EP0115180B1 - Betreiben eines Tintenstrahls - Google Patents

Betreiben eines Tintenstrahls Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0115180B1
EP0115180B1 EP83307850A EP83307850A EP0115180B1 EP 0115180 B1 EP0115180 B1 EP 0115180B1 EP 83307850 A EP83307850 A EP 83307850A EP 83307850 A EP83307850 A EP 83307850A EP 0115180 B1 EP0115180 B1 EP 0115180B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
droplets
transducer means
drop
droplet
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP83307850A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0115180A2 (de
EP0115180A3 (en
Inventor
Stephen Jay Liker
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Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
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Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc filed Critical Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
Priority to AT83307850T priority Critical patent/ATE51582T1/de
Publication of EP0115180A2 publication Critical patent/EP0115180A2/de
Publication of EP0115180A3 publication Critical patent/EP0115180A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0115180B1 publication Critical patent/EP0115180B1/de
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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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04595—Dot-size modulation by changing the number of drops per dot
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04581—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04588—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits using a specific waveform
    • 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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0459—Height of the driving signal being adjusted
    • 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
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2121—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by dot size, e.g. combinations of printed dots of different diameter
    • B41J2/2128—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by dot size, e.g. combinations of printed dots of different diameter by means of energy modulation
    • 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
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/06—Heads merging droplets coming from the same nozzle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a drop on demand ink jet apparatus, and more specifically though not exclusively to a method for operating an ink jet apparatus for providing selective control within a range of either the volume of the ink droplets ejected by the apparatus or the amount of ink striking a desired location on a recording medium.
  • the volume of each individual ink droplet is typically dependent upon the geometry of the ink jet apparatus, the type of ink used, and the magnitude of the pressure force developed within the ink chamber of the ink jet ejecting an ink droplet from an associated orifice.
  • the effective diameter and design of the orifice, the volume and configuration of the ink chamber associated with the orifice, the tranducer design, and the method of coupling the transducer to the ink chamber are all factors determining the volume of individual ink droplets ejected from the orifice.
  • control over the volume of the ejected ink droplets can only be obtained from a narrow range by varying the amplitude of the electrical pulses or dry voltage applied to the individual transducers of the ink jet apparatus or array.
  • Both US-A-4184 168 and DE-A-2 615 713 describe such prior ink jet printing systems, wherein the amount of liquid in each ejected ink droplet may be varied dependent upon the amplitude of an ink jet control pulse.
  • DE-A-2 615 713 suggest the use of means for modulating the amplitude of an alternating sinusoidal signal of constant amplitude with a video signal whose highest frequency is below the frequency of the sinusoidal signal so that the amount of liquid in each ejected liquid droplet varies in accordance with the amplitude of the video signal.
  • US-A-4 184 168 relates to an ink jet head driving circuit, wherein a comparator is employed to compare a video signal with a reference voltage and to deliver a high-level output when the level of the video signal is higher than or equal to the reference voltage or a low-level output when the level of the video signal is lower than the reference voltage.
  • a pulse synchronization circuit receives the output from the comparator and a printing sync pulse, and delivers an output pulse in synchronism with the printing sync pulse only when the pulse synchronization circuit receives high-level or low-level output from the comparator. According to both documents, only a single ink droplet is ejected per interval of the pre-set production rate; the only variation is with respect to the amount of liquid ejected in each ink droplet.
  • a method for controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a print head of a drop-on-demand ink jet apparatus including transducer means operable for producing a pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber for ejecting an ink droplet from an associated orifice, said transducer means being operated in an iterative manner at a drop-on-demand production rate, for producing a plurality of successive pressure disturbances within said ink chamber at said drop-on-demand production rate, the method being characterized in that it comprises causing a plurality of ink droplets to be ejected from said orifice along substantially the same trajectory within a time period permitting said droplets to merge while air-borne thereby controlling the size of an ink spot produced by the merged droplets upon striking a print medium.
  • apparatus for controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a print head of a drop-on-demand ink jet apparatus including transducer means operable for producing a pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber for ejecting an ink jet droplet from an associated orifice, and controller means operable for operating said transducer means at a drop-on-demand drop production rate in an iterative manner, for producing a plurality of successive pressure disturbances within said ink chamber at said drop-on-demand production rate, characterized in that said controller means is further operative to operate said transducer means so as to cause ejection of a plurality of ink droplets from said orifice along substantially the same trajectory within a time period permitting said droplets to merge while air-borne, thereby controlling the size of an ink spot produced by the merged droplets upon striking a print medium.
  • the illustrative ink jet apparatus includes a chamber 200 having an orifice 202 for ejecting droplets of ink in response to the state of energization of a transducer 204 for each jet in an array of such jets (see Fig. 3).
  • the transducer 204 expands and contracts (in directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2) along its axis of elongation, and the movement is coupled to the chamber 200 by coupling means 206 which includes a foot 207, a visco-elastic material 208 juxtaposed to the foot 207, and a diaphragm 210 which is preloaded to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the inlet 214 comprises an opening in a restrictor plate 216 (see Fig. 3).
  • the reservoir 212 which is formed in a chamber plate 220 includes a tapered edge 222 leading into the inlet 214.
  • the reservoir 212 is supplied with a feed tube 223 and a vent tube 225.
  • the reservoir 212 is compliant by virtue of the diaphragm 210, which is in communication with the ink through a large opening 227 in the restrictor plate 216 which is juxtaposed to an area of relief 229 in the plate 226.
  • each one of the transducers 204 is guided by the cooperation of a foot 207 with a hole 224 in a plate 226. As shown, the feet 207 are slideably retained within the holes 224.
  • the other extremities of each one of the transducers 204 are compliantly mounted in a block 228 by means of a compliant or elastic material 230 such as silicon rubber.
  • the compliant material 230 is located in slots 232 (see Fig. 3) so as to provide support for the other extremities of the transducers 204.
  • Electrical contact with the transducers 204 is also made in a compliant manner by means of a compliant printed circuit 234, which is electrically coupled by suitable means such as solder 236 to an electrode 260 of the transducers 204.
  • Conductive patterns 238 are provided on the printed circuit 234.
  • the plate 226 (see Figures 1 and 3) includes holes 224 at the base of a slot 237 which receive the feet 207 of the transducers 204, as previously mentioned.
  • the plate 226 also includes a receptacle 239 for a heater sandwich 240, the latter including a heater element 242 with coils 244, a hold down plate 246, a spring 248 associated with the plate 246, and a support plate 250 located immediately beneath the heater 240.
  • the slot 253 is for receiving a thermistor 252, the latter being used to provide monitoring of the temperature of the heater element 242.
  • the entire heater 240 is maintained within the receptacle in the plate 226 by a cover plate 254.
  • FIG. 3 the variously described components of the ink jet apparatus are held together by means of screws 256 which extend upwardly through openings 257, and screws 258 which extend downwardly through openings 259, the latter to hold a printed circuit board 234 in place on the plate 228.
  • the dashed lines in Fig. 1 depict connections 263 to the printed circuits 238 on the printed circuit board 234.
  • the connections 263 connect a controller 261 to the ink jet apparatus, for controlling the operation of the latter.
  • the controller 261 is programmed to at an appropriate time, via its connection to the printed circuits 238, apply a voltage to a selected one or ones of the hot electrodes 260 of the transducers 204.
  • the applied voltage causes an electric field to be produced transverse to the axis of elongation of the selected transducers 204, causing the transducers 204 to contract along their elongated axis.
  • a particular transducer 204 so contracts upon energization (see Fig. 5)
  • the portion of the diaphragm 210 located below the foot 207 of the transducer 204 moves in the direction of the contracting transducer 204, thereby effectively expanding the volume of the associated chamber 200.
  • the controller 261 is programmed to remove the voltage or drive signal from the particular one or ones of the selected transducers 204, causing the transducer 204 or transducers 204 to return to their deenergized states as shown in Fig. 4.
  • the drive signals are terminated in a step like fashion, causing the transducers 204 to very rapidly expand along their elongated axis, whereby via the visco-elastic material 208 the feet 207 of the transducers 204 push against the area of the diaphragm 210 beneath them, causing a rapid contraction or reduction of the volume of the associated chamber or chambers 200.
  • this rapid reduction in the volume of the associated chambers 200 creates a pressure pulse or positive pressure disturbance within the chambers 200, causing an ink droplet to be ejected from the associated orifices 202.
  • a given transducer 204 when so energized, it both contracts or reduces its length and increases its thickness.
  • the increase in thickness is of no consequence to the illustrated ink jet apparatus, in that the changes in length of the transducer control the operation of the individual ink jets of the array. Also note, that with present technology, by energizing the transducers for contraction along their elongated axis, accelerated aging of the transducers 204 is avoided, and in extreme cases, depolarization is also avoided.
  • the pulses shown in Figure 6 are applied via controller 261 to one of the transducers 204.
  • the first and second pulses 1 and 3 respectively each have an exponential leading edge and a substantially linear trailing edge, respectively, peak amplitudes +V i , +V 2 volts respectively, and pulse widths of T i , T 2 , respectively.
  • the shapes of the pulses 1, 3, respectively may be other than as illustrated herein, depending upon the particular ink jet device being driven and the particular application.
  • the peak amplitude +V 2 of pulse 3 is greater than the peak amplitude V, of pulse 1, and the fall time for the trailing edge of pulse 3 is less than the fall time for the trailing edge of pulse 1.
  • the degree of contraction of the selected transducer 204 is directly related within a range to the amplitude of the pulse applied to the transducer, the greater the amplitude, the greater the degree of contraction. Accordingly, upon termination of a particular operating or control pulse, the magnitude of the pressure disturbance produced in the associated chamber 200 will be directly related within a range to the amplitude of the previously applied control pulse. Also, the greater the slope or the less the fall time of the trailing edge of the control pulse, the more rapid the expansion or elongation of the selected transducer 204 to its rest state upon termination of the control pulse. Correspondingly, the greater the rate of expansion of the transducer 204, the greater the magnitude of the resulting pressure disturbance within the associated chamber 200. Assume that the amplitudes +V i and +V 2 of pulses 1, 3, respectively, are large enough to ensure ejection of an ink droplet from associated orifice 202 upon termination of these pulses, respectively.
  • pulse 1 is applied to a selected one of transducers 204.
  • a typical ink droplet 5 will be ejected from the associated orifice 202.
  • pulse 3 is applied to the selected transducer 204.
  • a second ink droplet 7 will be ejected from the associated orifice 202 as shown in Figure 8, for example.
  • Ink droplets 7 will have a substantially greater velocity than the air-borne ink droplet 5 because the amplitude of pulse 3 is greater of that than pulse 1 and the fall time of pulse 3 is less than that of pulse 1.
  • the velocity of the second ink droplet 7 will be greater than that of ink droplet 5 so long as at least one of either the amplitude of pulse 3 is greater than that of pulse 1 even if the fall times of these pulses are equal, or the fall time of pulse 3 is less than that of pulse 1 even if their amplitudes are equal. Accordingly, either amplitude control of the control pulses, or trailing edge fall time control of the control pulses or a combination of the two can be used to produce a higher velocity second droplet 7 as illustrated in Figure 8, for example.
  • the velocity of the second ink droplet 7 can be made high enough to cause droplet 7 to catch up with droplet 5 while each is air-borne, causing these droplets to begin to merge together as shown in Figure 9.
  • the merger of droplets 5 and 7 may result in a droplet shape as shown in Figure 10 prior to the merged droplets striking a recording medium.
  • the size of the ink droplet or volume of ink striking a recording media at a particular point is substantially increased relative to using only a single droplet, and such control of the volume of ink directly provides control of the boldness of printing.
  • Typical values for the parameters of pulses 1, 3 used by the inventor in conducting his experiments were 28 volts and 30 volts for +V,, +V 2 , respectively; 60 microseconds for each one of the pulse widths T, and T 2 ; and fall times of 2 microseconds and 1 microsecond for pulses 1, 3, respectively.
  • the viscosity of the ink in this example was 12 centipoise.
  • the approximate diameter of droplet 5 was 1.8 mils
  • for the second ink droplet 7 was 2.2 mils
  • for the merged ink droplet 9 was 4.0 mils.
  • Other ink droplet diameters or volumes may be obtained within a range via control of the amplitudes and fall times of pulses 1 and 3, as previously mentioned. ,
  • control of the size of ink droplets ejected from the ink jet device can be controlled by adjusting the amplitudes and fall times of the control pulses applied to the ink jet device.
  • the range of control of the volume of ink or ultimate ink droplet size striking a recording media is substantially extended via another embodiment of the present invention for merging a plurality of ink droplets in flight.
  • the amplitudes +V 1 , +V 2 of pulses 11, 13, respectively, are shown to be equal (typically 30 volts, for example).
  • the trailing edge of pulse 11 is about 10 microseconds in fall time, whereas the trailing edge of pulse 13 has a fall time of about 1 microsecond.
  • the ink droplet resulting from the application of pulse 11 to a selected transducer 204 will have a velocity that is substantially slower than the velocity of the following ink droplet resulting from the application of pulse 13 to the transducer 204. Accordingly, only fall time control is being used to adjust the velocities of the ink droplets resulting from the application of pulses 1 and 13. In this example, it is assumed that the second ejected higher velocity ink droplet will merge with the first ejected ink droplet while air-borne, as previously described.
  • a third control or firing pulse 15 has been added following the termination of pulse 13.
  • the present inventor set the amplitude of pulses 11, 13, 15 all at 30 volts (+V 1 , +V 2 and +V 3 all equal 30 volts), with pulses 11, 13 and 15 typically having exponential fall times of 10 microseconds, 5 microseconds and 1 microsecond, respectively; and pulse widths of 60 microseconds, 40 microseconds and 30 microseconds, respectively, for example.
  • pulse 11 When applied to a selected transducer 204 of the given ink jet device, pulse 11 caused a first ink droplet to be ejected, pulse 13 caused a second ink droplet of greater velocity than the first to be ejected, and pulse 15 caused a third ink droplet of even greater velocity to be ejected, whereby all of these ink droplets were of such relative velocities that they merged in flight prior to striking a recording media. In this manner, an even greater range of control can be obtained for adjusting the size of an ink droplet in an ink jet system.
  • an ink droplet is not ejected immediately after the termination of a particular firing pulse.
  • an ink droplet 5 is ejected 4 microseconds after the termination of pulse 1
  • the second ink droplet is ejected 3 microseconds after the termination of pulse 3.
  • the velocity of the first ejected ink droplet was measured to be 3.5 meters per second and of the second ejected ink droplet 5.0 meters per second.
  • T" T 2 , T 3 and T 4 are 80, 4, 18 and 6 microseconds, respectively, with the amplitudes of pulses 17 and 19 at 110 volts, and pulse 21 at about 73 volts, for producing the previous dot diameter range on a particular type of paper (Hammermill XEROCOPY, manufactured by Hammermill Papers Co., Inc., Erie, PA), using an ink having a wax base.
  • the type of paper and ink formulation affects the dot diameter, in a given application.
  • the fall time of pulses 17 and 19 are 9 microseconds and 1.0 microseconds, respectively.
  • a first droplet having a velocity ranging from 8 to 10 meters per second was produced.
  • the combination of pulses 19 and 21, caused a second droplet to be produced about 2 microseconds after the termination of pulse 19.
  • Pulse 21 is not of sufficient amplitude to cause a third droplet to be produced, but does cause the second droplet to break off earlier from the orifice of the ink jet relative to operating without pulse 21.
  • pulse 21 permits higher frequency operation of the ink jet apparatus, and reduce ink blobbing problems at the orifice.
  • the velocity of the second droplet is typically 6 to 8 meters per second.
  • the slower velocity of the second droplet relative to the first droplet is caused by the presence of pulse 21.
  • the velocity of the second droplet can be increased.
  • the delay time T 2 between the termination of pulse 17 and initiation of pulse 19 the boldness can be modulated within a range.
  • the controller 261 can be provided via hardwired logic, or by a microprocessor programmed for providing the necessary control functions, or by some combination of the two, for example.
  • a Wavetek Model 175 waveshape generator manufactured by Wavetek, San Diego, California, was used by the present inventor to obtain the waveshapes shown in Figures 6,11,12, 13, 14 and 15.
  • a controller 261 would typically be designed for providing the necessary waveshapes and functions, as previously mentioned, for each particular application.

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Claims (10)

1. Verfahren zur Steuerung des Volumens von Tintentröpfchen, die von dem Druckkopf eines Tropfen-auf-Anforderung abgebenden Tintenstrahlgerätes ausgestoßen werden, welches einen Wandler (204) zur Erzeugung einer Druckstörung innerhalb einer zugehörigen Tintenkammer (200) aufweist, um ein Tintentröpfchen aus einer zugehörigen Öffnung (202) auszustoßen, wobei der Wandler (204) von einer Steuerung (261) in wiederholter Weise mit der Tropfen-Bedarfsmenge gesteuert wird, um eine Veilzahl von aufeinanderfolgenden Druckstörungen innerhalb der Tintenkammer (200) je nach Bedarfsmenge zu erzeugen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Verfahren den Ausstoß einer Vielzahl von Tintentröpfchen aus der Öffnung (202) auf einem im wesentlichen gleichbleibenden Bahnverlauf bewirkt, wobei innerhalb einer Zeitspanne sich die Tröpfchen in der Luft vereinigen können, wodurch die Größe des aus den vereinigten Tröpfchen entstandenen Tintenpunktes beim Auftreffen auf einen Druckträger gesteuert wird.
2. Vorrichtung zur Steuerung des Volumens von Tintentröpfchen, die von dem Druckkopf eines Tropfen-auf-Anforderung abgebenden Tintenstrahlgerätes ausgestoßen werden, welches einen Wandler (204) zur Erzeugung einer Druckstörung innerhalb einer zugehörigen Tintenkammer (200) aufweist, um ein Tintentröpfchen aus einer zugehörigen Öffnung (202) auszustoßen, wobei der Wandler (204) von einer Steuerung (261) in wiederholter Weise mit der Tropfen-Bedarfsmenge gesteuert wird, um eine Vielzahl von aufeinanderfolgenden Druckstörungen innerhalb der Tintenkammer (200) je nach Bedarfsmenge zu erzeugen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Steuerung (261) so arbeitet, daß sie den Wandler (204) zum Ausstoßen einer Vielzahl von Tintentröpfchen aus der Öffnung (202) auf einem im wesentlichen gleichbleibenden Bahnverlauf veranlaßt, und daß sich innerhalb einer Zeitspanne die Tröpfchen in der Luft vereinigen können, wodurch die Größe des aus den vereinigten Tröpfchen entstandenen Tintenpunktes beim Auftreffen auf den Druckträger gesteuert wird.
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Wandler (204) auf einen elektrischen Impuls anspricht, um die Druckstörung innerhalb einer zugehörigen Tintenkammer (200) zu erzeugen, wobei die Größe der Druckstörung direkt proportional zu der Amplitude des elektrischen Impulses, der Steigung der Hinterflanke des elektrischen Impulses oder einer Kombination daraus ist, und daß der Wandler (204) durch Anlegen aufeinanderfolgender elektrischer Impulse (1, 3; 11, 13; 11, 13, 15; 17, 19) an den Wandler (204) betrieben wird, um den Ausstoß einer Vielzahl von Tintentröpfchen in einer gewünschten Geschwindigkeit zu bewirken.
4. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Steuerung (261) betreibbar ist, um je nach Bedarfsmenge elektrische Impulse (1; 11; 17) zu erzeugen, und außerdem, um wahlweise mindestens ein zusätzliches elektrisches Treibersignal (3; 13; 19) zu liefern, das jeweils so gesteuert ist, daß es hauptsächlich am Ende des unmittelbar vorher erfolgten elektrischen Treibersignals gegeben wird, oder in einem festgelegten Zeitabstand (T2 in Fig. 13) in bezug auf das unmittelbar vorhergehenden elektrische Treibersignal, wobei der festgelegte Zeitabstand kurz ist im Verhältnis zu der bedarfsabängigen Tropfenerzeugungsgeschwindigkeit, und daß der Wandler durch jedes der elektrischen Treibersignale aktiviert wird, um eine Tintenmenge mit einem von der Öffnung (202) gesteuerten Volumen zu erzeugen.
5. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Amplitude jedes der elektrischen Impulse eingestellt ist, um eine gewünschte Geschwindigkeit für ein zugehöriges Tintentröpfchen zu erhalten, wodurch die Größen der Druckstörungen, die von dem Wandler (204) erzeugt werden, direkt proportional zu dem Amplituden der jeweiligen elektrischen Impulse sind.
6. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abfallzeit der Hinterflanke jedes einzelnen elektrischen Impulses eingestellt ist, um eine gewünschte Geschwindigkeit für ein zugehöriges Tintentröpfchen zu erhalten, wodurch die Größen der Druckstörungen, die von dem Wandler (204) erzeugt werden, umgekehrt zu den Abfallzeiten der Hinterflanken jedes elektrischen Impulses sind.
7. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Druckkopf eine Anzahl von Öffnungen (202), eine Anzahl von Tintenkammern (200) mit jeweils einer der Öffnungen, und eine Anzahl von Wandlern (204) aufweist, die jeweils selektiv betreibbar sind, um eine Druckstörung innerhalb einer zugehörigen Tintenkammer (200) zu erzeugen, damit ein Tintentröpfchen aus einer zugehörigen Öffnung (202) ausgestoßen wird, wobei ein ausgewählter Wandler der Anzahl von Wandlern in wiederholter Weise betrieben wird, was bewirkt, daß eine vorgegebene Anzahl von Tintentröpfchen nacheinander aus einer zugehörigen Öffnung entlang dergleichen Flugbahn ausgestoßen wird, wobei sich innerhalb einer Zeitspanne die Tröpfchen vereinigen können, wodurch bei einer vorgegebenen Relativbewegung zwischem dem Druckkopf und dem Druckträger eine Anzahl von Tintentröpfchen auf den Druckträger zum Drukken bestimmter Bilder von bestimmter Stärke gedruckt wird.
8. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß bestimmte Wandler (204) der Anzahl von Wandlern gleichzeitig betrieben werden, um von jeder der jeweiligen Öffnungen (202) eine vorgegebene Anzahl von Tintentröpfchen auszustoßen, damit sich diese noch in der Luft vereinigen, wodurch die Stärke jedes Tintenpunktes gesteuert wird, der auf den Druckträger während jedes Druckzyklus gedruckt wird.
9. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Sekundärimpuls (21 in Figur 13) unmittelbar nach einem oder mehreren der elektrischen Impulse angelegt wird, um ein früheres Ablösen des Tintentröpfchens oder der Tintentröpfchen von der Öffnung (202) zu bewirken, das oder die der oder den elektrischen Impuls(en) zugeordnet sind, und zwar gegenüber der Ablösezeit des oder der Tröpfchen(s) beim Fehlen des Sekundärimpulses.
10. Verfahren oder Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verzögerungszeit zwischen aufeinanderfolgenden elektrischen Impulsen gesteuert wird, um die Druckstärke zu steuern.
EP83307850A 1982-12-27 1983-12-22 Betreiben eines Tintenstrahls Expired - Lifetime EP0115180B1 (de)

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AT83307850T ATE51582T1 (de) 1982-12-27 1983-12-22 Betreiben eines tintenstrahls.

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US45329582A 1982-12-27 1982-12-27
US453295 1982-12-27

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EP0115180A3 EP0115180A3 (en) 1985-11-06
EP0115180B1 true EP0115180B1 (de) 1990-04-04

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JP (1) JPH07108568B2 (de)
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CA1259853A (en) * 1985-03-11 1989-09-26 Lisa M. Schmidle Multipulsing method for operating an ink jet apparatus for printing at high transport speeds
JPS61293885A (ja) * 1985-06-21 1986-12-24 Sharp Corp カラ−印刷物の製造方法
EP0609997B1 (de) * 1993-02-05 1998-03-18 Hewlett-Packard Company System zur Reduzierung der Antriebsenergie in einem thermischen Tintenstrahlschnelldrucker
JPH08336970A (ja) * 1995-04-14 1996-12-24 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェット式記録装置
JP2000516872A (ja) * 1996-08-27 2000-12-19 トパーズ・テクノロジーズ・インコーポレイテッド 可変体積のインク滴を生成するインクジェットプリントヘッド
DE69739329D1 (de) 1996-09-09 2009-05-07 Seiko Epson Corp Tintenstrahldrucker und Tintenstrahldruckverfahren
JPH10278256A (ja) * 1997-04-01 1998-10-20 Minolta Co Ltd インクジェット記録装置
AU7440398A (en) 1997-05-15 1998-12-08 Xaar Technology Limited Operation of droplet deposition apparatus
JP3530717B2 (ja) * 1997-06-19 2004-05-24 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録方法及び装置
JP3842886B2 (ja) 1997-12-16 2006-11-08 ブラザー工業株式会社 インク滴噴射方法及びその装置
JPH11334068A (ja) * 1998-05-26 1999-12-07 Brother Ind Ltd インク噴射装置
CN1152783C (zh) 1999-09-21 2004-06-09 松下电器产业株式会社 喷墨头及喷墨式记录装置
JP2002086765A (ja) * 2000-09-13 2002-03-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd インクジェットヘッド及びインクジェット式記録装置
US6793311B2 (en) 2001-10-05 2004-09-21 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Ink jet recording apparatus
US7219970B2 (en) * 2003-10-14 2007-05-22 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Method and a system for single ligament fluid dispensing
JP2004155209A (ja) * 2004-02-26 2004-06-03 Brother Ind Ltd インク滴噴射装置
JP4529120B2 (ja) 2004-03-02 2010-08-25 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体噴射装置
EP3508344B1 (de) * 2016-08-31 2021-11-03 Konica Minolta, Inc. Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsvorrichtung und tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsverfahren

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS59133066A (ja) 1984-07-31
JPH07108568B2 (ja) 1995-11-22
CA1232490A (en) 1988-02-09
EP0115180A2 (de) 1984-08-08
DE3381406D1 (de) 1990-05-10
EP0115180A3 (en) 1985-11-06
ATE51582T1 (de) 1990-04-15

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