EP0179607A2 - Ink jet apparatus - Google Patents
Ink jet apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0179607A2 EP0179607A2 EP85307373A EP85307373A EP0179607A2 EP 0179607 A2 EP0179607 A2 EP 0179607A2 EP 85307373 A EP85307373 A EP 85307373A EP 85307373 A EP85307373 A EP 85307373A EP 0179607 A2 EP0179607 A2 EP 0179607A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- reservoir
- ink jet
- thermal conductivity
- cal
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Images
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
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17593—Supplying ink in a solid state
Landscapes
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to an ink jet wherein the ink employed within the jet is of the phase change type, which may be referred to as hot melt ink.
- The phase change, or hot melt ink, of the type utilized in an ink jet is characteristically solid at room temperature. When heated, the ink will melt to a consistency so as to be jettable.
- It has been found that improper heating may degrade the' ink and thus the performance of an ink jet. In order to avoid such degradation by extended heating, the reservoir is allowed to cool during standby and only the head is heated, thereby limiting the amount of ink heated and minimizing degradation of the ink with its adverse effects on performance.
- It has also been found that extremely high, localized temperatures in an ink jet apparatus can subject the localized ink to undesirable conditions which will result in localized ink degradation which, of course, can also affect performance. Moreover, temperature gradients, i.e., variations in temperatures from one location to another location, in the ink jet apparatus can adversely affect performance of the ink jet. In addition to degrading performance, the above- discussed temperature effects can adversely affect reliability.
- According to the invention there is provided an ink jet apparatus for ejecting droplets of hot melt ink, characterised in that it comprises at least one ink jet including a chamber, an orifice for ejecting hot melt ink in a liquid state from said chamber, and an ink inlet for supply of hot melt ink in a liquid state to said chamber, and heater means for heating hot melt ink in said jet(s) so as to maintain said ink in a liquid state, said jet(s) comprising a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 0.03 g cal/sec cm2(*C/cm).
- With at least some embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following may be achieved:-
- - minimizing the effects of heating on performance and reliability in a phase change ink jet system.
- - providing a high degree of reliability in a phase change ink jet system.
- - minimizing temperature gradients in such an ink jet system, including localized hot spots.
- - providing an ink jet system of the phase change type which may be allowed to cool in the standby mode and be rapidly brought up to the desired operating temperature.
- - providing an ink jet system of the phase change type comprising a material which will not adversely react with the ink contained within the system.
- - minimizing the weight associated with the ink jet system, thereby permitting rapid movement of an ink jet relative to a surface being scanned.
- Preferably, the ink jet material has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.2 g cal/sec cm2(°C/cm).
- Any of a plurality of highly thermally conductive materials may be utilized including stainless steel, although aluminum is preferred.
- In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the apparatus comprises a reservoir which is also coupled to the heater means. The reservoir also comprises a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 0.03 g cal/sec cm2(°C/cm) and preferably more than 0.2 g cal/sec cm2(*C/cm).
- The invention will be better understood from the following description given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of ink jet system in accordance with this invention.
- Referring to Fig. 1, an ink jet apparatus comprises an imaging head 10 including at least one
ink jet 12 and areservoir 14. The ink jet apparatus is adapted to jet droplets of hot melt or phase change ink. Substantially all of the imaging head 10 and thereservoir 14 in contact with the melted ink comprises a highly thermally conductive material so as to minimize temperature gradients and thereby avoid degradation of the ink and assure high performance and reliability of the ink jet apparatus. - As shown in Fig. 1, a block of
solid state ink 16 is juxtaposed to an opening in atrough 18. When thepellet 16 drops into thetrough 18, thepellet 16 proceeds to melt in response to heat generated by aheater 20 located at the base of thereservoir 14 below asloping surface 22. - As shown in Fig. 1, the
ink jet 12 includes achamber 24 having anorifice 26 for ejecting droplets of ink and aninlet 28 extending to thelowermost extremity 30 of thereservoir 14 adjacent thesloping bottom 22. - The head 10 is provided with an
independent heater 32 located between athermal resistance barrier 34 comprising insulation and ahead member 36. By providing theheater 32 which is independent of theheater 20, it is possible to maintain the head 10 at a different temperature from thereservoir 14. This allows thereservoir 14 and the ink within the reservoir to be cooled in the standby mode thereby avoiding cooking of and resulting degradation of a large volume of ink while at the same time maintaining the ink within the imaging head 10 in a liquid state so as to prevent depriming. - With respect to the prevention of depriming, it will be appreciated that
inlet 28 passes through thehead member 36 which is highly conductive such that heat is conducted to theend 38 which maintains a pool ofink 40 in the liquid state in the immediate vicinity of theend 38 while the remainder of the ink within the reservoir-14 is able to cool to the solid state when the system is in a standby mode. As shown in Fig. 1, thepool 40 of liquid ink is maintained in an otherwisesolid state mass 42 of ink extending up to alevel 44. - As also shown in Fig. 1, a
transducer 46 is juxtaposed to the end of thechamber 24. The transducer which is provided with electrodes is energized by a signal provided through a printedcircuit board 48 located above themember 36. Thetransducer 46 and the printedcircuit board 48 are then housed withinhead members - As also shown in Fig. 1, the head includes a chamber plate 54 forming the
chamber 24, which is in communication with afoot 56 located at the end of thetransducer 46. As the transducer changes state in response to signals applied, the position of thefoot 56 varies so as to expand and compress the volume within thechamber 24. Theinlet 28 supplies a manifold 58 located in aplate 60 which is coupled to restricted inlets to thejet 12. Actually, the manifold 58 serves a plurality of restricted inlets in an array of ink jets identical to thejet 12 shown in Fig. 1. - The
reservoir 14 as shown in Fig. 1 also includes afilter 62 which is located below aport 64 which is adapted to be opened and closed by aneedle valve 66. Theneedle valve 66 is employed to close theport 64 during the priming operation. - As also-shown in Fig. 1, the
insulating barrier 34 which provides a high thermal resistance path is sealed against portion 70 of thereservoir 14, using an 0-ring 72 which is also characterized by adequate insulating properties. Preferably, themember 36 which extends down into thereservoir 14 toward thelowermost portion 30 is slightly spaced from portion 70 of thereservoir 14. This spacing assures an adequate thermal barrier and high thermal resistance path so as to permit independent heating of the ink within the head as compared to the heat within thereservoir 14. - Finally, Fig. 1 shows redundant
level sensing elements reservoir 14. - As stated in the foregoing, it is preferred that the head 10 as well as the
reservoir 14 have a thermal conductivity in excess of 0.03 g cal/sec cm2(oC/cm). Preferably, the thermal conductivity of the head 10 and thereservoir 14 is in excess of 0.2 g cal/sec cm2(°C/cm). In this connection, it is prefer- red to utilize aluminum although stainless steel may be utilized as well as other materials having similar conductivities, e.g., metallic and plastic composites. -
- Where the preferred material of aluminum is utilized, the advantages associated with high thermal conductivity so as to minimize temperature gradients and hot spots is achieved as well as rapid heating to t.he desired operating temperature. In addition, aluminum by virtue of its relatively low density provides a relatively lightweight imaging head 10 and
reservoir 14 so as to minimize the inertia of the head 10 and thereservoir 14, 'thereby permitting rapid movement of the jet with respect to a surface being scanned. Moreover, aluminum will not chemically react with the ink. - Of course, it is clear that the entire imaging head 10 and
entire reservoir 14 does not comprise the high thermal conductivity material. For example,thermal resistance barrier 34 may comprise a material having a thermal conductivity less than 0.005 g cal/sec cm3(oC/cm). The thermal barrier may also be achieved without benefit of insulation by minimizing the metal contact between the head 10 and thereservoir 14. However, substantially all of the head 10 and thereservoir 14 which is in direct or indirect contact with the ink does comprise the high thermal conductivity material, a notable exception including thefilter 62. Indirect contact is achieved where the material such as copper is coated so as to minimize any reaction with the ink. It is also possible to utilize more than one high thermal conductivity material in the ink jet apparatus. For example, it may be possible to make a portion of the head 10 from aluminum with a portion or all of thereservoir 14 comprises stainless steel.
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/661,029 US4607266A (en) | 1984-10-15 | 1984-10-15 | Phase change ink jet with independent heating of jet and reservoir |
US66192484A | 1984-10-16 | 1984-10-16 | |
US661924 | 1984-10-16 | ||
US661029 | 1996-06-10 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0179607A2 true EP0179607A2 (en) | 1986-04-30 |
EP0179607A3 EP0179607A3 (en) | 1988-04-06 |
EP0179607B1 EP0179607B1 (en) | 1991-09-18 |
Family
ID=27098226
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19850307373 Expired - Lifetime EP0179607B1 (en) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-10-14 | Ink jet apparatus |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0179607B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3584136D1 (en) |
HK (1) | HK21092A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0683051A3 (en) * | 1988-04-22 | 1996-01-17 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink jet type recording apparatus and method. |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3247519A (en) * | 1962-08-20 | 1966-04-19 | Neff Instr Corp | Graphical recording system employing heated ink compositions |
US4106030A (en) * | 1977-02-14 | 1978-08-08 | Recognition Equipment Incorporated | Ink jet printer ink heater |
EP0097823A2 (en) * | 1982-06-30 | 1984-01-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Ink jet recording system |
-
1985
- 1985-10-14 DE DE8585307373T patent/DE3584136D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-10-14 EP EP19850307373 patent/EP0179607B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1992
- 1992-03-19 HK HK21092A patent/HK21092A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3247519A (en) * | 1962-08-20 | 1966-04-19 | Neff Instr Corp | Graphical recording system employing heated ink compositions |
US4106030A (en) * | 1977-02-14 | 1978-08-08 | Recognition Equipment Incorporated | Ink jet printer ink heater |
EP0097823A2 (en) * | 1982-06-30 | 1984-01-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Ink jet recording system |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0683051A3 (en) * | 1988-04-22 | 1996-01-17 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink jet type recording apparatus and method. |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3584136D1 (en) | 1991-10-24 |
HK21092A (en) | 1992-03-27 |
EP0179607A3 (en) | 1988-04-06 |
EP0179607B1 (en) | 1991-09-18 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0178883B1 (en) | Ink jet apparatus and method of operating the same | |
EP0332764B1 (en) | Plastic substrate for thermal ink jet printer | |
KR100344200B1 (en) | Temperature controller for ink jet printing | |
US4791439A (en) | Ink jet apparatus with improved reservoir system for handling hot melt ink | |
JP2832576B2 (en) | Temperature holding device and method | |
EP0333819B1 (en) | Platen arrangement for hot melt ink jet apparatus | |
US4593292A (en) | Ink jet apparatus and method of operating ink jet apparatus employing phase change ink melted as needed | |
US4980702A (en) | Temperature control for an ink jet printhead | |
US7482556B2 (en) | Heating apparatus with multiple element array | |
US4580147A (en) | Ink jet apparatus with improved reservoir system for handling hot melt ink | |
CA1239307A (en) | Ink jet method and apparatus utilizing granular or hot melt ink | |
CN107835740A (en) | Modeling Material ejecting head and formative method | |
US20120074127A1 (en) | Heating apparatus with multiple element array | |
US4873539A (en) | Phase change ink jet apparatus | |
JPH06177570A (en) | Rack for supporting and cooling of module with built-in electronic component and module to be inserted into said rack | |
US4660056A (en) | Liquid jet recording head | |
EP0201967A1 (en) | Heating device | |
EP0179607B1 (en) | Ink jet apparatus | |
US4847636A (en) | Thermal drop-on-demand ink jet print head | |
JPH04506481A (en) | Heating device for heating the ink in the recording head of an ink printing device | |
GB2038102A (en) | Circuit board temperature controller | |
EP1008278A1 (en) | Electrical liquid heating apparatus | |
JPS61135751A (en) | Phase conversion ink injector | |
EP0187492A1 (en) | Electric cooking utensil | |
US5196865A (en) | Temperature sensing of heater points in thermal print heads by resistive layer beneath the heating points |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: DATAPRODUCTS CORPORATION |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19881006 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19900301 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Effective date: 19910918 Ref country code: LI Effective date: 19910918 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED. Effective date: 19910918 Ref country code: CH Effective date: 19910918 Ref country code: BE Effective date: 19910918 |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 3584136 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19911024 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19911031 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
EN | Fr: translation not filed | ||
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Effective date: 19920207 |
|
NLV1 | Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act | ||
PLBI | Opposition filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260 |
|
PLAB | Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO |
|
26 | Opposition filed |
Opponent name: BSG TECHNISCHE BERATUNGS-GESELLSCHAFT MBH Effective date: 19920617 |
|
R26 | Opposition filed (corrected) |
Opponent name: BSG TECHNISCHE BERATUNGS-GESELLSCHAFT MBH Effective date: 19920617 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |
|
PLBN | Opposition rejected |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED |
|
27O | Opposition rejected |
Effective date: 19930712 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20041006 Year of fee payment: 20 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20041130 Year of fee payment: 20 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION Effective date: 20051013 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: PE20 |