Abstract: The drop projection device has an array of nozzles communicating with an ink cavity fed from an associated pressurized ink reservoir and has an acoustic cavity closely associated with the ink cavity. The acoustic cavity is filled with a solid material, and may be separated from the ink cavity by a membrane that may be selected of any ink compatible material for transmitting disturbances from the solid material to the ink channel (the membrane is not required, however). A transducer is mounted to the rear of the solid filled cavity, essentially in air.The transducer is a block of piezoelectric material separated into a plurality of parallel fingers by slices made from one side of the block. The height-to-width or height-to-thickness ratios are less than 10:4. The solid acoustic cavity is filled with a material having an acoustic impedance which is substantially equal to the ink acoustic impedance. The cavity itself is defined by a material having a high acoustic impedance.

Abstract: A method of assembling a stimulator for an inkjet printer by attaching separate piezoelectric elements to a plastic or metallic membrane sheet which sheet, after encapsulation of the piezoelectric transducers, may be cut into a plurality of stimulators. Each individual stimulator which now comprises a membrane, a piezoelectric element, and the encapsulating material can then be bonded to an ink fluid cavity.

Abstract: A fluid jet print head for producing a plurality of jet drop streams of fluid includes a manifold defining an elongated cavity and an orifice plate defining a plurality of orifices, arranged in at least one row, which communicate with the cavity. A transducer arrangement, including a piezoelectric means, is mounted in the cavity and is spaced from the orifice plate so as to define a fluid reservoir therebetween. The transducer arrangement further includes acoustic isolation material which surrounds the piezoelectric means and supports the piezoelectric means in the cavity. The transducer means, when electrically excited, produces pressure waves of substantially uniform wave front which travel through the fluid in the reservoir toward the orifice plate and cause break up into jet drop streams of fluid flowing through the orifices. The piezoelectric means may include an elongated transducer which defines a plurality of slots extending alternately from opposite sides of the transducer partially therethrough.