公开(公告)号：US06592201B2

公开(公告)日：2003-07-15

申请号：US09939868

申请日：2001-08-27

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  Kwok L. Yip ,  Christopher N. Delametter

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  Kwok L. Yip ,  Christopher N. Delametter

IPC分类号： B41J2165

CPC分类号： B41J2/16552 ,  B41J2/185

摘要： An ink jet printer is provided having a printhead defining a plurality of orifices for ejecting ink droplets. The printer comprises a source of cleaning fluid, a cleaning member having a surface partially dipped in the cleaning fluid, a first drive mechanism to move the cleaning member surface creating a flow of cleaning fluid on the surface and a second drive mechanism to advance the printhead and the cleaning member surface into a proximate and separate relation with the cleaning member surface wherein at least one of the orifices of the printhead enters the flow of cleaning fluid wherein the print head and the cleaning member surface are separated by gap of between 0.1 mm and 2.54 mm.

公开(公告)号：US06183057B2

公开(公告)日：2001-02-06

申请号：US09206272

申请日：1998-12-04

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  John A. Quenin ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  Michael E. Meichle

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  John A. Quenin ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  Michael E. Meichle

IPC分类号： B41J2165

CPC分类号： B41J2/16585 ,  B41J2/16552

摘要： Self-cleaning printer with reverse fluid flow and ultrasonics and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes a septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid. In addition, a valve system in fluid communication with the gap is operable to direct flow of the fluid through the gap in a first direction and then in a second direction opposite the first direction to enhance cleaning effectiveness. Moreover, an ultrasonic transducer induces pressure waves in the fluid to dislodge the contaminant and thus clean the surface and/or orifice.

摘要翻译： 具有反向流体和超声波的自清洁打印机以及组装打印机的方法。 打印机包括在其中限定多个墨水通道的打印头，每个墨水通道终止于墨水喷射口。 打印头还具有围绕所有孔的表面。 污染物可能驻留在表面上，也可能完全或部分地堵塞孔口。 因此，相对于表面和/或孔设置清洁组件，用于沿着表面和/或穿过孔引导流体流，以从表面和/或孔口清洁污染物。 清洁组件包括与表面或孔相对设置的隔膜，用于在其间限定间隙。 隔垫的存在加速流体通过间隙的流动，以在流体中引起流体动力剪切力。 该剪切力作用在污染物上以从表面和/或孔口清洁污染物。 还提供与间隙流体连通的泵，用于泵送流体通过间隙。 当表面和/或孔被清洁时，污染物被夹带在流体中。 提供过滤器以将污染物与流体分离。 此外，与间隙流体连通的阀系统可操作以引导流体在第一方向上流过间隙，然后在与第一方向相反的第二方向上引导流体，以提高清洁效果。 此外，超声换能器在流体中引起压力波，以排除污染物并因此清洁表面和/或孔。

公开(公告)号：US06508542B2

公开(公告)日：2003-01-21

申请号：US09751483

申请日：2000-12-28

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  Todd R. Griffin ,  Milton S. Sales ,  Christopher N. Delametter

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  Todd R. Griffin ,  Milton S. Sales ,  Christopher N. Delametter

IPC分类号： B41J209

CPC分类号： B41J2/03 ,  B41J2/09 ,  B41J2/105 ,  B41J2002/031

摘要： An ink drop deflector mechanism is provided. The ink drop deflector mechanism includes an ink drop source and a path selection device operable in a first state to direct drops from the source along a first path and in a second state to direct drops from the source along a second path. The first and second paths diverge from the source. The mechanism also includes a system which applies force to drops travelling along at least one of the first and second paths with the force being applied in a direction so as to increase the divergence of the paths. The mechanism may include a gas source which generates a gas flow force that is applied in a direction that increases the divergence of the paths. The gas flow may be positioned between the first and second paths. The gas flow may be substantially laminar and interact with at least one of the first and second paths as the gas flow loses its coherence. The mechanism may also include a catcher with at least a portion of the system being positioned adjacent the catcher. Alternatively, at least a portion of the system may be integrally formed in the catcher.

公开(公告)号：US06588890B1

公开(公告)日：2003-07-08

申请号：US10023129

申请日：2001-12-17

申请人： Edward P. Furlani ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  John A. Lebens ,  Ravi Sharma ,  James M. Chwalek

发明人： Edward P. Furlani ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  John A. Lebens ,  Ravi Sharma ,  James M. Chwalek

IPC分类号： B41J2105

CPC分类号： B41J2/105 ,  B41J2/03 ,  B41J2/09 ,  B41J2202/16

摘要： Apparatus for controlling ink in a continuous inkjet printer in which a continuous stream of ink is emitted from a nozzle bore, including a reservoir containing pressurized ink; a rigid nozzle element defining an ink staging chamber and defining a nozzle bore in communication with the ink staging chamber arranged so as to establish a continuous flow of ink in a ink stream; ink delivery structure intermediate the reservoir and the ink staging chamber for communicating ink between the reservoir and defining first and second spaced ink delivery channels; and heat responsive bimorph flexible elements disposed in the first and second spaced ink delivery channels to control the flow of ink to the nozzle and thereby change the direction of ink from the nozzle.

摘要翻译： 用于控制连续喷墨打印机中的油墨的装置，其中连续的墨水流从喷嘴孔排出，包括含有加压油墨的储存器; 限定墨水分级室并限定与所述墨水分级室连通的喷嘴孔的刚性喷嘴元件，所述喷墨孔布置成在油墨流中建立连续的墨水流; 墨水输送结构位于储存器和墨水分级室之间，用于在储存器之间连通墨水并限定第一和第二间隔的墨水输送通道; 以及设置在第一和第二间隔油墨输送通道中的热响应双压电晶片柔性元件，以控制到喷嘴的油墨流动，从而改变来自喷嘴的油墨的方向。

公开(公告)号：US06520629B1

公开(公告)日：2003-02-18

申请号：US09675831

申请日：2000-09-29

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  John A. Lebens ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  David P. Trauernicht

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  John A. Lebens ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  David P. Trauernicht

IPC分类号： B41J209

CPC分类号： B41J2/105 ,  B41J2/03 ,  B41J2/09 ,  B41J2002/032 ,  B41J2202/16

摘要： An asymmetric heat-type inkjet printer includes an inkjet printhead having at least one nozzle for continuously ejecting a stream of ink that forms a train of ink droplets, a heater disposed adjacent to the nozzle for selectively thermally deflecting the droplet forming stream of ink either toward a printing medium, or an ink gutter that captures and recirculates the ink. To increase the angle of deflection that the intermittently operated heater imposes on the droplet-forming stream of ink, a steering fluid assembly is provided in communication with the inkjet nozzle for co-extruding a thin film of fluid around the ink which has a higher volatility and a lower thermal diffusivity than the liquid forming the ink. When the ink is water based, the steering fluid may be, for example, polyethylene oxide based surfactant, or isopropanol. The invention allows water-based ink droplets in such printers to be deflected at greater angles in response to heat pulses generated by the heater, thereby enhancing printing accuracy and speed.

摘要翻译： 不对称热式喷墨打印机包括具有至少一个喷嘴的喷墨打印头，用于连续喷射形成墨滴系列的墨水流;邻近喷嘴设置的加热器，用于选择性地将墨滴形成墨水热偏转到 打印介质或捕获并再循环墨水的墨槽。 为了增加间歇操作的加热器对墨滴形成流的偏转角度，提供了一种与喷墨喷嘴连通的转向流体组件，用于将具有较高挥发性的油墨周围的薄膜流体共挤出 并且比形成油墨的液体具有更低的热扩散率。 当油墨是水基时，转向流体可以是例如聚环氧乙烷基表面活性剂或异丙醇。 本发明允许这种打印机中的水基墨滴响应于加热器产生的加热脉冲以更大的角度偏转，从而提高打印精度和速度。

公开(公告)号：US06386680B1

公开(公告)日：2002-05-14

申请号：US09677532

申请日：2000-10-02

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  Christopher N. Delametter

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  Christopher N. Delametter

IPC分类号： B41J214

CPC分类号： B41J2/1412 ,  B01L2400/0448 ,  B41J2/14016 ,  B41J2/14137 ,  B41J2/211 ,  B41J2002/032

摘要： A pump includes two opposing plates having a space there between to define a secondary fluid passage. A first aperture is formed through the first plate and a second aperture is formed in the second plate to define a primary fluid channel extending across the secondary fluid channel. A heater on the second plate moves primary fluid through the primary fluid channel due to the Marangoni type effect. A heater on the first plate causes a meniscus to enlarge to thereby form a drop of fluid ejected out of the primary fluid channel.

摘要翻译： 泵包括两个相对的板，其间具有限定第二流体通道的空间。 第一孔通过第一板形成，并且第二孔形成在第二板中，以限定延伸穿过次级流体通道的主要流体通道。 由于Marangoni型效应，第二板上的加热器使初级流体通过主流体通道移动。 第一板上的加热器使得弯液面变大，从而形成从主流体通道排出的一滴液体。

公开(公告)号：US06168256A

公开(公告)日：2001-01-02

申请号：US09222752

申请日：1998-12-29

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  John A. Quenin ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  Michael E. Meichle ,  Klaus-Dieter Bier ,  Walter S. Stevens

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  John A. Quenin ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  Michael E. Meichle ,  Klaus-Dieter Bier ,  Walter S. Stevens

IPC分类号： B41J2165

CPC分类号： B41J2/16552 ,  B41J2/185

摘要： Self-cleaning printer with reverse fluid flow and method of assembling the printer. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Contaminant may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes an oscillatable septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the oscillatable septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the contaminant to clean the contaminant from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the contaminant is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the contaminant from the fluid.

摘要翻译： 具有反向流体流动的自清洁打印机和组装打印机的方法。 打印机包括在其中限定多个墨水通道的打印头，每个墨水通道终止于墨水喷射口。 打印头还具有围绕所有孔的表面。 污染物可能驻留在表面上，也可能完全或部分地堵塞孔口。 因此，相对于表面和/或孔设置清洁组件，用于沿着表面和/或穿过孔引导流体流，以从表面和/或孔口清洁污染物。 清洁组件包括与表面或孔相对设置的可摆动隔膜，用于在其间限定间隙。 可摆动隔膜的存在加速流体通过间隙的流动以在流体中引起流体动力剪切力。 该剪切力作用在污染物上以从表面和/或孔口清洁污染物。 还提供与间隙流体连通的泵，用于泵送流体通过间隙。 当表面和/或孔被清洁时，污染物被夹带在流体中。 提供过滤器以将污染物与流体分离。

公开(公告)号：US6145952A

公开(公告)日：2000-11-14

申请号：US174794

申请日：1998-10-19

申请人： Ravi Sharma ,  Michael Meichle ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  John A. Quenin

发明人： Ravi Sharma ,  Michael Meichle ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  John A. Quenin

IPC分类号： B41J2/165 ,  B41J2/18 ,  B41J2/185

CPC分类号： B41J2/16552 ,  B41J2/16585

摘要： Self-cleaning printer and method of assembling same. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Particulate matter may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes a septum disposed opposite the surface or orifice for defining a gap therebetween. Presence of the septum accelerates the flow of fluid through the gap to induce a hydrodynamic shearing force in the fluid. This shearing force acts against the particulate matter to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. A pump in fluid communication with the gap is also provided for pumping the fluid through the gap. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the particulate matter is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the particulate matter from the fluid.

摘要翻译： 自清洁打印机及其组装方法。 打印机包括在其中限定多个墨水通道的打印头，每个墨水通道终止于墨水喷射口。 打印头还具有围绕所有孔的表面。 颗粒物质可能驻留在表面上，并且也可以完全或部分地阻塞孔口。 因此，相对于表面和/或孔设置清洁组件，用于沿着表面和/或穿过孔引导流体流，以从表面和/或孔口清洁颗粒物质。 清洁组件包括与表面或孔相对设置的隔膜，用于在其间限定间隙。 隔垫的存在加速流体通过间隙的流动，以在流体中引起流体动力剪切力。 该剪切力抵抗颗粒物质从表面和/或孔口清洁颗粒物质。 还提供与间隙流体连通的泵，用于泵送流体通过间隙。 当清洁表面和/或孔时，颗粒物质被夹带在流体中。 提供过滤器以将颗粒物质与流体分离。

公开(公告)号：US06568799B1

公开(公告)日：2003-05-27

申请号：US10055295

申请日：2002-01-23

申请人： Zhihao Yang ,  Ravi Sharma ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  Milton S. Sales

发明人： Zhihao Yang ,  Ravi Sharma ,  Christopher N. Delametter ,  Milton S. Sales

IPC分类号： B41J275

CPC分类号： B41J2/14 ,  B41J2202/12

摘要： A drop on demand microfluidic ink jet printing system includes an ink flow chamber having a nozzle opening in a wall of the flow chamber through which ink droplets are ejected when ink in the flow chamber is at or above a predetermined positive pressure. An inlet channel opens into the flow chamber to supply thermally-responsive ink to the flow chamber at or above the predetermined pressure. A microfluidic outlet channel communicates the flow chamber with a low pressure ink reservoir such that thermally-responsive ink is normally transported from the flow chamber at a flow velocity sufficient to maintain ink in the flow chamber at a pressure less than the predetermined positive pressure. A valve selectively restricts the flow of the thermally-responsive ink through the microfluidic outlet channel sufficiently to cause an increase in ink pressure in the flow chamber to at least the predetermined positive pressure, the valve including a heater in contact with at least a portion of the associated microfluidic outlet channel, whereby the viscosity of the thermally-responsive ink can selectively be increased by heat from the heater to restrict the flow of the thermally-responsive ink from the flow chamber such that an ink droplet is ejected through the nozzle opening.

摘要翻译： 按需微型喷墨打印系统包括墨水流动室，其具有在流动室的壁中的喷嘴开口，当流动室中的墨水处于或高于预定的正压时，通过该喷嘴开口喷射墨滴。 入口通道通向流动室，以在预定压力或高于预定压力的情况下向流动室供应热响应性油墨。 微流出口通道将流动室与低压储墨器连通，使得热响应性油墨通常以足以将流动室中的墨维持在小于预定正压力的压力的流速从流动室输送。 阀选择性地限制热响应性油墨通过微流体出口通道的流动，足以使流动室中的油墨压力增加到至少预定的正压，该阀包括与至少一部分 相关联的微流体出口通道，由此热响应性油墨的粘度可以通过来自加热器的热量而选择性地增加，以限制来自流动室的热响应性油墨的流动，使得墨滴通过喷嘴开口喷射。

公开(公告)号：US06350007B1

公开(公告)日：2002-02-26

申请号：US09174796

申请日：1998-10-19

申请人： Michael Meichle ,  John A. Quenin ,  Ravi Sharma ,  Christopher N. Delametter

发明人： Michael Meichle ,  John A. Quenin ,  Ravi Sharma ,  Christopher N. Delametter

IPC分类号： B41J2165

CPC分类号： B41J29/17 ,  B41J2/16552 ,  B41J2/16585 ,  B41J2/185 ,  B41J2002/16567

摘要： Self-cleaning printer having ultrasonics and method of assembling same for cleaning a print head surface and ink ejection orifices. The printer comprises a print head defining a plurality of ink channels therein, each ink channel terminating in an ink ejection orifice. The print head also has a surface thereon surrounding all the orifices. Particulate matter may reside on the surface and also may completely or partially obstruct the orifice. Therefore, a cleaning assembly is disposed relative to the surface and/or orifice for directing a flow of fluid along the surface and/or across the orifice to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. The cleaning assembly includes an ultrasonic transducer in communication with the fluid for generating ultrasonic vibrations causing pressure waves within the fluid. Presence of the pressure waves induces a hydrodynamic force in the fluid. This force acts against the particulate matter to clean the particulate matter from the surface and/or orifice. A pump is also provided for pumping the fluid from the surface and/or orifice as the surface and/or orifice is cleaned. As the surface and/or orifice is cleaned, the particulate matter is entrained in the fluid. A filter is provided to separate the particulate matter from the fluid.

摘要翻译： 具有超声波的自清洁打印机以及用于清洁打印头表面和喷墨孔的组装方法。 打印机包括在其中限定多个墨水通道的打印头，每个墨水通道终止于墨水喷射口。 打印头还具有围绕所有孔的表面。 颗粒物质可能驻留在表面上，并且也可以完全或部分地阻塞孔口。 因此，相对于表面和/或孔设置清洁组件，用于沿着表面和/或穿过孔引导流体流，以从表面和/或孔口清洁颗粒物质。 清洁组件包括与流体连通的超声换能器，用于产生引起流体内的压力波的超声波振动。 压力波的存在引起流体中的流体动力。 该力作用于颗粒物质以从表面和/或孔口清洁颗粒物质。 还提供泵，用于当清洁表面和/或孔口时从表面和/或孔口泵送流体。 当清洁表面和/或孔时，颗粒物质被夹带在流体中。 提供过滤器以将颗粒物质与流体分离。