JP2006239985A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (16)

A micro-droplet discharge device that discharges micro-droplets by applying an electrostatic force to a charged solution containing at least fine particles and a solvent,
Discharge means for causing electrostatic force to act on the solution and continuously discharging fine droplets from the discharge port;
Deflection means for deflecting micro droplets ejected from the ejection means based on a control signal;
A collection unit that collects either one of the micro droplets that are ejected from the ejection unit and go straight, and the micro droplets whose flight direction is deflected by the deflection unit,
The micro droplet ejection apparatus, wherein the ejection unit includes a resolution increasing unit that deflects the micro droplet in a direction different from a direction in which the deflection unit deflects.   2. The microdroplet ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the resolving power increasing unit is a unit that deflects the microdroplets by applying an electrostatic force to at least one of the solution and the microdroplets. 3.   3. The micro droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resolution increasing unit is a unit that periodically deflects the micro droplet in a plurality of directions.   The resolving power increasing means includes a first control electrode and a second control electrode that are arranged in parallel around the discharge port, and a control unit that controls a voltage applied to the first control electrode and the second control electrode. The micro droplet discharge device according to claim 1.   The micro droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection unit has a plurality of ejection ports.   The micro droplet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the fine particles are charged fine particles having a charge.   The fine droplet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the fine particles include a charge and a color material. Using the micro droplet ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The solution is ink;
The deflecting unit deflects the micro droplet ejected from the ejecting unit based on the image signal, and either the micro droplet that goes straight, or the micro droplet whose flight direction is deflected by the deflecting unit To land on the recording medium,
An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the recovery means recovers minute droplets that do not land on the recording medium, thereby forming an image on the recording medium.   The inkjet according to claim 8, wherein the ejection unit includes a ejection unit having the ejection port, and a counter electrode that is disposed closer to the deflection unit than the ejection unit and forms a predetermined electric field between the ejection unit and the ejection unit. Recording device.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the counter electrode has an opening on a flight path of the micro droplet. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a back electrode that is disposed at a position facing the ejection unit and the deflection unit and that forms a predetermined electric field between the ejection unit and the ejection unit. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the deflecting unit is an electric field or magnetic field applying unit that deflects the flying microdroplets. The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the deflecting unit is an air flow generating unit for deflecting the flying micro droplets. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a circulation unit that supplies the ink to the ejection unit and collects ink that is not ejected by the ejection unit.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising recovered ink supply means for supplying the ink recovered by the recovery means to the circulation means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising an ink density adjusting unit that adjusts the ink density.