Abstract: A single pass ink jet printer includes a plurality of ink jet modules arranged in adjacent rows extending across the width of the surface of an object which is moved with respect to the printer. The modules are mounted on and joined to a manifold which is mounted in a support frame. Ink is supplied to the manifold through an opening in the frame and the manifold distributes the ink to corresponding openings in the ink jet modules where it is directed to arrays of ink pressure chambers and to an outlet which communicates with a corresponding return passage in the manifold leading back to the ink supply. As a result, ink is circulated continuously through all of the ink jet modules, thereby maintaining pigment in suspension in a pigmented ink. An ink supply is removably connected to the printhead through quick-disconnect couplings and, to prevent contamination of the ink in the printhead, filters are provided in the ink supply and at the inlet to the printhead.

Abstract: A page wide piezoelectric ink jet print engine and a method of manufacturing the same. The page wide ink jet print engine includes lower and upper body parts, each formed from piezoelectric material and having a plurality of generally parallel, spaced projections. Lower side surfaces of the projections of the lower body part are conductively mounted to corresponding bottom side surfaces of the projections of the upper body part to define a plurality of generally parallel, axially extending ink-carrying channels from which ink may be ejected.

Abstract: A liquid injection apparatus uniformly applies a liquid on a material at one time in the form of a line. A nozzle plate is arranged on a portion opposing a photosensitive material of an injection tank. A plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in the nozzle plate in the form of a line. Thin elastic members are arranged between the upper portions of the side walls of the injection tank and the left and right ends of the nozzle plate which are end portions of the nozzle plate in the direction in which the nozzle holes are arranged in the form of a line. In addition, an elastic adhesive is applied to bury a gap between the side wall and the elastic member. Each of the upper and lower end portions of the nozzle plate is supported by the side wall and connected to one end portion of a lever plate. The other end portion of the lever plate is adhered to the upper surface of a piezoelectric element to connect the piezoelectric element to the lever plate.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device includes an ink jet recording head comprising at least one pressure chamber communicating with an ink reservoir via an ink supply channel and a nozzle plate comprising at least one nozzle opening for emitting droplets of ink, the nozzle plate forms a wall of the pressure chamber. The recording head further comprises a piezoelectric actuator element having an active direction and comprising at least one layer of piezoelectric material and at least two electrode layers which are arranged such that the dimension of the actuator element in the active direction is varied upon application of an electric voltage between terminals that are electrically connected to the electrode layers. The actuator element is arranged in cooperative relationship with the pressure chamber so that the pressure chamber changes its volume when the dimension of the actuator element in the active direction is varied.

Abstract: A first and second conductor layers are alternately laminated between first and second green sheets formed of piezoelectric ceramic powder, organic binder, plasticizer, etc. The first conductor layer is aligned with a lower end of the green sheet while the second conductor layer is aligned with an upper end of the green sheet. Therefore, the first conductor layers are exposed to the lower surface and connected to the driving electrodes. The second conductor layers are exposed to the upper surface and are connected to a common electrode. Grooves serving as ink channels are formed between the first and second conductor layers. Accordingly, the conductor layers are not exposed to the side surfaces of the ink channels.

Abstract: In the embodiments of the simplified ink jet head described in the specification, a carbon plate is formed with orifice passages extending through the plate, pressure chambers on one side of the plate, flow-through passages on the other side of the plate and ink supply passages, and a piezoelectric plate having a conductive coating on the exposed side is affixed to the pressure chamber side of the carbon plate by a thin layer of epoxy adhesive. The conductive coating on the piezoelectric plate is photo-etched to produce an electrode pattern corresponding to the pattern of the pressure chambers in the carbon plate, and an orifice plate is affixed by a thin layer of epoxy adhesive to the opposite surface of the carbon plate with orifices aligned with the orifice passages in the carbon plate.

Abstract: A method of producing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator including preparing first, second and third ceramic green sheets, and laminating the green sheets to form an unfired ceramic body which is then fired. The first, second and third green sheets form spacer, closure, and connecting plates, respectively, the spacer plate having a plurality of windows. An outer surface of the connecting plate that is remote from the spacer plate is machined so as to have a maximum waviness of not larger than 50 .mu.m. Additionally, piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are formed on an outer surface of the closure plate over respective pressure chambers defined by the windows in the spacer plate.

Abstract: A method of producing a layered piezoelectric element for producing a pressure fluctuation within a cavity of an ink jet print head to eject ink from within the cavity, the production method comprising the steps of screen printing a slurry of powdered piezoelectric material to form a piezoelectric ceramic layer; screen printing a conductive paste to form an internal electrode layer on the piezoelectric ceramic layer; and repeating in alternation the steps of screen printing the slurry of powdered piezoelectric material and screen printing the conductive paste to obtain a layered body with piezoelectric ceramic layers and internal electrode layers layered in alternation.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a drop-on-demand ink jet printhead having thermoelectric temperature control apparatus incorporated therewith for the selective heating or cooling thereof and a method of manufacturing the same. The ink jet printhead includes a channel array constructed of a thermally conductive material, a spaced series of internal ink-carrying channels which extend rearwardly from a front side surface and a piezoelectric actuator acoustically coupled to each of the ink-carrying channels for selectively imparting pressure pulses thereto. N-type and p-type thermoelectric carriers are mounted to a top side surface of the channel array and then serially connected to a temperature controller. By applying electrical power to the n-type and p-type thermoelectric carriers, heat will be transferred between the channel array and a cover plate mounted to top side surfaces of the n-type and p-type thermoelectric carriers. In this manner, the channel array may be selectively heated or cooled.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head provided with an array of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged at regular intervals and fixed at their one ends to a base, the other ends of the respective piezoelectric elements being free ends which are disposed in opposition to nozzle respective apertures, the piezoelectric elements being formed by cutting, at predetermined width, a piezoelectric plate obtained by firing a lamination of paste-like piezoelectric material and conductive material stacked alternately in layers. Since each piezoelectric element is composed of a thin piezoelectric plate interposed between electrodes, if a voltage of only about 30 V, which is sufficient to drive the thin piezoelectric plate, is applied across the electrodes, it is possible to largely flex the whole of the piezoelectric element. By this transformation, ink between the top end of the piezoelectric element and the nozzle aperture is discharged to the outside as an ink drop.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a sidewall actuatable, high density channel array for an ink jet printhead. A first surface of a main body portion formed from an inactive material is conductively bonded to a first surface of a first intermediate body portion formed from an active material. A plurality of parallel grooves are then machined through the first intermediate body portion and part of the main body portion to form a plurality of channels separated by a corresponding plurality of sidewall actuators comprised of a first sidewall section formed from an inactive material and a second sidewall section formed from an active material. A top body portion is then conductively mounted to the intermediate body portion.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a sidewall actuator array for an ink jet printhead in which a series of longitudinally extending, generally parallel grooves are formed in a body portion of the ink jet printhead. In various embodiments thereof, the body portion may be comprised of a lower body portion formed of an inactive material and an intermediate body portion formed of an active material, a lower body portion formed of active material poled in a first direction and an intermediate body portion formed of active material poled in a second, opposite direction, a lower body portion formed of active material poled in a first direction, a insulative spacing portion and an intermediate body portion formed of active material poled in a second, opposite direction, or a single body portion formed of an active material. After forming grooves therein, a layer of conductive material is deposited on inner side surfaces exposed during the grooving step.

Abstract: An ink jet head apparatus includes a piezoelectric actuator having a plurality of laminated piezoelectric elements, each of the piezoelectric elements having a piezoelectric body with a signal electrode and a ground electrode formed on the opposite sides of the piezoelectric body, an ink chamber for storing ink pressurized by a transformation of the piezoelectric actuator, a connecting conductor for the signal electrode through which electrodes having a plurality of the signal electrode are connected to each other, and a connecting conductor for the ground electrode through which electrodes having a plurality of the ground electrode are connected to each other, and the connecting conductor for the ground electrode being located on the side of the ink chamber.

Abstract: An on-demand type ink jet print head, comprising: a plurality of ink tanks disposed at a lower position of a carriage to be independent of each other, pressure varying means provided on one of the tanks; an air release port communicating with the other one of the tanks; a head assembly provided on top of the tanks to communicate with the tanks through flow paths at both sides of the head assembly. The object of the invention is to achieve stable printing independent of the amount of ink in an ink tank and discharge bubbles in a nozzle head together with the ink.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head provided with an array of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged at regular intervals and fixed at their one ends to a base, the other ends of the respective piezoelectric elements being free ends which are disposed in opposition to nozzle respective apertures, the piezoelectric elements being formed by cutting, at predetermined width, a piezoelectric plate obtained by firing a lamination of paste-like piezoelectric material conductive material stacked alternately in layers. Since each piezoelectric element is composed of a thin piezoelectric plate interposed between electrodes, if a voltage of only about 30 V, which is sufficient to drive the thin piezoelectric plate, is applied across the electrodes, it is possible to largely flex the whole of the piezoelectric element. By this transformation, ink between the top end of the piezoelectric element and the nozzle aperture is discharged to the outside as an ink drop.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand ink-jet printing head provided with an array of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged at regular intervals and fixed at their one ends to a base, the other ends of the respective piezoelectric elements being free ends which are disposed in opposition to nozzle respective apertures, the piezoelectric elements being formed by cutting, at predetermined width, a piezoelectric plate obtained by firing a lamination of paste-like piezoelectric material and conductive material stacked alternately in layers. Since each piezoelectric element is composed of a thin piezoelectric plate interposed between electrodes, if a voltage of only about 30 V, which is sufficient to drive the thin piezoelectric plate, is applied across the electrodes, it is possible to largely flex the whole of the piezoelectric element. By this transformation, ink between the top end of the piezoelectric element and the nozzle aperture is discharged to the outside as an ink drop.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a sidewall actuatable, high density channel array for an ink jet printhead. A first surface of a main body portion formed from an active material is conductively bonded to a first surface of a first intermediate body portion formed from an active material. A plurality of parallel grooves are then machined through the first intermediate body portion and part of the main body portion to form a plurality of channels separated by a corresponding plurality of sidewall actuators comprised of a first sidewall section formed from an active material and a second sidewall section formed from an active material. A top body portion is then conductively mounted to the intermediate body portion.

Abstract: A head for a piezoelectric ink jet printer includes a plurality of ejector devices for ejecting ink droplets. Each ejector device has an ink channel body defining an ink channel. The head further includes a piezoelectric actuator secured to the ink channel for actuating the ejector devices. The actuator is made up of a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic layers, a plurality of internal positive electrode layers, and a plurality of internal negative electrode layers, which are laminated in such a manner that each piezoelectric ceramic layer is sandwitched between each internal positive electrode layer and each internal negative electrode layer. At least one of the internal positive electrode layers and the internal negative electrode layers are divided into a plurality of segments so as to be provided in association with respective ones of the plurality of ejector devices.

Abstract: The ink-jet recording head including a piezoelectric vibrator 9 in which layers of a piezoelectric material and an electrode forming material are alternately stacked to form an active region 15 where segment electrodes 20 and common electrodes 21 overlap with each other in the center portion; a fixing substrate 8 to which the piezoelectric vibrator 9 is fixed; and a flow path component which contacts with the front end of the piezoelectric vibrator 9 and in which ink is compressed by the extension and contraction of the piezoelectric vibrator 9 to produce ink drops. In the ink-jet recording head, the piezoelectric vibrator 9 is contacted with the fixing substrate 8 only in the portion of the active region 15, and fixed thereto by an adhesive. When a drive signal is applied to the electrodes 20 and 21 of the piezoelectric vibrator 9, only the active region 15 where electrodes of the opposite polarities oppose to each other extends in the lamination direction.