EP0683731A1 - Method and apparatus for the production of droplets - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for the production of dropletsInfo
- Publication number
- EP0683731A1 EP0683731A1 EP94907456A EP94907456A EP0683731A1 EP 0683731 A1 EP0683731 A1 EP 0683731A1 EP 94907456 A EP94907456 A EP 94907456A EP 94907456 A EP94907456 A EP 94907456A EP 0683731 A1 EP0683731 A1 EP 0683731A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ejection
- viscosity
- ink
- droplets
- location
- 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
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
- B05B5/007—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means the high voltage supplied to an electrostatic spraying apparatus during spraying operation being periodical or in time, e.g. sinusoidal
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
- B05B5/001—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
- B05B5/025—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
- B05B5/0255—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns spraying and depositing by electrostatic forces only
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B5/00—Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
- B05B5/025—Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns
- B05B5/053—Arrangements for supplying power, e.g. charging power
- B05B5/0533—Electrodes specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of electrodes
- B05B5/0536—Dimensional characteristics of electrodes, e.g. diameter or radius of curvature of a needle-like corona electrode
-
- 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
- B41J2/06—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by electric or magnetic field
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- 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
-
- 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
- B41J2/06—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by electric or magnetic field
- B41J2002/061—Ejection by electric field of ink or of toner particles contained in ink
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the production of droplets of material from a solid, powdered or highly viscous meltable material.
- One particular application to which this invention may be applied is the transfer of droplets of high intensity colouring materials to a recording surface for the purpose of non-impact printing. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to delivering coloured materials for the purpose of non-impact printing but may be used to generate droplets of materials in general or to deposit other materials in a defined pattern on a substrate. Examples of other applications are the deposition of phosphors or fluoro phosphors for security coding, hot melt adhesives and propellantless aerosols. The invention may also be used for the propellantless production and ejection of particulate pharmaceuticals in a pharmaceutically acceptable meltable carrier.
- ink jet printing There are a number of different forms of equipment used for the non ⁇ impact printing systems which are generally referred to as ink jet printing. It is usual for ink to be fed through a nozzle, the exit diameter of which nozzle being a major factor in determining the droplet size and hence the size of the resulting dots on a recording surface.
- the droplets may be produced from the nozzle either continuously in which case the method is termed continuous printing or they may be produced individually as required in which case the method is termed drop-on-demand printing.
- continuous printing an ink is delivered through the nozzle at high pressure and the pressure at the nozzle is perturbed at a substantially constant frequency which results in a stream of droplets of constant size.
- Drop-on- demand printing operates by producing local pressure pulses in the liquid in the vicinity of a small nozzle which results in a droplet of liquid being ejected from the nozzle at a selected time.
- the colouring material is a soluble dye combined with binders to render the printed image more permanent in a liquid carrier.
- soluble dyes are soluble in many applications and that the dyes fade under exposure in the environment.
- a further disadvantage with soluble dye materials is that the quality of the printed image is dependent on the properties of the recording surface.
- Pigmented inks are known to produce higher density images than soluble dyes and are also more permanent. Pigments may also be used in jet printers along with a carrier liquid but the production of a dense image requires a high concentration of pigment material in the carrier liquid. The high concentration of pigment material affects the droplet breakup in continuous printers and results in less uniform printing. Drop-on-demand printers do not have a high continuous pressure and the droplet generation is strongly dependent on local conditions in the nozzle, therefore the presence of pigments can modify the local nozzle conditions or block the nozzle such that droplets are not correctly ejected.
- a further process known as electrostatic ink jet printing, is characterised by an electrostatic pull on a liquid and is disclosed in for instance US Patent 3,060,429. This involves the generation and acceleration of charged droplets, from a nozzle containing the liquid, to a platen electrode by a high voltage being maintained between the nozzle and the platen.
- This process is further optimised by including a valving electrode that is used to interrupt or control the jet flow as well as two pairs of electrodes used to manipulate the flight path of the droplets.
- Printing is achieved by locating a paper substrate just prior to the platen electrode and using a conductive solution of ink.
- the invention is said to reside in a method of formation of droplets from a meltable powdered, solid or highly viscous material comprising the steps of reducing the viscosity of the material to a viscosity which will enable droplet formation, providing the reduced viscosity material to an ejection location, applying an electrical potential to the ejection location to form an electric field at the location and thereby causing the reduced viscosity material to form droplets on the ejection location and ejecting such droplets away from the ejection location by electrostatic means.
- the powdered, solid or highly viscous material may be an ink comprising a colourant and a carrier.
- the colourant may be a pigment.
- the viscosity may be reduced by heating or by pressure.
- the size of the droplets of the material such as an ink is not dependent upon the size of any nozzle which delivers the reduced viscosity material to the ejection location but is dependent upon the ejection location geometry, the level of the electrical field, the amount of heating at the ejection location and the nature of the reduced viscosity material such as an ink and its viscosity at the time of ejection.
- the present invention differs from the prior art in that the reduced viscosity material such as an ink does not necessarily include a conductive carrier liquid at the time of droplet formation.
- Droplets appear to be formed by electrostatic means acting upon the particles of solid such as a pigment within the reduced viscosity material such as an ink.
- the liquid portion acts solely as a carrier.
- the transfer of pigment instead of liquid solutions of colouring matter means that a more intense image can be formed on a substrate and a finer dot size can be formed with a quicker setting dot.
- the electrical potential forming the field may be pulsed so that there is periodic formation and ejection of droplets from the ejection point.
- the electrical potential will cause an electric field to build at the ejection location and may be dependent upon the geometry of the ejection location such as the radius of curvature of the ejection location and in a preferred embodiment of the invention the ejection location may be provided by a needle having a radius of curvature at its tip in the range of 5-50 microns. Alternatively the ejection location may be provided by an elongate sharpened edge. There may be a number of ejection locations along the elongate edge or there may be a matrix of ejection locations.
- the method of this invention may produce droplets of the material such as an ink in a size range of 1 micron to 500 microns in diameter or even larger depending upon the geometry of the ejection location, viscosity, type of carrier included in the material and voltage applied.
- the carrier portion of the material is a non-electrically conducting liquid when in the reduced viscosity state and the solid material such as a pigment within the ink is comprised of chargeable particles.
- the chargeable particles may be charged to the same polarity as the voltage applied to the ejection location.
- the electrical potential applied to the ejection location may be in the range of 500 to 6000 volts or higher.
- the invention may be said to reside in an apparatus for generation of droplets of a material from a meltable powdered, solid or highly viscous material comprising means to reduce the viscosity of the powdered, solid or highly viscous material to a viscosity which will enable droplet formation, means to supply the reduced viscosity material to an ejection location, and means to apply an electrical potential to the ejection location to form an electrical field at the ejection location whereby to enable formation and ejection of droplets of the material from the ejection location.
- the powdered, solid or highly viscous material may be an ink comprising a colourant and a carrier the colourant may be a pigment.
- the viscosity may be reduced by heating or by pressure.
- an apparatus which will enable droplets of a meltable powdered, solid or highly viscous material to be produced and ejected from the ejection location.
- the means to supply a flow of reduced viscosity material to the ejection location may be provided by various means depending upon the original nature of the material.
- a solid meltable material there may be a spring loaded chamber containing pellets or a stick of the meltable material which at an end nearest the ejection location includes a heating means adapted to melt the meltable material to the required viscosity.
- a heating means adapted to melt the meltable material to the required viscosity.
- two stage heating aided by the force of gravity and/or the expansion of the material upon heating facilitates both viscosity reduction and feed to the ejection location.
- Such heaters may be of the resistance type or so called induction type.
- the resistance type of heater may be a resistance wire wound around a receptacle for the material.
- the induction type consists of a coil wound about a ferrite core which is juxtaposed with respect to the vessel containing the ink.
- the coil may be wound about the vessel wherein the said vessel acts as the core, directly heating the ink.
- the ejection location may also be heated to maintain the required viscosity of the ink.
- Such heating of the ejection location may be constant or pulsed.
- the heating of the ejection location may be a point source heater such as an infrared laser diode.
- a powder feeder may be used to supply powder to the heating stage where it is melted in either one or two stages to a required viscosity for ejection.
- this may be supplied in a cartridge with a spring loaded piston at one end. The spring pressure is adapted to push the paste-like or treacle-like ink directly to the heating chamber.
- the ink may be composed of a low melting point wax or resin combined with a pigment phase.
- these materials include AC6, a polyethylene wax made by Allied Park; Elvax 210, an ethylene vinyl acetate resin made by Du Pont:; Syntha Wax, a hydrogenated castor oil made by Lever and Kitchen; Paraffin wax, made by Exxon and mixtures thereof.
- the pigment may be selected from any of a range of pigments depending upon the colour required.
- pigments examples include organic pigments such as Irgalite Blue LGLD, a Pigment Blue 15:3 made by Ciba Geigy: Microlith Black CT, a Pigment Black 7 made by Ciba-Geigy: Monolite Yellow GNA, a Pigment Yellow 1 made by ICI or inorganic pigments such as silicas, metallics or magnetic iron oxides.
- organic pigments such as Irgalite Blue LGLD, a Pigment Blue 15:3 made by Ciba Geigy: Microlith Black CT, a Pigment Black 7 made by Ciba-Geigy: Monolite Yellow GNA, a Pigment Yellow 1 made by ICI or inorganic pigments such as silicas, metallics or magnetic iron oxides.
- Viscosity of inks may be optimised or pre-disposed for droplet formation. This may be achieved by controlling the temperature of the heating locations or specifically at the ejection location. Viscosity of the ink may be changed by the addition of a viscosity control agent such as Energol WM2, a paraffin oil made by BP Chemicals, or the like.
- a viscosity control agent such as Energol WM2, a paraffin oil made by BP Chemicals, or the like.
- the ejection location may be provided by a needle point having a radius of curvature of from 5 to 50 microns or the ejection location may be provided by an elongate edge having a semi- cylindrical surface having a radius of curvature of 5 to 50 microns.
- the ejection location may comprise a matrix of ejection points.
- the apparatus according to this invention may be adapted to provide droplets on demand or to provide a continuous stream of droplets which can be deflected by electrostatic means external to the apparatus.
- the supply of droplets on demand may be provided by providing a pulsed electrical potential or pulsed heating to the ejection location.
- This periodically applied potential may be of any waveform which allows consistent ejection of droplets from the ejection location.
- Preferred waveforms include square waves and pulses which may have an offset or threshold potential.
- Pulsed heating may be provided by a solid state infrared laser diode to provide a point source of heating at the ejection location.
- Such a heating device may exhibit specific properties such as fast switching time, appropriate heat output with respect to wavelength, bandwidth and heating power for melting the material such as the material, and suitable spot size with respect to the dimensions of the ejection location.
- this invention provides droplet formation at an ejection location and the electrostatic ejection of such droplets.
- the arrangement may include a pair of ejection locations each producing droplets of one component of a two component adhesive system. This would provide an adhesive application gun.
- FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of droplet formation apparatus of an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a droplet formation apparatus
- FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of a droplet formation apparatus.
- FIG. 1 illustrates the one embodiment of the invention for use in forming droplets of an ink.
- the apparatus for generation of discrete droplets from a solid ink consists of a body 1 which may be of an insulating material fashioned to a tapered point. Extending from the body is a hollow tube 2 of an electrical and thermal conducting material which is electrically charged by electrical conductor 3 extending from a power source 4.
- the ejection point 6 is formed at a tip of the tube 2 and is of a selected radius of curvature, in this case a spherical point.
- the body has an aperture 7 extending through it to the tube 2.
- the aperture 7 is comprised of a first portion 8 of a first diameter, adapted to receive a stick 9 of a solid ink.
- a heating coil 10 around the first portion 8 provides heating to soften the stick of ink 9 to such an extent that spring 11 can extrude the ink through a tapered portion 12 of the aperture 7 into a second portion 13 of reduced diameter.
- a further heating coil 14 provides heating to further melt the ink until it is at a viscosity to enable flow to the ejection point under the pressure supplied by spring 11 and droplet formation.
- the electrostatic charge causes droplet formation as discussed earlier.
- FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus for generation of discrete droplets from a solid ink. Those parts which are the same as in FIG. 1 have the same reference numerals.
- a body 1 which may be of an insulating material is fashioned to a tapered point. Extending from the body is a tube 2 of a thermally and electrically conducting material which is electrically charged by electrical conductor 3 extending from a power source 4.
- the ejection point 6 is at the tip of the tube 2 and tapers to a point of a selected radius of curvature, in this case a spherical point.
- the body has a hollow aperture 7 extending through it to the tube 2 and the ejection point 6.
- the aperture 7 is adapted to receive a stick 9 of a solid ink.
- a heating coil 10 around the aperture 7 softens and expands the ink 9 extruding said ink through aperture 7 into the tube 2 such that ink of the correct viscosity to allow droplet formation flows to the ejection point 6 under pressure.
- the electrostatic charge causes droplet formation as discussed earlier.
- a plug 15 closes off the end of the aperture 7 remote from the tube 2 to enable pressure formed by expansion of the meltable ink on melting to direct ink to the ejection point 6.
- FIG. 3 illustrates yet another embodiment of the apparatus for generation of discrete droplets from a solid ink. Those parts which are the same as in FIG. 1 have the same reference numerals.
- a body 1 which may be of an insulating material fashioned to a tapered point. Extending from the body is a hollow tube 2 of a thermally and electrically conducting material which is electrically charged by electrical conductor 3 extending from a power source 4.
- the ejection point 6 is formed at a tip of the tube 2 which tapers to a point on one edge of the tube of a selected radius of curvature, in this case a spherical point.
- the body has an aperture 7 extending through it to the tube 2.
- the aperture 7 is comprised of first portion 8 of a first diameter adapted to receive a stick 9 of a solid ink.
- a heating coil 10 around the first portion 8 provides heating to soften the stick of ink 9 to such an extent that spring 11 can extrude the ink through the tapered portion 12 of the aperture 7 into a second portion 13 of reduced diameter and into the tube 2. Further heating is provided by an infrared solid state laser diode 16 and an optical fibre 17 directed to the tube 2. This provides heat which further melts the ink until it is at a viscosity to flow to the ejection point and to enable formation of droplets. At the ejection point the electrostatic charge causes droplet formation, as discussed earlier, when the viscosity has been reduced by the heat from the infrared solid state laser diode 16 via the optical fibre 17. This heating may be pulsed to enable selected or pulsed formation and ejection of droplets.
- an ink was provided by blending 99g of Syntha Wax (a hydrogenated castor oil) and 1g of Pigment Blue 15 which were placed into a heated attritor milling device and heated to 150C to affect the melting of the thermoplastic materials. After milling for 6 hours, the molten ink was removed from the attritor and allowed to solidify by cooling.
- Viscosity of this ink at an operational temperature to allow droplet formation was 10 mPa.s.
- Example 1 This ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiments shown in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 20mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and + 600 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +1500 volts. Printed drop size was 10 microns with excellent colour density and integrity.
- Example 2 Example 2
- This ink was placed in the apparatus as described in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 20mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts. Printed drop size was 20 microns with excellent colour density and integrity.
- This ink was placed in the apparatus as described in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +600 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +1500 volts.
- Printed drop size was 70 microns with excellent colour density and integrity.
- Example 4 This ink was placed in the apparatus as described in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts. Printed drop size was 150 microns with excellent colour density and integrity.
- This ink was placed in the apparatus as described in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 5mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +600 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +1500 volts. Printed drop size was 150 microns with excellent colour density and integrity.
- This ink was placed in the apparatus as described in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 5mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts. Printed drop size was 300 microns with excellent colour density and integrity.
- the Examples 7 to 13 illustrate droplet formation according to the method and apparatus of this invention with other inks. These inks were manufactured by the method as disclosed in previous examples. All viscosity measurements in these examples were performed on a Haake Rheometer: Rheostress RS100.
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperature was 45 mPa.s
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 10mm from a single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts.
- the printed drop had excellent colour density and integrity.
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperature was 32 mPa.s
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG 1. with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts.
- the printed drop had excellent colour density and integrity.
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperatures was 15 mPa.s.
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts.
- the printed drop had excellent colour density and integrity.
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperature was 31 mPa.s.
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135 C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts. The printed drop had excellent colour density.
- Example 11
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperature was 2.5 mPa.s.
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns.
- the ejection location was at 135C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts.
- the printed drop had poor colour density and integrity.
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperature was 13 mPa.s.
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns.
- the ejection location was at 135C and +800 volt pulses were applied at 5000 Hz on top of the threshold potential of +2000 volts.
- the printed drop had poor colour density and integrity.
- Viscosity of this ink at operational temperature was 45 mPa.s.
- the ink was placed in the apparatus as described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 with bond paper placed 10mm from the single point ejection location with a radius of curvature of 25 microns. Excellent results were obtained when the ejection location was at 135C and the laser was modulated at 5000 Hz. A potential of +2800 volts was applied to the ejection location. The printed drop had an excellent colour density and integrity.
Landscapes
- Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)
- Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
- Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
- Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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AUPL7274/93 | 1993-02-12 | ||
AUPL727493 | 1993-02-12 | ||
AUPL727493 | 1993-02-12 | ||
PCT/AU1994/000065 WO1994018011A1 (en) | 1993-02-12 | 1994-02-11 | Method and apparatus for the production of droplets |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0683731A1 true EP0683731A1 (en) | 1995-11-29 |
EP0683731A4 EP0683731A4 (en) | 1996-04-03 |
EP0683731B1 EP0683731B1 (en) | 2000-09-20 |
Family
ID=3776707
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94907456A Expired - Lifetime EP0683731B1 (en) | 1993-02-12 | 1994-02-11 | Method and apparatus for the production of droplets |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0683731B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH08506536A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1045745C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE196447T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2155942A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69425958T2 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2110409C1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1994018011A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (20)
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US6579574B2 (en) * | 2001-04-24 | 2003-06-17 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Variable electrostatic spray coating apparatus and method |
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KR101396737B1 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2014-05-26 | 더 트러스티즈 오브 프린스턴 유니버시티 | Electrohydrodynamic printing and manufacturing |
CN108254950B (en) * | 2018-02-09 | 2021-01-08 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | Quantum dot pellet spraying equipment |
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CN111319358A (en) * | 2018-12-13 | 2020-06-23 | 株式会社Enjet | Electrohydrodynamic printing apparatus |
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BE755392A (en) * | 1969-08-28 | 1971-02-01 | Teletype Corp | INK AND ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING APPARATUS |
IT1116334B (en) * | 1977-12-28 | 1986-02-10 | Olivetti & Co Spa | IMPACT-FREE WRITING DEVICE WITH SELECTIVE EMISSION OF SOLID INK PARTICLES |
JPS597052A (en) * | 1982-06-30 | 1984-01-14 | インタ−ナショナル ビジネス マシ−ンズ コ−ポレ−ション | Liquid injection recorder |
CH649040A5 (en) * | 1982-10-08 | 1985-04-30 | Battelle Memorial Institute | DEVICE FOR PROJECTING DROPLETS OF AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE LIQUID. |
US4490731A (en) * | 1982-11-22 | 1984-12-25 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Ink dispenser with "frozen" solid ink |
US4593292A (en) * | 1984-10-15 | 1986-06-03 | Exxon Research And Engineering Co. | Ink jet apparatus and method of operating ink jet apparatus employing phase change ink melted as needed |
US4682185A (en) * | 1984-11-08 | 1987-07-21 | Martner John G | Ink jet method and apparatus utilizing a web of hot melt ink |
ATE53188T1 (en) * | 1985-08-06 | 1990-06-15 | Dataproducts Corp | INKJET WITH DYE STATE CHANGE. |
US4717926A (en) * | 1985-11-09 | 1988-01-05 | Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha | Electric field curtain force printer |
JPH03184855A (en) * | 1989-12-14 | 1991-08-12 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Non-contact type recording device |
WO1993011866A1 (en) * | 1991-12-18 | 1993-06-24 | Research Laboratories Of Australia Pty. Ltd. | Method and apparatus for the production of discrete agglomerations of particulate matter |
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1994
- 1994-02-11 EP EP94907456A patent/EP0683731B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-02-11 CN CN94191362A patent/CN1045745C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-02-11 JP JP6517456A patent/JPH08506536A/en active Pending
- 1994-02-11 WO PCT/AU1994/000065 patent/WO1994018011A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1994-02-11 DE DE69425958T patent/DE69425958T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-02-11 AT AT94907456T patent/ATE196447T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-02-11 RU RU95121653A patent/RU2110409C1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-02-11 CA CA002155942A patent/CA2155942A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
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US4943818A (en) * | 1988-02-09 | 1990-07-24 | Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha | Ink jet printer |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
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PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 015 no. 441 (M-1177) ,11 November 1991 & JP-A-03 184855 (RICOH CO LTD) 12 August 1991, * |
See also references of WO9418011A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2155942A1 (en) | 1994-08-18 |
CN1045745C (en) | 1999-10-20 |
DE69425958D1 (en) | 2000-10-26 |
EP0683731A4 (en) | 1996-04-03 |
EP0683731B1 (en) | 2000-09-20 |
JPH08506536A (en) | 1996-07-16 |
RU2110409C1 (en) | 1998-05-10 |
CN1119843A (en) | 1996-04-03 |
DE69425958T2 (en) | 2001-01-25 |
WO1994018011A1 (en) | 1994-08-18 |
ATE196447T1 (en) | 2000-10-15 |
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