US3667678A - Nozzle structure for jet printers - Google Patents

Nozzle structure for jet printers Download PDF

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Publication number
US3667678A
US3667678A US19367A US3667678DA US3667678A US 3667678 A US3667678 A US 3667678A US 19367 A US19367 A US 19367A US 3667678D A US3667678D A US 3667678DA US 3667678 A US3667678 A US 3667678A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tubing
nozzle
resonant
drive coil
tube
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US19367A
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English (en)
Inventor
John W Haskell
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.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3667678A publication Critical patent/US3667678A/en
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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
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/02—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet
    • B41J2/025—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet by vibration

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT 1 An ink jet nozzle structure comprising a thin tube, connected 52 us. Cl ..;....239/102, 346/140 f l l by f- [51] Int. Cl... ..B05b 3/14 g il' T i rec'pmcatmg 9"? cause orma ion 0 1n rop ets. permanent magnet 18 n t e prox- [58] Field ofSearchWr 39/102,346/75, 141) imity of the drive coil provides a biasing action.
  • the tube I length is chosen so as to permit it to vibrate resonantly at the [56] Referencesclted frequency of the induced longitudinal reciprocating motion.
  • V UNITED'HSTATES PATENTS Resonant vibration permits the tube to be supported at two 1 points along its length greatly increasing its mechanical stabili- 3,334,350 8/1967 Adams ..346/75
  • An air damper located near he fip f the nozzle broadens 342141101 10/1965 "239/102 the resonant response and provides difi'erential signals propor- 3,231,359v 4 2 32 tional to the longitudinal movement of the tube to maintain 3,400,392 9 l Ensminger; movements at a fixed or reset level.
  • the principal object of the invention is to overcome the cited disadvantages in prior art jet printers by providing an improved jet printer nozzle structure which is highly reliable, faster in operation and more accurate in printing quality than the prior art ink jet printers.
  • Another object is to provide a novel arrangement for the nozzle utilizing dimensional relationships that provide a resonant mode of operation to eliminate the formation of satellite drops in the jet stream.
  • a more detailed object is to improve the stability and performance of the nozzle structure by substantially eliminating the dead" area of response before tube movement can occur.
  • Yet another detailed object is to provide a nozzle structure which can be positioned with ease.
  • the nozzle structure shown in FIG. 1 comprises a nickel tubing "1 secured within a wall opening 2a forming part of an ink reservoir 3 containing pressurized ink admitted by way of an entry port 3, the reservoir 3 being secured by' way of suitable means, not shown, to a metal base 4.
  • an A. ,C. drive coil 5 which when energized induces magnetostrictive action that causes vibrations along the longitudinal axis of the tubing.
  • the tubing I is further supported by means of a bracket 6 by virtue of which and in conjunction with opening 2a in the wall f the reservoir 3, node points 6a and 2a are established in the tubing.
  • a permanent magnet '7 is disposed abovethe drive coil 5.
  • the permanent magnet provides a static magnetic bias to the tubing resulting in a magnetostrictive bias of the tubing to eliminate a dead" area of responseby virtue of which the movement frequency of the tubing is'stabilized relative to the drive frequency.
  • the structure of FIG. 1 has been designed to function at a natural resonant frequency of 50 kHz. in the three-quarter wavelength mode by virtue of the fact that the nickel tubing is supported at points of maximum force with minimum displacement and the nozzle is located at a point of minimum force'with maximum displacement.
  • This construction enhances the sinusoidal character of the vibrational movement and tends to suppress responses at other than the resonant frequency. Since the resonant frequency of the arrangement is a function of the dimensional relationship of the tubing length on either side of the node point 6a, the resonant frequency of 50 kHz.
  • the bracket 6 results by locating the bracket 6 in such a position as to bring the point 6a a distance of one unit of length to the right of the nozzle orifice la, and two units of length from the node point 2a, assuming an entire tubing length of three units of length.
  • the one unit of length tubing section extending to the left of the node point 60 represents a quarter wavelength of the resonant frequency while the section between the node points 6a, 2a represents a one-half wavelength of the resonant frequency.
  • the tubing can be resonated in the five-quarter or sevenquarter wavelength mode or any higher odd multiple of quarter wavelengths by logical extension of this principle.
  • one unit of length tubing section extending to the left of the node point 60 again represents a quarter wavelength while four units of length between node points 60 and 2a represent one wavelength of the resonant frequency.
  • the presence of liquid under pressure in the nickel tubing has a damping effect which broadens the resonant response.
  • a non-resonant electromechanical damper 10 shown located at the left end of the tubing 1.
  • the damper as best seen in detail in FIG. 2, comprises a rigid, flat, thin metal plate 11 secured, by suitable known techniques, to the outer periphery of the tubing, in the manner shown. Spaced on either side of said plate 11 and disposed in parallel relation thereto are insulating members 121 and I2r suitably secured, in the manner shown, to the base 4. Suitable openings 121 and 12r are provided to allow freedom of movement of the tubing during resonant operations.
  • each of the members 121 and l2r On the inner face of each of the members 121 and l2r is an'adherent thin layer of copper.
  • a differential capacitive mechanism is formed to yield differential signals proportional to the'movement amplitude of the tubing. These signals are utilized to monitor the resonant frequency, and by means of the feedback control I4 connected by means of shielded cables, as shown, the drive coil 5 can be controlled to maintain the tubing movement amplitude at any desired level.
  • a flexible metal shield 15 shown in dotted, is extended between the bracket 6 and the reservoir 2 to isolate the effects produced by the drive coil 5.
  • the nozzle structures shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are designed to permit accommodation of a multiplicity of jets in close proximity where each jet may be positioned individually and all jets share a common drive coil.
  • the nozzle structure shown in FIG. 3, is designed for relatively low frequency operations.
  • drive coil 5' is located on base 4' with the biasing permanent magnet 7 located therebetween.
  • the drive coil is located in such a manner as to induce magnetostrictive effects upon the portion of the tubing 1' located between the left end 'of the nozzle Ia and the node point 6a, the latter beingestablished by virtue of the position assumed by the bracket 6!
  • a second bracket 18 is provided and located on the base 4 in the manner shown.
  • each of the brackets is provided with an elongated slot, open at one end to receive the tubing.
  • each bracket is provided with tines 18a and 18b of sufficient spring tension to maintain the tubing at any desired position. To enable positioning of the tubing, a flexible connection is established to communicate with the ink reservoir.
  • the length of the nickel tubing between the jet nozzle end la and the nearest support, bracket 6' is adjusted to produce resonance in the quarter wavelength mode at the vibration frequency.
  • the remaining portion of the tubing may be any length that can be conveniently accommodated by the second support 18. This configuration is suitable for'all frequencies where the nickel tubing in the quarter wavelength mode is long enough to accommodate the drive coil.
  • FIG. 4 The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 is designed for relatively high frequency operations.
  • the drive magnet 5" is conveniently located between brackets 18' and 6" and corresponds to the position assumed by the drive coil 5 in the arrangement of FIG. 1.
  • permanent magnet 7" is located between drive coil 5" and the base 4".
  • the entire length of the nickel tubing shown in FIG. 4 is selected so as to effect resonance in the three-quarter wavelength mode, the tubing support brackets 6" and 18a being situated at points of minimum displacement. Maximum displacement thus occurs in the middle of the half wavelength section and at the noule end of the quarter wavelength section. This configuration is suitable for higher frequencies where the portion of the tubing in the quarter wavelength mode is too short to accommodate the drive coil.
  • nickel tubing has been specified in view of its desirable characteristics, the invention need not be limited to the use of nickel tubing since other metallic tubing having magnetostrictive properties may be utilized to carry out the desirable features of the invention.
  • a nozzle vibrator providing a jet stream of individual ink droplets for an ink jet printer comprising:
  • a stationary drive coil encircling said tubing for producing an alternating magnetic field and inducing magnetostrictive effects therein to cause longitudinal vibration in said tubing in response to the application of a driving frequency to said drive coil, the resonant frequency of said tubing being a function of the dimensional relationships of said tubing and of the driving frequency,
  • a support means for further supporting said tubing at a node point in the proximity of the nozzle end of said tubing
  • non-resonant damping means interconnected to said tubing to broaden the resonant response thereof
  • means comprising a permanent magnet producing a fixed magnetic field to induce a constant magnetostrictive bias of said tubing.
  • a nozzle vibrator as in claim 2 further including a feedback control means electrically interconnected to said drive coil and responsive to said differential signals to monitor and maintain control over the r son antjre quency of said tubing.

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Special Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
  • Facsimile Heads (AREA)
US19367A 1970-03-13 1970-03-13 Nozzle structure for jet printers Expired - Lifetime US3667678A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US1936770A 1970-03-13 1970-03-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3667678A true US3667678A (en) 1972-06-06

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ID=21792813

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US19367A Expired - Lifetime US3667678A (en) 1970-03-13 1970-03-13 Nozzle structure for jet printers

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3667678A (enExample)
JP (1) JPS5327615B1 (enExample)
DE (1) DE2110235A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2083969A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1314943A (enExample)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4198643A (en) * 1978-12-18 1980-04-15 The Mead Corporation Jet drop printer with elements balanced about support plate in nodal plane
US4303927A (en) * 1977-03-23 1981-12-01 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for exciting an array of ink jet nozzles and method of forming
USRE31358E (en) * 1978-12-18 1983-08-23 The Mead Corporation Jet drop printer with elements balanced about support plate in nodal plane
US4473830A (en) * 1983-01-13 1984-09-25 Eastman Kodak Company Ink jet print head
US4583101A (en) * 1982-12-27 1986-04-15 Eastman Kodak Company Fluid jet print head and stimulator therefor
US4646104A (en) * 1982-06-21 1987-02-24 Eastman Kodak Company Fluid jet print head
US5901425A (en) * 1996-08-27 1999-05-11 Topaz Technologies Inc. Inkjet print head apparatus
WO1999046126A1 (en) * 1998-03-09 1999-09-16 Hegedus Gyoergy Liquid dispensing apparatus
US6070973A (en) * 1997-05-15 2000-06-06 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Non-resonant and decoupled droplet generator
US20040217186A1 (en) * 2003-04-10 2004-11-04 Sachs Emanuel M Positive pressure drop-on-demand printing

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2549720A (en) * 2016-04-25 2017-11-01 Jetronica Ltd Industrial printhead

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2550771A (en) * 1948-07-20 1951-05-01 Pennsylvania Res Corp Magnetostriction transducer
US3155141A (en) * 1962-06-18 1964-11-03 Little Inc A Apparatus for atomizing and burning a liquid fuel
US3214101A (en) * 1964-03-31 1965-10-26 Little Inc A Apparatus for atomizing a liquid
US3281860A (en) * 1964-11-09 1966-10-25 Dick Co Ab Ink jet nozzle
US3281859A (en) * 1964-08-20 1966-10-25 Dick Co Ab Apparatus for forming drops
US3334350A (en) * 1964-08-19 1967-08-01 Dick Co Ab Magnetostrictive ink jet
US3361352A (en) * 1963-09-06 1968-01-02 Ici Ltd Oscillating spray devices and process of using same
US3400892A (en) * 1965-12-02 1968-09-10 Battelle Development Corp Resonant vibratory apparatus
US3512172A (en) * 1968-08-22 1970-05-12 Dick Co Ab Ink drop writer nozzle

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2550771A (en) * 1948-07-20 1951-05-01 Pennsylvania Res Corp Magnetostriction transducer
US3155141A (en) * 1962-06-18 1964-11-03 Little Inc A Apparatus for atomizing and burning a liquid fuel
US3361352A (en) * 1963-09-06 1968-01-02 Ici Ltd Oscillating spray devices and process of using same
US3214101A (en) * 1964-03-31 1965-10-26 Little Inc A Apparatus for atomizing a liquid
US3334350A (en) * 1964-08-19 1967-08-01 Dick Co Ab Magnetostrictive ink jet
US3281859A (en) * 1964-08-20 1966-10-25 Dick Co Ab Apparatus for forming drops
US3281860A (en) * 1964-11-09 1966-10-25 Dick Co Ab Ink jet nozzle
US3400892A (en) * 1965-12-02 1968-09-10 Battelle Development Corp Resonant vibratory apparatus
US3512172A (en) * 1968-08-22 1970-05-12 Dick Co Ab Ink drop writer nozzle

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4303927A (en) * 1977-03-23 1981-12-01 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus for exciting an array of ink jet nozzles and method of forming
US4198643A (en) * 1978-12-18 1980-04-15 The Mead Corporation Jet drop printer with elements balanced about support plate in nodal plane
USRE31358E (en) * 1978-12-18 1983-08-23 The Mead Corporation Jet drop printer with elements balanced about support plate in nodal plane
US4646104A (en) * 1982-06-21 1987-02-24 Eastman Kodak Company Fluid jet print head
US4583101A (en) * 1982-12-27 1986-04-15 Eastman Kodak Company Fluid jet print head and stimulator therefor
US4473830A (en) * 1983-01-13 1984-09-25 Eastman Kodak Company Ink jet print head
US5901425A (en) * 1996-08-27 1999-05-11 Topaz Technologies Inc. Inkjet print head apparatus
US6070973A (en) * 1997-05-15 2000-06-06 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Non-resonant and decoupled droplet generator
WO1999046126A1 (en) * 1998-03-09 1999-09-16 Hegedus Gyoergy Liquid dispensing apparatus
AU740215B2 (en) * 1998-03-09 2001-11-01 Gusztav Florian Liquid dispensing apparatus
US6460980B1 (en) 1998-03-09 2002-10-08 Hegedus Gyoergy Liquid dispensing apparatus
US20040217186A1 (en) * 2003-04-10 2004-11-04 Sachs Emanuel M Positive pressure drop-on-demand printing
US7077334B2 (en) 2003-04-10 2006-07-18 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Positive pressure drop-on-demand printing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2083969A5 (enExample) 1971-12-17
JPS5327615B1 (enExample) 1978-08-09
DE2110235A1 (de) 1971-09-23
GB1314943A (en) 1973-04-26

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