Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for simultaneously controlling a plurality of print engines connected together (in series, in parallel or otherwise) that facilitates electronic stitching between the print engines. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for synchronizing the pixel deposition frequencies and the drive mechanisms between the various inter-connected print engines so as to eliminate synchronization between the print engines.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate includes conductors at various levels to provide conductive paths for transmitting control signals for controlling the print head. The insulating layer or layers also has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate to provide a substantially planar surface to facilitate cleaning of the printhead. Each nozzle opening is formed as an elongated bore that extends through the insulating layer or layers to the silicon substrate. A heater element is formed adjacent each nozzle opening and in proximity to the planar surface to provide asymmetric heating of the ink stream as it leaves the nozzle opening.

Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus for forming an image on an image receiving medium with plural coating liquids. A plurality of types of coating liquid are combined to form a recording liquid and extruded as a continuous flow from an array of plural extruding ports which are aligned in a direction substantially orthogonal to a relative movement direction of the image receiving medium. While a mixing ratio of the plural coating liquids is varied based on an image signal, the recording liquid is continuously applied on the image receiving medium to form the image thereon. The high-speed image formation is enabled with a reduced amount of ink to be wasted. Preferably, the plurality of types of the coating liquid are not equally mixed but can be superimposed in the form of a layer in the coating thickness direction to be continuously applied.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate and has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate and each nozzle opening is formed in a recess in the insulating layer or layers by a material depletion process such as etching. The process of etching defines the nozzle openings at locations where heater elements are formed in the insulating layer or layers during a conventional CMOS processing of the integrated circuits. The print head structure thereby provides for minimal post processing of the print head after the completion of the CMOS processing.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printhead having a two-dimensional nozzle array with the two-dimensional nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles disposed such that a redundant nozzle pair is formed. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzles and is operable in a first state to form drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form drops having a second volume travelling along the same path. A system applies force to the drops travelling along the path with the force being applied in a direction such that the drops having the first volume diverge from the path.

Abstract: A continuous inkjet printing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a printhead having a two-dimensional nozzle array with the two-dimensional nozzle array having a plurality of nozzles disposed such that a redundant nozzle pair is formed. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzles and is operable in a first state to form drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form drops having a second volume travelling along the same path. A system applies force to the drops travelling along the path with the force being applied in a direction such that the drops having the first volume diverge from the path.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet print head is formed of a silicon substrate that includes integrated circuits formed therein for controlling operation of the print head. An insulating layer or layers overlies the silicon substrate includes conductors at various levels to provide conductive paths for transmitting control signals for controlling the print head. The insulating layer or layers also has a series or an array of nozzle openings or bores formed therein along the length of the substrate to provide a substantially planar surface to facilitate cleaning of the printhead. Each nozzle opening is formed as an elongated bore that extends through the insulating layer or layers to the silicon substrate. A heater element is formed adjacent each nozzle opening and in proximity to the planar surface to provide asymmetric heating of the ink stream as it leaves the nozzle opening.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet apparatus is provided. The printhead includes a nozzle array with portions of the nozzle array defining a length dimension. A drop forming mechanism is positioned relative to the nozzle array. The drop forming mechanism is operable in a first state to form ink drops having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form ink drops having a second volume travelling along the path. A system applies force to the ink drops travelling along the path. The force is applied in a direction such that the ink drops having the first volume diverge from the path and at least one of the ink drops having the first volume and the ink drops having the second volume are displaced relative to the length dimension.

Abstract: A method for correcting the performance of a continuous ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles each having an orifice, at least one of the nozzles being a malfunctioning nozzle, the method including: a) determining which nozzle of the nozzle plate is malfunctioning; b) applying a heat-activatable material over the surface of the nozzle plate; c) applying heat to the malfunctioning nozzle, thereby causing the heat-activatable material to flow into the orifice of the malfunctioning nozzle to block it; and d) removing any excess heat-activatable material.

Abstract: A print head for an ink jet printer includes a number of ink nozzles for producing ink jets, charging device for charging the ink jets, and also further components assembling the print head. The ink nozzles and the charging device are accommodated in an ink jet module which can easily be removed from the further components. Furthermore, the ink jet module is composed of an ink jet unit and a charging unit, which preferably can also be easily disassembled. As a result of this modular construction of the print head, it is ensured that in the event of faults it is possible to replace only part of the print head, instead of the entire print head.

Abstract: An aqueous ink jet ink composition having a pigment wherein at least 50% of the pigment particles have an average diameter or size≦0.3 microns with the remaining particles in the ink composition having a diameter or size≦3.0 microns, water, a dispersant which is a reaction product of an aldehyde and a naphthalene sulfonate salt, and/or a sulfone solvent. The aqueous ink jet ink possesses a latency of at least 10 seconds at a relative humidity of 15% in either a high resolution (>360 spi) printhead or full-width array printhead having at least one nozzle opening of a diameter or size ranging from 10 to about 49 microns.

Abstract: A print head for an ink jet printer comprises a number of ink nozzles for producing ink jets, charging means for charging the ink jets, and also further components assembling the print head. The ink nozzles and the charging means are accommodated in an ink jet module which can easily be removed from the further components. Furthermore, the ink jet module is composed of an ink jet unit and a charging unit, which preferably can also be easily disassembled. As a result of this modular construction of the print head, it is ensured that in the event of faults it is possible to replace only part of the print head, instead of the entire print head.

Abstract: An ink-drop generator (33) of an ink-jet printer is characterized in that a resonating ink cavity (6) from which the ink is supplied via a nozzle plate (39) onto a printing substrate has its lateral walls (7, 8, 9, 10) perpendicular to the nozzle plate (39).

Abstract: A method of printing uses a multi-nozzle ink jet print head having a pressure modulator for causing streams of ink emitted from the nozzles to be broken up into individual droplets. The nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups of nozzles, and groups of charge electrodes correspond, each group of charge electrodes having a respective charge controller. In the method a modulation waveform is generated to operate the pressure modulator to cause droplets to be generated in each stream. The charge controllers are operated to supply a charge signal waveform to charge electrodes and charge droplets in the streams. The phase relationship of the charge signal waveform is adjusted relative to the modulation waveform.

Abstract: A flash-over detector for a continuous ink jet printer, the printer including a positive deflector plate having a positive supply conductor; a negative deflector plate having a negative supply conductor, the positive and negative conductors being capacitively coupled with each other; and a ground; the flash-over detector comprising: a sensing element, coupled to one of the conductors, for detecting a flash-over between either of the conductors and either the ground or the other conductor.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for cleaning the printhead of a continuous ink jet printing system. A cleaning fluid is introduced and used to flush ink residues and debris from the interior of the drop generator, the exterior of the orifice plate, the charge plate face and the catcher face. This system and method removes dried ink residues and other debris and deposits by providing a cleaning fluid with a low surface tension to dissolve or flush away the unwanted material from the orifices. This is particularly advantageous in that the flushing and rinsing is accomplished without mechanical contact which could abrade or damage the orifices.

Abstract: A stroke based method for printing for use in a continuous ink jet printer. A set number of drops are assigned to a stroke, but the number of positions which can be printed on a stroke is greater than the number of drops on the stroke. This allows improved fonts at the same print speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately determining and setting the optimal nozzle drive voltage for an ink jet printer. The current carried by charged test drops is monitored by a sensing electrode and ammeter while the nozzle drive voltage is slowly varied between minimum and maximum points. A plot of drop current versus nozzle drive voltage provides an accurate determination of the good printing window for the particular nozzle under the operating conditions presented. This arrangement can be used for calibrating a new nozzle in an existing printer or for calibrating a new ink or font to ensure that operation will occur within the desired print window.

Abstract: A fluid flow detection method is used in a continuous ink jet printer which generates a row of parallel selectively charged drop streams from a fluid system. In the fluid flow detection method, a low airflow catcher device is provided for establishing bubble flow in an associated catcher vacuum port and catcher return line. The catcher return line contains catcher return fluid. Pressure fluctuations are monitored in the catcher return fluid to the ink tank, the ink tank having a tank vacuum. The tank vacuum is automatically lowered to a preset value, which preset value is greater than bubble flow transition. The tank vacuum is then incrementally lowered as pressure fluctuations are monitored. The tank vacuum is maintained at a constant level when the pressure fluctuations decrease below a predetermined level due to the establishment of bubble flow.

Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus including a printing substrate cassette containing a multiplicity of printing substrates in rolled cut sheet form, an ink jet head assembly operative to print on a printing substrate and an ink supply assembly operative to provide ink to the ink jet head assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a stream of ink drops in a continuous ink jet printer having a maximum allowable number of fast satellite drops. An ink, which may be a hot-melt ink in its liquid phase, is pressurized for continuous flow to a nozzle and a rectangular or triangular waveform is generated at a fixed frequency. The waveform is applied to a transducer coupled to the nozzle such that nozzle vibrates and the ink flow is perturbed and discharged from the nozzle as primary drops with satellite drops formed therewith. The harmonic content of the rectangular or triangular waveform is adjusted until the desired number of fast satellite drops suitable for desired image formation are formed in the stream of primary drops. In a preferred embodiment, the desired number of fast satellites is a maximum of three.

Abstract: Ink-jet device for producing an image on a recording medium includes a droplet-producing device for ejecting droplets along a trajectory, and a droplet-controlling device for controlling the trajectory of the droplets, the droplet-controlling device being formed as a deflection surface, the deflection surface being disposed so that respective droplets impact thereon and rebound to continue the flight thereof, the respective droplets being splittable into at least two subdroplets as a function of selected parameters, and ink-jet process.

Abstract: A charging electrode assembly for a continous multi-jet ink jet printer includes a substrate plate 1 of electrically insulated material provided with a series of parallel electrodes 5 extending across an edge of the plate and a series of parallel strip leads 6 extending across a face of the plate. The plate is formed with grooves, plated with metal, and then the faces of the plate are ground to leave the electrodes and strip leads in the grooves. Alternatively, the surfaces of the plate are metal plated and then grooves are cut in the edge and face of the plate to leave the electrodes and strip leads between the grooves. An independent feature of the invention recides in the provision of one or more eccentric dowels working in elongate slots in the plate so that rotation of the dowels provides fine adjustment of the plate, and hence of the electrodes relatively to trains of ink droplets.

Abstract: A continuous ink jet printer employing conductive ink and having a main ink supply, a supplemental ink supply, and a replenishment carrier fluid supply includes a fluid system that replenishes ink or carrier fluid based on the resistivity of ink in the main ink supply.

Abstract: A modulating device for breaking ink jets in an ink jet printing machine into trains of uniform droplets comprises a nozzle plate 24 provided with a substantially linear array of nozzles and forming one wall of an ink cavity 23; and acoustic generator in the form of an elongate body 26 projecting towards the nozzle plate to transmit acoustic vibrations into ink into the cavity. The body is shaped and tuned to vibrate substantially only in the longitudinal mode and at a resonant frequency which is within ten percent of a frequency to excite natural resonant vibrations in the ink in the cavity between the end of the body and the nozzle plate, the width of the body being less than the length of the nozzle array or of that part of the array associated with that body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method allows for mounting and aligning of the charge plate/catcher assembly and the droplet generator within the structure that holds these two parts. Three degrees of freedom of adjustment are incorporated into the frame and are self-locking. Two of the degrees of freedom are the positioning distance of a jet array to charge leads and the parallelism of the jet array to the charge leads. The third degree of freedom is the ability to adjust the jet array so as to align and center the jets in front of the charge leads.

Abstract: A deflection arrangement for deflecting charged particles, e.g. ink drops in an ink jet printer, is arranged so that the potential dropped across an air gap between deflection electrodes varies with position along the air gap. This may be achieved by providing a varying thickness of dielectric material 31 on one deflection electrode 29, extending towards the other deflection electrode 27. Preferably, the width of the air gap varies to follow the fanning out of the paths of differently deflected particles (e.g. ink drops), and the variation in the potential across the air gap allows advantage to be taken of the fact that the dielectric strength (breakdown field strength) of air varies with the width of the air gap.

Abstract: A printhead (1) for a continuous ink jet printer has a single pair of nozzles (3,3'). One or more oscillators for vibrating the ink (3,3') may be used to break up the twin streams (4,4') of droplets issuing from the nozzles. A pair (5) of charging gates is provided for applying, selectively and respectively, a charge to droplets in the two streams (4,4'). A pair of deflector means (7) apply respective electric fields across the streams (4,4') to deflect the droplets individually in accordance with the charge thereon. A gutter (10) or pair of gutters (11,11') receive droplets from the respective streams if they are not charged. The arrangement is such that the two streams of droplets are deflected in opposite directions so as to be printed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous marking of elongated stock moving in the direction of extension of the stock and including one or more nozzles for directing a dye-jet towards the elongated stock is improved by causing the nozzles to oscillate in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the elongated stock to be marked; and the jets as produced by flows in the respective nozzle along the plane of oscillation and are redirected to emerge at right angles to the plane of oscillation; the nozzles either include a first duct extending in the nozzle body in a particular direction and being continued in a second duct extending at 90 degrees; alternatively a nozzle is a tube of L-shaped configuration.