromotive force zone.

As a result, when the deflecting electric field of ink droplet below being positioned at, ink droplet will not charge and without undergoing deflection.On the other hand, ink droplet form and the top of this part when the remainder of ink-jet leaves, the part of each said part is in one non-0 electromotive force zone at least.As a result, said part will be recharged and suffer the influence of deflecting electric field.

Ink droplet forms device and preferably is made of the heating element heater as driver.These drivers order about the printing ink local heat as required, and in the time of a predetermined length, at least one physical property of changing printing ink can in printing ink, produce disturbance.This disturbance has caused the formation of ink droplet in the ink-jet in preset distance.As the example that produces the ink droplet device, we can introduce the heat-resistant element described in the DRAKE patent, and the quantity of heat-resistant element equals the quantity of print-head nozzle, and be positioned at nozzle near.Also just like an electricity-hydraulically operated equipment described in the CROWLEY patent.The same with prior art, also have a piezo-electric crystal and be placed in the chamber of supply nozzle printing ink.Should be noted that in this case, because signal is not periodic, so must adapt to the signal of impulse form by this way, promptly the method with the residual oscillation of avoiding causing hindering print head operation is the same.

Perhaps, make the forward position and the edge, back of the pulse of piezo-electric crystal distortion must have such form, promptly after pulse in the past, do not have the residual oscillation harmful crystal.Such residual oscillation will cause undesirable ink droplet to form.

What should be noted that is that the ink ejecting method of describing below in conjunction with printer can be applied in the injection of any conducting liquid.

Thereby, the present invention relates to a kind of method of spraying conducting liquid, said conducting liquid has a reference potential, here

-place the conducting liquid under the pressure on axis direction, to form an injection at least;

-each is injected in and sprays the break-up point fragmentation, and break-up point defines one jointly and is used for the zone that drop forms, and this zone is fixed on room and time, and is positioned at the center perpendicular to the straight line DB that sprays;

The partially conductive liquid of-each injection is deflected to a direction that is different from axis direction;

The method is characterized in that, the order that drop produces in each sprays forms signal controlling by drop, this signal is produced by external information, and its track is continuous continuous drop on axis direction thereby injection is broken into, and the part at the direction upper deflecting that is different from axis direction.

Parallel and be included in many injections in the same plane p for axis, the track of the part of conducting liquid under the situation that does not have the deflection of droplets track at the generation of the plane p that comprises axis direction zone intrinsic deflection, do not having under the situation of spraying, its electrical characteristics are permanent in time, and these zones comprise:

-one protection zone, the difference that its electromotive force is compared with reference potential are 0 or ignore that this zone comprises that drop produces the zone;

-at least one zone, its difference of comparing with reference potential on electromotive force can not be ignored, at least one said zone be close to said protection zone below;

-at least one zone, this zone are the zones of electric field that can the said part of deflection under situation about spray existing.

Be applied to printing, it is a kind of method that is used for print pattern on substrate, and said pattern is limited by the set of numerical data, and by means of a kind of electrically conductive ink, this printing ink keeps a reference potential, here:

The continous inkjet of at least one electrically conductive ink of-injection,

-for producing ink droplet, being broken to form ink droplet in predetermined each ink-jet of place, this place has defined a zone, and this zone is positioned at the central authorities of an orthogonal straight lines (DB), and this straight line is almost perpendicular to each ink-jet.

The part printing ink deflection by this way of-each ink-jet, promptly this deflection printing ink part does not arrive substrate,

Described method is characterised in that, the signal controlling that the order that ink droplet produces in each ink-jet is formed by ink droplet, this signal is to be formed by the numerical data that limits print pattern in a continuous manner, thereby ink-jet is broken into continuous ink droplet and printing ink part, said ink droplet do not have deflection or hardly deflection point to substrate.

The deflection of not pointing to the printing ink part of substrate preferably is created in the electric field that ink droplet forms below the point by one and obtains, and comprises the influence that the above-mentioned printing ink part of locality protection that ink droplet produces the set of point is not subjected to deflecting electric field.

Electrical characteristics-the electric field and the electromotive force of the area of space that ink-jet set is passed through are spatially-variables, are constant on the time, and all are the same for each ink-jet.

Usually, ink-jet is to spray from axis nozzle arranged side by side.The axis of nozzle is included in the plane p.The area of space that ink-jet is passed through is such zone, and it is positioned at the central authorities of plane P, and is limited or limited by the surface at a straight line place and plane P quadrature by the plane N perpendicular to plane p, and this straight line is the common straight line of plane P and plane N.

Do not having under the situation of ink-jet, bringing under the reference potential of disturbance, the electrical characteristics of area of space comprise that the area of space of ink-jet set can be defined as follows:

-at least one is area of space that ignore or 0 electromotive force with respect to reference potential, and the zone of at least one electromotive force of can not ignoring be positioned at this ignore or 0 electromotive force zone below.

Ink droplet produces the zone and is included in such a way in the zone of 0 electromotive force or the electromotive force of ignoring, and promptly ink droplet is electroneutral or has a little electric charge.When said ink droplet leaves, be positioned at least a portion of this printing ink part below each ink droplet, can not ignore in the zone of electromotive force one, so this part is charged when it leaves ink-jet.

At last, being positioned at the area of space that ink droplet forms below the zone is an electric field region, and this zone allows great deflection of charging printing ink part.

What do not get rid of is, the charging zone of said part and the deflection of said part is possible disturbed or part is disturbed, but deflection area or this regional part preferably are positioned at below the zone of this live part.

Below the embodiment of arrangement of electrodes will be described according to accompanying drawing 1-4.

Fig. 1 represents an embodiment, comprises that an electrode or guard electrode and deflecting electrode center are right.

Fig. 2 represents an embodiment, comprise on a guard electrode and the deflecting electrode to a guard electrode and deflecting electrode under right.

Fig. 3 represents an embodiment, comprises three pairs of guard electrodes and deflecting electrode.

Fig. 4 represents an embodiment, comprise except guard electrode and deflecting electrode, charging electrode between guard electrode and the deflecting electrode axially on.

Fig. 5 represents that is used for the control circuit that ink droplet forms mechanism.

Fig. 1 represents first layout drawing according to printer 100 electrodes of multiinjector continuous pump ink-jet printer one embodiment of the inventive method.Printer 100 comprises a pressurizing vessel 1, and said pressurizing vessel 1 has a plurality of demarcation nozzles 2, and ink-jet 3 is discharged by nozzle 2.Each nozzle be placed in the container 1 and interrelate by an exciting bank 4 of an external circuit 5 controls.Exciting bank 4 is united with nozzle makes nozzle might produce an ink droplet as required.

Each ink droplet is formed on the preset distance that begins from nozzle along the axis that sprays.This distance is the same with all ink-jets that form by this way, and promptly ink droplet is formed on a microscler district, and this district is in the central authorities of a tangent straight line DB, and said straight line is almost perpendicular to each ink-jet 3.

Exciting bank 4 preferably is made of the parts that cause the printing ink local heat in preset time length, for example, heat-resistant element, its quantity equals the quantity of print-head nozzle, be placed on nozzle 2 near, and drive by an external circuit 5 individually.U.S. Pat-A-4638328 (DRAKE etc.) has described an example with this sampling device of heat-resistant element base plate, and its function is the same from the result that microelectronics industry obtains with the embodiment that utilizes the chemical contouring technology.

Exciting bank 4 also can be made of piezoelectric element.

Known variant that dots in Fig. 1-4 is made up of the electricity-driver that surges that replaces the hot pressing electrical driver, and this electricity liquid driver is by near one or several electrode 4 ' formation that is placed on the ink-jet of being close to below the nozzle.

Electrode arrangement be placed on straight line DB near, this arrangement is shared to the ink-jet set, its effect will be checked below, the ink droplet of said straight line DB and each ink-jet produces to put and interrelates.

The cylindrical charging printing ink of representing with reference number 10 in Fig. 1-4 partly points to an accumulator tank 11, and this accumulator tank 11 makes printing ink get back to a common ink loop 12.By electric field that arrangement of electrodes produced to the track of the ink droplet represented with reference number 13 without any significant effects, said ink droplet 13 can arrive printed substrate 14.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, electrode arrangement is that the first electrode group 6 and the second electrode group 26 constitute by two electrode groups.In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the electrode of the first electrode group 6 is made of an

electrode

15,16 central. set 25.The

electrode

15,16 of the first electrode group 6 is positioned at the either side of ink-jet 3 set.Electrode pair 25 is arranged by this way, forms 13 position DB axial symmetry about comprising ink droplet.The position DB that ink droplet forms preferably is positioned at this near the electrode lower edge centre.The formation electrode centers is connected on the same potential source 25

electrode

15,16, preferably equals the electromotive force of the ink reservoir 1 of general ground connection, makes at one zero electric field of interelectrode space generation.As selection, the electrode pair 25 of

electrode

15,16 can replace with an independent U-shaped electrode that two

branches

15,16 are arranged.Two

branches

15,16 of U-shaped are equivalent to the

electrode

15,16 of electrode pair 25.This preferred embodiment is represented with chain-dotted line in Fig. 1.To see that in the back electrode group 6 can comprise that supplemantary electrode is right.Each pair of electrodes links to each other with same potential source, and this electrode pair can be replaced by a U-shaped electrode, and each branch in two branches of U-shaped electrode has replaced an electrode of electrode pair.The electrode 26 of the second electrode group 7 be positioned at the first electrode group 6 below.Electrode 26 has a constant high potential, and the space produces an electric field around.

In this configuration, being present near the middle electric field of straight line DB is 0 or very weak, because this space is by 6 protections of the first electrode group.It is enough high to be present near the electric field density of the following part of electrode 26 printing ink part highly, and the latter is applied electrostatic influence.After ink-jet is broken, will be changed by electric field by the track of electrode 26 live parts, yet the track of ink droplet will only be had slight influence.

Thereby this printing ink is partly facing to printing ink recover 11, and ink droplet 13 is facing to substrate 14.

The different of first embodiment represented among second embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 are, the first electrode group 6 of forming guard electrode be divided into 21,22, one of two electrode groups go up under 21 and one to 22.Go up and constitute by two

electrodes

17,18 21.Electrode pair 22 is made of two electrodes 19,20.The

electrode

17,18 of electrode pair 21 lays respectively at the both sides in ink-jet 3 zones.The

electrode

19,20 of electrode pair 22 also lays respectively at the both sides in ink-jet 3 zones.

The electrode of electrode pair 21 has identical constant electromotive force V1, and the electrode of electrode pair 22 has the identical constant electromotive force V2 of opposite polarity, preferably V ₂Equal-V ₁

The key property of electrode group such as

electrode group

21,22 is to have a zone, this zone be one at the approximation space plane π on axially between the bottom and upper segment of

electrode pair

21,22, equal 0 at this regional electromotive force and maybe can ignore.Plane π is almost perpendicular to the set of ink-jet 3.If straight line DB, this straight line are the places that the ink droplet of different ink-jets 3 forms, be included in the area of space that comprises plane π, the ink droplet that is produced will carry a negligible electric charge so.The part of separating from ink-jet 10 will be subjected to by deflecting electrode 26 formed electric field effects, stand deflection at them through near the time electrode 26.

In the 3rd embodiment shown in Figure 3, the arrangement that constitutes ink droplet formation district guard electrode comprises three pairs of

electrodes

21,22,25.The third electrode that comprises

electrode

15,16 to 25 on an axis height that is included between

electrode pair

21,22 height.

Compare with Fig. 2 is described, the

electrode

17,18 of electrode pair 21 connects a normal pressure V1.Electrode pair 22 has the opposite polarity normal pressure V2 with electromotive force V1, and the value of V2 preferably equals-V1.The electrode of electrode pair 25 connects a constant potential source, preferably ground connection.

Compare with the embodiment that represents among Fig. 2, this disposes the volume that makes increase by 0 electromotive force or compare negligible electromotive force zone with reference potential becomes possibility, might form ink droplet in this regional volume.Therefore, the position of straight line DB is to loosen accuracy limitations on ink droplet forms the level of device from the benefit that obtains than large deviation.

The described electrode arrangement of Fig. 1-3 only comprises two electrode groups.The first electrode group 6 comprises one, two or three electrode pairs, and one second electrode group 7.

The effect of electrode group 6 is the electric fields that apply one 0 electric field or ignore in straight line DB zone, and described straight line DB is positioned at from a preset distance of nozzle 2 beginnings.Like this, ink droplet is not recharged, and in fact is not subjected to the influence of the second electrode group, 7 electrodes yet.

To describe Fig. 1-3 and Fig. 4 below, in the typical case of the deflecting electrode that constitutes electrode group 7, these electrodes are represented with the form of single electrode 26.Because these electrodes and its binding mode are known.As represented among Fig. 1-4, the electrode group 7 of deflecting electrode is made of a simple plate 26.It also can be by a pair of plate that is parallel to each other to constituting, and each right plate of plate has different electromotive forces.It also can be made of the conductive component of bending.Usually, deflection can be operated with deflected droplets with all known configuration of electrodes.

Same mode is applied on the electrode group 6, can use all known electrode arrangement, the elongate area of said one 0 electromotive force of electrode arrangement generation or light current gesture.The straight line that ink droplet forms will be contained in this zone.

Among another embodiment with reference to Fig. 4 description, guard electrode group 6 and deflecting electrode group 7 are finished by third electrode group 30 below.The electrode of this electrode group 30 is the same with the electrode of

electrode group

6 and 7, is shared to ink-jet 3 set.In the represented embodiment of Fig. 4, electrode group 30 is made up of the electrode pair 27 of electrode 28,29.The electrode of electrode group 30 is positioned at below the guard electrode of electrode group 6 and above the deflecting electrode of electrode group 7.In the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the electrode of electrode group 6 is to place and electrode pair 25 forms that are connected in the configuration described in a Fig. 1.Significantly, these electrodes of electrode group 6 can have other configurations, particularly are the configurations described in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.In embodiment described in Fig. 2 and 3, can find out, the electrode of electrode group 6 comprise one go up under 21 and one to 22.Down 22 places that preferably will form are set at different electromotive forces from the ink reservoir to the ink-jet.The result of these different electromotive forces gives electric charge of printing ink part to 22 down.In this case, the electrode of electrode group 30 has constituted the electrode group of an auxiliary charging.

Under Fig. 2 and situation shown in Figure 3, go up 21 electrode and be such to 22 electrode potential down, promptly in last one 0 electromotive force zone of existence to the top edge of electrode group electrode and between down to the lower limb of electrode group electrode.And this is the major function of these electrodes.Usually this function obtains by these electrode pairs are set at opposite electromotive force.Even these electrode pairs 21,22 give the printing ink part 10 chargings, the electrode of electrode group 30 also can be distinguished down the electrode to 22, in fact their used electromotive forces are such, promptly auxiliary electric charge of the electrode band of electrode group 30 give by electrode group 6 following to 22 electrode with electric charge.When electrode arrangement except deflecting electrode group 7, when also comprising a charging electrode group 30, be necessary to provide the electrode of electrode group 6 to protect ink droplet to form the common influence that 13 district DB avoids two electric fields and charging and deflection.

In configuration shown in Figure 4,

electrode

15,16 is set at a normal pressure, preferably the normal pressure of setting for printing ink, normally printer ground connection.The electrode 28,29 of third electrode group has a normal pressure V.

Configuration shown in Figure 4 provides the better control to non-printing ink part 10 tracks that are used to print, and offers the electrode and the second electrode group 7 of third electrode group 30 respectively by the deflection of separated charge and printing ink part and them.

Should be noted that each

electrode

15,16 of the first electrode group 6 and the second electrode group 7; 17,18; 19,20; 26,28,29 and possible third electrode group 30 it is said that to the ink-jet set be shared because it has constituted and has acted on the ink-jet set and go up main single conductive component.It also can play one or several electrode effect that is connected to the different conductive components on the same electrical potential source.

Under prevailing situation, printhead comprises several nozzles, on a plane that is parallel to the plane p that comprises nozzle-axis, and all electrode 15-20; 26,28,29 have general rectangular shape, and extend on the direction perpendicular to nozzle-axis on the long limit of rectangle.

Can see that in above-mentioned all configurations the major function that ink droplet forms electrode group 6 guard electrodes in DB district is to produce one to comprise 0 electromotive force of straight line DB or the zone of negligible electromotive force.

Described three embodiment, an embodiment has a pair of electrode (Fig. 1) that brings the printing ink electromotive force, and another embodiment (Fig. 2) has two pairs of electrodes, under one to 22 on another to below 22, these electrode pairs have the electromotive force of opposite polarity.Therefore having the zone that can ignore electromotive force between these electrode pairs, is the 3rd embodiment (Fig. 3) at last, in this embodiment, has the center of a printing ink electromotive force right, and unite to time to the electrode pair the same with situation shown in Fig. 2.

Being present in the electric field between two right electrodes of guard electrode, comparing with reference potential under the situation of ink-jet not having, is that 0 electromotive force or its electromotive force can be ignored, because see as us, the electrode of electrode pair has identical electromotive force.

The existence of ink-jet can not upset this state, is under the situation of printing ink electromotive force at this electromotive force, for the situations of center to 25 existence.On the other hand, when the electrode of an electrode pair, as above to or following right electrode, its electromotive force is different with the electromotive force of printing ink, the existence of ink-jet will be upset the electric field between each electrode of ink-jet and electrode pair.Because local set symmetry, so the synthetic result of the electric field intensity on the ink-jet axis is 0, thereby ink-jet does not have deflection under the effect that does not have electric field force.On the other hand, the generation of electric charge also can take place as mentioned above in the ink-jet.

Mode below utilizing is distinguished electrode and the protection or the charging electrode of cylinder deflecting electrode group 7, is not promptly having under the situation of ink-jet, and these electrodes produce an electric field, and this direction of an electric field is approximately perpendicular to the ink-jet axis and comprises the plane p of ink-jet.

Under the situation that ink-jet exists, electric field is upset by ink-jet.The eternal directed in orthogonal of electric field is in the direction of ink-jet.

An embodiment of the circuit that can use on printer 100 according to the present invention is described with reference to Fig. 5 below.

In a known manner, this circuit is connected to a memory 31 that is used for storing numerical data.Equally, in a known manner, this memory (bitmap) 31 is sequentially supplied with a continuous n line memory 32, reference number 32-1 to 32-n.

Come control data between memory (bitmap) 31 and line memory 32, to transmit in a kind of known mode with sequencer.Sequencer receives from the signal of printer timer 34 and a signal that is used for the encoder of substrate location.

Equally with a kind of known way, provide 36 continuous digital/analog converters, reference number 36-1 to 36-n to the numerical data of each memory 32-1 to 32-n.

According to the present invention, each converter 36-1 to 36-n supplies a circuit 37-1 to 37-n respectively.

Each circuit 37-1 to 37-n all is an amplification and form circuit, and this circuit transmits or do not transmit a signal according to the entering signal that is received, the device 4 or 4 ' that this signal alignment promoter ink droplet forms.

Circuit 5 is made of element 32-37.It comprises the output of equal number at least, and the output of circuit 5 is made of the output of amplifying circuit 37-1 to 37-n, and is the same with the quantity of nozzle 2.Can adapt to the printer of different types if consider an integrated circuit especially, each pattern has its nozzle 2 quantity, also can comprise more quantity.

Claims

1, a kind of printer (100) that has ink-jet (3) comprises a printing nozzle (2) in the axis injection ink-jet (3) of pressure lower edge nozzle,

-one device (4,4 '), this device are used for ink droplet and form, and it is by in broken ink-jet on one of nozzle predetermined axial line distance, and to working by the ink-jet (3) of nozzle ejection,

-one device (11,12) is used for reclaiming the printing ink that is not printed substrate (14) reception,

-one memory (31) is used for the numerical data of storage representation print pattern,

-one device (5,32-37), this device is used for printing control, and it has an input and an output, and said input combines with memory (31), receive in a continuous manner represent print pattern to the small part numerical data.

It is characterized in that, print control unit (5, output 32-37) and the device (4 that is used for ink droplet formation, 4 ') combination, these devices (4,4 ') come broken ink-jet according to each control signal that receives, thereby ink-jet is changed into continuous ink droplet (13) and part (10), printer (100) comprises the electrode group (7) of a deflecting electrode (26), and this electrode group (7) is with the device (11) of said part (10) deflection to recovery printing ink.

2, printer according to claim 1 (100) is characterized in that, also comprises:

-attaching print nozzle (2),

-attachment device (4,4 '), this device is used for ink droplet and forms, each attachment device (4,4 ') by in broken ink-jet on the point of a predetermined axial line distance of said additional nozzle and the ink-jet (3) of additional nozzle (2) is worked, the set of the point of broken ink-jet formed a broken zone (DB) and

-device (5,32-37), this device is used for printing control, and it comprises additional output, and each additional output combines with an attachment device (4,4 ') that is used for ink droplet formation, and

The electrode group (7) of-electrode (26), to recovered oil device for ink (11,12), this electrode (7) is shared to the set of ink-jet (3) to this electrode group (7) with described part deflection.

3, printer according to claim 1 (100); it is characterized in that; also comprise an electrode (21; 22; 25) electrode group (6), this electrode group are used for the electric protection that ink droplet forms point or zone, and this group (6) is positioned at the following of a nozzle or a plurality of nozzle (2) and on electrode group (7); electrode group (7) is used for the deflection of part (10), and the electrode (15-20) of electrode group (6) is shared to the set of ink-jet (3).

4, printer according to claim 2 (100); it is characterized in that; also comprise an electrode (21; 22; 25) electrode group (6), this electrode group are used for the electric protection that ink droplet forms point or zone, and this group (6) is positioned at the following of a nozzle or a plurality of nozzle (2) and on electrode group (7); electrode group (7) is used for the deflection of part (10), and the electrode (15-20) of electrode group (6) is shared to the set of ink-jet (3).

5; printer according to claim 3 (100); it is characterized in that; the electrode group (6) that is used for electric protection comprises that has two branches (15; 16) U-shaped central electrode (25); or electrode (15 that comprises first electrode (15) and second electrode (16); 16) electrode centers is to (25); these branches (15; 16) or electrode (15; 16) combine with an identical potential source, wherein the protection of electrode pair or center is arranged in the both sides that nozzle-axis or nozzle-axis are gathered to first branch of (25) or electrode (15) and second branch or electrode (16).

6, printer according to claim 4 (100); it is characterized in that; the electrode group (6) that is used for electric protection comprises that has two branches (15; 16) U-shaped central electrode (25); or electrode (15 that comprises first electrode (15) and second electrode (16); 16) electrode pair (25); these branches (15; 16) or electrode (15; 16) combine with an identical potential source, wherein the protection of electrode pair or center is arranged in the both sides that nozzle-axis or nozzle-axis are gathered to first branch of (25) or electrode (15) and second branch or electrode (16).

7, printer according to claim 3 (100), it is characterized in that, the electrode group (6) that is used for the electric protection in ink droplet formation point or zone comprises an electrode (21), this electrode has two branches or one to go up (21), and bottom electrode, this bottom electrode has under two branches or one (22), electrode or go up (21) are comprised first branch (17) and second branch (18) or electrode, electrode or down (22) are comprised first branch (19) and second branch (20) or electrode, branch or electrode (17,19; 18,20) go up (21) and descend (22) are arranged in the axis of nozzle (2) or the both sides of nozzle (2) axis set, electrode or the top edge of going up (21) are positioned on an axial line distance of a nozzle (2), this distance is less than said preset distance, electrode the or down lower limb of (22) is positioned on an axial line distance of this nozzle (2), this distance is greater than said preset distance.

8, printer according to claim 7 (100); it is characterized in that; the electrode group (6) that is used for electric protection comprises that also has two branches (15; 16) electrode (25) or electrode (15; 16) center is to (25), the both sides that this center is positioned at nozzle (2) axis or the set of nozzle (2) axis to the branch or the electrode (15,16) of (25); electrode or go up (21) in central electrode or right top, electrode or down (22) are positioned at the bottom of center to (25).

9, printer according to claim 3 (100) is characterized in that, also comprises an electrode group (30) with electric charge in ink-jet of acting on (3) set, this electrode group be positioned at the following of guard electrode group (6) and deflecting electrode group (7) above.

10, printer according to claim 1 (100) is characterized in that, ink droplet forms device (4,4 ') and is made of the thermal resistance or the piezoelectric element (4) that are positioned at above the nozzle (2).

11, printer according to claim 1 (100) is characterized in that, ink droplet forms device and constitutes by being positioned near the electrode below nozzle (2) of ink-jet (3), and this electrode forms an electro-hydraulic device.

12, a kind of method of spraying conducting liquid, this conducting liquid keeps a reference potential, here:

-place the conducting liquid under the pressure on axis direction, to form an injection (3) at least;

The break-up point fragmentation is being sprayed in-each injection (3), and break-up point defines one jointly and is used for the zone that drop forms, and this zone is fixed on room and time, and is positioned at the center perpendicular to the straight line DB that sprays;

The method is characterized in that, the order that drop produces in each injection (3) forms signal controlling by drop, this signal is produced by external information, its track is continuous continuous drop on axis direction thereby injection is broken into, and the part at the direction upper deflecting that is different from axis direction.

13, method according to claim 12 is characterized in that, and is parallel and be included in many drops in the same plane p for axis,

The track of the part of-conducting liquid (10) at the generation zone of the plane P that comprises axis direction intrinsic deflection, is not having under the situation of spraying under the situation that does not have deflection of droplets (13) track, and its electrical characteristics are permanent in time, and these zones comprise:

-at least one zone, this zone are the places of electric field that can the said part of deflection under situation about spray existing.

14, according to the said method of claim 12, it is characterized in that, said conducting liquid is a kind of printing ink, and the external information of control drop generation order is to go up the numerical data of print image and constitute by being illustrated in substrate (14), and said printing ink part can not arrive substrate.