EP0202369A1 - Printing head - Google Patents
Printing head Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0202369A1 EP0202369A1 EP85303544A EP85303544A EP0202369A1 EP 0202369 A1 EP0202369 A1 EP 0202369A1 EP 85303544 A EP85303544 A EP 85303544A EP 85303544 A EP85303544 A EP 85303544A EP 0202369 A1 EP0202369 A1 EP 0202369A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- film
- housing
- printing head
- members
- 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
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 43
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 56
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- YCKRFDGAMUMZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fluorine atom Chemical compound [F] YCKRFDGAMUMZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004642 Polyimide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011358 absorbing material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052731 fluorine Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011737 fluorine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001721 polyimide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002050 silicone resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 1
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
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
- B41J2/14161—Structure having belt or drum with holes filled with ink
-
- 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
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a printing head.
- ink jet printer a plurality of ink jet nozzles are used, and ink is jetted onto a printing paper by a piezo-electric drive means.
- nozzle stoppage which, in effect, causes a white point to be printed on the printing paper.
- a printing head comprising at least one housing adapted to contain ink and at least one ink supplying member arranged to receive ink from the or a respective housing, characterised by at least one film member having a plurality of holes or recesses therein, the or each film member being arranged to receive ink from the respective ink supplying member or members so that ink is introduced into the said holes or recesses.
- the or each film member may slidably engage a respective ink supplying member.
- the or a said housing may have a film supporting member mounted thereon, the film supporting member having recess portions for guiding the, or the respective, film member.
- a cap member may be detachably mounted on the or each film supporting member so as to cover the outer surface thereof, the cap member having a slit portion for guiding the film member.
- the or each housing may be provided with a pair of ink supplying members which are disposed on opposite sides of the film member, each ink supplying member having a curved portion to guide the film member towards a contact portion of the ink supplying member.
- the or each housing may be provided with a detachable valve member for introducing ink into the housing.
- the or each housing may also be provided externally with a mounting recess portion for detachably securing the housing to another member.
- the or each housing and the respective ink supplying member or members form part of a replaceable cassette for use in a printer.
- At least one thermal head which engages the, or the respective, film member and which is adapted to heat ink in said holes or recesses so as to cause said ink to be jetted onto a recording medium by bubble pressure.
- the thermal head may be disposed between two said housings.
- Each thermal head may be provided with a plurality of heating dot elements.
- the thermal head and the housing or housings may be integral with or secured to each other to constitute a replaceable cassette for use in a printer.
- the or each film member may pass through a sealed space which is supplied with ink'by a said ink supplying member.
- the sealed space may be disposed between the housing and a member which is resiliently urged towards the housing, the sealed space being sealed by sealing members which engage opposite sides of the film member.
- the or each ink supplying member may be connected to an ink reservoir by way of a frangible member, means being provided for breaking the frangible member to enable ink to pass from the ink reservoir to the ink supplying member.
- FIGs 1-7 there is shown a first embodiment of a cassette type printing head according to the present invention.
- a liquid ink or a sintered liquid ink material 2 the latter being housed in the hollow interior la of the cassette body 1.
- a hollow cylindrical film supporting member 3 which is formed integrally with the cassette body 1,protrudes from one surface of the cassette body l.
- the supporting member 3 is provided on opposite sides thereof with a pair of recessed portions 5, 5 ( Figure 2) for guiding a film 4 so that the film 4 can pass through the supporting member 3 at right angles to the length of the cassette body la in what will be described as an axial direction.
- a pair of ink guiding and supplying members 6, 6, which are made of a felt or fibrous material, are mounted respectively in two recessed portions 3b, 3b of the inner walls 3a, 3a, of the supporting member 3, the ink supplying members 6 being mounted centrally of the supporting member 3.
- the end portions of the ink supplying members 6, 6 contact each other.
- the ink supplying members 6, 6 are provided with curved portions 6a, 6a for easy insertion of the film 4 therebetween.
- the film 4 can thus both contact and slide with respect to the ink supplying members 6, 6 at contact portions 6b thereof.
- the ink supplying members 6 are disposed on opposite sides of the film 4, the curved portions 6a guiding the film 4 towards the contact portions 6b.
- a cap member 8 ( Figures 3 and 4) of cylindrical shape, is detachably mounted on the outside of the supporting member 3.
- the cap member 8 has a pair of slit portions 8a, 8a, on substantially opposite sides of the cap member 8 for guiding the film 4 substantially in the said axial direction.
- the film 4 is able to slide between the ink guiding members 6, 6 and through the slits 8a, 8a and the recessed portions 5, 5. Drying out of the ink in holes or recesses 4a ( Figures 6 and 7) of the film 4 and in the ink supplying members 6, 6 is prevented by the cap member 8.
- Recessed portions 11 for detachably mounting the cassette body 1 on a carriage member 9 are provided at the sides of the cassette body 1.
- a pair of cassette bodies 1, 1 are mounted on the carriage member 9 which is movable in the directions indicated by the double headed arrow A.
- the carriage member 9 is slidably mounted for this purpose on a pair of guide shafts 12, 12 along which they may be moved by a pair of cassette levers 10, 10.
- a thermal head 13, which is mounted on the carriage member 9, is located between the cassette bodies 1, l.
- the supporting members 3, 3 are disposed on opposite sides of thermal head 13 so that ink is supplied to the film 4 from different directions.
- the thermal head 13 and the cassette bodies 1 are integral with or secured to each other so as to constitute a replaceable cassette for use in a printer.
- Ink 2 which is supplied from the ink supplying members 6, 6, fills each of the small holes or recesses 4a.
- a signal current is applied to a heating surface 13a ( Figure 6) of the thermal head 13
- ink in the small 'holes or recesses 4a is jetted onto a recording paper sheet 15 so as to effect printing on the latter.
- a plurality of the small holes or recesses 4a correspond to one dot element of the heating surface 13a.
- the heating surface 13a is composed of a plurality of dot elements, the said one dot element corresponding to one picture element. Therefore even if one or two holes or recesses 4a are stopped up, the picture element can still be printed.
- the film 4 is entrained around a pair of pulleys 16, 16 and can be extended by means of pins 16a which engage the film 4.
- the thermal head 13 is disposed between a pair of cassette bodies.
- the same effect can be obtained if the thermal head 13 is mounted in a recess formed between cassette bodies constituting an integral structure.
- FIGS 8-10 there is shown a second embodiment of a printing head according to the present invention.
- a film 4 is made of a thin metallic film of aluminium or an organic film of polyimide and has a large number of holes 4a.
- the film 4 may be of any desired length and width. Both ends of the film 4 are rolled up so that if a hole or holes 4a become blocked up, a new portion of the film 4 may be brought into use by suitably unrolling the film.
- a thermal head member 13 has a plurality of thermal head elements 13a and there is an ink supplying member which comprises a cassette body 1 of box like shape which has an ink filling inlet (not shown) so that ink may be introduced into the interior thereof.
- Ink is supplied to the holes 4a by way of an ink supplying member 6 which is made of sponge material and contacts one surface of the film 4.
- the thermal head member 13 and ink supplying member 6 are arranged side by side so as collectively to be of cassette shape and to contact a surface of the film 4 and move serially when printing or recording is performed.
- Ink 2, which is disposed in the holes 4a of the film l, is jetted onto recording paper 18 by bubble pressure caused by heating the ink in a group of holes 4a by means of a thermal dot element 13a.
- Figure 9 illustrates the operation of the film 4 and the thermal head 13.
- a flexible cable 17 is used to supply a drive signal to the thermal head 13 from a drive circuit (not shown).
- Figure 10 illustrates a basic construction for producing a colour print.
- the recording paper 18 is mounted on a drm 19.
- Films 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are employed for the printing of the Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and B (black) colours respectively.
- the thermal head 13 and ink supplying member 6 are used in the manner shown in Figures 8 and 9.
- a supporting base 20 supports the head 13, the latter being slidably mounted on a pair of supporting bars 21.
- Colour printing is performed in the line direction by moving the supporting base 20 longitudinally of the drum 19 for each colour. That is to say, in Figure 10 a single thermal head 13 is shown as aligned with the film 4a for printing the colour Y. In practice, however, each of the other films 4b, 4c, 4d would also have its respective thermal head.
- the second embodiment of the present invention which is shown in Figures 8-10 makes it possible to effect mono and colour printing by a means of a simple mechanism. Moreover, if the nozzle constituted by a group of holes 4a becomes blocked, all that is necessary is to unroll a fresh length of film 4. Thus the construction is applicable to a copying machine or electronic typewriter.
- a recording ink cassette or cassette body 1 is employed in a printing head in which a recording ink 2 is housed in a plurality of small holes or recesses 4a of a thin film 4 made of a metal or organic material.
- the recording ink 2 is jetted towards a recording paper (not shown) by contacting the film 4 with a thermal head 13 which causes expansion of the ink in the holes or recesses 4a so as to effect printing by bubble pressure.
- the recording ink cassette 1 is composed of a recording ink housing member lb, a recording ink supplying member 6 which is arranged to be connected, as described below, to said housing member lb so as to supply ink to the holes or recesses 4a, first sealing members 22 for sealing said housing member Ib, and a pressure member 24 having second sealing members 23 which are disposed opposite first sealing members 22.
- the sealing members 22, 23 engage opposite sides of the film 4 which passes through a space 26 which is sealed by the sealing members 22, 23.
- the pressure member 24 is pressed by a spring member 25 towards the ink cassette 1.
- Recording ink 2 fills the sealed space 26 which is sealed by the sealing members 22 and 23 and thus passes into the small holes or recesses 4a of the film 4 which passes through the recording ink 2.
- the recording ink 2 is supplied to the sealed space 26 by the ink supplying member 6 and, if desired, it may be arranged that the ink supplying member 6 contacts the film 4.
- the sealing members 22 and 23 prevent the recording ink from leaking out and enable a uniform amount of recording ink to be contained in the small holes or recesses 4a of the film 4.
- the sealing members 22, 23 may be made of plastics, rubber, a silicone resin or a fluorine resin which has a good low friction characteristic.
- the sealing members 22, 23 are also preferably O-ring shape.
- the width of the sealing members 22 and 23 may be greater than the width of the film 4, as shown in Figure 13. However, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the recording ink if the material of the sealing member has a substantial elasticity. Further it is possible to make the width of the sealing members 22 and 23 less than the width of the film 4, as shown in Figure 14.
- a very thin sealing film 28 is interposed between a porous or other connecting member 27 which extends between the reservoir of ink within the housing member Ib and the recording ink supplying member 6.
- the sealing film 28 can easily be broken by pushing a protruding member 29 downwardly when required, whereby the recording ink 2 is supplied to the connecting member 27 and thus to the recording ink supplying member 6.
- the connecting member 27 is preferably constituted by a cylindrical member containing a porous or fibrous material. It is also preferable to use an ink-retaining member made of porous material, sponge or felt as the recording ink guiding member 6.
- the porous or fibrous material operates as an absorbing material to prevent outflow of the ink. It is also possible to provide a filter (not shown) for filtering out dust or debris in the ink or a broken piece of the sealing film 28.
- the film 4 is fixed while the recording ink cassette 1 and thermal head 13 are in sliding contact with the film 4. It is possible to mount recording ink cassettes 1 on opposite sides of the thermal head 13 so as to permit a reciprocating record therebetween.
- ink is constantly applied to a film, and it is possible to print at a constant print density without density irregularity by changing the cassette body when the ink is exhausted or the ink supplying member is damaged.
Landscapes
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
- Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a printing head.
- In the conventional ink jet printer, a plurality of ink jet nozzles are used, and ink is jetted onto a printing paper by a piezo-electric drive means. In such a conventional printer, however, it is very difficult to eliminate nozzle stoppage which, in effect, causes a white point to be printed on the printing paper.
- On the other hand, in the case of an ink ribbon type printer, the ink is used in the course of time and consequently the printing density gradually becomes paler.
- Further, in the case of a thermal transfer printer or the hammer type printer, a coated tape has to be thrown away after one printing operation. Therefore, a printer or typewriter or wordprocessor which can print with a continuous supply of ink has not been previously developed.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a printing head comprising at least one housing adapted to contain ink and at least one ink supplying member arranged to receive ink from the or a respective housing, characterised by at least one film member having a plurality of holes or recesses therein, the or each film member being arranged to receive ink from the respective ink supplying member or members so that ink is introduced into the said holes or recesses.
- The or each film member may slidably engage a respective ink supplying member.
- The or a said housing may have a film supporting member mounted thereon, the film supporting member having recess portions for guiding the, or the respective, film member.
- A cap member may be detachably mounted on the or each film supporting member so as to cover the outer surface thereof, the cap member having a slit portion for guiding the film member.
- The or each housing may be provided with a pair of ink supplying members which are disposed on opposite sides of the film member, each ink supplying member having a curved portion to guide the film member towards a contact portion of the ink supplying member.
- The or each housing may be provided with a detachable valve member for introducing ink into the housing.
- The or each housing may also be provided externally with a mounting recess portion for detachably securing the housing to another member.
- Preferably, the or each housing and the respective ink supplying member or members form part of a replaceable cassette for use in a printer.
- Preferably, also there is at least one thermal head which engages the, or the respective, film member and which is adapted to heat ink in said holes or recesses so as to cause said ink to be jetted onto a recording medium by bubble pressure.
- The thermal head may be disposed between two said housings.
- Each thermal head may be provided with a plurality of heating dot elements.
- The thermal head and the housing or housings may be integral with or secured to each other to constitute a replaceable cassette for use in a printer.
- There may be a plurality of film members and respective thermal heads for printing a plurality of different colours.
- The or each film member may pass through a sealed space which is supplied with ink'by a said ink supplying member.
- The sealed space may be disposed between the housing and a member which is resiliently urged towards the housing, the sealed space being sealed by sealing members which engage opposite sides of the film member.
- The or each ink supplying member may be connected to an ink reservoir by way of a frangible member, means being provided for breaking the frangible member to enable ink to pass from the ink reservoir to the ink supplying member.
- The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Figures 1 to 7 illustrate a first embodiment of a printing head according to the present invention,
- Figure 1 is a cross sectional view, of a cassette body forming part of the printing head,
- Figure 2 is a plan view of the cassette body shown in Figure 1,
- Figure 3 is a side view of the said cassette body and shows a cap member thereon,
- Figure 4 is a plan view of part of the structure shown in Figure 3,
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a serial printer provided with a printing head according to the present invention,
- Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a plan view and a front view of a part of the structure shown in Figure 5 to illustrate the position of the parts during printing,
- Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment of a printing head according to the present invention,
- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the basic construction of the said second embodiment,
- Figure 9 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 8,
- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the basic construction of a colour printer incorporating a printer head as shown in Figures 8 and 9,
- Figures 11 to 14 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention,
- Figure 11 is a perspective view of a printing head according to the present invention,
- Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the printing head shown in Figure 11, and
- Figures 13 and 14 are plan views of alternative constructions of sealing members which may be used in the said third embodiment.
- In Figures 1-7 there is shown a first embodiment of a cassette type printing head according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, within a housing or
cassette body 1 of elongated box shape there is housed a liquid ink or a sinteredliquid ink material 2, the latter being housed in the hollow interior la of thecassette body 1. A hollow cylindrical film supporting member 3, which is formed integrally with thecassette body 1,protrudes from one surface of the cassette body l. The supporting member 3 is provided on opposite sides thereof with a pair ofrecessed portions 5, 5 (Figure 2) for guiding afilm 4 so that thefilm 4 can pass through the supporting member 3 at right angles to the length of the cassette body la in what will be described as an axial direction. Further, a pair of ink guiding and supplyingmembers portions ink supplying members 6 being mounted centrally of the supporting member 3. The end portions of theink supplying members ink supplying members film 4 therebetween. Thefilm 4 can thus both contact and slide with respect to theink supplying members ink supplying members 6 are disposed on opposite sides of thefilm 4, the curved portions 6a guiding thefilm 4 towards the contact portions 6b. The lower sides of theink supplying members ink 2 in thecassette body 1. A valve orbulb member 7, having an O-ring 7a for filling or changing ink, is detachably mounted in an opening lb in thecassette body 1. - A cap member 8 (Figures 3 and 4) of cylindrical shape, is detachably mounted on the outside of the supporting member 3. The cap member 8 has a pair of slit portions 8a, 8a, on substantially opposite sides of the cap member 8 for guiding the
film 4 substantially in the said axial direction. When the cap member 8 is mounted on the supporting member 3, thefilm 4 is able to slide between theink guiding members recessed portions recesses 4a (Figures 6 and 7) of thefilm 4 and in theink supplying members - Recessed portions 11 for detachably mounting the
cassette body 1 on a carriage member 9 (Figure 5) are provided at the sides of thecassette body 1. In the embodiment of serial printer illustrated in Figure 5, a pair ofcassette bodies carriage member 9 which is movable in the directions indicated by the double headed arrow A. Thecarriage member 9 is slidably mounted for this purpose on a pair of guide shafts 12, 12 along which they may be moved by a pair ofcassette levers thermal head 13, which is mounted on thecarriage member 9, is located between thecassette bodies 1, l. The supporting members 3, 3 are disposed on opposite sides ofthermal head 13 so that ink is supplied to thefilm 4 from different directions. Thethermal head 13 and thecassette bodies 1 are integral with or secured to each other so as to constitute a replaceable cassette for use in a printer. - The
film 4,which is guided by and is in contact with the supporting members 3, 3 and with thethermal head 13, has a large number of small holes orrecesses 4a as indicated in Figures 6 and 7.Ink 2, which is supplied from theink supplying members recesses 4a. When a signal current is applied to a heating surface 13a (Figure 6) of thethermal head 13, ink in the small 'holes orrecesses 4a is jetted onto arecording paper sheet 15 so as to effect printing on the latter. In this case, a plurality of the small holes orrecesses 4a correspond to one dot element of the heating surface 13a. Normally, the heating surface 13a is composed of a plurality of dot elements, the said one dot element corresponding to one picture element. Therefore even if one or two holes orrecesses 4a are stopped up, the picture element can still be printed. - The
film 4 is entrained around a pair ofpulleys film 4. - In the above described first embodiment of the present invention, the
thermal head 13 is disposed between a pair of cassette bodies. However, the same effect can be obtained if thethermal head 13 is mounted in a recess formed between cassette bodies constituting an integral structure. Furthermore, it is possible to use a singleink supply member 6 instead of the pair ofmembers 6 described above. - In Figures 8-10 there is shown a second embodiment of a printing head according to the present invention.
- In the construction shown in Figure 8, a
film 4 is made of a thin metallic film of aluminium or an organic film of polyimide and has a large number ofholes 4a. Thefilm 4 may be of any desired length and width. Both ends of thefilm 4 are rolled up so that if a hole orholes 4a become blocked up, a new portion of thefilm 4 may be brought into use by suitably unrolling the film. Athermal head member 13 has a plurality of thermal head elements 13a and there is an ink supplying member which comprises acassette body 1 of box like shape which has an ink filling inlet (not shown) so that ink may be introduced into the interior thereof. Ink is supplied to theholes 4a by way of anink supplying member 6 which is made of sponge material and contacts one surface of thefilm 4. Thethermal head member 13 andink supplying member 6 are arranged side by side so as collectively to be of cassette shape and to contact a surface of thefilm 4 and move serially when printing or recording is performed.Ink 2, which is disposed in theholes 4a of the film l, is jetted ontorecording paper 18 by bubble pressure caused by heating the ink in a group ofholes 4a by means of a thermal dot element 13a. - Figure 9 illustrates the operation of the
film 4 and thethermal head 13. Whenink 2 has been introduced into theholes 4a, only theink 2 inholes 4a aligned with the thermal dot element 13a of thethermal head 13 will be heated. - A
flexible cable 17 is used to supply a drive signal to thethermal head 13 from a drive circuit (not shown). - Figure 10 illustrates a basic construction for producing a colour print. The
recording paper 18 is mounted on adrm 19. - Alternatively, instead of mounting the
paper 18 on thedrum 19 as shown in Figure 10, one can use paper of the "one pass" type.Films thermal head 13 andink supplying member 6 are used in the manner shown in Figures 8 and 9. A supportingbase 20 supports thehead 13, the latter being slidably mounted on a pair of supporting bars 21. Colour printing is performed in the line direction by moving the supportingbase 20 longitudinally of thedrum 19 for each colour. That is to say, in Figure 10 a singlethermal head 13 is shown as aligned with thefilm 4a for printing the colour Y. In practice, however, each of theother films 4b, 4c, 4d would also have its respective thermal head. - The second embodiment of the present invention which is shown in Figures 8-10 makes it possible to effect mono and colour printing by a means of a simple mechanism. Moreover, if the nozzle constituted by a group of
holes 4a becomes blocked, all that is necessary is to unroll a fresh length offilm 4. Thus the construction is applicable to a copying machine or electronic typewriter. - In Figures 11-14 there is shown a third embodiment of the present invention.
- A recording ink cassette or
cassette body 1 is employed in a printing head in which arecording ink 2 is housed in a plurality of small holes or recesses 4a of athin film 4 made of a metal or organic material. Therecording ink 2 is jetted towards a recording paper (not shown) by contacting thefilm 4 with athermal head 13 which causes expansion of the ink in the holes or recesses 4a so as to effect printing by bubble pressure. - The
recording ink cassette 1 is composed of a recording ink housing member lb, a recordingink supplying member 6 which is arranged to be connected, as described below, to said housing member lb so as to supply ink to the holes orrecesses 4a, first sealingmembers 22 for sealing said housing member Ib, and apressure member 24 having second sealingmembers 23 which are disposed opposite first sealingmembers 22. The sealingmembers film 4 which passes through aspace 26 which is sealed by the sealingmembers pressure member 24 is pressed by aspring member 25 towards theink cassette 1. - Recording
ink 2 fills the sealedspace 26 which is sealed by the sealingmembers film 4 which passes through therecording ink 2. Therecording ink 2 is supplied to the sealedspace 26 by theink supplying member 6 and, if desired, it may be arranged that theink supplying member 6 contacts thefilm 4. The sealingmembers film 4. The sealingmembers members - The width of the sealing
members film 4, as shown in Figure 13. However, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the recording ink if the material of the sealing member has a substantial elasticity. Further it is possible to make the width of the sealingmembers film 4, as shown in Figure 14. - A very
thin sealing film 28 is interposed between a porous or other connecting member 27 which extends between the reservoir of ink within the housing member Ib and the recordingink supplying member 6. The sealingfilm 28 can easily be broken by pushing a protrudingmember 29 downwardly when required, whereby therecording ink 2 is supplied to the connecting member 27 and thus to the recordingink supplying member 6. - The connecting member 27 is preferably constituted by a cylindrical member containing a porous or fibrous material. It is also preferable to use an ink-retaining member made of porous material, sponge or felt as the recording
ink guiding member 6. The porous or fibrous material operates as an absorbing material to prevent outflow of the ink. It is also possible to provide a filter (not shown) for filtering out dust or debris in the ink or a broken piece of the sealingfilm 28. - In the preferred embodiment of the ink jet printing system, the
film 4 is fixed while therecording ink cassette 1 andthermal head 13 are in sliding contact with thefilm 4. It is possible to mountrecording ink cassettes 1 on opposite sides of thethermal head 13 so as to permit a reciprocating record therebetween. - In the constructions described above, ink is constantly applied to a film, and it is possible to print at a constant print density without density irregularity by changing the cassette body when the ink is exhausted or the ink supplying member is damaged.
Claims (17)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE8585303544T DE3577673D1 (en) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-05-20 | PRINT HEAD. |
EP19850303544 EP0202369B1 (en) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-05-20 | Printing head |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP19850303544 EP0202369B1 (en) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-05-20 | Printing head |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0202369A1 true EP0202369A1 (en) | 1986-11-26 |
EP0202369B1 EP0202369B1 (en) | 1990-05-16 |
Family
ID=8194227
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19850303544 Expired EP0202369B1 (en) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-05-20 | Printing head |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0202369B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3577673D1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3971040A (en) * | 1973-12-03 | 1976-07-20 | Skala Stephen F | Ink drop printer with traversing orifice band |
US4387384A (en) * | 1979-11-27 | 1983-06-07 | Ricoh Co., Ltd. | Recording device |
GB2142583A (en) * | 1983-06-23 | 1985-01-23 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Thermal ink transfer printer |
-
1985
- 1985-05-20 DE DE8585303544T patent/DE3577673D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-05-20 EP EP19850303544 patent/EP0202369B1/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3971040A (en) * | 1973-12-03 | 1976-07-20 | Skala Stephen F | Ink drop printer with traversing orifice band |
US4387384A (en) * | 1979-11-27 | 1983-06-07 | Ricoh Co., Ltd. | Recording device |
GB2142583A (en) * | 1983-06-23 | 1985-01-23 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone | Thermal ink transfer printer |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, vol. 20, no. 1, June 1977, pages 440-442, Armonk, New York, US; M. RONAY: "Matrix screen printer" * |
PATENTS ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 8, no. 270 (M-344)[1707], 11th December 1984; & JP-A-59 142 158 (ALPS DENKI K.K.) 15-08-1984 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3577673D1 (en) | 1990-06-21 |
EP0202369B1 (en) | 1990-05-16 |
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