EP0803358A2 - Aufzeichnungsapparat sowie Aufzeichnungseinheit und Aufzeichnungskopf für denselben - Google Patents

Aufzeichnungsapparat sowie Aufzeichnungseinheit und Aufzeichnungskopf für denselben Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0803358A2
EP0803358A2 EP97302780A EP97302780A EP0803358A2 EP 0803358 A2 EP0803358 A2 EP 0803358A2 EP 97302780 A EP97302780 A EP 97302780A EP 97302780 A EP97302780 A EP 97302780A EP 0803358 A2 EP0803358 A2 EP 0803358A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
photoconductive layer
recording
recording head
opposing electrode
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP97302780A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0803358A3 (de
Inventor
Satoshi Ohhama
Tadao Iwaki
Naoki Kawawada
Kouji Kawaguchi
Seiji Kuwahara
Hiroshi Okano
Tatsuru Sato
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Publication of EP0803358A2 publication Critical patent/EP0803358A2/de
Publication of EP0803358A3 publication Critical patent/EP0803358A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B41J2/06—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by electric or magnetic field
    • 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
    • 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 recording apparatus as well as a recording unit and a recording head used for the recording apparatus, adapted to obtain on a medium to be recorded output images coping with broad needs of ranging from a printing industry demanding high-speed outputs of high-quality images, a printer industry based on in-office or personal demands, to a civil-use appliance industry requiring low-priced general-purpose output apparatuses and devices using various kinds and purposes of mediums to be recorded.
  • the conventional slit jet method like this is free from restriction of resolving power by nozzles and can facilitate cleaning of the ink ejecting port 101, by replacing the nozzles used in ink jet recording with the aforesaid ink ejecting port 101 in an elongate slit form.
  • the slit jet method employs a plurality of the ink ejecting ports 101 to fill the ink 108 within each of the ink ejecting ports 101, thereby easily obtaining color output printed characters.
  • a recording apparatus as well as a recording unit and a recording head for use in the recording apparatus, which perform high-precision and high-quality printing at high speed and are capable of output printing freely from selecting a record medium form.
  • a recording head of the present invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, and a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having at least a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying light corresponding to a desired image pixel to the potoconductive layer.
  • a recording unit of this invention is provided with a paper feeding means for supplying a medium to be recorded between the ink supplying mans and the opposing electrode of the abovestated recording head, and structured such that the medium to be printed is transferred by a predetermined amount in synchronism with ending of printing of one line or a predetermined lines or one screen by the above recording head.
  • a recording apparatus of this invention is a recording apparatus which controls adhesion of ink to the medium to be recorded to record image pixels on the medium to be recorded, and structured by being provided with the abovestated recording head and recording unit.
  • Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first structure of a recording head in a first example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a second structure of a recording head in a second example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a third structure of a recording head in a third example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a slit cross-section fabrication shape in the third example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a fourth structure of a recording head in a fourth example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a fifth structure of a recording head in a fifth example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a sixth structure of a recording head in a sixth example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 is other explanatory diagram showing a sixth structure of a recording head in a sixth example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9 is other explanatory diagram showing a sixth structure of a recording head in a sixth example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a first structure of a recording unit using the first-structure recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a second structure of a recording unit using the second-structure recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a seventh structure of a recording unit using the seventh-structure recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a ninth structure of a recording unit using the ninth-structure recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the shape of an opposing electrode in a tenth example of the present invention.
  • Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a tenth structure of a recording unit using the tenth-structure recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of transferring to a medium to be recorded by an eleventh structure of the recording unit of the present invention.
  • Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a twelfth structure of the recording unit using the eleventh-structure recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram of transferring to a medium to be recorded by an eleventh structure of the recording unit of the present invention.
  • Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording apparatus using the recording unit described in the first to thirteenth examples of the present invention.
  • Fig. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a recording apparatus of a conventional slit-jet method.
  • a first structure of a recording head of this invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, and a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording head of the first structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value at irradiated region, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer so that the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode.
  • a first structure of a recording unit of the present invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, and a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having, between the ink supplying means and the opposing electrode, a paper feeding means for supplying a medium to be recorded without contact with the ink supplying means, a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording unit of the first structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer so that the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • This flown ink moves onto the medium to be recorded on the opposing electrode to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired image pixels on the medium to be recorded.
  • the paper feeding means after the recording head completes predetermined main-scanning direction printing, conveys the medium to be recorded by a predetermined amount in a sub-scanning direction to prepare the next main-scanning direction printing. And, the main-scanning direction printing is carried out, and, if this ends, the medium to be recorded is paper-fed by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction. This is repeated and one image of recording ends.
  • a second structure of a recording head of the present invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and a slit plate provided with a slit for controlling ejection of ink, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording head of the second structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer so that the ink is controlled in ink amount and directionality and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • a second structure of a recording unit of the present invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and a slit plate provided with a slit for controlling ejection of ink, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having, between the slit plate and the opposing electrode, a paper feeding means for supplying a medium to be recorded, a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording unit of the second structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer so that the ink is controlled in ink amount and directionality and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • a third structure of a reading head of this invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and a slit plate having a slit for controlling ejection of ink whose cross section is fabricated in a taper shape, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording unit of the third structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer.
  • the ink has electric charges easy to concentrate to the inside of the ink because the slit cross section of the slit plate is in the taper form, and is controlled in ink amount and directionality and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • a third structure of a recording unit of the present invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and a slit plate having a slit for controlling ejection of ink whose cross section is fabricated in a taper shape, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having, between the slit plate and the opposing electrode, a paper feeding means for supplying a medium to be recorded, a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording unit of the third structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer.
  • the ink has electric charges easy to concentrate to the inside of the ink because the slit cross section of the slit plate is in the taper form, and is controlled in ink amount and directionality and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side. And, the flown ink moves to the medium to be recorded on the opposing electrode to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired image pixels on the medium to be recorded.
  • a fourth structure of a recording head of this invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer having a projection for controlling ejection of ink formed on the transparent electrode, and a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording head of the fourth structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to a position corresponding to the projection of the photoconductive layer having the projection reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer having the projection, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer having the projection and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink within the projection on the photoconductive layer having the projection, and the ink is controlled in ink amount and directionality by the projection on the photoconductive layer and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • a fourth structure of a recording unit of this invention is structured by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer having a projection for controlling ejection of ink formed on the transparent electrode, and a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having a paper feeding means for supplying a medium to be recorded between the projection formed on the photoconductive layer and the opposing electrode, a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to desired image pixels to the potoconductive layer.
  • the above recording unit of the fourth structure operates as follows.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to a position corresponding to the projection of the photoconductive layer having the projection reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer having the projection, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer having the projection and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink within the projection on the photoconductive layer having the projection, and the ink is controlled in ink amount and directionality by the projection on the photoconductive layer and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • the flown ink moves to the medium to be recorded on the opposing electrode to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired image pixels on the medium to be recorded.
  • a fifth structure of a recording head of this invention is structured by integrating the substrate and the transparent electrode formed on the substrate for the recording heads of the recording-head first to fourth structures. Also, a fifth structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that the recording head of the recording unit for the recording-unit first to fourth structures is rendered as the recording head of the fifth structure.
  • the above recording head of the fifth structure and the recording unit of the fifth structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the substrate-integrated type transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the substrate-integrated type transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side. The flown ink moves to the medium to be recorded on the opposing electrode to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded.
  • a sixth structure of a recording head of this invention has a structure that the opposing electrode and the head section of the recording head for the recording-head first to fifth structures are in one body or almost in one body.
  • a sixth structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that the recording head of the recording unit for the recording-unit first to fifth structures is rendered as the recording head of the sixth structure.
  • the above recording head of the sixth structure and the recording unit of the sixth structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side. Further, this ink passes through the acceleration-type opposing electrode and moves to the medium to be recorded on the paper feeding means to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded.
  • a seventh structure of a recording head of this invention lies in that the recording head of the present structure has further an ink-accelerating means for accelerating flown ink in the recording head for the record-head first to fifth structures.
  • a seventh structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that the recording head of the recording unit for the recording-unit first to fifth structures is rendered as the recording head of the seventh structure.
  • the above recording head of the seventh structure and the recording unit of the seventh structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • the flown ink is further accelerated by the accelerating means and the flown ink, by inserting a medium to be recorded from the paper feeding means to between the opposing electrode and the accelerating means, moves to the medium to be recorded to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded.
  • an eighth structure of a recording head of this invention is the recording head for the record-head first to seventh structures, and the recording head is further in a line form corresponding to a printing width on the medium to be recorded.
  • an eighth structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that the recording head of the recording unit for the recording-unit first to seventh structures is rendered as the recording head of the eighth structure.
  • the above recording head of the eighth structure and the recording unit of the eighth structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light in a line form manner by the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side. The flown ink moves to the medium to be recorded on the opposing electrode to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired image pixels on a one-line region of the medium to be recorded.
  • a ninth structure of a recording head of this invention is the recording head for the record-head first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth structures, wherein the recording head is further in a line form, as the opposing electrode, corresponding to a medium to be recorded, and the opposing electrode has rising in a projection form at an ink-adhesion portion.
  • a ninth structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that the recording head of the recording unit for the recording-head first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth structures is rendered as the recording head of the ninth structure.
  • the above recording head of the ninth structure and the recording unit of the ninth structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the rising portion in the projection form of the opposing electrode side.
  • the flown ink moves to the medium to be recorded to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on a one-line region medium to be recorded.
  • a tenth structure of a recording head of this invention is the recording head of the recording-unit first to ninth structures, wherein the recording head is structured to have as a light irradiating means a recording sheet having a negative image printed on a transparent sheet.
  • a tenth structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that the recording head of the recording unit for the recording unit first to ninth structures is rendered as the recording head of the tenth structure.
  • the above recording head of the tenth structure and the recording unit of the tenth structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light with using the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the entire surface of the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • an eleventh structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure that a plurality of recording heads for the recording-head first to tenth structures are employed to have a means for supplying different color of ink to each recording head.
  • the above recording unit of the eleventh structure operates as below.
  • the irradiation of light by the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode side to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • an eleventh structure of a recording head of this invention lies in a structure being a recording head of the recording-head first to tenth structures, wherein the recording head is further of a serial shape and has a means for supplying different colors of ink onto a divided transparent electrode.
  • a twelfth structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure being the recording head of the recording unit for the recording-unit first to tenth structures is rendered as the recording head of the eleventh structure.
  • the above recording head of the eleventh structure and the recording unit of the eleventh structure operate as below.
  • the irradiation of light by the light irradiating means from the side of a transparent electrode of each ink-color region to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current to flow in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode side.
  • a thirteen structure of a recording unit of this invention lies in a structure being the recording unit for the recording-unit first to twelfth structures, wherein the recording unit has an opposing electrode divided to have individual switching means.
  • the above recording unit of the thirteenth structure operates as below.
  • the irradiation of light by the light irradiating means from the transparent electrode to the photoconductive layer reduces the resistance value for irradiated region of the photoconductive layer, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink on the photoconductive layer, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode of which switching means is in the ON state.
  • the recording apparatus of the present invention is structured to be provided with any of the above-described recording heads or recording units.
  • Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the first structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 in a state that voltage is applied to between the transparent electrode 2a (substrate not shown) and the opposing electrode la using the power supply 3, the irradiation of light, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the side of the transparent electrode 2a to the photoconductive layer 4, using the irradiating means 5 causes the reduction of resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • the photoconductive layer 4 of the present invention there can be used an inorganic photoconductor such as an Se-base, CdS-base, ZnO-base, and BSO(Bi 12 SiO 20 ) -base photoconductive single-crystal materials or amorphous silicon hydrides of such as i-type, pi-type, or pin-type, or a stack-type organic photoconductor such as CTM (Charge Carrier Transport Material)/CGM (Charge Carrier Generation Material).
  • CTM Charge Carrier Transport Material
  • CGM Charge Carrier Generation Material
  • the dark resistance of the above inorganic photoconductor or the organic photoconductor lies in 10 9 - 10 14 ⁇ .cm, and the irradiation of light to the photoconductive layer 4 reduces the resistance value down to 10 4 -10 11 ⁇ .cm, which brings the irradiated region into a state of photoelectric current flow.
  • the resistance value and change thereof due to irradiation of light are different depending on the material or the structure thereof.
  • the layer thickness of the photoconductive layer 4 is 10 - 50 ⁇ m, while its electric characteristics require great resistance values, high sensitivity, and quick optical responsibility, which are possible by the aforesaid photoconductors.
  • the dark resistance is 10 9 - 10 11 ⁇ .cm, and the resistance value can be reduced down to 10 4 - 10 6 ⁇ .cm by light irradiation and secure the difference of surface potential great.
  • the dark resistance value increases as the layer thickness of the photoconductive layer 4 is greater, it is desired that the layer thickness is 50 ⁇ m or less, preferably about 20 - 30 ⁇ m, because the resolution power deteriorates at 20 - 100 ⁇ m or greater.
  • Semiconductor laser can be employed as the light irradiation means 5, wherein a laser light is irradiated in the direction of the arrow 7 from the light irradiating means 5 to a position corresponding to a desired image pixel on the photoconductive layer 4.
  • the resistance value is lowered in a desired image pixel region irradiated.
  • it is possible to improve the optical sensitivity by improving the light attenuation rate through matching the oscillating wavelength of laser light and the sensitivity coefficient of the photoconductive layer 4 for the oscillating wavelength.
  • the laser light irradiated from the laser oscillating device such as semiconductor laser is optimized as to irradiation light intensity, image-forming light spot shape, etc.
  • an optical lens in the light irradiating means 5 can be structured by a laser light scanning mechanism constituted by a polygon miller, etc.
  • images can be formed in non-contact and at high speed on the photoconductive layer 4 at a position corresponding to a desired image pixel.
  • semiconductor laser is used as a light emitting source of the light irradiating means 5, there is no limitation to this and He-Ne laser or semiconductor laser array or LED array or halogen lamp can be fully used as a light emitting source.
  • optical shutter array or a liquid crystal display television may be used, instead of the aforesaid laser scanning optical system.
  • the charging amount of electric charges is determined by the diameter of light irradiation by the light irradiating means 5 and the irradiation light intensity and the irradiation pulse width. As the irradiation diameter is larger, the irradiated area of the photoconductive layer 4 becomes larger, increasing the amount of charging. Also, the increase of irradiation light intensity increases the reduction in resistance value in the phtoconductive layer 4 so that photoelectric currents are easy to flow and the charging amount to the ink 6 increases. Further, where the irradiation pulse width is increased, the charging amount can be increased in a similar manner. In the recording head of the present invention, by controlling the amount of electric charges to be charged to the ink 6, the ink flying speed can be raised to a high speed. Also, the ink flying speed can be varied corresponding to a medium to be recorded.
  • ITO Indium-Tin-Oxide
  • metal films sufficiently thin for transmission of light e.g., Al film with a film thickness of 0.03 ⁇ m, etc.
  • ZnO or SnO2 or a compound thereof can be used.
  • highly-conductive metallic materials such as aluminum, copper, and gold, can be used.
  • the power supply voltage value to be applied to between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la of the present invention is at 500 V - 4 KV, wherein the appropriate applying voltage varies by the electric conductivity of the ink 6 or the material of the photoconductive layer 6 or the distance between the head section and the opposing electrode la or the like.
  • the opposing electrode la is given of positive polarity because most ink is apt to be charged in negative polarity.
  • the power supply voltage value used for this recording head is not limited to 500 V - 4 KV.
  • the influencing factors of the ink 6 of the present invention on ink flying involve surface tension, viscosity, electric conductivity, and so on.
  • the relation between the surface tension and the maximum spacing (the maximum spacing of ink 6 flying is hereinafter determined as the maximum spacing) of ink 6 flown to the opposing electrode la is that, where electric conductivity and viscosity are thought of as constant, the maximum record spacing increases with decrease of surface tension in a range of surface tension of 20 - 50 dyn/cm. Accordingly, as the surface tension is smaller, the resisting force in the ink ejection process becomes small and ejection of ink is possible with weak electric field, so that the maximum record spacing can be increased large.
  • the surface tension is generally high for aqueous ink which is 72.8 dyn/cm for pure water while organic solvent ranges from 200 dyn/cm to 35 dyn/cm, so that as the ink 6 of the present invention it is possible to use an ink dissolving with dyestuffs in an organic solvent. Also, it is possible to increase the maximum record spacing by dissolving in the ink 6, as a surfactant, anion surfactant, cation surfactant, non-ionic surfactant, or the like, to improve the surface tension.
  • the viscosity of the above ink solvents can be selected over a wide range, a solvent with low viscosity is high in volatility and worse in preservability for the ink 6, so that a solvent with a boiling point of, in a range of, about 200 °C or higher is selected in order to secure the preservability.
  • the relation of the viscosity and the maximum record spacing is that, where the surface tension and the electric conductivity are considered constant, the maximum record spacing increases with decrease in viscosity. Accordingly, similarly to the case of the surface tension, when the viscosity is low, the resisting force in the process of ink ejection becomes small and the maximum record spacing can be increased.
  • the appropriate range of electric conductivity for the ink of the present invention is taken as 2 ⁇ 10 -7 or below.
  • Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the second structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 in a state that voltage is applied using the power supply 3 to between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la, the irradiation of light, from the direction of the arrow 7, using the light irradiating means 5 from the transparent electrode 2a side to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction of resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 4, and further the ink is controlled in ink amount and directionality by the slit plate 8 and receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode la.
  • the width of the slit provided in the slit plate 8 determines the maximum value of ink static pressure at the ink ejection port, and the ink 6 received with static pressure forms a semilunar projection in the ink ejection port, i.e. a meniscus, to determine an ink supply amount.
  • the width of the slit provided in the slit plate 8 is about 100 ⁇ m, at which no hindrance is given to the supply of ink 6, or less. Also, where the ink 6 is flow out onto the slit plate 8, the ink 6 will fly toward the opposing electrode la, making difficult continuing desirable image pixel.
  • the material of the slit plate 8 requires the use of a material having a large contact angle for the ink 6 and insulating properties, and the contact angle is secured by using fluorocarbon polymers or treating the surface of the slit plate 8 fabricated of an insulating material of glass or ceramics or the like with using a silan coupling agent. If the static pressure of the ink 6 is proper, the above unstable phenomenon can be removed. Furthermore, the use of the slit plate 8 serves to control the direction of ink 6 fly to stabilize the amount and speed of ink ejection, and further the control of the ink meniscus curve enhances the efficiency of collecting the ink 6 to reduce the energy for ink flying.
  • Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the third structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the side of the transparent electrode 2a to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction of resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 4.
  • the taper shape made in slit cross section of the slit plate 8 facilitates electric charges to be collected. Accordingly, the ink 6 is effectively charged with electric charges so that it is controlled of ink amount and directionality and receives Coulomb's force to be flown toward the opposing electrode 1a.
  • the fabrication shape in slit cross section of the slit plate 8 is in the present example a taper shape but it is not limited to this, and there are considerable fabrication shapes as in Fig. 4 (a) - (j) .
  • This fabrication shape in the slit cross section determines the maximum value of static pressure required for flying of the ink 6 to the opposing electrode la side. This is that the ink 6 receives static pressure to form a semilunar-formed projecting surface, i.e. a meniscus, in the slit cross section. The curvature of the meniscus at this time determines supply amount of ink 6.
  • this slit cross section is smaller the curvature of ink meniscus can be reduced smaller, and accordingly since the Coulomb's force for flying the ink 6 can be increased larger, the recording characteristics are improved as the fabrication width in the slit cross section is smaller. Also, by altering the slit cross-sectional fabrication shape, the ink 6 is prevented from flowing out of the slit plate 8. Furthermore, the enhancement in efficiency of collecting electric charges to be charged to the ink 6 can reduce the energy for ink flying.
  • Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the fourth structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 in a state that voltage is applied using power supply 3 to between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la, light is irradiated using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the transparent electrode 2a side onto a projection of the photoconductive layer 9 having the projection causes the reduction of resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 9 having the projection, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • the role of the projection on the photoconductive layer 9 having the projection is similar to the recording head of the abovestated second structure, wherein the function of a slit plate is provided by integrally forming the projection on the photoconductive layer 9, reducing cost and making in compact.
  • the projection on the photoconductive layer is formed of an insulating material, similarly to the slit plate.
  • Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the fifth structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 in a state that voltage is applied using power supply 3 to between a substrate-integrated type transparent electrode 2b and the opposing electrode la, the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the substrate-integrated type transparent electrode 2b side to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction of resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • the substrate-integrated type transparent electrode 2b there is used an inorganic photoconductor such as an Se-base, CdS-base, ZnO-base, and BSO(Bi 12 SiO 20 )-base photoconductive single-crystal materials or an amorphous silicon hydride of such as i-type, pi-type, or pin-type, or a stack-type organic photoconductor such as CTM (Charge Carrier Transport Material)/CGM (Charge Carrier Generation Material), by which the substrate and the transparent electrode 2a and photoconductive layer 4 can be formed in a stack form wherein the substrate is not necessarily required.
  • an inorganic photoconductor such as an Se-base, CdS-base, ZnO-base, and BSO(Bi 12 SiO 20 )-base photoconductive single-crystal materials or an amorphous silicon hydride of such as i-type, pi-type, or pin-type, or a stack-type organic photoconductor such as CTM (Charge Carrier Transport
  • Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of the sixth structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 in a state that voltage is applied using power supply 3 to between the transparent electrode 2a and an acceleration-type opposing electrode 1b, the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the transparent electrode 2a side to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction of resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 9, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to pass through a cavity of the accelerator-type opposing electrode 1b and fly toward the direction of the arrow 13.
  • the shape of the accretion-type opposing electrode 1b is structured by an upper plate and a lower plate separated therebetween as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are applied by voltages of the same potential from the power supply 3 so that the ink 6 receives Coulomb's force to fly passing between the upper plate and the lower plate in the direction of the arrow 13.
  • the acceleration-type opposing electrode and the head section are made integral, and flying of ink is possible only by the head section. Also, by providing no opposing electrode function to the paper feeding means 11 side, the phenomenon that the medium to be recorded 10 is attracted by static electricity due to an applied voltage is removed to enable reduction in torque value for the paper feeding means 11. Furthermore, as the shape of the acceleration-type opposing electrode 1b there can be considered of a core-type shape structured by integration with the head section as shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, as shown in Fig.
  • the upper plate and the lower plate of the acceleration-type opposing electrode 1b are formed in parallel and in a line form on the slit plate 8 of the head section, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are applied by voltages of the same potential from the power supply 3 so that the ink 6 receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the direction of the arrow 13.
  • the spacing between the upper plate and the lower plate of the acceleration-type opposing electrode 1b is to be spacing which is greater than a slit width of the slit plate 8 to secure a distance required for the ink 6 to be pulled off upon being flown from the meniscus state.
  • the above structure provides the formation of the acceleration-type opposing electrode 1b on the head section, making the structure compact.
  • Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the first structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • Fig. 10 in a state that voltage is applied using power supply 3 to between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la, the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the side of the transparent electrode 2a to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 9, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly in the direction of the arrow 13 toward the opposing electrode la side.
  • the flying ink 12 moves to the medium to be recorded 10 to be infiltrated and adhered thereto so that desired printed characters or images are obtained on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • size of the dot transferred to the medium to be recorded 10 is determined by the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the recording head and the voltage value applied between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la and the amount of ink 12.
  • the amount of flying ink 12 is determined by the quantity of optical energy given to the photoconductive layer 4 from the light irradiating means 5.
  • the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the head section if too short, there are cases that the insertion of a medium to be recorded is not smoothly done and possibilities of contact through rumples. Also, if too long, the ink 12 flown will fall due to gravity, making difficult the formation of desired image pixels. Therefore, it is preferred that the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the head section is about 0.2 to 1 mm, and it is proper that a desired distance is taken about 0.5 mm.
  • Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the second structure of the recording unit using the second structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the transparent electrode 2a side to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 9, so that the ink 6 is controlled in ink amount and directionality by the slit plate and receives Coulomb's force to fly in the direction of the arrow 13 toward the opposing electrode la.
  • the flying ink 12 moves to the medium to be recorded 10 to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • size of the dot transferred to the medium to be recorded 10 is determined by the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the recording head and the voltage value applied between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la and the amount of flying ink 12.
  • the amount of flying ink 12 is determined by the optical energy amount given to the photoconductive layer 4 from the light irradiating means 5 and the slit plate 8 shape.
  • the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the head section in the present example, if too short, there are cases that the insertion of a medium to be recorded 10 is not smoothly done and possibilities of contact through rumples. Also, if too long, the flown ink 12 will fall due to gravity, making difficult the formation of desired image pixels. Therefore, it is preferred that the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the head section is about 0.2 to 1 mm, and it is proper that the desired distance is about 0.5 mm.
  • recording units of the third to the sixth structures can be constituted with using a recording head for the third to the sixth structures.
  • Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the seventh structure of the recording unit using the seventh structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the transparent electrode 2a side to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 9, and the ink 6 receives Coulomb's force to fly in the direction of the arrow 13 toward the opposing electrode la side and the flying ink 12 is accelerated by an accelerating means 14.
  • the flying ink 12 moves to the medium to be recorded 10 and infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • size of the dot transferred to the medium to be recorded 10 is determined by the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the recording unit and also the voltage value applied between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la and the amount of flying ink 12.
  • the amount of flying ink 12 is determined by the optical energy amount given to the photoconductive layer 4 from the light irradiating means 5.
  • the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the accelerating means 14 in the present example is about 0.2 to 1 mm, and it is proper that the desired distance is about 0.5 mm.
  • the speed of the flying ink 12 is raised high, and it is possible to reduce the energy amount supplied to the photoconductive layer 4 by controlling the applying voltage value for ink 6 flying and the optical energy given from the light irradiating means 5.
  • the accelerating means 14 is fabricated of a material having good conductivity such as by aluminum, copper, and gold, which also may be of a capacitor made up by one set of flat plates, and also a matter being of a shape of a closed tube such as a cylinder.
  • the accelerating means 14 is given of voltage through a resistance from an electrode on an opposing electrode la side of the power supply 3.
  • the application of voltage to the accelerating means 14 is not limited to this, and it is possible, for example, to provide a greater potential difference between the transparent electrode 2a and the accelerating means 14 than the potential difference between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la. This is determined by the amount of the flown ink 12 or the distance between the accelerating means 14 and the surface of the ink 6, or the like.
  • the recording unit of the present example is made integral and compact. Furthermore, removal is made for the phenomenon that the medium to be recorded 10 is attracted by static electricity force due to the absence of voltage applied to the opposing electrode 1a side, reducing the torque value for the paper feeding means 11.
  • an eighth recording head can be structured wherein the abovestated recording head for the first to seventh structures is made in a line form corresponding to a printing width on a medium to be recorded 10. Also, a eighth structure of a recording unit using this eighth structure of the recording head can be structured.
  • Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the ninth structure of the recording unit using the ninth structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the transparent electrode 2a side to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 4, and the ink 6 receives Coulomb's force to fly in the direction of the arrow 13 toward an projectingly rising portion of the opposing electrode la.
  • the flying ink 12 moves to the medium to be recorded 10 and infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • size of the dot transferred to the medium to be recorded 10 is determined by the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the recording unit and also the voltage value applied between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la and the amount of flying ink 12.
  • the amount of flying ink 12 is determined by the optical energy amount given to the photoconductive layer 4 from the light irradiating means 5.
  • the shape of the opposing electrode la is in the line form corresponding to the medium to be recorded 10 and of the shape of projectingly rising at the ink-adhesion portion, but is not limited to this, and there can be considered of shapes shown in Fig. 14.
  • (a) - (d) are adapted such that electric field is readily collected at a portion of a rising shape in the opposite electrode la, while (e) - (h) are made of a conductive metal only at a hatched portion, having an effect of collecting electric field with higher efficiency. Accordingly, by altering the shape of the opposing electrode 1a as in Fig. 14, electric field becomes easy to be collected at an ink flying portion between the head and the opposing electrode 1a, resulting in stabilization in ink flying direction.
  • Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of the tenth structure of the recording unit using the tenth structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • the irradiation of light using light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 15, from the transparent electrode 2a side through a record sheet 16 to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer and the transparent electrode, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 4, and the ink 6 receives Coulomb's force to fly in the direction of the arrow 13 toward the opposing electrode la side.
  • the flying ink 12 moves to the medium to be recorded 10 and infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • size of the dot transferred to the medium to be recorded 10 is determined by the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the recording unit and also the voltage value applied to between the transparent electrode 2a and the opposing electrode la and the amount of flying ink 12.
  • the flying ink 12 amount it is determined by the amount of optical energy given to the photoconductive layer 4 from the light irradiating means 5.
  • the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the ink 6 if too short, there is difficulty in inserting method for the medium to be recorded 10 and the medium to be recorded 10 contacts with the recording head due to rumples of the medium, while, if too long, the flying ink 12 will drop due to gravity, making difficult to form desired image pixels.
  • the distance between the medium to be recorded 10 and the ink 6 in the present example is about 0.2 to 1 mm, and it is proper that the desired distance is about 0.5 mm.
  • a recording sheet 16 of the present example an transparent sheet of an OHP or the like can be used, which is a recorded matter having negative image information written on a transparent sheet. It is also possible for a record sheet 16 to use a recorded matter having desired image pixels written by the light irradiating means 5. As a means for irradiating the entire surface of the record sheet 16 of the present example, a halogen lamp, etc. capable of entire-surface exposure can be used.
  • Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the eleventh structure of the recording unit of the present invention.
  • the recording unit of the present invention shown in Fig. 16 is structured by vertically superposing four line-form recording heads corresponding to a printing width of a medium to be printed 10, wherein the individual recording heads are supplied with ink 6, from the top, of yellow (y), magenta (M), cyan (c), and black (Bk).
  • these individual recording heads are referred to as a yellow-ink recording head, a magenta-ink recording head, a cyan-ink recording head, and a black-ink recording head.
  • the irradiation of light by the light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the side of the transparent electrode 2a of the yellow-ink recording head to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for an irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the yellow ink on the photoconductive layer 4, and the ink 6 receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode la side.
  • yellow ink moves to the medium to be recorded 10 on the opposing electrode la to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired image pixels of yellow ink by one line on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the yellow-ink recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 17, to obtain desired image pixels of magenta ink by one line on the medium to be recorded 10 by the recording procedure with the magenta-ink recording procedure.
  • the magenta-ink recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 17, to obtain desired image pixels of cyan ink by one line on the medium to be recorded 10 by the recording procedure with the cyan-ink recording head.
  • the cyan-ink recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 17, to obtained desired image pixels of black ink by one line on the medium to be recorded 10 by the recording procedure with the black-ink recording head.
  • the medium to be recorded 10 is driven in the direction of the arrow 19 by one line by means of a paper feeding means, not shown, and four recording heads are driven in the direction of the arrow 18 back to the home position. The above process is repeated to obtain desired color image pixels for each image on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the ink 6 configuration is of four kinds, full-color of high-precision output printed characters or images with limitless printing colors are to be obtained by increasing the number of recording heads and supplying multi-colors of ink 6 individually.
  • Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the twelfth structure of the recording unit using the eleventh structure of the recording head of the present invention.
  • the recording head is structured by four-division, and four-divided transparent electrodes 2a has a photoconductive layer 4 formed thereon, wherein yellow (y), magenta (M), cyan (c), and black (Bk) of ink 6, are supplied onto the photoconductive layer 4 respectively as shown in Fig. 17.
  • yellow-ink recording region a magenta-ink recording region
  • a cyan-ink recording region a black-ink recording region.
  • the irradiation of light by the light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the side of the transparent electrode 2a of the yellow-ink recording region to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the yellow ink on the photoconductive layer 4, and the yellow ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode la side.
  • the yellow ink moves to the medium to be recorded 10 on the opposing electrode la to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired image pixels in yellow ink are obtained on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 20b from the yellow ink recording region, to obtain desired image pixels of magenta ink on the medium to be recorded 10 by the recording procedure in a magenta-ink recording region.
  • the recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 21a and the direction of the arrow 20a from the magenta-ink recording region, to obtain desired image pixels of cyan ink on the medium to be recorded 10 by the recording procedure in a cyan-ink recording region.
  • the recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 20b from the cyan-ink recording region, to obtained desired image pixels of black ink on the medium to be recorded 10 by the recording procedure in a black-ink recording region.
  • the recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 20a and the above process is repeated, resulting in obtaining desired color image pixels in one-line region on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the medium to be recorded is driven by one line in the direction of the arrow 21b by the paper feeding means 11, and further the recording head is driven in the direction of the arrow 21b to be returned to the home position where the above process is repeated, thereby obtaining desired color image pixels by one image on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the ink 6 configuration is of four kinds, full-color of high-precision output printed characters or an image is to be obtained by increasing the number of division of the above recording head and supplying multi-colors of ink 6 individually. Also it is needless to say that, where a type using a slit plate 8 is employed as the record head of the present invention, the slit plate 8 is in a state of four-division. Furthermore, according to the example of the present invention, the recording head of the present invention in serial form enables full-color printing of characters, making possible the size compact.
  • Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram wherein transfer is made onto the medium to be recorded with using the one example shown in the thirteenth structure of the recording unit of the present invention.
  • Fig. 18 in a state that a voltage is applied using power supply 3 to between a switching means 22 connected to the opposing electrode la and the transparent electrodes 2a, and in a state that the switch of the switching means 22 on this side relative to the arrow 23 direction is turned ON, the irradiation of light by the light irradiating means 5, from the direction of the arrow 7, from the side of the transparent electrode 2a to the photoconductive layer 4 causes the reduction in resistance value for an irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4, giving flow of photoelectric current in the irradiated region.
  • a conducting state is brought between the ink 6 contacting with the irradiated region of the photoconductive layer 4 and the transparent electrode 2a, to charge electric charges to the inside of the ink 6 on the photoconductive layer 4, and the ink receives Coulomb's force to fly toward the opposing electrode la whose switch of the switching means is in the ON state.
  • the ink 12 moves to the medium to be recorded 10 on the opposing electrode la to be infiltrated and adhered thereto, resulting in obtaining desired printed characters or images on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the switch of the switching means 22 is sequentially turned ON in the direction of the arrow 23 and the switch of the switching means 22 on this side relative to the recording direction is turned OFF in synchronism with irradiation of light from the direction of the arrow 7 onto the photoconductive layer 4 by the light irradiating means 5, resulting in desired image pixels by one line region on the medium to be recorded 10.
  • the switching of the opposing electrode la is done by using the switching means 22, it is also possible to drive the opposing electrode la in synchronism with the light irradiating means 5. Also, the use of the switching means 22 of the present example can reduce power consumption for ink 6 flying.
  • Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the first structure of the recording apparatus using the recording unit described in the first to thirteen examples of the present invention.
  • the recording apparatus 30 inputs from an external apparatus 28 an image data, which performs image correction treatment and pattern recognition in an image correcting circuit 25 to convert the data by pixel for outputting an image pixel data 31.
  • the image pixel data 31 is transferred to the inside of a recording unit 24 in synchronism with a triggering signal 36 from a controller 26, and a flying ink 32 corresponding to the image pixel data 31 is adhered and transferred to a medium to be recorded 10.
  • the recording unit 24 of the present invention as the recording apparatus 30 can perform high-precision high-quality printing at high speed, provide output printed characters in a manner of non-contact and free from selecting record medium shapes.
  • a structure of a recording head in a recording unit using a plurality of recording heads, may appropriately adopt various recording heads of the present invention.
  • the same is also true for a structure having an accelerating means, a structure having an opposing electrode with a projection shape, a structure of irradiating the entire surface of a photoconductive layer, and other structures or recording apparatuses.
  • This invention is structured, as the structure of the recording head as explained hereinbefore, by: having a head section formed by a transparent electrode formed on a substrate, a photoconductive layer formed on the transparent electrode, and a means for supplying ink onto the photoconductive layer, and an opposing electrode, in this order; the means for supplying the ink and the opposing electrode being arranged to have a gap sufficient for inserting a medium to be recorded therethrough; having a power supply for applying voltage to between the transparent electrode and the opposing electrode, and a light irradiating means for supplying in pulsing manner light corresponding to a desired image pixel to the potoconductive layer, thereby providing the following effects.

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  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP97302780A 1996-04-23 1997-04-23 Aufzeichnungsapparat sowie Aufzeichnungseinheit und Aufzeichnungskopf für denselben Withdrawn EP0803358A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10159696 1996-04-23
JP101596/96 1996-04-23
JP328097A JPH106506A (ja) 1996-04-23 1997-01-10 記録装置並びに該装置に用いる記録ユニット及び記録ヘッド
JP3280/97 1997-01-10

Publications (2)

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EP0803358A2 true EP0803358A2 (de) 1997-10-29
EP0803358A3 EP0803358A3 (de) 1999-03-03

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JP (1) JPH106506A (de)

Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1645423A3 (de) * 2004-10-07 2007-03-21 FUJIFILM Corporation Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät und Verfahren
EP1693217A3 (de) * 2005-02-16 2007-09-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Flüssigkeitsausstossgerät und Druckwiderlagereinheit

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4654706B2 (ja) * 2005-02-16 2011-03-23 セイコーエプソン株式会社 液体噴射装置

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JPS58207058A (ja) * 1982-04-30 1983-12-02 Yokogawa Hokushin Electric Corp 記録装置
JPS62156673A (ja) * 1985-12-27 1987-07-11 Seikosha Co Ltd 電子写真記録方法
JPS62156674A (ja) * 1985-12-27 1987-07-11 Seikosha Co Ltd 電子写真記録装置
US4794463A (en) * 1986-11-10 1988-12-27 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Ink jet system
JPH05193135A (ja) * 1992-01-17 1993-08-03 Olympus Optical Co Ltd 記録装置
JPH05212869A (ja) * 1992-02-05 1993-08-24 Seikosha Co Ltd 静電インクジェット記録装置
JPH0895356A (ja) * 1994-09-28 1996-04-12 Nec Corp 画像形成装置

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US3484162A (en) * 1963-10-03 1969-12-16 Xerox Corp Electroviscous recording
JPS58207058A (ja) * 1982-04-30 1983-12-02 Yokogawa Hokushin Electric Corp 記録装置
JPS62156673A (ja) * 1985-12-27 1987-07-11 Seikosha Co Ltd 電子写真記録方法
JPS62156674A (ja) * 1985-12-27 1987-07-11 Seikosha Co Ltd 電子写真記録装置
US4794463A (en) * 1986-11-10 1988-12-27 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Ink jet system
JPH05193135A (ja) * 1992-01-17 1993-08-03 Olympus Optical Co Ltd 記録装置
JPH05212869A (ja) * 1992-02-05 1993-08-24 Seikosha Co Ltd 静電インクジェット記録装置
JPH0895356A (ja) * 1994-09-28 1996-04-12 Nec Corp 画像形成装置

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1645423A3 (de) * 2004-10-07 2007-03-21 FUJIFILM Corporation Tintenstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät und Verfahren
US7377622B2 (en) 2004-10-07 2008-05-27 Fujifilm Corporation Ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method
EP1693217A3 (de) * 2005-02-16 2007-09-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Flüssigkeitsausstossgerät und Druckwiderlagereinheit
US7566115B2 (en) 2005-02-16 2009-07-28 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus and platen unit
US7931355B2 (en) 2005-02-16 2011-04-26 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus and platen unit
US8033649B2 (en) 2005-02-16 2011-10-11 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting apparatus and platen unit

Also Published As

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