CA1090861A - Printer heads for mosaic printer units - Google Patents

Printer heads for mosaic printer units

Info

Publication number
CA1090861A
CA1090861A CA257,758A CA257758A CA1090861A CA 1090861 A CA1090861 A CA 1090861A CA 257758 A CA257758 A CA 257758A CA 1090861 A CA1090861 A CA 1090861A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
ink
internal
head
printer
drive element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA257,758A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Erich Kattner
Joachim Heinzl
Max Guntersdorfer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens AG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1090861A publication Critical patent/CA1090861A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/135Nozzles
    • B41J2/14Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14201Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
    • B41J2/1429Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements of tubular type
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/135Nozzles
    • B41J2/14Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2002/14379Edge shooter

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Pens And Brushes (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A mosaic printing head has cast therein a number of hollow-cylindrical piezoelectrically operated drive elements, each of which surrounds a respective ink-jet passage in the head. Arranged between the inner wall of each drive element and its respective passage is a layer of material which is impervious to the ink used. Embedded in this layer is a metal spiral which forms one of the two electrodes required to connect the drive element to a source of electrical energy. The metal spiral resiliently engages the internal surface of the piezoelectric element and during casting serves to locate the element concentrically relative to the passage.

Description

~91~61 The present invention relates to a piezoelectric drive element provided with drive electrodes for use in a printer head. The printer head is intended for ink-operated mosaic printer units, in which printing liquid is ejected in droplet fashion by the piezoelectrica~ly caused contraction of cylindrical drive elements surrounding ink passages disposed in the printer head.
Piezoelectrically operated drive elements for printing jets have long been known to the art. For example, in U.S. Patent Specification No.
3,298,030 an ink-jet printer unit is described in which the printing jet has the form of a small glass tube filled with printing liquid and surrounded by a cylindrical, piezoelectric drive element. The drive element comprises a piezoceramic tube whose peripheral surfaces are coated with metal by a vapour - deposition process, these surfaces forming electrodes through which the element is connected to a source of electrical energy. When an electrical pulse is applied to the electrodes, the piezoelement contracts, and the internal glass tube likewise contracts to eject a droplet of ink from the tube.
In the case of a mosaic printer head comprising a plurality of such piezoelectrically operated drive elements moulded therein, it is diffi-cult to connect each separate element to a source of electrical energy and to ensure that short-circuits cannot occur, this because of the moulding operation and of the small dimensions of the head.
In such mosaic printer heads, the drive elements comprise ink pass-ages arranged in the printer head, the drive elements being in direct con-tact with the printing liquid. This means that the drive elements are exposed to the risk that ink will penetrate into the porous ceramic and lead to short-circuits there. Also, the relatively thin electrodes which are applied to the drive elements are extremely difficult to contact electrical-~9086~1L

ly .
The present invention provides a piezoelectric drive element for a printer head cast of a dielectric material for use in an ink mosaic printer device, the drive element cylindrically surrolmding a passage for ink extend-ing through the printer head and comprising: a ceramic body having radially internal and external cylindric faces, the internal face being spaced from the ink passage; a pair of electrodes, one on each of the internal and external cylindric faces of the ceramic body; and a metal spiral bearing elastically upon the internal one of the electrodes, the spiral having axial-ly-spaced turns and the cast dielectric material of the printer head filling spaces formed axially between said turns and radially between the ink passage and the internal electrode, whereby said printing ink is e~ected in droplet fashion upon pie70electric contraction of the ceramic body.
The drive elements have the advantage that they can be readily moulded in a synthetic resin material for example, making them proof against short-circuiting.
So that the invention will be more readily ~mderstood and further features thereof made apparent, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of a printer head for use in an ink-operated mosaic printer unit;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of a drive element hav-ing an inserted protective metal tube;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of a further drive element in which a protective layer is applied directly to the ceramic body;
and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a drive element in accordance with the invention, in which a metal spiral is cast in situ in
-2-6~

the protective layer.
In Figure 1 there is shown diagrammatically a piezoelectrically - operated printer head 1, which is arranged to be moved along a printing line on a data carrier 2 (by means not shown) and at the same time to be driven character fashion in the rhythm of a character generator ~not shown). The printer head 1 comprises a dielectric synthetic material in which the various elements of the head have been cast or moulded. Arranged in the head 1 are a plurality of passages 3 each of which is intended to receive printing liquid. Each ink passage is surrounded by a piezoelectric drive element 4 which, when driven via the character generator, contracts and in so doing ejects printing liquid contained in the associated passage 3 in droplet form.
The drive element 4 comprises a cylindrical ceramic body 5 pro-vided on the inside and outside thereof with electrodes 6 which each consist of a thin, stoved-silver layer or surface applied to the ceramic body 5.
The drive element 4 is provided internally with an electrically conductive, protective layer or surface which is impermeable to ink, this surface in the illustrated embodiment of Figure 2 being provided by a metal tube 7. Each tube 7 is inserted into position in its respective drive element 4 prior to in situ casting of the same, the tube being held in position by means of an electrically conductive adhesive. Through this electrically conductive con-nection between the metal protective tube and the lnternal electrode of the ceramic body, the drive element can be controlled in a particularly simple and advantageous manner. When, for example, the pulses causing contraction of the piezoelectric element are applied to the external electrode of the ceramic tube, whilst the internal electrode is permanently earthed through the conductive link, then no capacitances which might interfere with the drive function can develop between the internal electrode and the ink. In .~

~9~

each drive element 4, only one connecting lead is needed, because all the drive elements 4 are commonly placed at zero potential through the electrical-ly conductive ink.
Figure 3 illustrates a particu:Larly advantageous embodiment of the drive element. In this embodiment, the ceramic tube is initially covered completely with an electrically conductive, ink-impermeable protective layer. This protective layer comprises a stoved silver finish admixed with glass solder, so that it is consequently rendered electrically conductive and impermeable to the ink. The edges of the layer can be removed as by grinding for example, as shown at 8, to an extent such that two electrode surfaces 9 and 10 which are electrically insulated from one another are formed. Such a drive element can then be cast directly, without any addi-tional protective tube being required.
In Figure 4 there is shown diagrammatically and in section an embodiment of a drive element in which a metal spiral 11 is cast in situ in the protective layer. To this end, the ceramic tube 5 is placed over a pin in order to cast it in the printer head 1. The uniform adjustment of the drive element and therefore of the gap 12 between the ceramic tube 5 and the pin, is achieved by means of the metal spiral 11. This wire spiral 11, which may be made of copper, has spring properties and therefore abuts against the internal electrode of the drive element 4 in an elastic fashion. Thus, advantageously, the drive element 4 can be electrically contacted through the spiral 11.
Because the ink passages 3 and the printer 1 throughout comprise a smooth cast resin, when putting the printer head 1 into operation, any air bubbles which may have formed on the internal wall of the passages 3 can readily be removed therefrom.

Claims (3)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A piezoelectric drive element for a printer head cast of a dielectric material for use in an ink mosaic printer device, the drive ele-ment cylindrically surrounding a passage for ink extending through the prin-ter head and comprising:
a ceramic body having radially internal and external cylindric faces, the internal face being spaced from the ink passage;
a pair of electrodes, one on each of the internal and external cylindric faces of the ceramic body; and a metal spiral bearing elastically upon the internal one of the electrodes, the spiral having axially-spaced turns and the cast dielectric material of the printer head filling spaces formed axially between said turns and radially between the ink passage and the internal electrode, whereby said printing ink is ejected in droplet fashion upon piezoelectric contraction of the ceramic body.
2. A piezoelectric drive element as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal spiral and the dielectric material are impermeable to printing ink used in the head, the internal electrode and ceramic body thereby being protected from contact with said ink.
3. A printing head as claimed in claim l or claim 2 wherein each said electrode comprises a layer of stoved-silver finish admixed with glass solder.
CA257,758A 1975-09-29 1976-07-26 Printer heads for mosaic printer units Expired CA1090861A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2543420A DE2543420C3 (en) 1975-09-29 1975-09-29 Piezoelectric drive element for writing heads in ink mosaic writing devices
DEP2543420.2 1975-09-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1090861A true CA1090861A (en) 1980-12-02

Family

ID=5957755

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA257,758A Expired CA1090861A (en) 1975-09-29 1976-07-26 Printer heads for mosaic printer units

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US4095238A (en)
JP (2) JPS5249035A (en)
CA (1) CA1090861A (en)
DE (1) DE2543420C3 (en)
FR (1) FR2325510A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1536576A (en)
IT (1) IT1072792B (en)
NL (1) NL178494C (en)
SE (1) SE424843B (en)

Families Citing this family (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2017007B (en) * 1978-03-15 1982-04-28 Gould Inc Ink jet tip assembly and method
JPS5586765A (en) * 1978-12-23 1980-06-30 Seiko Epson Corp Electric wiring for ink jet head
DE2927269C2 (en) * 1979-07-05 1982-10-28 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Piezoelectric drive element for writing nozzles in ink mosaic writing devices
DE2937742C2 (en) * 1979-09-18 1982-05-06 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Device for controlling writing nozzles in ink mosaic writing devices
DE3018566C2 (en) * 1980-05-14 1984-05-03 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Device for driving the writing fluid in writing nozzles of fluid writing devices
FR2488150B1 (en) * 1980-08-08 1986-04-04 Bertin & Cie ON-DEMAND DROPLET EJECTION DEVICE
JPS57113940U (en) * 1980-12-29 1982-07-14
NL8102026A (en) * 1981-04-24 1982-11-16 Philips Nv METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING WRITE HEADS FOR INK-PRINT PRINTERS AND WRITE HEAD MADE ACCORDING TO THAT METHOD
DE3117028A1 (en) * 1981-04-29 1982-11-18 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München WRITING HEAD FOR INK WRITING DEVICES WITH CYLINDRICAL INK CHANNELS
IT1144625B (en) * 1981-08-04 1986-10-29 Olivetti & Co Spa INK JET POINTER PRINTER
EP0185652B1 (en) * 1981-08-04 1989-05-24 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A. Ink jet dot printing head
DE3208679A1 (en) * 1982-03-10 1983-09-22 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München DEVICE FOR CONTACTING TUBE-SHAPED PIEZWALKERS TO BE PLASTED IN PLASTIC
JPS597056A (en) * 1982-07-06 1984-01-14 Sharp Corp Ink supply device for ink jet printer
US4485388A (en) * 1982-07-21 1984-11-27 Ncr Corporation Compact print head
DE3234394C2 (en) * 1982-09-16 1986-12-18 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Piezoelectric droplet ejector for ink mosaic pens
DE3313156A1 (en) * 1983-04-12 1984-10-18 Nixdorf Computer Ag, 4790 Paderborn PIEZOELECTRICALLY OPERATED WRITING HEAD FOR INK MOSAIC WRITING DEVICES
US4493137A (en) * 1983-09-19 1985-01-15 Ncr Corporation Method of making a drive element assembly for ink jet printing
DE3343028A1 (en) * 1983-11-28 1985-06-05 Nixdorf Computer Ag, 4790 Paderborn DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AN INK PRINT HEAD
JP2644730B2 (en) * 1986-03-24 1997-08-25 株式会社日立製作所 Micro fluid transfer device
DE3729206A1 (en) * 1987-08-28 1989-03-09 Siemens Ag METHOD FOR FORMING INK CHANNELS IN A WRITING HEAD FOR AN INK MOSAIC WRITING DEVICE
DE3729205A1 (en) * 1987-08-28 1989-03-09 Siemens Ag METHOD FOR FORMING INK CHANNELS IN A WRITING HEAD FOR AN INK MOSAIC WRITING DEVICE
JP3173276B2 (en) * 1994-04-06 2001-06-04 ブラザー工業株式会社 Ink jet device

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3131320A (en) * 1959-12-23 1964-04-28 Kinsekisha Lab Ltd Audio-frequency crystal vibrator
US3281860A (en) * 1964-11-09 1966-10-25 Dick Co Ab Ink jet nozzle
US3683212A (en) * 1970-09-09 1972-08-08 Clevite Corp Pulsed droplet ejecting system
US3832579A (en) * 1973-02-07 1974-08-27 Gould Inc Pulsed droplet ejecting system
US3850717A (en) * 1973-12-03 1974-11-26 Dick Co Ab Prestressing and damping of piezo ceramic type nozzles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4095238A (en) 1978-06-13
NL178494C (en) 1986-04-01
DE2543420A1 (en) 1977-03-31
JPS5249035A (en) 1977-04-19
SE424843B (en) 1982-08-16
SE7603785L (en) 1977-03-30
JPS6069637U (en) 1985-05-17
GB1536576A (en) 1978-12-20
JPH0245002Y2 (en) 1990-11-29
DE2543420C3 (en) 1980-09-11
FR2325510A1 (en) 1977-04-22
NL7610787A (en) 1977-03-31
NL178494B (en) 1985-11-01
DE2543420B2 (en) 1980-01-10
IT1072792B (en) 1985-04-10
FR2325510B1 (en) 1982-10-29

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