Abstract: An ink jet printer utilizes a substantially electrically conductive deflection electrode which extends generally parallel to at least one row of ink jet drop streams and has a d.c. electrical deflection potential impressed thereon to produce a static electrical deflection field through which drops in the drop streams pass. The deflection electrode is heated by passing a resistive heating current through the electrode and is held by a spring mounting arrangement to compensate for resulting thermal expansion of the electrode, thus maintaining the electrode in tension, such that it is held substantially straight.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes a print head means which generates two parallel rows of jet drop streams. Charge electrodes are mounted on a pair of charge electrode plates which are movable into and out of drop charging positions. A pair of catchers each define a drop catching surface and a drop ingesting slot along the lower edge of the drop catching surface. Each of the catchers is generally pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the rows of jet drop streams. The catchers may be pivoted from a drop catching position, in which the drop catching surfaces are substantially parallel, to a full catch position in which drop catching surfaces are inclined to face upward and intercept the jet drop streams. In the full catch position, the drop ingesting slots are positioned closely together. A linkage arrangement is provided for pivoting the catchers from the full catch position to the drop catch position after start up of the print head means.

Abstract: An ink jet printer produces high resolution printing from continuously flowing, non-stimulated jets. The jets are produced from a common manifold by rows of staggered orifices, all being relatively small in diameter. Drop deflection is accomplished by laminated electrode assemblies which are activated at a lower frequency than the natural drop formation frequency, so that each printed spot on the printing substrate is covered with a fairly large number of relatively small drops.

Abstract: An ink jet printer for printing a print image on a print medium selectively deposits ink drops at a plurality of print positions on the medium with each print position defining a print line on the medium extending in the direction of relative movement of the medium. A means for generating a plurality of drop jets directs the jet toward the print medium. A means is provided for selectively deflecting drops from each drop jet to print positions in an associated group of the plurality of print positions. At least two of the print positions in each group of print positions define print lines which substantially overlap the print lines defined by print positions in adjacent groups of print positions.

Abstract: A conductive deflection ribbon (52) is provided in an ink jet printing device (10) in which the ribbon (100) is coated with a highly resistive material (101). The deflection ribbon (52) is positioned adjacent a row of orifices (26) in an orifice plate (18) from which are expelled series of droplets (84). Selected ones of the droplets (84) are charged in such a manner they are deflected towards a catching device (54) by an electrostatic field established between the deflection ribbon (52) and the catching device (54). The resistive coating (101) inhibits the production of shorts between the charge plate (50), orifice plate (18) catcher (54) and the ribbon (52).

Abstract: An ink jet printer and a method of printing are disclosed in which a plurality of sheets of copy paper are simultaneously supplied to a paper supporting drum prior to printing and simultaneously removed from the drum after printing. One print head or, alternately, multiple print heads may be utilized during the printing operation. The time required for loading copy paper onto the drum and removing it from the drum and also the time required for the print head or heads to complete printing on all of the sheets of copy paper are therefore both reduced, thus permitting attainment of higher copy rates.

Abstract: A formed orifice plate for use in an ink jet printing device is provided in which the orifice plate and the side walls of the liquid reservoir formed above the orifice plate to supply ink to the orifices, are of unitary construction and formed from a thin sheet of material. The side walls are backed by a member in order to prevent propagation of spurious vibrations from the orifice plate along the side walls and into the liquid contained in the reservoir. An alternative construction of unitary orifice plate is also provided in which the orifice plate has a generally W-shaped cross section and provides two separate reservoirs with multiple rows of orifices.

Abstract: An ink jet printer produces a row of drop streams directed at a print receiving medium which moves in a direction oblique to the row. Drops in the drop streams are charged and deflection electrodes provide a series of parallel deflection fields substantially perpendicular to the row of drop streams. A catcher is provided for catching drops which are directed in catch trajectories. The deflection fields are controlled such that selected ones of the drops are directed into catch trajectories and other ones of the drops are directed into print trajectories, the drops in the print trajectories striking the print receiving medium and forming a print image.

Abstract: A jet drop copying apparatus has an array of printing nozzles supported for axial movement over a copy paper mounted upon a rotating drum. Simultaneously therewith an optical scanning system scans a document positioned flat on a planar support surface and sweeps an image thereof across an array of photosensors arranged in correspondence with the array of printing nozzles. Output signals from the photosensors are supplied to a control unit which controls the printing operation of the nozzles.The control unit also controls the optical scanning for synchronism with the movement of the nozzle array relative to the copy paper. The nozzles are rather widely spaced, but their spacing (and likewise the photosensor spacing) is adjusted in accordance with the number thereof and with the nozzle movement speed so as to produce an interlaced solid printed copy. Optical distortion during scanning is avoided by provision of a double lens arrangement with a rotating mirror therebetween.

Abstract: An ink jet printer prints on a moving web with two parallel rows of drop streams which are oblique to the direction of web movement. A deflection ribbon extends between the rows of drop streams and opposed catchers are disposed outwardly of the rows of drop streams. The drops in the drop streams are selectively charged to one of a plurality of charge levels. A drop deflecting field is generated by applying a potential to the deflection ribbon which is of like polarity to the charge on the drops. Individual drops are therefore deflected toward the catchers perpendicularly to the rows of drop streams. Drops in the drop streams may strike the web at one of a plurality of print positions or, if sufficiently charged, may be deflected to strike a catcher.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder for printing on a moving print web has a means for generating a plurality of parallel streams of selectively charged ink drops. These streams descend downwardly toward the moving print web and pass through a deflecting field. A catcher is provided for catching the drops reflected by the field and ingesting the drops. The catcher includes a substantially vertical drop catching surface and an upwardly extending drop ingesting opening defined in part by a curved surface at the bottom of the drop catching surface. With such a catcher configuration, drops will flow down the drop catching surface and then upwardly through the opening. A bottom plate extending along the bottom of the catcher and defining, with the curved surface, the drop ingesting opening may be formed from a porous material.

Abstract: A jet drop recording head of laminar construction is started up by moving the charge plate thereof into contact or near contact with the orifice plate prior to introduction of recording liquid into the head. After this position is achieved, a flush fluid is pumped into the head, and this pumping is continued as the head fills and fluid pushes through the orifice plate and charge plate to form free standing jets. Once the jets are formed the flush fluid is replaced by recording liquid, and the charge plate is moved away from the orifice plate to a normal operating position. Prior to such separation the lower surface of the charge plate is cleared of collected flush fluid by blowing a stream of air thereacross or by tilting the entire head to enable runoff. A non-wettable coating on the lower surface of the charge plate facilitates such clearing of collected flush fluid.