CN103547455A - Liquid ejection using drop charge and mass - Google Patents

Liquid ejection using drop charge and mass Download PDF

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Publication number
CN103547455A
CN103547455A CN201280024586.4A CN201280024586A CN103547455A CN 103547455 A CN103547455 A CN 103547455A CN 201280024586 A CN201280024586 A CN 201280024586A CN 103547455 A CN103547455 A CN 103547455A
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China
Prior art keywords
drop
liquid jet
charge
waveform
mass ratio
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Granted
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CN201280024586.4A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN103547455B (en
Inventor
H·V·潘彻韦格
M·A·马库斯
J·A·凯特伯格
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Eastman Kodak Co
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Eastman Kodak Co
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Priority claimed from US13/115,421 external-priority patent/US8465129B2/en
Priority claimed from US13/115,434 external-priority patent/US8382259B2/en
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of CN103547455A publication Critical patent/CN103547455A/en
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Publication of CN103547455B publication Critical patent/CN103547455B/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters 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
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/07—Ink jet characterised by jet control
    • B41J2/075—Ink jet characterised by jet control for many-valued deflection
    • B41J2/08—Ink jet characterised by jet control for many-valued deflection charge-control type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters 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
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/07—Ink jet characterised by jet control
    • B41J2/115—Ink jet characterised by jet control synchronising the droplet separation and charging time

Abstract

A continuous liquid ejection system includes a liquid chamber in fluidic communication with a nozzle. The liquid chamber contains liquid under pressure sufficient to eject a liquid jet through the nozzle. A drop formation device is associated with the liquid jet. The drop forming device is actuatable to produce a modulation in the liquid jet to selectively cause portions of the liquid jet to break off into one or more pairs of drops traveling along a path. Each drop pair is separated on average by a drop pair period. Each drop pair includes a first drop and a second drop. The drop formation device is also actuatable to produce a modulation in the liquid jet to selectively cause portions of the liquid jet to break off into one or more third drops traveling along the path separated on average by the same drop pair period. The third drop is larger than the first drop and the second drop. A charging device includes a charge electrode associated with the liquid jet and a source of varying electrical potential between the charge electrode and the liquid jet. The source of varying electrical potential provides a waveform that includes a period that is equal to the period of formation of the drop pairs or the third drops, the drop pair period. The waveform also includes a first distinct voltage state and a second distinct voltage state. The charging device and the drop formation device are synchronized to produce a first charge to mass ratio on the first drop of the drop pair, a second charge to mass ratio on the second drop of the drop pair, and a third charge to mass ratio on the third drop. The third charge to mass ratio is substantially the same as the first charge to mass ratio. A deflection device causes the first drop of the drop pair having the first charge to mass ratio to travel along a first path, and causes the second drop of the drop pair having the second charge to mass ratio to travel along a second path, and causes the third drop having a third charge to mass ratio to travel along a third path. The third path is substantially the same as the first path.

Description

Utilize the liquid of drop electric charge and quality to spray
Technical field
The field of relate generally to numerical control print system of the present invention, more specifically, relates to continuous print system, and wherein liquid flow becomes drop (drop), and some drops are by electrostatic deflection.
Background technology
Inkjet printing has been known as the most outstanding choosing in numerical control electronic printable field, and this is for example due to its non-shock, low-noise characteristic, its use common paper with and avoid ink powder transfer printing and fixing.Inkjet printing mechanism can be categorized as and drip as required black formula ink-jet (DOD) or continuous ink jet (CIJ) by technology.
The first technology " is dripped black formula " as required, and inkjet printing provides ink droplet, and these ink droplets are by being used supercharging actuator (heat, piezoelectricity, etc.) to clash into recording surface.A kind of conventional black utilization thermal actuation that drips as required comes from nozzle ejection ink droplet.Near heater on nozzle or nozzle is fully heated to boiling by ink, thereby forms bubble, and the enough internal pressures of this Bubble formation are sprayed ink droplet.The ink-jet of this form is commonly referred to as " hot ink-jet (TIJ) ".
The second technology is commonly referred to as " continous way " ink-jet (CIJ) and prints, and flow by forcing ink to produce continuous liquid injection ink by nozzle under pressure in its black source with pressurization.Ink stream is as follows by disturbance: which makes liquid jet be broken into ink droplet in predictable mode.Printing is by deflection optionally and catch unwanted ink droplet and occur.Developed variously for the method for deflection of droplets optionally, comprised electrostatic deflection, air deflection and the thermal deflection mechanism used.
In CIJ method in the first based on electrostatic deflection, liquid jet is in some way by disturbance, make its from nozzle, by nominal constant distance (blocking length, break-off length), be broken into the drop of even size.At the constant point of cut-off of nominal, place is furnished with charging electrode structure, to be engraved in when blocking, causes the quantity of electric charge that depends on data on drop.Charged drop is directed subsequently by a fixing electrostatic field region, makes each droplet and the deflection pro rata of its electric charge.Thereby, the charge level of setting up at point of cut-off cause drop to advance to the ad-hoc location of recording medium or the groove of being used to be called grabber (catcher) for collecting and recirculation.This method is open (hereinafter referred to as Sweet ' 275) in the U.S. Patent No. 3,596,275 of R.Sweet that is issued on July 27th, 1971.By the disclosed CIJ device of Sweet ' 275, by single spraying stream (jet), formed, that is, and single drop formation liquid chambers and single-nozzle structure.The people's such as Sweet that authorize in March 12 nineteen sixty-eight U.S. Patent No. 3,373,437(is Sweet ' 437 hereinafter referred to as) in profit many jet flows CIJ printhead version in this way is also disclosed.Sweet ' 437 discloses has a CIJ printhead that shares droplet generator chamber, and this shared droplet generator chamber is dripped transmitting nozzle (array) with a discharge opeing and communicated by letter, and each drop is launched nozzle and had its oneself charging electrode.This method requires each nozzle to have its oneself charging electrode, to each in each single electrode, provides the electrical waveform that depends on the view data that will print.This requirement of independent addressable charging electrode is being provided with to restriction aspect basic nozzle interval, thereby is limiting the resolution ratio to print system.
The people's such as Vago that authorize in August 14 calendar year 2001 U.S. Patent No. 6,273,559(is Vago ' 559 hereinafter referred to as) in the CIJ method of the second based on electrostatic deflection disclosed.Vago ' 559 discloses a kind of binary system CIJ technology, wherein by the nozzle through calibration to conductive ink pressurization and electric discharge, and block formed liquid ink-jet with two different time intervals.At nozzle place, utilize periodic driving pulse to generate the drop that will print or not print.Each drop that will print is to utilize relatively strong periodic excitation pulse to set up, and this periodic excitation pulse causes the ink jet stream of the drop that formation will print to be separated with the relatively short length of blocking.Each drop of not printing is to utilize relatively weak periodic excitation pulse to set up, and this periodic excitation pulse causes this drop to be separated with the relatively long length of blocking.On the position adjacent from two disconnect positions, nozzle downstream, be furnished with two groups of interval electrodes close, that apply different DC electromotive forces, this two arrays of electrodes when drop forms to the drop of the disconnected length of cutting back relatively with relatively grow the drop that blocks length different charge levels is provided.Compared with the long drop that blocks length, due to their electric charge, by a deflecting apparatus, optionally departed from their path, and by this deflecting apparatus deflection to grabber surface, in grabber surface drop is collected into groove and turn back to ink storehouse in order to recycling.Vago ' 559 also requires the disconnected length of cutting back relatively and the relatively long length difference that blocks blocking between length to be less than wavelength (λ), and this wavelength (λ) is continuous ink droplet in liquid jet or the distance between ink dot.This need to adopt two kinds of excitation amplitudes (printing and do not print excitation amplitude).To block extension position poor be restricted to be less than lambda binding excitation amplitude difference must use one in a small amount.For the printhead only with single spraying stream, adjust position, the voltage on charging electrode and the printing of electrode and do not print excitation amplitude that to produce, to print and do not print the required interval of droplet be very easy.But in having the printhead of nozzle array, component tolerances can make this adjustment very difficult.For the demand in droplet truncated region with high electric-force gradient, make drop selective system arrive the slight difference very sensitive of jet flow distance to charging electrode flatness, thickness of electrode and electrode, above-mentioned charging electrode flatness, thickness of electrode and electrode difference all can cause for the different liquids jet flow in array to jet flow distance, and electric-field intensity and electric-force gradient in droplet truncated region are different.In addition, may be not quite identical along droplet maker and the excitation set being associated of nozzle array, and may need nozzle one by one to adopt different excitation amplitudes to produce the specific length of blocking.These problems are because attribute and the thermal expansion that ink drifts about in time worsens, and thermal expansion meeting causes charging electrode with temperature displacement and crooked.In these systems, need extra control complexity adjust the printing of nozzle one by one and do not print excitation amplitude, with the required interval of guaranteeing to print and do not print droplet.In the U.S. Patent No. 7,192,121 of authorizing on March 20th, 2007, B.Barbet and P.Henon also disclose to utilize and have blocked that length is different controls printing.
In the U.S. Patent No. 7,712,879 of the B.Barbet authorizing on May 11st, 2010, electrostatic charging and the deflection mechanism based on blocking length and drop size is disclosed.Utilize a public charging electrode separating according to the diameter of drop, droplet and large drop to be charged respectively, wherein on the top of this public charging electrode, apply DC low-voltage, bottom applies DC high voltage.
The U.S. Patent No. 4,068 of the T.Yamada authorizing on January 10th, 1978,241(is Yamada ' 241 hereinafter referred to as) in a kind of ink jet recording device is disclosed, this equipment alternately produces large drop and droplet.In the truncated region of liquid jet, utilize DC electrostatic field to all drop charges.Yamada ' 241 also change do not need the droplet of record excite drop amplitude so that they will with large droplet collision and combination.Large drop and collected and be not printed by groove with the large drop after droplet combination, and be printed through the droplet of overshoot.One of shortcoming of this method is, through the drop of deflection, is printed, and this may cause drop landing error.This method is very responsive to the excitation little change of amplitude and the little change of ink attribute.In addition, because larger drop is much smaller compared with droplet needs, could on each drop, set up different state of charge, therefore the nozzle of the higher nozzle diameter of needs produces the printed droplets of required size.This has limited the density at operable nozzle interval in this method, and has seriously limited the ability of printing high-definition picture.
Therefore, exist for the following demand of print system is continuously provided: this continuous print system, to selected drop electrostatic deflection, can adapt to different drops and block length, has the design of simplification, and produces improved print quality always.
Summary of the invention
The object of the invention is to, by setting up high-resolution, high-quality printing for CMOS-MEMS printhead service property (quality) charging (mass charging) and electrostatic deflection, keep simultaneously or improve drop accuracy in placement exactness and minimize the droplet size difference of printed droplets, thereby overcoming at least one in above-mentioned defect.
The invention provides via the drop formation control that depends on view data blocking of each liquid jet and the charging electrode with the time variation electromotive force (being called charging electrode waveform) that is independent of view data.With the drop that is provided to droplet-shaped forming apparatus, form waveform drop is formed and controlled, to set up the drop pair that comprises the first drop and the second drop, or set up the 3rd drop.(dimensionally or on volume) the 3rd drop is larger than the first drop of drop centering and the second drop.Make charging electrode waveform and drop form synchronous waveform, with alternately by the first drop charge of drop centering to the first charge-mass ratio and by the second drop charge of drop centering to the second charge-mass ratio, or by the 3rd larger drop charge to the three charge-mass ratio states.
The present invention contributes to provide system robustness by what allow time to chopping difference between the jet flow in long nozzle array compared with large tolerance limit.In addition, at least every the drop device that is hunted down, collect, this contributes to guarantee that liquid is retained on grabber, and this has reduced the possibility of operating period liquid splash.The present invention has reduced sending to the complexity of control of the signal of the excitation set being associated with nozzle in nozzle array.This contributes to reduce the complexity of charging electrode structure and increases the interval between charging electrode structure and nozzle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of continuous liquid spraying system.This system comprises the liquid chambers being communicated with fluid nozzle.This liquid chambers comprises liquid, and liquid is subject to being enough to the pressure by nozzle ejection liquid jet.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus is associated with liquid jet.Actuatable being used for of this droplet-shaped forming apparatus produces and regulates in liquid jet, optionally to cause the part of liquid jet to block into one or more drops pair of advancing along a path.Each drop is to separating fifty-fifty the cycle by drop.Each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus also actuatable being used for produces and regulates in liquid jet, one or more the 3rd drops of advancing along described path optionally to cause the part of liquid jet to be blocked into, and described the 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop.The 3rd drop is larger than the first drop and the second drop.Charging equipment comprises the charging electrode being associated with liquid jet, and the variation potential source between charging electrode and liquid jet.Described variation potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with form drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop cycle that the cycle is equated.Described waveform also comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status.Charging equipment is synchronizeed with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on the first drop of drop centering, on the second drop of drop centering, produces the second charge-mass ratio, and produce the 3rd charge-mass ratio on the 3rd drop.The 3rd charge-mass ratio and the first charge-mass ratio are basic identical.Deflecting apparatus causes first drop with the first charge-mass ratio of drop centering to be advanced along the first path, and cause second drop with the second charge-mass ratio of drop centering to be advanced along the second path, and cause the 3rd drop with the 3rd charge-mass ratio to be advanced along Third Road footpath.Third Road footpath and the first path are basic identical.
Accompanying drawing explanation
In the following detailed description for the preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to accompanying drawing, in the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is according to the simplified schematic block diagram of exemplary continuous ink-jet system of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates the liquid jet spraying from droplet generator and with the basic cycle, blocks into subsequently the image of drop;
Fig. 3 is the simplified schematic block diagram of nozzle and the jet flow excitation set that is associated according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 A illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the first embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under full print conditions;
Fig. 4 B illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the first embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under non-print condition;
Fig. 4 C illustrates by the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the first embodiment of continuous liquid spraying system according to the present invention and general print conditions is shown;
Fig. 5 A illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under full print conditions;
Fig. 5 B illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under non-print condition;
Fig. 5 C illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the first embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under general print conditions;
Fig. 6 A illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the second alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under full print conditions;
Fig. 6 B illustrates by according to the present invention and be operated in the cross sectional view of liquid jet of the second alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under non-print condition;
Fig. 7 illustrates the liquid jet spraying from droplet generator and blocks into the image with the drop of half generation of fundamental frequency subsequently; A illustrates the drop pair that blocks and keep combining as single drop, and B illustrates the drop pair that blocks, separately also reconfigures subsequently as single drop, and C illustrates with the similar drop that blocks separately and be combined into subsequently single drop that blocks constantly;
Fig. 8 illustrates according to continuous liquid spraying system of the present invention, in the time lapse from a to h in sequence, produce the front view of the right drop from jet Production of continuous drop;
Fig. 9 illustrates the front view of some adjacent liquid jet flows of continuous liquid spraying system of the present invention;
Figure 10 illustrates first exemplary embodiment of blocking sequential chart constantly that diagram drop forms pulse, charging electrode waveform and drop;
Figure 11 illustrates second exemplary embodiment of blocking sequential chart constantly that diagram drop forms pulse, charging electrode waveform and drop; And
Figure 12 is according to the block diagram of the droplet discharge method of the embodiment of the present invention.
The specific embodiment
This description is by specifically for forming according to a part for device of the present invention or the element that more directly cooperates with device according to the present invention.By being appreciated that the element that does not specifically illustrate or describe, can take well known to a person skilled in the art various forms.In the following description and drawings, same label (if possible) has been used to refer to similar elements.
Schematically illustrated exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and for the sake of clarity, diagram is not drawn in proportion.Those of ordinary skills can easily determine specific dimensions and the correlation of the element of exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
As described herein, exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides printhead or print head assembly conventional in ink-jet print system.In these systems, liquid is the ink for printing on recording medium.But, there is other application, these application are launched (except ink) with ink jet-print head needs meticulous measurement and with the liquid of high spatial resolution deposition.Therefore, as described herein, term " liquid " and " ink " refer to the arbitrary substance that can be sprayed by following printhead or print head assembly.
Continous inkjet (CIJ) droplet generator depends on the physical property of free liquid jet, in the article " unstability of jet flow (Instability of jets) " (Proc.London Math.Soc.10 (4)) of F.R.S. (Lord) Rayleigh delivering for 1878, at first the physical property of this free liquid jet has been carried out to two-dimension analysis.The analysis demonstration of Lord Rayleigh, liquid is by tap hole, nozzle under pressure P, and formation diameter is d jand with speed v jmobile liquid jet.Jet diameter d jbeing substantially equal to effective nozzle diameter dn and jet speed is directly proportional to the square root of liquid storehouse pressure P.The analysis demonstration of Rayleigh, jet flow will be broken into drip not of uniform size naturally based on surface wave, and described surface wave has the π of being greater than d jwavelength X, that is, and λ>=π d j.The analysis of Rayleigh also shows, if particular surface wavelength is initiated with enough large amplitude, this particular surface wavelength is taken one-tenth as the leading factor, thus the drop of the single size of " excitation " jet Production.Continous inkjet (CIJ) droplet generator adopts periodic physical process (so-called " disturbance " or " excitation "), and this physical process has the effect of setting up specific leading surface wave in jet flow.Excitation causes the fundamental frequency of jet flow and disturbance to be synchronously broken into the drop of single size.Show, the maximal efficiency that jet flow is blocked occurs in optimal frequency F optplace, this optimal frequency F optcause the cutting back break time.At optimal frequency F optplace, disturbance wavelength X is substantially equal to 4.5d j.Make disturbance wavelength X equal π d jfrequency be called as Rayleigh cut frequency F r, this is because liquid jet will can not become greatly to cause droplet-shaped to become in the disturbance than in the higher frequency of this cut frequency.
Here the stream of liquid droplets producing by application Rayleigh excitation is called to the stream of liquid droplets that creates predetermined.Although in the CIJ of prior art system, for the interested drop of printing or design layer deposits, there is unchangeably uniform size, but will explain, for the present invention, can handle the drop that pumping signal produces the volume of the prearranged multiple with uniform size.Therefore, phrase " stream of liquid droplets of predetermined " comprises and is truncated the stream of liquid droplets that Chengdu has the stream of liquid droplets of a big or small drop or is truncated into the drop of the planned different volumes of tool.
In CIJ system, can form the drop that some are commonly referred to " satellite ", as the neck of dirty one-tenth faciola shape liquid, the volume ratio predetermined unit volume of these " satellites " is much smaller.These satellites may not be completely predictable, or may be not always with predictable mode and other droplets mixing, will be for printing or the volume of the required drop of drawing thereby change a little.But the existence of uncertain moonlet drop is unessential for the present invention, and it is real by synchronous energy signal used in the present invention institute foregone conclusion not think that it has eliminated drop size.Therefore, being used for describing term of the present invention " predetermined " should be understood to: owing to forming uncertain satellite droplet, so droplet size, about the desired value of planning, some little variation may occur.
The exemplary embodiment of discussing below with reference to accompanying drawing 1-12 is to use the incompatible description of particular group of assembly, for example, and the particular combination of drop charge structure, drop deflection structure, droplet capture structure, droplet-shaped forming apparatus and liquid drop speed conditioning equipment.Should be appreciated that, these assemblies are interchangeable, and other combinations of these assemblies also within the scope of the invention.
Continous inkjet print system 10 as shown in Figure 1 comprises ink storehouse 11, and it is drawn onto ink pump printhead 12(continuously also referred to as liquid ejector) in to set up continuous ink droplet stream.Print system 10 receives digitized image deal with data from the image source 13 such as scanner, computer or digital camera or other digital data sources, and this digital data source provides contour images data or the other forms of DID of raster data image, PDL form.View data from image source 13 is periodically sent to image processor 16.Image processor 16 image data processings also comprise the memory for storing image data.Image processor 16 is grating image processor (RIP) normally.View data (also referred to as print data) in the video memory that is stored in image processor 16 in image processor 16 is periodically sent to excitation controller 18, as will be described below, this excitation controller 18 generates the electrical excitation pulse of temporal evolution patterns, so that form stream of liquid droplets at the opening part of each nozzle of printhead 12.These driving pulses reasonable time, with suitable frequency application to (one or more) excitation set being associated with each nozzle.14 cooperations of printhead 12 and deflection mechanism, to judge that droplet is to be printed on the specified appropriate location of data in video memory in recording medium 19, or are deflected and reclaim via ink recovery unit 15.Directed time ink storehouse 11 of ink in ink recovery unit 15.Ink is distributed to the rear surface of printhead 12 under pressure by ink channel, this ink channel comprises chamber or the substantial space being formed in the substrate conventionally consisting of silicon.Alternatively, this chamber can be formed in the multiform sheet (manifold piece) that silicon substrate is attached to.Ink preferably passes the gap of silicon substrate of printhead 12 and/or the front surface that hole flows to printhead 12 from chamber by etching, and a plurality of nozzles and excitation set are positioned at the front surface of printhead 12.The ink pressure that is suitable for optimum operation will depend on a plurality of factors, comprise the geometry of nozzle and the hot attribute of hot attribute and ink and hydrodynamic attribute.By exerting pressure and can realize constant ink pressure to ink storehouse 11 under the control at ink pressure adjuster 20.
No matter drip as required black formula ink-jet or continuous ink jet, a known problem of the ink-jet printer of any type is relevant with the degree of accuracy of point location.As known in inkjet printing field, general to wish one or more drops to be placed in some pixel regions (pixel) on receiver, these pixel regions are for example corresponding to the pixel of the information that comprises digital picture.Generally speaking, these pixel regions comprise the true or hypothesis array of the square or rectangular on receiver, and wish printer drop to be placed in the desired location in each pixel, for example, for simple printing solution, be placed in the center of each pixel region, or alternatively, be placed in a plurality of accurate locations in each pixel region to realize halftoning (half-toning).If the poor placement of drop really and/or the drop point of drop can not controlledly realize the hope drop point in each pixel region, may there is image artifacts, if in adjacent pixel regions the departing from of repeat distance desired location similar type; especially true.The processor 16 of RIP or other types converts view data to the image page image of image mapped, for printing.During printing, recording medium 19 utilizations are carried out automatically controlled a plurality of conveying rollers 22 by medium transmission controller 21 and are moved with respect to printhead 12.Logic controller 17(is preferably suitably programmed based on microprocessor and with known manner) be provided for control signal that transmission control unit (TCU) 21 is cooperated with ink pressure adjuster 20 and excitation controller 18.The drop controller that provides drop to form pulse is provided excitation controller 18, and it is for independent ink droplet being ejected into the driving signal of recording medium 19 from printhead 12 according to the view data of the video memory acquisition of the part from composing images processor 16 that drop forms pulse.View data can comprise raw image data, from image processing algorithm, generate for improving the additional view data of print image quality, and the data of proofreading and correct from drop drop point, the data that should proofread and correct from drop drop point can generate from a lot of sources, for example, the technical staff of printhead sign and image processing field is known, by measuring the operate miss of each nozzle in printhead 12, generates.Therefore, can say the general source of the data that the information representative in image processor 16 is sprayed for drop, for example, the desired location of the little ink droplet that will print and the sign that will collect those droplets of recovery.
Should be appreciated that and can use the different mechanical arrangements of controlling for receiver transmission.For example, the in the situation that of page width printing head, it is easily that recording medium 19 is moved through to a fixing printhead 12.On the other hand, the in the situation that of sweep type print system, with relative grid motion mode along an axle (that is, main scanning direction) mobile print head more convenient along normal axis (that is, sub scanning direction) movable recording media.
Excitation controller 18 provides drop to form pulse, and excitation controller 18 generally can be called as drop controller, and as known in field of signal transmissions, and drop forms pulse and normally by electric connector, sends to the potential pulse of printhead 12.But, as known in inkjet printing field, also the pulse of other types (for example optical pulse) can be sent to printhead 12, to cause at specific nozzle place, form and print and non-print drop.As will be described below, once printed droplets forms, just by spatial row, enter recording medium, and clash into subsequently the specific pixel region of recording medium or collected by grabber.
With reference to figure 2, print system has printhead associated with it, and this printhead can move with the array of the array generation liquid jet 43 from nozzle 50.What be associated with each liquid jet 43 is a droplet-shaped forming apparatus 89.This droplet-shaped forming apparatus comprises that drop forms converter 59 and forms converter to drop provides waveform 55(to form waveform also referred to as drop) drop form sources of waveforms 56.Drop forms converter (being commonly referred to as excitation converter) can have any type that is suitable for setting up disturbance on liquid jet, for example hot equipment, piezoelectric device, MEMS actuator, electric hydrodynamic force equipment, light device, electrostrictive device or their combination.Fig. 3 illustrates hydrothermal solution and drips the example that forms converter 59, and this hydrothermal solution is dripped and the ohmic load that converter 59 drives by the voltage that is energized sources of waveforms 56 and provides is provided is formed.Depend on the type of used converter, converter can be arranged in to nozzle provides the liquid chambers of liquid or in its vicinity to act on the liquid of liquid chambers, be arranged in nozzle or tightly around nozzle to act on liquid when the nozzle at liquid, or be positioned near liquid jet to act on liquid jet through after nozzle at liquid jet.Drop forms sources of waveforms and provides waveform to drop formation converter, and this waveform has fundamental frequency f 0, the basic cycle is corresponding thereto T 0=1/f 0, drop forms converter and with wavelength X, modulates in liquid jet.Fundamental frequency f 0conventionally close to F optand be always less than F r.Modulation amplitude increases, so that the part of liquid jet is blocked into drop.By the action of droplet-shaped forming apparatus, can be by fundamental frequency f 0(there is basic cycle T 0=1/f 0) generation sequence of droplets.In Fig. 2, liquid jet 43 is broken into the drop with uniform period at disconnect position 32, and disconnect position 32 is the distance BL to nozzle 50.Distance between a pair of continuous drop 35 and 36 producing with fundamental frequency equals the wavelength X of the disturbance on liquid jet substantially.This sequence of droplets forming from liquid jet fracture forms drop to 34 sequence, and each drop is to having the first drop 36 and the second drop 35.Therefore, drop (is commonly referred to as drop to frequency f to 34 forming frequency p) by f p=f 0/ 2 provide and corresponding drop is T to the cycle p=2T 0.
The generation of drop with by being operated in fundamental frequency f 0on the energy correlation connection that provides of droplet-shaped forming apparatus, fundamental frequency f 0the drop with basic identical volume that generation separates by distance lambda.Will be understood that, although the first and second drops have essentially identical volume in embodiment illustrated in fig. 2, the first and second drops can have different volumes, so that generate fifty-fifty the first and second drops pair on drop forming frequency.For example, the volume ratio of the first drop and the second drop can approximately change between 4:3 and about 3:4.In Fig. 2, the excitation of liquid jet 43 being formed to converter by the drop being associated with liquid jet or nozzle 50 independently controls.In one embodiment, drop formation converter 59 comprises the one or more resistive elements contiguous with nozzle 50.In this embodiment, by sending the periodic current pulse of arbitrary shape, realize liquid jet and encourage, this periodic current pulse is by drop, to form the resistive element of sources of waveforms by each opening around droplet generator to provide.
The formation of the drop that the liquid spraying since inkjet nozzle flows can be controlled by following waveform: wherein, with respect at least one being applied in each drop formation waveform of converter or amplitude, dutycycle or the sequential of other pulses in wave sequence, be associated with specific nozzle opening.The drop that can form waveform to drop forms pulse and controls, so that two long parts of continuous basic wave form two continuous drops or form single larger drop in jet flow.Larger drop is by half generation with fundamental frequency and have the equispaced between the adjacent large drop of 2 λ.
Fig. 2 also illustrates charging equipment 83, and it comprises charging electrode 44 and charge voltage source 51.Charge voltage source 51 provides charging electrode waveform 97, and it controls voltage amplitude and the dutycycle of charging electrode Voltage-output in time.The charging electrode 44 being associated with liquid jet is positioned near the point of cut-off 32 of liquid jet 43.If apply non-zero voltage to charging electrode 44, charging electrode and electric on produce electric field between the liquid jet of ground connection.Capacitance Coupled between charging electrode and the liquid jet of electric upper ground connection causes net charge at the end of the liquid jet of conduction.(liquid jet contacts and ground connection by the liquid chambers of the droplet generator with ground connection.) if the end portion of liquid jet blocks to form drop when there is net charge on the end of liquid jet, the electric charge of this end portion of liquid jet is absorbed in the drop of new formation.
Voltage on charging electrode 44 is controlled by charging pulse source 51, and this charging pulse source 51 provides a bifurcation waveform 97, and this bifurcation waveform 97 is operated in and equals f p=f 0this is half of fundamental frequency for/2() drop in frequency, or say equally, be operated in drop to cycle T p=2T 0on (this is the twice of basic cycle).Therefore, charging pulse voltage source 51 provides the electromotive force 97 of variation between charging electrode 44 and liquid jet 43.In Fig. 2, charging electrode waveform 97 comprises the first differentiation voltage status and Second Region component voltage state, and each voltage status is movable for the time interval that equals the basic cycle.The waveform that is provided to charging electrode is independent of or not in response to the view data that will print.Charging equipment 83 is synchronizeed with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, so that keep fixing phase relation between the clock that forms sources of waveforms at the charging electrode waveform being produced by charging pulse voltage source 51 and drop.As a result, the phase place of blocking that forms the drop from liquid stream of waveform generation by drop is locked in phase to charging electrode waveform.As indicated in Figure 10, between charging electrode waveform and drop formation waveform, can there is phase shift (representing by postponing 93).Phase shift is set, so that for each produced drop pair, at charging electrode, from jet flow, block out the first drop and from jet flow, block out the second right drop of drop at charging electrode during in second voltage state during in the first voltage status, described the first voltage status produces the first charge-mass ratio state on the first drop 36, and described second voltage state produces the second charge-mass ratio state on the second right drop 35 of drop.The drop with two long parts generations of continuous basic wave from jet flow is provided to excitation converter 59 suitable drop to being in response to forms waveform 55.
As mentioned above, can form have two the continuous basic wave long parts of waveform from jet flow with other drops and form large drop 49.By using suitable drop to form waveform, can be so that the part of blocking to form large drop 49 in jet flow be blocked (referring to Fig. 4 B) during in the first voltage status from jet flow at charging electrode.The large drop 49 of similar formation is the time to chopping frequency is separated in time according to drop and produces with the time to chopping of synchronizeing with the first voltage status of charging electrode.Therefore, forming time interval between continuously large drop 49 equals to form continuous drop substantially to the time interval between 34.Large drop 49 has the quality of the quality sum that is substantially equal to drop 35 and 36, and compares with the first drop 36 blocking in relevant voltage state at charging electrode, is charged to the electric charge of the twice that is substantially equal to the electric charge on drop 35 and 36 when blocking.Therefore the charge-mass ratio on the large drop 49, blocking under the first voltage status of charging electrode equals the charge-mass ratio of the first drop 36 of drop centering substantially.Because the charge-mass ratio on large drop 49 equals the charge-mass ratio of drop 36 substantially, so drop deflection electric field will make large drop 49 deflections of charging and their deflection accordingly compared with the essentially identical amount of droplet.To discuss form more in detail the waveform that large drop and droplet use and utilize charging electrode waveform to carry out the phase place that drop blocks subsequently.
Fig. 4 A illustrates various embodiment of the present invention to Fig. 6 B, wherein, during each drop is to the cycle, from liquid jet 43, blocks out drop to 35 and 36 or single large drop 49.Fig. 4 A, 5A and 6A illustrate the various embodiment in full printing model, wherein to double drop, the fundamental frequency of frequency are produced to the right continuous sequence of drop, and are printed every a drop.Fig. 4 B, 5B and 6B illustrate the various embodiment in non-print pattern, wherein at drop, produce on to frequency the quality with the quality sum that is substantially equal to drop 35 and 36 larger drop 49 continuous sequence and do not have drop to be printed.Fig. 4 C and 5C illustrate normal print mode, and wherein, during drop is to the cycle, drop is to both producing with larger drop, and a drop of the drop centering of each formation is printed.Therefore, by controlling jet flow, block to form drop for each pixel to 34 or large drop 49, can on recording medium 19, print arbitrfary point pattern.Conventionally, the drop for the drop excitation converter of the whole array of the nozzle 50 in printhead is identical to frequency for all nozzles in printhead 12.
In various embodiment of the present invention, the first right drop 36 of drop has the first state of charge and advances along the first path, and the second right drop 35 of drop has the second state of charge and advances along the second path.Be furnished with grabber and tackle the first path, and this grabber do not tackle the second path, thereby the first drop 36 that makes to advance along the first path is hunted down, device is caught, and second drop 35 of advancing along the second path is not hunted down, device is not caught.Do not wish that term " the first drop " and " the second drop " and term " the first voltage status " and " second voltage state " indication sets up the time sequencing of drop or voltage status.In Fig. 6 A and 6B, the first state of charge is illustrated as having negative electrical charge.In alternate embodiment, the first and second waveform states are configured to make the first drop just charging but not negative charging.In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the first state of charge is corresponding to uncharged drop state, and the second state of charge is corresponding to the second drop being recharged.The second state of charge is illustrated as having negative electrical charge.In alternate embodiment, the second state of charge can be corresponding to positive charge.
Droplet-shaped forming apparatus 89 is associated with liquid jet 43.As shown in Figure 3, this droplet-shaped forming apparatus is by encouraging converter 59 and excitation waveform source 56 to form.Excitation waveform source 56 provides excitation waveform 55 to excitation converter 59, and excitation converter 59 is set up disturbance flowing through on the liquid jet 43 of nozzle 50.The amplitude of the energy pulse of excitation waveform 55, duration and sequential determine the formation of drop, comprise and blocking constantly or phase place.Continuously the time interval between the blocking of drop determines the size of drop.Shown in excitation controller 18(Fig. 1) data be sent to excitation waveform source 56, at 56 places, excitation waveform source, data are converted into the potential pulse of time variation patterns, so that form stream of liquid droplets at the opening part of nozzle 50.The certain droplet excitation waveform 55 that is provided to excitation converter 59 by excitation waveform source 56 determines blocking constantly and the size of drop of continuous drop.Drop excitation waveform is in response to being provided to the printing of excitation controller 18 or view data by image processor 16 and changing.Therefore, the sequential that is applied to the energy pulse that encourages converter from excitation waveform depends on printing or view data.When print data stream requires drop to be printed in pixel, the waveform that is provided to excitation converter is the right waveform of drop on average separating in time by fundamental frequency producing, and a drop of drop centering will be printed.When print data stream requires the sequence of print pixel, be provided to the right sequence of sequence generation drop of the waveform of excitation converter, and the same drop of each drop centering will be printed.When print data requires non-print drop, the waveform that is provided to excitation converter is to produce the waveform of large drop, and when print data requires the sequence of non-print drop, the waveform that is provided to excitation converter is to produce the waveform of large sequence of droplets.In these large drops, do not have large drop to be printed.In certain embodiments, the wave sequence creating based on print data stream comprises the wave sequence of selecting from one group of predetermined waveform.This organizes predetermined waveform and comprises for creating drop to one or more waveforms of (wherein the drop of drop centering does not mix) and for creating one or more waveforms of large drop.Have been found that the drop that can form waveform to drop forms pulse and adjusts, with by the single larger drop of some different pattern formations; As shown in Figure 7 A, in jet flow, there are two long parts of continuous basic wave and can block a unit that is shaped as the single larger drop of staying together all the time; As shown in Figure 7 B, in jet flow, having two long parts of continuous basic wave can block together, and as single larger drop, this single larger drop is divided into two drops subsequently, and these two drops are admixed together more subsequently; Or as shown in Fig. 7 C, have two long parts of continuous basic wave and can block into two drops that separate in jet flow, these two drops that separate are mixed into larger drop subsequently.Making as shown in Fig. 7 C has two long parts of continuous basic wave in jet flow blocks into the waveform that two drops that separate and this two drops that separate are mixed into a larger drop subsequently and can be further adjusted so that two drops that separate to block phase place close to each other.Thereby two drops that are mixed to form large drop can block during in the first voltage status at charging electrode from jet flow.As a result, two drops that are mixed to form large drop are charged to the first state of charge similarly.The mixing of these drops produces large drop 49, and the quality of this large drop 49 equals to form the quality sum of drop, and electric charge equals to form the electric charge sum of drop.From thering is the large drop of the combination of the formation drop formation that almost drop of while blocks, there is the 3rd charge-mass ratio.The 3rd charge-mass ratio state and the first charge-mass ratio state class are seemingly.Following situation is also possible: when drop form the adjusted or selection of waveform so that right two drops of drop block phase place when charging electrode blocks during in the first voltage status, two drops can not mix before being deflected and collecting.These drops will have the charge-mass ratio roughly the same with the first drop separately.
Consider following large drop 49, this large drop 49 has two long parts of continuous basic wave and forms in jet flow, and at charging electrode, blocks into a unit during in the first voltage status and form single large drop.The electric charge causing on the truncation part of liquid jet is relevant to the surface area of this part, and relevant to the electric-field intensity of the surface of this part.When blocking to form the surface area of the part of large drop, it is about twice of surface area of blocking to form the part of the first drop, and the electric field being provided by charging electrode and this charging electrode offer the electric field of the first drop of drop centering when similar, the electric charge that large drop causes thereon when blocking is about twice of electric charge of the first drop of drop centering.Because large drop has the quality of about twice of the quality of the first drop that approximates greatly drop centering, the charge-mass ratio therefore in jet flow with two the long part of continuous basic wave large drops that form, that block into together single large drop approximates greatly the charge-mass ratio state of the first charge-mass ratio state.The charge-mass ratio in jet flow with the large drop that two long parts of continuous basic wave form does not rely on whether large drop blocks into two drops and this two drops merge subsequently or from not separated.
Fig. 4 A illustrates here the various embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system 40 of describing in detail and is included in charging equipment 83 in this continuous liquid spraying system 40 and the specific various embodiment of deflection mechanism 14 to Fig. 6 B.Continuous liquid spraying system 40 embodiment comprise with reference to the described assembly of continous inkjet system shown in figure 1.Continuous liquid spraying system 40 embodiment comprise liquid ejector or printhead 12, and it comprises the liquid chambers 24 of carrying out fluid circulation with nozzle 50 or nozzle array.(in these accompanying drawings, the array of nozzle will extend in figure plane and outside.) liquid chambers 24 comprises pressure fluid, this pressure is enough to by nozzle 50 atomizing of liquids jet flow 43 continuously.Each liquid jet has droplet-shaped forming apparatus 89 associated with it.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus 89 comprises that droplet-shaped forming apparatus converter 59 and drop form sources of waveforms 56, this drop forms sources of waveforms 56 excitation waveform 55 is provided, excitation waveform 55 be operationally used for producing modulation in liquid jet so that in liquid jet continuously the long part of basic wave be broken into a series of drops of comprising first drop 36 of advancing along initial path and the second drop 35 to or a series of larger drop 49 of advancing along same initial path.The waveform that provided by sources of waveforms 56 is adjusted or waveform is selected, so that generate drop to 35 and 36 or larger drop 49 during each drop is to the cycle.This continuous liquid spraying system also comprises charging equipment 83, this charging equipment 83 comprise the charging electrode 44 that is associated with the array of liquid jet or 45 and charging electrode and liquid jet between the source of variation electromotive force 51.The source that changes electromotive force 51 applies to have to charging electrode and equals the charging electrode waveform 97 of drop to the cycle in cycle.This waveform comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status.As described in reference to Figure 2, be furnished with charging electrode 44, so that the disconnect position of its contiguous liquid jet in nozzle array.Charging equipment is synchronizeed with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, so that the first voltage status is movable when the first drop 36 adjacent electrodes of drop centering block, and second voltage state is movable when the second drop 35 adjacent electrodes of drop centering block.The result of the electric field producing as the charging electrode in the first and second voltage status produces the first charge-mass ratio state on the first drop of each drop centering, and on the second drop, produces the second charge-mass ratio state.Charging equipment is also synchronizeed with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, so that only the first voltage status is movable when large drop 49 or drop 49a that on the time, neighbour separates and the contiguous charging electrode 44 of 49b block, described drop 49a and 49b closely block and are combined into subsequently single large drop 49 in time.Therefore, on large drop 49, produce the 3rd charge-mass ratio state.The 3rd charge-mass ratio state and the first charge-mass ratio state class are seemingly.
In Fig. 4 A-4C illustrated embodiment, charging electrode 44 is parts of deflecting apparatus 14.The charging electrode 44 of electrical bias is positioned at the side that liquid jet is adjacent with point of cut-off, not only charge attraction is arrived to the end of jet flow before drop blocks, and also at drop, after liquid jet blocks, attracts the drop through charging.This deflection mechanism is described to some extent in the article " Drop charging and deflection using a planar charge plate " of J.A.Katerberg (about the 4th international conference of the progress of non-shock printing technique).Grabber 47 also forms a part for deflecting apparatus 14.As U.S. Patent No. 3,656,171 is described, and the drop through charging passing in the place ahead on grabber surface of conduction makes surface charge on the grabber surface 52 of conduction so that the mode being affixed on grabber surface 52 through the drop of charging redistributes.
For drop is printed on substrate selectively, grabber is used to the drop that interception is advanced along the first path and Third Road footpath.Fig. 4 A-4C and Fig. 6 A-6B illustrate such embodiment, and wherein, grabber interception, along first and the Third Road footpath drop of advancing, allows the drop contact substrate of advancing along the second path simultaneously and is printed.In these embodiments, to first and tricharged state charge ratio stronger to the second state of charge charging.Fig. 5 A-5C illustrates such embodiment, and wherein, grabber interception, along first and the Third Road footpath drop of advancing, allows the drop contact substrate of advancing along the first path simultaneously and is printed.In this embodiment, to the second state of charge charge ratio to first and tricharged state charging stronger.
Fig. 4 A-4C illustrate continuous liquid spraying system primary clustering sectional view and show the different printing models of the first embodiment of the present invention.This continuous liquid spraying system comprises printhead 12, and printhead 12 comprises and the liquid chambers 24 being communicated with for launching the array fluid of one or more nozzles 50 of liquid stream 43.Each liquid jet is associated with an excitation converter 59.In the embodiment shown, excitation converter 59 is formed in nozzle 50 wall around.Excitation converter 59 separately can with a plurality of nozzles in each nozzle integrated.Excitation converter 59 forms sources of waveforms 56 by drop and activates, and this drop forms the periodic excitation that sources of waveforms 56 provides liquid jet 43.
The grabber 47 of ground connection is positioned at below charging electrode 44.The object of grabber 47 is interception or collects the drop through charging, so that drop does not contact and is printed on print media or substrate 19.For Fig. 4 A and the correct work of printhead 12 shown in the drawings subsequently, grabber 47 and/or grabber base plate 57 ground connection, to allow the electric-charge-dissipating below ink flows to grabber surface 52 and on the drop of being tackled while entering ink backward channel 58.The grabber surface 52 of grabber 47 has angle θ with respect to the liquid jet axle 87 shown in Fig. 2.As shown in Figure 4 A, the drop 36 through charging is affixed on the grabber surface 52 of grabber 47 of ground connection.Drop 36 is on charged droplets grabber contact point 26 halting grabber surfaces 52, to form the ink film 48 under the surface that advances to grabber 47.The bottom of grabber has the curved surface that radius is R, comprises bottom grabber plate 57 and the ink recovery passage 58 above bottom grabber plate 57, for catching and be recovered in the ink of ink film 48.If it is poor to the positive voltage potential of liquid jet 43 from electrode 44 that the time to chopping blocking at drop adjacent electrode exists, will on the drop forming, cause negative electrical charge, this negative electrical charge will be retained at drop after liquid jet blocks.If it is poor to the voltage potential of liquid jet 43 not exist from electrode 44, by being expected on the drop of formation, will can not cause the electric charge being retained at drop after liquid jet blocks when drop blocks.But, due to the second drop 35 blocking from liquid jet and the first drop 36 Capacitance Coupled through charging, even if therefore also can on second drop cause little electric charge during in 0V at charging electrode in the second state of charge.
In order to simplify the understanding of the present invention, Fig. 4 A-4C draws for following situation: the second state of charge approaches zero charge, so that the second drop 35 of drop centering exists very little or do not exist by the deflection shown in the direction in the second path 37.In order to simplify understanding, the second path 37 is plotted as corresponding with the liquid jet axle 87 shown in Fig. 2.In fact, on the drop along the second path, may have little electric charge, in the case, liquid jet axle 87 will be departed from path 37.The first drop 36 of drop centering is in high state of charge, so that the first drop 36 is deflecting when advance in the first path 38.Therefore, the present invention allows with drop frequency f p=f 0/ 2 or drop to cycle T p=2T 0, at each drop, the cycle is printed to a printed droplets.We are defined as droplet printing model by this, and to contrast with large drop printing model, this droplet printing model realizes the printing of a drop of drop centering, and this drop is with fundamental frequency f 0form fundamental frequency f 0can be adjusted to the optimum frequency that jet flow is blocked, in large drop printing model, with large combination drop, print.
As mentioned above, even also can on second drop cause little electric charge during in 0V at charging electrode in the second state of charge.Therefore, the second drop can experience primary deflector.In certain embodiments, by changing the second voltage state of charging electrode waveform, neutralize electric charge by the first drop at the capable electric charge causing of the second drop.Under second voltage state, do not use 0V, but use the little skew of relative 0V.This offset voltage is selected so that the electric charge causing on the drop blocking at contiguous charging electrode during second voltage state has same magnitude, and with by previous drop, there is opposite polarity blocking the electric charge causing on drop.Result is the drop that obtains substantially not having electric charge, and it does not experience substantially due to the caused deflection of electrostatic force.DC side-play amount depends on the customized configuration (for example comprise, be to use a charging electrode or two charging electrodes in system) of system or the geometry character (for example comprising the relative position of jet flow and (one or more) charging electrode) of system.Conventionally, second voltage state is between 33% and 10% to the scope of the first voltage status.For example, in some applications, when the first voltage status comprises 200 volts, second voltage state comprises the DC skew (the first voltage status 25%) of 50 volts.
Think that continuous drop 36 and 35 is drops pair, wherein the first right drop 36 of drop is recharged electrode charge to the first charge-mass ratio state, and the second right drop 35 of drop is recharged electrode charge to the second charge-mass ratio state.Fig. 4 A illustrates full print conditions, wherein forms the right long sequence of drop.Due to the different charge-mass ratios on these two drops, the different amount of deflections that their experience are caused by deflecting apparatus 14, deflecting apparatus 14 comprises groove 47 and the charging equipment 83 of ground connection, charging equipment 83 comprises electrode 44, charge voltage source 51 and charging electrode waveform 97.Charging electrode waveform 97 is independent of print data and has half repetition rate of fundamental frequency that the drop of drop 35 and 36 forms.The first drop 36 is deflected to follow the first path 38, and the second drop 35 is followed the second path 37 to clash into recording medium 19, thus at recording medium 19 with speed v min the time of mobile, make the ink droplet 46 of printing deposit on this recording medium.
Fig. 4 A illustrates the sectional view through liquid jet 43 according to the first embodiment of continous inkjet system of the present invention, and be presented at drop under full print conditions to sequence, wherein the second right drop 35 of each drop is charged to the second charge-mass ratio state and is not attracted to grabber 47 by charging electrode 44, but be printed on recording medium 19 as the sequence of printed droplets 46, the first right drop 36 of drop is recharged electrode 44 and is charged to the first charge-mass ratio state and attracted to grabber 47 and be not printed.In order to produce as shown in Figure 4 A drop, by drop, form sources of waveforms 56 with basic cycle T 0, the excitation that utilizes excitation waveform 55 to carry out, set up continuous drop with the basic cycle.As a result, in the not mixing of the first and second drops of drop centering, but distance of separation λ.The suitable waveform that is applied to electrode 44 has the roughly square wave of 50% dutycycle by being, it has the drop of equaling to cycle T p=2T 0cycle, and there is positive voltage at high state, low state ground connection.
Fig. 4 B illustrates non-print condition, wherein with half of fundamental frequency, forms the long sequence of large drop 49.At high voltage large drop 49 in the first voltage status, near electrode, block, after blocking, large drop 49 has the net charge of the twice that is substantially equal to the electric charge on the first drop 36.Net charge on large drop is corresponding to the 3rd charge-mass ratio state.Deflecting apparatus acts on the large drop 49 with the 3rd charge-mass ratio state, and large drop is advanced along Third Road footpath 39.Because large drop 49 has and the similar charge-mass ratio of the first drop 36 through charging, so their experience are as the deflection of the first drop 36 similar amplitudes.As a result, large drop 49 is advanced along the Third Road footpath 39 that is similar to the first path 37, and in charged droplets grabber contact point 27 device surface 52 interceptions that are hunted down, to form the ink film 48 under the surface that advances to grabber 47.Grabber contact point 26 for the first drop 36 is in height similar with the grabber contact point 27 for large drop 49.Therefore, as shown in Figure 4 B, the drop under non-print condition to sequence in, all drops are to being all combined and collecting, and there is no printed droplets 46 on recording medium 19.
Fig. 4 C illustrates normal printing sequence, and wherein, drop generates with 36 35 together with some larger drops 49.Drop 35 is printed on mobile recording medium 19 as printed dot 46, and through the drop 36 of charging and being collected and not being printed compared with large drop 49 through charging.As described with reference to the discussion of figure 1, the pattern of printed dot 46 is by the view data corresponding to from image source 13.
Fig. 5 A-5C illustrates according to the alternate embodiment of continous inkjet system of the present invention.Sectional view through liquid jet is shown, wherein, large drop 49 and do not have the first drop 36 of deflection to be collected, and be printed through the second drop 35 of deflection.Fig. 5 A is illustrated in drop under full print conditions to sequence, and Fig. 5 B is illustrated in drop under non-print condition to sequence, and Fig. 5 C illustrates normal print conditions, and wherein some drop is printed.In Fig. 5 B, large drop 49 is illustrated as two drop 49a and 49b that separate near point of cut-off, these two drop 49a and 49b may together with block, then separate, be more again mixed into single large drop 49.It is two drops that drop 49a and 49b also may block respectively in the almost identical time, and is mixed into subsequently single large drop.In this embodiment, the first voltage status is corresponding to low or zero-voltage state, and therefore the first state of charge on the first drop of drop centering is uncharged with respect to the second state of charge on the second drop of drop centering.
Fig. 7 illustrates and utilizes the different excitation waveforms be applied to drop and form converter, with half of fundamental frequency, from jet flow 43, blocks drop to generate the image of large drop 49.As shown in the A of Fig. 7, B and C, the excitation waveform that change is applied to drop formation converter makes drop form dynamic change.A illustrates such drop pair, they block as single drop 49 and keep combining, B illustrates such drop pair, they block as single drop 49, be divided into drop 49a and 49b, then reconfigure, C illustrates such drop 49a and 49b, they block separately with time to chopping simultaneously almost, are combined into subsequently single drop 49.Once large drop is completed into, the average distance between them is 2 λ.All drops are all shown blocking in plane of BOL and block from jet flow in Fig. 7.
In Fig. 5 A-5C illustrated embodiment, charging electrode 44 comprises the 44a of first and the second portion 44b that is positioned at the relative both sides of liquid jet, and liquid jet blocks between these two parts.Conventionally, the 44a of first of charging electrode 44 and second portion 44b or the Different electrodes separating, or the separate section of same equipment.As Fig. 4 A-4C discusses, the drop that charge voltage source 51 forms with drop transmits the charging electrode waveform 97 of repetition to frequency, so that first drop 36 of drop centering of order is recharged electrode 44, be charged to the first state of charge, and the second drop 35 of drop centering is recharged electrode 44 and is charged to the second state of charge.Charging pulse source 51 is partly biased to same potential by the left and right of charging electrode.In a side relative to the 44a of first of liquid jet, add the second charging electrode part 44b be biased to same potential and make to produce ，Gai region, a region band relevant for the center of jet flow symmetrical electric field almost between charging electrode part 44a and 44b.The charging of the drop blocking from liquid jet between electrode as a result, is very insensitive to the little change of the lateral attitude of jet flow.Electric field be not recharged about the near symmetrical drop that allows of liquid jet in the situation that drop being applied to obvious lateral deflection power near point of cut-off.In this embodiment, deflection mechanism 14 comprises and is positioned at a pair of deflecting electrode 53 and 63 that charging electrode 44a and 44b below and drop 49a and 49b are mixed into the mixing point below of single large drop 49.Electromotive force between these two electrodes produces the drop deflection of negative charging electric field to the left between electrode.The intensity of drop deflection electric field depends on interval between these two electrodes and the voltage between them.In this embodiment, deflecting electrode 53 is by positive bias, and deflecting electrode 63 is by negative bias.By the contrary polarity of the liquid jet with respect to ground connection this two electrodes of setovering, can minimize them for the contribution of the electric charge of the drop blocking from liquid jet.
In Fig. 5 A-5C illustrated embodiment, with blade type grabber 67, tackle non-print droplet trajectory.Grabber 67 comprises groove 30 and is positioned at a pair of deflecting electrode 53 and 63 belows.Grabber 67 and groove 30 towards the drop (as shown in Figure 5A) that grabber interception is advanced along the second path 37 for single uncharged drop, also tackle the large drop 49(that advances along Third Road footpath 39 as shown in Figure 5 B), but the single charged droplets 36 of advancing along the first path 38 do not tackled.Preferably, the drop that grabber is arranged such that to clash into grabber clashes into the skewed surface of groove 30, splashing during with minimum collisions.The charged droplets with the first charge-mass ratio 36 of advancing along the first path 38 is printed on recording medium 19.
In order to discuss below, we suppose fundamental frequency that charging pulse source 51 forms with drop half transmit the square-wave waveform of about 50% dutycycle.While having positive potential on electrode 44, drop 36 produces negative electrical charge thereon when the jet flow 43 from ground connection is blocked.During forming drop 35, exist while seldom or not there is voltage on electrode 44, drop 35 will cause seldom or not cause electric charge at drop 35 when the jet flow 43 from ground connection is blocked.On deflecting electrode 53, arrange positive potential, this is by the plane that attracts the drop of negative charging towards deflecting electrode 53.On deflecting electrode 63, arrange that negative potential will repel the negative drop 36 charging away from deflecting electrode 63, this will tend to auxiliary droplet 36 deflections towards deflecting electrode 53.What by the voltage applying, on deflecting electrode, produced will provide enough power to drop 36 so that they enough deflection to avoid groove 30 and to be printed on recording medium 19.For the normal operation of configuration shown in Fig. 5 A-5C, the phase place of the bifurcation waveform 97 that the phase place of bifurcation waveform 97 is utilized in configuration shown in Fig. 4 A-4C relatively differs about 180 degree.For the configuration of Fig. 5 A-5C, drop 35 and large drop 49 are not recharged and printed droplets 36 is recharged, and in configuration shown in Fig. 4 A-4C, and drop 36 and large drop 49 are recharged and printed droplets 35 is not recharged.
Fig. 5 C illustrates normal printing sequence, and wherein drop generates with 36 35 together with some larger drop 49.The drop 36 of charging is printed on mobile recording medium 19 as printed dot 46, and uncharged drop 36 and uncharged large drop 49 are collected and be not printed.The pattern of printed dot 46 is corresponding by the described view data from image source 13 of the discussion with reference to figure 1.In Fig. 5 C illustrated embodiment, between charging electrode and geometric nozzle plate, form air chamber 61.The air that is provided to air chamber by air-source (not shown) liquid jet and stream of liquid droplets between the first of charging electrode and second portion 44a and 44b respectively by time (as indicated in arrow 65) around liquid jet and stream of liquid droplets.Contribute to reduce the air of drop to pull effect with this air stream of the rough parallel of initial liquid drop track, this air pulls effect can produce drop landing error.
Fig. 6 A-6B illustrate have integrated electrode and trench design according to the second alternate embodiment of continous inkjet system of the present invention through the sectional view of liquid jet.Fig. 6 A is illustrated in drop under full print conditions to sequence, and Fig. 6 B is illustrated in drop under non-print condition to sequence.At all component shown in the right side of jet flow 43, be all optional.Insulator 68 and optional insulator 68a are affixed on respectively the upper surface of charging electrode 45 and optional the second charging electrode part 45a, and serve as interval body and guarantee that charging electrode 45 is adjacent with the disconnect position 32 of liquid jet 43 with the optional position of charging electrode 45a.Between the top of insulator 68 and the pelvic outlet plane of nozzle 50, can there is gap 66.The edge towards jet flow 43 of charging electrode 45 and 45a is angled in Fig. 6 A and Fig. 6 B, so that maximize in the intensity of truncated region electric field, this will cause more multi-charge in charged droplets 46.Insulation gap body 69 is also affixed on the lower surface of charging electrode 45.Optional insulation gap body 71 is affixed on the lower surface of optional charging electrode 45a.The lower area of insulator 68 has near the upper surface of charging electrode 45, towards the insulating binder 64 of liquid jet 43.Similarly, the lower area of optional insulator 68a have near the upper surface of charging electrode 45a, towards the insulating binder 64a of liquid jet 43.Insulation gap body 69 also has insulating binder 62, and it is affixed on towards the side of ink-jet drop and the lower surface of electrode 45.Optional insulation gap body 71 also has insulating binder 62a, and it is affixed on towards the side of ink-jet drop and the lower surface of electrode 45.Insulating binder 64,64a, 62 and the object of 62a be to prevent that liquid from forming continuous film on the surface of insulator, and keep that liquid eliminates electric short circuit away from electrode 45 may.As shown in Figure 6 A and 6B, the groove 47 of ground connection is affixed on the lower surface of insulation gap body 69 and insulating binder 64.Be affixed to optional insulation gap body 71 lower surface be the conductor 70 of ground connection.Another optional insulator 72 is affixed to the lower surface of the conductor 70 of ground connection.The optional deflecting electrode 74 of facing the upper area of groove 47 is affixed to the lower surface of insulator 72.Optional insulator 73 is affixed to the lower surface of deflecting electrode 74.The position of the conductor 75 of ground connection is adjacent with the bottom section of groove 47, and is affixed to the lower surface of insulator 73.The conductor 70 of ground connection serves as the barrier between electrode 45a and deflecting electrode 74, so that near drop charge region drop point of cut-off and the drop deflection field before grabber are kept apart.This contributes to guarantee that drop is blocking Shi Buhui because the electric field that deflecting electrode produces is recharged from jet flow.The object of the conductor 75 of ground connection is the drop impingement region of grabber and the electric field shielding being produced by deflecting electrode will be opened.In drop impingement region, these existence can contribute to from groove 47 Surface Creation mist and sprinklings.Deflecting electrode 74 is worked in the mode identical with the deflecting electrode 63 shown in Fig. 5 A-Fig. 5 C.
Fig. 8 illustrates according to continous inkjet system of the present invention, in the time lapse from a to h in sequence, produce the front view of the right stream of liquid droplets from single jet Production of continuous drop.Fig. 8 a illustrates non-print large drop 49(at point of cut-off drop 49a and 49b) sequence, non-print large drop 49 is blocked and produces from liquid jet 43 by the disconnect position 32 adjacent with charging electrode 44, and at the large drop trench contact point 27 interception grooves of charging, thereby formation flows to the ink film 48 of the surface underneath of grabber 47.The ink film that flows to grabber surface underneath the bottom on grabber surface around radius (being shown R in Fig. 4 A), flow and incoming seizure device 47 and grabber base plate 57 between ink recovery passage 58 in, the ink recovery unit 15 of printer from ink recovery passage 58 by ink collection.Ink recovery passage 58 remains under vacuum, with auxiliary ink film 48a to the recovery in the ink recovery unit of printer.In this operator scheme, the large drop 49 of charging is all collected and is not printed.Fig. 8 b is illustrated in and generates next drop after non-print sequence of droplets to produce the first printed droplets.First (low) drop 36 of this drop centering is recharged, and second (high) drop 35 is not recharged.The drop not being recharged is printed, and the drop of charging is collected and the device 47 that is hunted down is caught.Fig. 8 c-8h illustrates continuous printed droplets to being generated.Diagonal dashed lines 81 is called as drop sequence indicators time lapse, and it indicates the position of same drop in successive views.Last the non-print drop forming in Fig. 8 a is intercepted grabber to be illustrated in charging combination drop trench contact point 27 in Fig. 8 c.The first charged droplets 36 of the first printed droplets centering forming in Fig. 8 b is illustrated in charged droplets trench contact point 26 and intercepts grabber in Fig. 8 d.For the contact point on grabber 26 of single drop in position with similar for the contact point of large drop 27, because roughly the same for the charge-mass ratio of non-print drop 36 and large non-print drop 49.The uncharged printed droplets 35 of the first printed droplets centering forming in Fig. 8 b is illustrated as arriving recording medium 19 and is printed as printed droplets 46 in Fig. 8 h.
During Fig. 9 is illustrated in printing, the front view of the array 9 of the adjacent liquid jet flow 43 of the printhead 12 of continous inkjet system of the present invention.Each nozzle is presented at during normal printing the different printings and the non-print sequence that occur.The jet flow that charging electrode 44 and grabber 47 are launched for all nozzles the linear nozzle array from printhead shares.Charging electrode 44 is associated with each liquid jet from nozzle array, and for correct requirements of one's work of the present invention, it is adjacent with the disconnect position 32 of each jet flow that nozzle array is placed in.When the drop 36 through charging with through the large drop 49 of charging, be blocked grabber and when the drop 35 that is not recharged is printed, on whole grabber surface, form continuous ink film 48.When the path 39 of the path 38 of charged droplets 36 and the large drop 49 of charging is basic identical, all drops that collect are intercepted grabber at roughly the same height.This be on grabber surface, set up the ink film of stable and uniform and realize the high accuracy of drop drop point needed.In the passage of ink film 48 on groove between grabber 47 and shared grabber base plate 57, be collected and be sent to the ink recovery unit of printer.
Figure 10 illustrates according to embodiments of the invention, shows that drop forms the sequential chart constantly that blocks of pulse (drop excitation waveform), charging electrode waveform and drop.The first half A show needle of Figure 10 is to the single-nozzle in linear nozzle array, as the drop excitation waveform (heater voltage waveform 55) of the function of time.The latter half B of Figure 10 shows the shared charging electrode voltage waveform as the function of time, and the blocking constantly of the drop being produced by each drop excitation waveform shown in the part A of each figure.The two-part time shaft of Figure 10 all illustrates the cycle (numbering from 1 to 5) by drop, and this drop equals the twice of the basic cycle that the drop of drop 36 and 35 forms to the cycle.View shown in Figure 10 is presented at a pair of drop that drop forms during to all issues 2, drop to all issues 2 in, one of drop is printed, and another drop is collected (not printing), and drop to all issues 1,3,4,5 in, only have unprinted large drop be formed and collect.The second drop to drop in the cycle form waveform comprise cause forming the first drop waveform portion, comprise that printed droplets forms the part of pulse 98 and another part of waveform, this part comprises that non-print drop forms pulse 99 and causes the second drop to form.The part B of Figure 10 illustrates as the charging voltage V of the function of time and drop and blocks the moment that event occurs, and this charging voltage V is commonly referred to as the charging electrode waveform 97 that is provided to charging electrode (44 or 45) by charge voltage source 51.Charging electrode waveform 97 is illustrated as dotted line, and be illustrated as the square wave of 50% dutycycle from high positive voltage state to low-voltage state, it has and equals the cycle of drop to the cycle, described drop is the twice of basic cycle of forming of drop to the cycle so that a drop can setting up two drops during a drop charge wave period to or a large drop 49.For each drop, the drop charge waveform in the time interval is comprised to the first voltage status 96 and second voltage state 95.The first voltage status is corresponding to high positive voltage, and second voltage state is corresponding near the low-voltage 0 volt.In part B, the moment that each drop blocks from liquid jet is marked as rhombus.Drawn from as the part A of Figure 10, be shown in drop that each drop occurs during to the time interval form pulse to part B for the corresponding arrow constantly that blocks of each drop in each drop.Be presented at each drop time delay 93 the first drop in the time interval is formed to the starting point of heater voltage pulse and the time delay between the starting point in each charge waveforms cycle.Moment of the beginning phase place of charging electrode waveform 97 is adjusted, suitably to distinguish the charge level difference between the drop being printed and the drop that is not printed.Sequential shown in Figure 10 is suitable for the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 and 6, and wherein right the first drop 36 and the large drop 49 of drop is charged droplets, and the second right drop 35 of drop is uncharged drops.Change time delays 93 drop and will produce through the second drop 35 of charging and the first drop 36 of uncharged and large drop 49 half of cycle, this is suitable for the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.Therefore, with time delay 93 droplet-shaped forming apparatus being synchronizeed with electrode charge voltage source, to keep fixing phase relation between charging electrode waveform and drop formation sources of waveforms clock.
Figure 10 illustrates large drop as the whole configuration of blocking of single large drop 49.Each non-print drop comprised for setting up the large drop of large drop 49 and forms pulse 94 cycle 1,3,4,5.Drop has printed droplets to the cycle 2 and forms pulse 98 and non-print drop formation pulse 99.The pulse width that large drop forms pulse 94 can be adjusted to change the time to chopping of large drop 49, thereby they are blocked during high-voltage charge state 96.During drop is to the cycle 2, drop forms pulse 98 causes the first drop 36 to block during high-voltage state 95.Drop forms pulse 99 causes the second drop 35 to block during low-voltage state 96 subsequently.The drop 36 and 49 blocking during high-voltage state 95 is recharged the electric field charging that electrode produces, and drop 35 is not recharged electrode charge.
Figure 10 illustrates the embodiment that prints low or uncharged drop.For through charging drop by the drop that is printed and is not recharged by captive embodiment, by adjusting each drop, the first drop in the time interval is formed to the starting point of heater voltage pulse and the time delay 93 between the starting point in charge waveforms cycle, the beginning phase place of charging electrode waveform 97 is carried out to phase shift.As an example, by a basic cycle of drop add to will make time delay 93 large drop 49 and drop 36 when blocking in low state of charge, and drop 35 will be in high state of charge for printing.
In the above-described embodiments, drop has essentially identical volume to the first drop 36 and the second drop 35 in 34.Drop to 34 or the formation of large drop 49 press drop to cycle T p=2T 0occur.This realizes the ability that efficient drop forms and at full throttle prints.In other embodiments, the first drop of drop centering and the volume of the second drop may be different, and form drop to 34 or greatly the drop of drop 49 to cycle T pbe greater than 2T 0, T wherein 0in two drops of definition drop centering compared with the cycle of droplet.As example, the first and second drops of drop centering can have 4/3 or 3/2 volume ratio, and this is corresponding to 7T 0/ 3 or 5T 0/ 3 drop is to cycle T p.By Rayleigh cut frequency F rdetermine the size of minimum drop.In these embodiments, the cycle of charging electrode waveform by equal to form drop to 34 or the drop of large drop 49 to the cycle.
Figure 11 illustrates such embodiment, and wherein the first and second drops of drop centering have same volume.As Figure 10, time shaft is pressed drop to circulation or cycle mark.Each non-print drop cycle comprises that the first drop forms pulse 91 and the second drop forms pulse 92.Drop to the cycle in the first and second drops form time between pulses 91 and 92 and be less than that the second drop forms pulse and drop subsequently forms the time between pulse to the first drop in the cycle.As a result, the first drop of drop centering is greater than the second right drop of this drop.The inhomogeneous time that the first and second drops form between pulse can produce the speed difference between the first and second right drops of drop.Utilize such speed difference, the first and second right drops of drop can mix to form large drop 49 and without operating speed regulating impulse.During the first voltage status 95 of charging electrode waveform 97, the drop that forms large drop 49 blocks (being similar to shown in Fig. 7 C) in time close to each other.Use the different drops that formed by pulse 101,102 and 103 to form waveform and set up printed droplets at the second drop in to the cycle.Selection to the waveform in cycle, causes the first drop 36 to block during the first voltage status 95 of charging electrode waveform 97 for the second drop and the second drop 35 blocks during second voltage state 96, and prevents that drop 35 and 36 from mixing.In certain embodiments, waveform pulse 101 and 102 sequential can be identical with waveform pulse 91 and 92.What pulse 103 postponed drop centering the second drops blocks and prevents the droplets mixing of the second drop to the cycle, thereby allows the second drop of drop centering to be printed.
Similarly, in the aforementioned embodiment, use the charging electrode waveform with two voltage status, wherein each state is movable for total cycle half.In other embodiments, can use to have and equal to be used to form drop to 34 or the drop of large drop 49 other charging electrode waveforms to the cycle in cycle.Figure 11 illustrates an example, and wherein waveform 97 has two state of charge, and for drop, the different periods during to the cycle are movable to these two state of charge.
Generally speaking, depend on the resolution requirement of printed image, the present invention can be implemented for the printed droplets of setting up within the scope of 1-100pl, and wherein nozzle diameter is within the scope of 5-50 μ m.Jet speed is preferably within the scope of 10-30m/s.Basic drop generated frequency is preferably within the scope of 50-1000kHz.
The present invention allows in the situation that do not need to use independent charging electrode to select for printing or non-print drop for each liquid jet in liquid jet array as traditional ink-jet printer based on electrostatic deflection.In contrast, use the drop charge of single shared charging electrode to the liquid jet from array.This has eliminated the demand that each charging electrode is strictly aimed at nozzle.Utilizing the charging electrode being associated from different liquid jets to carry out cross-talk charging (crosstalk charging) to the drop from a liquid jet is no longer problem.Because cross-talk charging is not problem, therefore do not need the distance minimizing between charging electrode and liquid jet as desired in traditional drop charge system.Shared charging electrode also provides charging and the deflection efficiency of improvement, thereby allows larger separating distance between jet flow and electrode.Can the scope of application charging electrode in 25-300 μ m and the distance between jet flow axle.Cancellation also allows than traditional higher spray nozzle density of electrostatic deflection continous inkjet system for the independent charging electrode of each liquid jet, and traditional electrostatic deflection continous inkjet system requirements has independent charging electrode for each nozzle.Nozzle array density can be at per inch 75 nozzles (npi) in the scope of 1200npi.
With reference to Figure 12, the method for atomizing of liquids drop starts from step 150.In step 150, under the pressure that is enough to the nozzle ejection liquid jet by liquid chambers, provide liquid.Step 150 heel is with step 155.
In step 155, by provide drop to form waveform to droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to cause the part of liquid jet to block into a series of drops, regulate liquid jet.This adjusting optionally causes the some parts of liquid jet to block into the drop pair of advancing along a path, comprises the first drop and the second drop.Each drop is to separating fifty-fifty in time the cycle according to drop.One or more the 3rd drops that this adjusting optionally causes other parts of liquid jet to be blocked into advance along described path, the 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop, and the 3rd drop is larger than the first drop and the second drop.Selecting the drop of formation the first and second drops is based on print data to still forming large drop.Step 155 heel is with step 160.
In step 160, provide charging equipment.This charging equipment comprises charging electrode and changes potential source.Charging electrode is associated with liquid jet.Change potential source by providing waveform to change the electromotive force between charging electrode and liquid jet to charging electrode.This waveform comprise equal to form drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop to the cycle in cycle, the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status.Waveform to charging electrode does not rely on print data.Step 160 heel is with step 165.
In step 165, charging equipment and droplet-shaped forming apparatus, by synchronous, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on the first drop, produce the second charge-mass ratio on the second drop, and on the 3rd drop, producing the 3rd charge-mass ratio, in the 3rd charge-mass ratio and the first charge-mass ratio and the second charge-mass ratio is basic identical.Step 165 heel is with step 170.
In step 170, with deflecting apparatus, cause first drop with the first charge-mass ratio to be advanced along the first path, second drop with the second charge-mass ratio is advanced along the second path, and the 3rd drop with the 3rd charge-mass ratio is advanced along Third Road footpath; In Third Road footpath and the first path and the second path one is basic identical.Step 170 heel is with step 175.
In step 175, with grabber, tackle along a drop of advancing in the first path or the second path.This grabber is also used to the drop that interception is advanced along Third Road footpath.
Note, the waveform that is provided to droplet-shaped forming apparatus in step 155 depends on view data, and the waveform that is provided to charging electrode in step 160 is independent of view data.
List of parts
10 continous inkjet print systems
11 ink storehouses
12 printheads or liquid ejector
13 image sources
14 deflection mechanism
15 ink recovery unit
16 image processors
17 logic controllers
18 excitation controllers
19 recording mediums
20 ink pressure adjusters
21 medium transmission controllers
22 conveying rollers
24 liquid chambers
26 charged droplets trench contact points
27 charging combination drop trench contact points
30 grooves
31 droplets mixing positions
32 disconnect positions
34 drops pair
The second drop that 35 drops are right
The first drop that 36 drops are right
37 second paths
38 first paths
39 Third Road footpaths
40 continuous liquid spraying systems
42 droplet-shaped forming apparatus converters
43 liquid jets
44 charging electrodes
44a the second charging electrode
45 charging electrodes
45a the second charging electrode
46 printed dot
47 grabbers
48 ink films
49 large drops
50 nozzles
51 charge voltage source
52 grabber surfaces
53 deflecting electrodes
54 the 3rd alternative routes
55 excitation waveforms
56 excitation waveform sources
57 grabber base plates
58 ink recovery passages
59 excitation converters
60 excitation sets
61 air chambers
62 insulating binders
62a the second insulating binder
63 deflecting electrodes
64 insulating binders
64a the second insulating binder
The arrow of 65 indication airflow direction
66 gaps
67 grabbers
68 insulators
68a insulator
69 insulators
70 earth conductors
71 insulators
72 insulators
73 insulators
74 deflecting electrodes
75 earth conductors
81 drop sequence indicators time lapse
83 charging equipments
87 liquid jet central shafts
89 droplet-shaped forming apparatus
91 first drops form pulse
92 second drops form pulse
93 phase delay times
94 large drops form pulse
95 first voltage status
96 second voltage states
97 charging electrode waveforms
98 printed droplets form pulse
99 non-print drops form pulse
101 printed droplets form the first pulse of waveform
102 printed droplets form the second pulse of waveform
103 printed droplets form the 3rd pulse of waveform
150 provide the step of fluid under pressure by nozzle
155 use droplet-shaped forming apparatus regulate the step of liquid jet
160 provide the step of charging equipment
The step of 165 synchronous charging equipment and droplet-shaped forming apparatus
The step of 170 deflection of droplets
The step of the selected drop of 175 interception

Claims (42)

1. a continuous liquid spraying system, comprising:
The liquid chambers being communicated with fluid nozzle, this liquid chambers comprises liquid, and liquid is subject to being enough to the pressure by described nozzle ejection liquid jet;
The droplet-shaped forming apparatus being associated with described liquid jet, this droplet-shaped forming apparatus can operate for producing and regulate in described liquid jet, optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet, block into one or more drops pair of advancing along a path, each drop is to separating fifty-fifty the cycle by drop, each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop, described droplet-shaped forming apparatus also can operate for producing and regulate in described liquid jet, one or more the 3rd drops of advancing along described path optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet to be blocked into, described the 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop, and described the 3rd drop is larger than described the first drop and described the second drop,
Charging equipment, comprising:
The charging electrode being associated with described liquid jet; And
Variation potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet, described variation potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with form described drop to or the drop of described the 3rd drop cycle that the cycle is equated, described waveform comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status, described charging equipment is synchronizeed with described droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on described first drop of described drop centering, on described second drop of described drop centering, produce the second charge-mass ratio, and produce the 3rd charge-mass ratio on described the 3rd drop, described the 3rd charge-mass ratio and described the first charge-mass ratio are basic identical, and
Deflecting apparatus, this deflecting apparatus causes described first drop of described the first charge-mass ratio of having of described drop centering to be advanced along the first path, and cause described second drop of described the second charge-mass ratio of having of described drop centering to be advanced along the second path, and cause described the 3rd drop with described the 3rd charge-mass ratio to be advanced along Third Road footpath.
2. the system as claimed in claim 1, also comprises:
Grabber, this grabber is arranged to the drop drop that also interception is advanced along described the first path that interception is advanced along described Third Road footpath.
3. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Third Road footpath and described the first path are basic identical.
4. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid comprises the ink for printing at recording medium.
5. the system as claimed in claim 1, described nozzle is in nozzle array, and the described charging electrode of described charging equipment is shared and is associated with liquid jet described in each by liquid jet described in each of the nozzle ejection from described nozzle array.
6. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the first drop and described the second drop have essentially identical volume.
7. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the 3rd drop has the volume substantially equating with the volume sum of described the first drop and described the second drop.
8. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said droplet-shaped forming apparatus also comprises:
Form converter with a drop being associated in described liquid chambers, described nozzle and described liquid jet; And
Drop forms sources of waveforms, and it forms converter to described drop provides drop to form waveform.
9. system as claimed in claim 8, it is in following equipment that wherein said drop forms converter: hot equipment, piezoelectric device, MEMS actuator, electric hydrodynamic force equipment, light device, electrostrictive device, and their combination.
10. system as claimed in claim 8, is wherein provided to described drop that described drop forms converter and forms waveform and can regulate liquid jet to block at least one in phase place, liquid drop speed and droplet size.
11. systems as claimed in claim 8, the described drop that is wherein provided to described drop formation converter forms the print data that waveform response provides in excitation controller.
12. systems as claimed in claim 8, wherein said drop forms the second portion that waveform comprises the first of described the first drop of setting up described drop centering and sets up described second drop of described drop centering.
13. the system as claimed in claim 1, one in wherein said the first drop and described the second drop with respect to not being recharged with another electric charge being associated in described the first drop and described the second drop.
14. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the described variation potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet is not in response to the print data being provided by excitation controller.
15. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the described variation potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet produces following waveform, and wherein said the first difference voltage status and described the second difference voltage status are movable for equaling described drop to half time interval in cycle separately.
16. the system as claimed in claim 1, it is adjacent with the disconnect position of described liquid jet that wherein said charging electrode is placed in.
17. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflecting apparatus also comprises at least one deflecting electrode for deflection charged droplets, an electrical communication in described at least one deflecting electrode and a potential source and ground.
18. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging equipment comprises charging electrode, this charging electrode comprises the first of the first side that is positioned at described liquid jet and is positioned at the second portion of the second side of described liquid jet.
19. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflecting apparatus also comprises the deflecting electrode with potential source electrical communication, it is set up drop deflection field and carrys out deflection charged droplets.
20. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the first drop and described the second drop separated fifty-fifty by the basic cycle, and drop is the twice of basic cycle to the cycle.
21. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the second difference voltage status comprises DC skew.
The method of 22. 1 kinds of atomizing of liquids drops, comprising:
Liquid is provided, and this liquid is subject to being enough to the pressure by the nozzle ejection liquid jet of liquid chambers;
With the droplet-shaped forming apparatus being associated with described liquid jet, regulate described liquid jet, optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet, block into one or more drops pair of advancing along a path, each drop is to by drop, the cycle being separated fifty-fifty, and each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop;
With described droplet-shaped forming apparatus, regulate described liquid jet, one or more the 3rd drops of advancing along described path optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet to be blocked into, described the 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop, and described the 3rd drop is larger than described the first drop and described the second drop;
Charging equipment is provided, comprises:
The charging electrode being associated with described liquid jet; And
Variation potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet, described variation potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with form drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop cycle that the cycle is equated, described waveform comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status;
Described charging equipment is synchronizeed with described droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on described first drop of described drop centering, on described second drop of described drop centering, produce the second charge-mass ratio, and on described the 3rd drop, produce the 3rd charge-mass ratio, described the 3rd charge-mass ratio and described the first charge-mass ratio are basic identical; And
Use deflecting apparatus, cause described first drop of described the first charge-mass ratio of having of described drop centering to be advanced along the first path, cause described second drop of described the second charge-mass ratio of having of described drop centering to be advanced along the second path, and cause described the 3rd drop with described the 3rd charge-mass ratio to be advanced along Third Road footpath.
23. methods as claimed in claim 22, also comprise:
The drop that uses grabber interception to advance along described the first path and described Third Road footpath.
24. methods as claimed in claim 22, in wherein said Third Road footpath and described the first path and described the second path is basic identical.
25. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said liquid comprises the ink for printing on recording medium.
26. methods as claimed in claim 22, described nozzle is in nozzle array, and the described charging electrode of described charging equipment comprises the electrode that is shared and be associated with liquid jet described in each by liquid jet described in each of the nozzle ejection from described nozzle array.
27. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said the first drop and described the second drop have essentially identical volume.
28. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said the 3rd drop has the volume substantially equating with the volume sum of described the first drop and described the second drop.
29. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said droplet-shaped forming apparatus also comprises:
Form converter with a drop being associated in described liquid chambers, described nozzle and described liquid jet; And
Drop forms sources of waveforms, and it forms converter to described drop provides drop to form waveform.
30. methods as claimed in claim 29, it is in following equipment that wherein said drop forms converter: hot equipment, piezoelectric device, MEMS actuator, electric hydrodynamic force equipment, light device, electrostrictive device, and their combination.
31. methods as claimed in claim 29, the described drop that is wherein provided to described drop formation converter forms waveform and can regulate liquid jet to block at least one in phase place, liquid drop speed and droplet size.
32. methods as claimed in claim 29, the described drop that is wherein provided to described drop formation converter forms the print data that waveform response provides in excitation controller.
33. methods as claimed in claim 29, wherein said drop forms the second portion that waveform comprises the first of described the first drop of setting up described drop centering and sets up described second drop of described drop centering.
34. methods as claimed in claim 22, one in wherein said the first drop and described the second drop with respect to not being recharged with another electric charge being associated in described the first drop and described the second drop.
35. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein the described variation potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet is not in response to the print data being provided by excitation controller.
36. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein the described variation potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet produces following waveform, and wherein said the first difference voltage status and described the second difference voltage status are movable for equaling described drop to half time interval in cycle separately.
37. methods as claimed in claim 22, it is adjacent with the disconnect position of described liquid jet that wherein said charging electrode is placed in.
38. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said deflecting apparatus also comprises at least one deflecting electrode for deflection charged droplets, an electrical communication in described at least one deflecting electrode and a potential source and ground.
39. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said charging equipment comprises charging electrode, this charging electrode comprises the first of the first side that is positioned at described liquid jet and is positioned at the second portion of the second side of described liquid jet.
40. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said deflecting apparatus also comprises the deflecting electrode with potential source electrical communication, it is set up drop deflection field and carrys out deflection charged droplets.
41. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said the first drop and described the second drop by described drop half to the cycle separate fifty-fifty.
42. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said the second difference voltage status comprises DC skew.
CN201280024586.4A 2011-05-25 2012-05-23 Utilize the Liquid inject of drop charge and quality Active CN103547455B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/115,434 2011-05-25
US13/115,421 US8465129B2 (en) 2011-05-25 2011-05-25 Liquid ejection using drop charge and mass
US13/115,421 2011-05-25
US13/115,434 US8382259B2 (en) 2011-05-25 2011-05-25 Ejecting liquid using drop charge and mass
PCT/US2012/039071 WO2012162354A1 (en) 2011-05-25 2012-05-23 Liquid ejection using drop charge and mass

Publications (2)

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US20200166490A1 (en) * 2018-11-26 2020-05-28 Dionex Softron Gmbh Droplet Generator System, Detector for Samples, Corresponding Method and Use
CN112893867A (en) * 2021-01-19 2021-06-04 重庆大学 Method for inhibiting hole defects in uniform metal droplet jetting 3D printing
CN113218827A (en) * 2021-06-07 2021-08-06 上海大学 Liquid droplet size detection device based on electric field deflection

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EP3736103A1 (en) * 2019-05-07 2020-11-11 Universitat Rovira I Virgili Device and method for determining the speed of printing of a fiber and the length of a printed fiber

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CN106945278A (en) * 2015-12-28 2017-07-14 精工爱普生株式会社 Liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection method
US20200166490A1 (en) * 2018-11-26 2020-05-28 Dionex Softron Gmbh Droplet Generator System, Detector for Samples, Corresponding Method and Use
CN112893867A (en) * 2021-01-19 2021-06-04 重庆大学 Method for inhibiting hole defects in uniform metal droplet jetting 3D printing
CN113218827A (en) * 2021-06-07 2021-08-06 上海大学 Liquid droplet size detection device based on electric field deflection

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BR112013030250A2 (en) 2017-11-28
JP2014515326A (en) 2014-06-30

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