摘要:
An apparatus and method provides a means for assembling a print head apparatus for an ink jet printer. The apparatus comprises control means for controlling the flow of fluid to the droplet generator (12) and for controlling transfer of data to the droplet charging and collecting means (14). The control means for controlling transfer of data to the droplet charging and collecting means (14) is a motherboard (26) containing various elements. The motherboard (26) includes a microcontroller and fiber optic means (32) for receiving data and control signals and providing the signals to an input buffer (36). A RAM (38) provides data memory, and latch and shift register (42,44) means latch and shift the data from the RAM. High voltage driver means (34) receive data from the latch and shift register means. A control state machine (40) communicates with the microcontroller (46), for handling generation of all control signals for the input buffer (36), the RAM (38), and the latch and shift register means (42,44). Finally, opto couplers (48) buffer the low voltage circuitry from high voltage circuitry (34) in the print head apparatus. The print head apparatus is capable of providing diagnostic functions, and is self-contained in a field-replaceable housing.
摘要:
A method for electroforming linear orifice plates includes the steps of: placing electrically conductive robber panels adjacent edges of an electrically conductive plating substrate bearing a linear insulative peg pattern; coupling the plating surface of the plating substrate to the adjacent robber panels with a thin strip of electrically conductive material; and electroplating to form an orifice plate with precisely uniform diameter orifices.
摘要:
An improved catcher device (27) for a continuous ink jet printer of the kind having a linear orifice array for producing a linear curtain of parallel drop streams. The catcher device (27) includes: (i) an elongated impact surface (31) constructed and located to be adjacent a region of the droplet curtain; (ii) a drop discharge channel (29) located downstream from the drop impact surface (31); and (iii) a screen element (40) across the mouth (32) of the drop discharge channel (29).
摘要:
An automatic start-up sequence is provided for a continuous inkjet printer that uses volatile inks for printing. At startup, colorless flush fluid is employed to remove in the drop generator (34) and from the exterior of the orifice plate (40) and from the charge plate. Jets of the flush fluid are established. Stimulation is applied to the jets and charge voltage is applied to the associated charging electrodes to deflect the jets toward the catcher (44). Concurrent with the jets being so deflected, the jetting fluid is changed from flush fluid for cleaning to the ink for printing. The ability to control the jets of fluid with charge voltage prevents splattering of fluid on the charge leads during the transition from make-up fluid to ink.
摘要:
An automatic start-up for a continuous ink jet printer provides a dyeless flush fluid to the printhead (28) to remove any particles or ink residue from the printhead (28) and to wet the orifice plate before jets form. The pressure of the flush fluid is then raised to cause the flush fluid to begin jetting from the drop generator (34). Once jets are established, ink is supplied to the drop generator (34) at the pressure of the jetting flush fluid. The flow of flush fluid is stopped. Since the printhead (38) is being supplied with ink, ink replaces the flush fluid as the fluid being jetted from the drop generator (34). An ink heater (56) is then turned on, increasing evaporation of solvent from the ink jetted from the drop generator (34). The solvent vapors condense on the relatively cool charge plate and catcher (44) face. The condensate forming on these surfaces provides one final rinse of these surfaces to remove conductive ink from the charge leads and catcher (44) face. After a period of condensate cleaning, the ink heater (56) is turned off, and a heater (58) attached to the charge plate catcher assembly is turned on to dry the charge plate and catcher (44). Charge voltage may then be turned on to deflect the ink drops into catch. At this point, the printhead (38) is ready for printing.
摘要:
An inkjet printer has a catcher (14) and eyelid seal (18) for sealing against the catcher (14) during startup and shutdown. A wicking means (32) is provided for removing excess ink (36) from a fluid channel (24) of the catcher (14) having an associated catcher plate (20), in an area of the eyelid seal (18). The wicking means (32) is positioned in an area at a bottom surface of the fluid channel (24), without bridging a height of the fluid channel (24), above the catcher plate (20), and in close proximity to the eyelid seal (18), while maintaining a consistent pressure at an entrance to the fluid channel (24).
摘要:
An eyelid positioning technique is provided for an ink jet printer to precisely position the eyelid relative to the catcher (54) to properly seal the print head. The eyelid seals against the catcher (54) to contain ink within the printhead (50) on startup and shutdown of the printer system. An eyelid actuator assembly (68) moves the eyelid into a sealed position for startup and shutdown and into an open position for print, so that ink jets can exit an array of orifices and pass between the catcher (54) and the eyelid to print on a print media. At least one alignment flexure (20; 24) capability allows for precise positioning of the eyelid relative to the catcher (54) or the drop generator (52) during assembly of the printer system.
摘要:
A technique for sealing a printhead (10) of an ink jet printer system on startup, opening the seal (20) to print, and opening further on an arbitrary path for service, is provided for by the present invention. The ink jet printhead (10) has an ink drop generator (16), a catcher (18) located adjacent to the ink drop generator (16), and a catcher pan located below the catcher (18). An eyelid seals ink within the printhead on startup of the printer system. An actuator mechanism transmits movement to the eyelid along a predetermined path, having multiple positions for the eyelid. The eyelid is moved between open and closed positions by means of a dc motor (26). The open position is defined by the actuator means contacting a print position stop (32). Shifting the position of the print position stop (32) allows the eyelid to open to a service position.
摘要:
The use of the lowest all catch voltage for deflecting the charged droplets onto the catcher (14) surface enhances the reliability of the startup sequence for ink jet printers. Going from a state where all of the droplets are hitting in the eyelid seal (18) and catch pan assembly (10) to a state where all of the droplets are deflected and caught on the catcher face will help eliminate the possibility of splatter on the charge plate (15) electrodes and/or the charge short detect level circuitry, ink on top of the eyelid seal (18), and wicking of ink out of the eyelid (16).