CN103547455B

CN103547455B - Utilize the Liquid inject of drop charge and quality

Info

Publication number: CN103547455B
Application number: CN201280024586.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: H·V·潘彻韦格; M·A·马库斯; J·A·凯特伯格
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 2011-05-25
Filing date: 2012-05-23
Publication date: 2015-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-23
Also published as: EP2714405B1; BR112013030250A2; CN103547455A; EP2714405A1; WO2012162354A1; JP2014515326A

Abstract

A kind of continuous liquid spraying system comprises the fluid chamber be communicated with fluid nozzle.This fluid chamber comprises liquid, and liquid is subject to being enough to the pressure by nozzle atomizing of liquids jet flow.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus is associated with liquid jet.This droplet-shaped forming apparatus is actuatable to be used for producing in liquid jet regulating, and blocks into one or more drops pair of advancing along a path optionally to cause the part of liquid jet.Each drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty to by drop.Each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus is also actuatable to be used for producing in liquid jet regulating, and block into one or more 3rd drops of advancing along described path optionally to cause the part of liquid jet, described 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop.3rd drop than the first drop and the second drop large.Charging equipment comprises the charging electrode be associated with liquid jet, and the change potential source between charging electrode and liquid jet.Described change potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with formed drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop to equal cycle in cycle.Described waveform also comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status.Charging equipment is synchronous with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on the first drop of drop centering, the second drop of drop centering produces the second charge-mass ratio, and produces the 3rd charge-mass ratio on the 3rd drop.3rd charge-mass ratio is substantially identical with the first charge-mass ratio.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 the 3rd drop with the 3rd charge-mass ratio is caused to be advanced along the 3rd path.3rd path is substantially identical with the first path.

Description

Utilize the Liquid inject of drop charge and quality

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 stream is divided into 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 such as due to its non-impact, low-noise characteristic, its use common paper and its avoid ink powder transfer printing and fixing.Inkjet printing mechanism can by technique classification for drip black formula ink-jet (DOD) or continuous ink jet (CIJ) as required.

The first technology " drips black formula " as required, and inkjet printing provides ink droplet, these ink droplets by use supercharging actuator (heat, piezoelectricity, etc.) clash into recording surface.A kind of conventional black technology of dripping as required uses thermal actuation to spray ink droplet from nozzle.Ink is fully heated to boiling by the heater be on nozzle or near nozzle, thus forms bubble, and this bubble produces enough internal pressures to spray 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 it uses the black source of pressurization to produce continuous print Liquid inject ink stream by nozzle under stress by forcing ink.Ink stream is as follows by disturbance: which makes liquid jet be broken into ink droplet in a predictive manner.Print and occur by optionally deflecting and catch unwanted ink droplet.Develop the various method for optionally deflection of droplets, comprised and use electrostatic deflection, air deflection and thermal deflection mechanism.

In the first CIJ method based on electrostatic deflection, liquid jet, in some way by disturbance, makes it from nozzle, is broken into the drop of even size by nominal constant distance (blocking length, break-off length).At nominal constant point of cut-off, place is furnished with charging electrode structure, to be engraved in quantity of electric charge drop causing and depends on data when blocking.Charged drop is directed subsequently by a fixing electrostatic field region, and each droplet and its electric charge are deflected pro rata.Thus the charge level set up at point of cut-off causes drop advance to the ad-hoc location of recording medium or be used to be called that the groove of grabber (catcher) is for collection and recirculation.This method is being issued to the U.S. Patent No. 3,596 of R.Sweet on July 27th, 1971, in 275 open (hereinafter referred to as Sweet ' 275).Disclosed in Sweet ' 275, CIJ device is made up of single spraying stream (jet), that is, single drop formation fluid chamber and single-nozzle structure.U.S. Patent No. 3,373,437(hereinafter referred to as Sweet ' 437 the people such as Sweet that March 12 nineteen sixty-eight authorizes) in also disclose profit many jet flows CIJ printhead version in this way.Sweet ' 437 discloses to be had one and shares the CIJ printhead in droplet generator chamber, and this shared droplet generator chamber and one is arranged drop emission nozzle (array) and communicated, and each drop emission nozzle has its oneself charging electrode.This method requires that each nozzle has its oneself charging electrode, provides the electrical waveform depending on the view data that will print to each in each single electrode.This requirement to independent addressable charging electrode is provided with restriction in basic nozzle pitch, thus limits the resolution ratio to print system.

U.S. Patent No. 6,273,559(hereinafter referred to as Vago ' 559 the people such as Vago that August 14 calendar year 2001 authorizes) in disclose the CIJ method of the second based on electrostatic deflection.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.Utilize periodic driving pulse to generate the drop that will print or not print at nozzle place.Each drop that will print utilizes relatively strong periodic excitation pulse to set up, and this periodic excitation pulse causes the ink jet stream forming the drop that will print to be separated with relatively short length of blocking.Each drop do not printed utilizes relatively weak periodic excitation pulse to set up, and this periodic excitation pulse causes this drop to be separated with relatively long length of blocking.The position that nozzle downstream is adjacent with two disconnect positions is furnished with two groups of intervals close, the electrode that applies different DC electromotive force, this two arrays of electrodes provides different charge levels when drop is formed to the break drop of length and drop that relatively length blocks length of relatively cutting back.The longer drop blocking length is optionally departed from their path by a deflecting apparatus due to their electric charge, and by the deflection of this deflecting apparatus to grabber surface, to be collected in groove and to turn back to ink storehouse in order to recycling at grabber surface drop.Vago ' 559 also requires that break length and the length difference that blocks that relatively length is blocked between length of relatively cutting back is less than wavelength (λ), and this wavelength (λ) is continuous ink droplet in liquid jet or the distance between ink dot.This needs employing two kinds of excitation amplitudes (print and do not print excitation amplitude).Extension position difference will be blocked be restricted to and be less than lambda binding excitation amplitude difference and must use one in a small amount.For the printhead only with single spraying stream, it is very easy for adjusting voltage and the printing on the position of electrode, charging electrode and not printing excitation amplitude to produce printing and not print interval needed for droplet.But in the printhead with nozzle array, component tolerances can make this adjustment very difficult.Make drop selective system to slight difference very sensitive to jet flow distance of charging electrode flatness, thickness of electrode and electrode for the demand in droplet truncated region with high electric-force gradient, 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, the electric-field intensity in droplet truncated region and electric-force gradient different.In addition, may be not quite identical along the droplet maker of nozzle array and the excitation set that is associated, and nozzle one by one may be needed to adopt different excitation amplitudes specificly to block length to produce.The attribute that these problems are drifted about in time due to ink and thermal expansion and worsen, thermal expansion can cause charging electrode with Temperature Shift and bending.In such systems, extra control complexity is needed to adjust the printing of nozzle one by one and do not print excitation amplitude, to guarantee print and do not print interval needed for droplet.On March 20th, 2007 authorize U.S. Patent No. 7,192, in 121, B.Barbet with P.Henon also disclose utilization block length different control print.

In the U.S. Patent No. 7,712 of the B.Barbet that on May 11st, 2010 authorizes, in 879, disclose electrostatic charging and the deflecting mechanism based on blocking length and drop size.The public charging electrode utilizing one to separate charges to droplet and large drop respectively according to the diameter of drop, wherein applies DC low-voltage on the top of this public charging electrode, and bottom applies DC high voltage.

U.S. Patent No. 4,068, the 241(hereinafter referred to as Yamada ' 241 of T.Yamada on January 10th, 1978 authorizes) in disclose a kind of ink jet recording device, 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 record droplet excite drop amplitude, with make they will with large droplet collision and combination.Large drop and the large drop after combining with droplet are collected by groove and are not printed, and are printed through the droplet of overshoot.One of shortcoming of this method is, the drop through deflection is printed, and this may cause drop landing error.The little change of this method to the excitation little change of amplitude and ink attribute is very responsive.In addition, owing to needing compared with droplet, larger drop is much smaller could set up different state of charge on each drop, therefore needs the nozzle of higher nozzle diameter to produce the printed droplets of required size.Which has limited the density of operable nozzle pitch in this approach, and seriously limit the ability printing high-definition picture.

Therefore, there is the demand for providing following print system continuously: this continuous print system, to selected drop electrostatic deflection, can adapt to different drop and block length, have the design of simplification, and produces the print quality improved 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 the droplet size difference minimizing printed droplets, thus overcoming at least one in above-mentioned defect.

The invention provides via each liquid jet the drop formation control depending on view data blocked and there is the charging electrode of the time variations electromotive force (being called charging electrode waveform) independent of view data.Use the drop being provided to droplet-shaped forming apparatus to form waveform to control drop formation, to set up the drop pair comprising the first drop and the second drop, or set up the 3rd drop.(dimensionally or on volume) the 3rd drop than the first drop of drop centering and the second drop large.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 3rd charge-mass ratio state.

The present invention contributes to providing system robustness by allowing the larger tolerance limit of the time to chopping difference between the jet flow in long nozzle array.In addition, at least every a drop be captured device collect, this contributes to guaranteeing that liquid is retained on grabber, the possibility of liquid splash during which reducing operation.Present invention reduces the complexity of the control to the signal being sent to the excitation set be associated with the nozzle in nozzle array.This contributes to reducing the complexity of charging electrode structure and the interval increased between charging electrode structure and nozzle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of continuous liquid spraying system is provided.This system comprises the fluid chamber be communicated with fluid nozzle.This fluid chamber comprises liquid, and liquid is subject to being enough to the pressure by nozzle atomizing of liquids jet flow.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus is associated with liquid jet.This droplet-shaped forming apparatus is actuatable to be used for producing in liquid jet regulating, and blocks into one or more drops pair of advancing along a path optionally to cause the part of liquid jet.Each drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty to by drop.Each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop.Droplet-shaped forming apparatus is also actuatable to be used for producing in liquid jet regulating, and block into one or more 3rd drops of advancing along described path optionally to cause the part of liquid jet, described 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop.3rd drop than the first drop and the second drop large.Charging equipment comprises the charging electrode be associated with liquid jet, and the change potential source between charging electrode and liquid jet.Described change potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with formed drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop to equal cycle in cycle.Described waveform also comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status.Charging equipment is synchronous with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on the first drop of drop centering, the second drop of drop centering produces the second charge-mass ratio, and produces the 3rd charge-mass ratio on the 3rd drop.3rd charge-mass ratio is substantially identical with the first charge-mass ratio.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 the 3rd drop with the 3rd charge-mass ratio is caused to be advanced along the 3rd path.3rd path is substantially identical with the first path.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Accompanying drawing is with reference to in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention following, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the simplified schematic block diagram according to exemplary continuous ink-jet system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates the liquid jet sprayed from droplet generator and the image blocking into drop subsequently with the basic cycle thereof;

Fig. 3 is nozzle and the simplified schematic block diagram of jet flow excitation set that is associated according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 A illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the first embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under full print conditions according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 B illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the first embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under non-print condition according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 C illustrates the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the first embodiment by continuous liquid spraying system according to the present invention and general print conditions is shown;

Fig. 5 A illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under full print conditions according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 B illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under non-print condition according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 C illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the first embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under general print conditions according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 A illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the second alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under full print conditions according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 B illustrates by being operated in the cross sectional view of the liquid jet of the second alternate embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system under non-print condition according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates the liquid jet sprayed from droplet generator and the image blocking into the drop generated with the half of fundamental frequency subsequently thereof; A illustrates and to block as single drop and to keep the drop pair combined, and B illustrates and to block as single drop, separately and the drop pair reconfigured subsequently, and C illustrates and blocks the moment block separately and the drop being combined into single drop subsequently with similar;

Fig. 8 illustrates according to continuous liquid spraying system of the present invention, in the time lapse from a to h in sequence, produces the front view of the right drop produced from jet flow 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 that diagram drop forms first exemplary embodiment of blocking the sequential chart in moment of pulse, charging electrode waveform and drop;

Figure 11 illustrates that diagram drop forms second exemplary embodiment of blocking the sequential chart in moment of pulse, charging electrode waveform and drop; And

Figure 12 is the block diagram of the droplet discharge method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

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.To be appreciated that the element not specifically illustrating or describe can be taked to 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 show exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and for the sake of clarity, diagram is not drawn in proportion.Those of ordinary skill in the art easily can 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 is provided in printhead conventional in ink-jet print system or print head assembly.In such systems, liquid is the ink for printing on the recording medium.But occurring that other are applied, these application use ink jet-print heads to launch (except ink) meticulous measurement of needs 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 of free liquid jet, in the article " unstability (Instability of jets) of jet flow " (Proc.London Math.Soc.10 (4)) of F.R.S. (Lord) Rayleigh to deliver for 1878, carried out two-dimension analysis at first to the physical of this free liquid jet.The analysis display of Lord Rayleigh, liquid is by tap hole, nozzle under pressure P, and formation diameter is d _jand with speed v _jthe liquid jet of movement.Jet diameter d _jbe substantially equal to effective nozzle diameter dn and jet speed is directly proportional to the square root of liquid storehouse pressure P.The analysis display of Rayleigh, jet flow is broken into drip not of uniform size naturally by based on surface wave, and described surface wave has and is greater than π d _jwavelength X, that is, λ>=π d _j.The analysis of Rayleigh also shows, if particular surface wavelength is initiated with enough large amplitude, one-tenth is then taken as the leading factor by this particular surface wavelength, thus " excitation " jet flow produces the drop of single size.Continous inkjet (CIJ) droplet generator adopts periodic physical process (so-called " disturbance " or " excitation "), and this physical process has the effect 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 most cutting back break time.At optimal frequency F _optplace, disturbance wavelength X is substantially equal to 4.5d _j.Disturbance wavelength X is made to equal π d _jfrequency be called as Rayleigh cut frequency F _r, this is because the disturbance of liquid jet in the frequency higher than this cut frequency can not become large to cause droplet-shaped to become.

Here the stream of liquid droplets produced by application Rayleigh excitation is called the stream of liquid droplets creating predetermined.Although in the CIJ system of prior art, unchangeably there is uniform size for the interested drop printed or design layer deposits, but will explain, for the present invention, pumping signal can be handled produce the drop of the volume of the prearranged multiple with uniform size.Therefore, phrase " stream of liquid droplets of predetermined " comprises and is truncated Chengdu and has the stream of liquid droplets of the drop of a size or be truncated into the stream of liquid droplets of 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 not always in a predictive manner with other droplets mixing, thus change the volume of the required drop that will be used for printing or draw a little.But the existence of uncertain moonlet drop is unessential for the present invention, and do not think that to have which obviated drop size real by synchronous energy signal institute used in the present invention foregone conclusion.Therefore, being used for describing term of the present invention " predetermined " should be understood to: owing to forming uncertain satellite droplet, and therefore droplet size, about the desired value of plan, some little change may occur.

The exemplary embodiment discussed below with reference to accompanying drawing 1-12 is the incompatible description of particular group using assembly, such as, 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 ink pump is drawn onto printhead 12(also referred to as liquid ejector by continuously) in set up continuous print ink droplet stream.Print system 10 receives digitized image processing data from the image source 13 of such as scanner, computer or digital camera and so on or other digital data sources, and this digital data source provides the contour images data of raster data image, page description language form or other forms of DID.View data from image source 13 is transmitted periodically from the coordinator to image processor 16.Image processor 16 image data processing the memory comprised for storing view data.Image processor 16 is grating image processor (RIP) normally.The view data (also referred to as print data) be stored in the video memory of image processor 16 in image processor 16 is transmitted periodically from the coordinator to excitation controller 18, as will be described below, this excitation controller 18 generates the electrical excitation pulse of variation patterns in time, to make to 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 be associated with each nozzle.Printhead 12 and deflecting mechanism 14 cooperate, to judge that droplet is printed on the appropriate location specified by the data in video memory in recording medium 19, or the deflected and recovery via ink recovery unit 15.Ink in ink recovery unit 15 directed time ink storehouse 11.Ink is distributed to the rear surface of printhead 12 under stress by ink channel, this ink channel comprises and being formed in usually by the chamber in the substrate that silicon is formed or substantial space.Alternatively, this chamber can be formed in the multiform sheet (manifold piece) that silicon substrate is attached to.Ink preferably flows to the front surface of printhead 12 by the gap and/or hole being etched through the silicon substrate of printhead 12 from chamber, multiple nozzle and excitation set are positioned at the front surface of printhead 12.The ink pressure being suitable for optimum operation will depend on multiple factor, comprise the geometry of nozzle and the hot attribute of hot attribute and ink and hydrodynamic attribute.Constant ink pressure can be realized by applying pressure to ink storehouse 11 under the control of ink pressure adjuster 20.

No matter drip black formula ink-jet or continuous ink jet as required, 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, generally wish one or more drop to be placed in some pixel regions (pixel) on receiver, these pixel regions are such as corresponding to the pixel of information comprising 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, such as, for simple printing solution, be placed in the center of each pixel region, or alternatively, be placed in multiple 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 controlledly can not realize in each pixel region hope drop point, then may there is image artifacts, if in adjacent pixel regions the departing from of repeat distance desired location similar type; especially true.View data is converted to the image page image of image mapped by the processor 16 of RIP or other types, for printing.During printing, recording medium 19 utilizes and carries out automatically controlled multiple conveying rollers 22 by medium transmission controller 21 and move relative to printhead 12.Logic controller 17(preferably based on microprocessor and be suitably programmed in a known manner) be provided for control signal that transmission control unit (TCU) 21 is cooperated with ink pressure adjuster 20 and excitation controller 18.Excitation controller 18 comprises the drop controller providing drop to form pulse, and drop formation pulse is the drive singal for independent ink droplet to be ejected into according to the view data obtained from the video memory of a part for composing images processor 16 recording medium 19 from printhead 12.The additional image data for improving print image quality that view data can comprise raw image data, generate from image processing algorithm, and from the data that drop drop point corrects, the data that should correct from drop drop point can generate from a lot of source, such as, the technical staff of printhead sign and image processing field is known, is generated by the operate miss measuring each nozzle in printhead 12.Therefore, the general source of the data that the information being representative in image processor 16 sprays for drop can be said, such as, the desired location of the little ink droplet that will print and the mark of those droplets of recovery will be collected.

It should be appreciated that the different mechanical arrangements that can use and control for receiver transmission.Such as, when page width printing head, recording medium 19 being moved the printhead 12 fixed by is easily.On the other hand, when sweep type print system, then more convenient along normal axis (that is, sub scanning direction) movable recording media along axle (that is, a main scanning direction) mobile print head with opposing grid motion mode.

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 is normally sent to printhead 12 voltage pulse by electric connector.But, as known in inkjet printing field, also the pulse of other types (such as optical pulse) printhead 12 be can be sent to, printing and non-print drop be formed to cause at specific nozzle place.As will be described below, printed droplets just enters recording medium by spatial row once formation, and clashes into the specific pixel region of recording medium subsequently or collected by grabber.

With reference to figure 2, print system has printhead associated with it, this printhead can action to produce the array of liquid jet 43 from the array of nozzle 50.What be associated with each liquid jet 43 is a droplet-shaped forming apparatus 89.This droplet-shaped forming apparatus comprise drop formed converter 59 and to drop formed converter provide waveform 55(to form waveform also referred to as drop) drop formed sources of waveforms 56.Drop forms converter (being commonly referred to as excitation converter) can have any type being suitable for setting up disturbance on liquid jet, such as hot equipment, piezoelectric device, MEMS actuator, electric hydrodynamic force equipment, light device, electrostrictive device or their combination.Fig. 3 illustrates that hydrothermal solution drips the example forming converter 59, and this hydrothermal solution is dripped the ohmic load forming the voltage driven that converter 59 is provided by energized sources of waveforms 56 and formed.Depend on the type of used converter, converter can be arranged in provides the fluid chamber of liquid or in its vicinity to act on the liquid of fluid chamber to nozzle, be arranged in nozzle or tightly around nozzle to act on liquid through during nozzle at liquid, or to 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 modulates with wavelength X in liquid jet.Fundamental frequency f ₀usually close to F _optand be always less than F _r.Modulation amplitude increases, and blocks into drop to make the part of liquid jet.By the action of droplet-shaped forming apparatus, can by fundamental frequency f ₀(there is basic cycle T ₀=1/f ₀) produce 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 continuous drop 35 and 36 produced with fundamental frequency equals the wavelength X of the disturbance on liquid jet substantially.From liquid jet fracture this sequence of droplets formed drop to 34 sequence, each drop is to having the first drop 36 and the second drop 35.Therefore, drop to 34 forming frequency (be commonly referred to as drop to frequency f _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 that provides of droplet-shaped forming apparatus be associated, fundamental frequency f ₀generate the drop with basic same volume separated by distance lambda.Will be understood that, although the first and second drops have substantially identical volume in the embodiment depicted in figure 2, the first and second drops can have different volumes, to make to generate the first and second drops pair fifty-fifty on drop forming frequency.Such as, the volume ratio of the first drop and the second drop can change between 3:4 at about 4:3 with approximately.Form converter to the excitation of liquid jet 43 by the drop be associated with liquid jet or nozzle 50 in fig. 2 independently to control.In one embodiment, drop formation converter 59 comprises the one or more resistive elements contiguous with nozzle 50.In this embodiment, realize liquid jet excitation by the periodic current pulse sending arbitrary shape, this periodic current pulse forms sources of waveforms by drop to be provided by the resistive element of each opening around droplet generator.

The formation of drop of the liquid stream of spraying since inkjet nozzle can be controlled by following waveform: wherein, is associated with specific nozzle opening relative at least one being applied to each drop and being formed in the amplitude of other pulses in the waveform of converter or wave sequence, dutycycle or sequential.The drop that can form waveform to drop forms pulse and controls, and forms two continuous drops with the part making in jet flow two continuous fundamental wavelengths long or forms single larger drop.Larger drop will produce with the half of 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 the output of charging electrode voltage in time.The charging electrode 44 be 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, then charging electrode and electrically on ground connection liquid jet between produce electric field.Capacitance Coupled between the liquid jet of charging electrode and electrically upper ground connection causes net charge at the end of the liquid jet of conduction.(liquid jet is contacted and ground connection by the fluid chamber of the droplet generator with ground connection.) if the end section of liquid jet blocks to form drop there is net charge on the end of liquid jet while, the electric charge of this end section of liquid jet is then absorbed in the new drop formed.

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 ₀/ 2(this be the half of fundamental frequency) drop in frequency, or to 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 change between charging electrode 44 and liquid jet 43.In fig. 2, charging electrode waveform 97 comprises the first differentiation voltage status and second and distinguishes voltage status, and each voltage status is movable for the time interval equaling the basic cycle.The waveform being provided to charging electrode independent of or not in response to the view data that will print.Charging equipment 83 is synchronous with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to make to keep fixing phase relation between the clock that the charging electrode waveform produced by charging pulse voltage source 51 and drop form sources of waveforms.As a result, the phase place of blocking being formed the drop from liquid stream of waveform generation by drop is locked in phase to charging electrode waveform.As indicated in fig. 10, phase shift (being represented by delay 93) can be there is between charging electrode waveform and drop formation waveform.Phase shift is set, to make for produced each drop pair, block out the first drop when charging electrode is in the first voltage status from jet flow and block out the second right drop of drop when charging electrode is in the second voltage status from jet flow, described first voltage status produces the first charge-mass ratio state on the first drop 36, and described second voltage status produces the second charge-mass ratio state on the second drop 35 that drop is right.The drop produced from the part with two continuous fundamental wavelength length jet flow forms waveform 55 to being in response to the suitable drop being provided to excitation converter 59.

As mentioned above, other drops can be used to form waveform and to form large drop 49 from the part with two continuous fundamental wavelength length jet flow.By using suitable drop to form waveform, the part blocking in jet flow to form large drop 49 can be made to block from jet flow when charging electrode is in the first voltage status (see Fig. 4 B).The large drop 49 of similar formation is with the time to chopping separated in time frequency according to drop and produces with the time to chopping that the first voltage status with charging electrode is synchronous.Therefore, the time interval formed continuously between large drop 49 equals to be formed continuous drop substantially to the time interval between 34.Large drop 49 has the quality of the quality sum being substantially equal to drop 35 and 36, and compared with the first drop 36 blocked in the relevant voltage state of charging electrode, is charged to the electric charge of the twice of the electric charge be substantially equal on drop 35 and 36 when blocking.Therefore, the charge-mass ratio on the large drop 49 blocked 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, therefore drop deflection electric field deflects the corresponding amount substantially identical compared with droplet by making the large drop 49 charged deflect with them.Waveform that large drop and droplet use is formed subsequently and utilizes charging electrode waveform to carry out drop the phase place of blocking by discussing more in detail.

Fig. 4 A to Fig. 6 B illustrates various embodiment of the present invention, wherein, during each drop is to the cycle, blocks out drop to 35 and 36 or single large drop 49 from liquid jet 43.Fig. 4 A, 5A and 6A illustrate the various embodiments in full printing model, wherein produce the right continuous sequence of drop to double drop to the fundamental frequency of frequency, and are printed every a drop.Fig. 4 B, 5B and 6B illustrate the various embodiments in non-print pattern, wherein drop in frequency produce have the larger drop 49 of the quality of the quality sum being substantially equal to drop 35 and 36 continuous sequence and do not have drop to be printed.Fig. 4 C and 5C illustrates normal print mode, and wherein during drop is to the cycle, drop both produces with larger drop, and a drop of the drop centering of each formation is printed.Therefore, blocking to form drop for each pixel to 34 or large drop 49 by controlling jet flow, arbitrfary point pattern can be printed on recording medium 19.Usually, be identical to frequency for all nozzles in printhead 12 for the drop of the drop excitation converter of the whole array of the nozzle 50 in printhead.

In various embodiments of the present invention, right the first drop 36 of drop has the first state of charge and advances along the first path, and right the second drop 35 of drop has the second state of charge and advances along the second path.Be furnished with grabber to tackle the first path, and this grabber does not tackle the second path, thus first drop 36 of advancing along the first path device that is captured is caught, and the captured device of second drop 35 of advancing along the second path is caught.Do not wish that term " the first drop " and " the second drop " and term " the first voltage status " and " the second voltage status " instruction set up the time sequencing of drop or voltage status.In figures 6 a and 6b, the first state of charge is illustrated as having negative electrical charge.In alternative embodiments, the first and second waveform states are configured to the first drop is just being charged and non-negative charging.In the 5 embodiment of figure 5, the first state of charge corresponds to uncharged drop state, and the second state of charge corresponds to by the second drop charged.Second state of charge is illustrated as having negative electrical charge.In alternative embodiments, the second state of charge can correspond 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 formed by encouraging converter 59 and excitation waveform source 56.Excitation waveform source 56 provides excitation waveform 55 to excitation converter 59, and excitation converter 59 sets up disturbance on the liquid jet 43 flowing through nozzle 50.The amplitude of the energy pulse of excitation waveform 55, duration and sequential determine the formation of drop, comprise and block moment or phase place.The time interval between the blocking of continuous drop determines the size of drop.Shown in excitation controller 18(Fig. 1) data be sent to excitation waveform source 56, at excitation waveform source 56 place, data are converted into the voltage pulse of time variations pattern, with make nozzle 50 opening part formed stream of liquid droplets.The size of blocking moment and drop encouraging the certain droplet excitation waveform 55 of converter 59 to determine continuous drop is provided to by excitation waveform source 56.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 being applied to the energy pulse of excitation converter from excitation waveform depends on printing or view data.When print data stream requires drop to be printed in pixel, the waveform being provided to excitation converter to produce the right waveform of the drop that on average separates in time by fundamental frequency, and a drop of drop centering will be printed.When print data stream requires the sequence of print pixel, the sequence being provided to the waveform of excitation converter produces the right sequence of drop, and the same drop of each drop centering will be printed.When print data requires non-print drop, the waveform being provided to excitation converter is by the waveform of the large drop of generation, and when print data requires the sequence of non-print drop, the waveform being provided to excitation converter is by the waveform of the large sequence of droplets of generation.Large drop is not had to be printed in these large drops.In certain embodiments, the wave sequence created based on print data stream comprises the wave sequence selected from one group of predetermined waveform.This organizes predetermined waveform and comprises for creating drop to one or more waveform of (wherein the drop of drop centering does not mix) and the one or more waveforms for creating 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, the part in jet flow with two continuous fundamental wavelength length can block the unit being shaped as the single larger drop of staying together all the time; As shown in Figure 7 B, the part in jet flow with two continuous fundamental wavelength length can be blocked 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 seen in figure 7 c, the part in jet flow with two continuous fundamental wavelength length can block into two drops separated, and these two drops separated are mixed into larger drop subsequently.Making as seen in figure 7 c has the long part of two continuous fundamental wavelengths and blocks into two drops separated and the waveform that these two drops separated are mixed into a larger drop subsequently can be further adjusted in jet flow, with make two drops separated to block phase place close to each other.Thus two drops being mixed to form large drop can block from jet flow when charging electrode is in the first voltage status.As a result, two drops being 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 the quality sum forming drop, and electric charge equals the electric charge sum forming drop.From the large drop with the combination that formation drop that almost drop simultaneously blocks is formed, there is the 3rd charge-mass ratio.3rd charge-mass ratio state and the first charge-mass ratio state class are seemingly.Following situation is also possible: when drop formed waveform adjusted or two drops selecting to make drop right block phase place block when charging electrode is in the first voltage status time, two drops are deflected and can not mix before 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 is formed by the part in jet flow with two continuous fundamental wavelength length, and blocks into a unit when charging electrode is in the first voltage status to form single large drop.The electric charge that the truncation part of liquid jet causes is relevant to the surface area of this part, and relevant to the electric-field intensity of the surface of this part.When about twice that the surface area blocking the part forming large drop is the surface area blocking the part forming the first drop, and the electric field provided by charging electrode and this charging electrode be supplied to the electric field of the first drop of drop centering similar time, the electric charge that large drop causes thereon when blocking is about twice of the electric charge of the first drop of drop centering.Have the quality of about twice of the quality of the first drop approximating greatly drop centering due to large drop, the charge-mass ratio of large drop that therefore formed by the part in jet flow with two continuous fundamental wavelength length, that block into single large drop together approximates greatly the charge-mass ratio state of the first charge-mass ratio state.Do not rely on large drop by the charge-mass ratio in jet flow with the large drop that the long part of two continuous fundamental wavelengths is formed and whether block into two drops and this two drops merge subsequently or from not separated.

Fig. 4 A to Fig. 6 B illustrates the various embodiment of the continuous liquid spraying system 40 described in detail and the specific various embodiment of the charging equipment 83 be included in this continuous liquid spraying system 40 and deflecting mechanism 14 here.Continuous liquid spraying system 40 embodiment comprises with reference to the assembly described by the continous inkjet system shown in figure 1.Continuous liquid spraying system 40 embodiment comprises liquid ejector or printhead 12, and it comprises the fluid chamber 24 of carrying out fluid circulation with nozzle 50 or nozzle array.(in the drawings, the array of nozzle will extend in figure plane and outside.) fluid chamber 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 droplet-shaped forming apparatus converter 59 and drop forms sources of waveforms 56, this drop forms sources of waveforms 56 and provides excitation waveform 55, excitation waveform 55 be operationally used for producing in liquid jet modulation with a series of drops part that in liquid jet, continuous fundamental wavelength is grown being broken into comprise the first drop 36 and second drop 35 of advancing along initial path to or a series of larger drop 49 of advancing along same initial path.The waveform provided by sources of waveforms 56 is adjusted or waveform is selected, to make to generate drop to 35 and 36 or larger drops 49 during each drop is to the cycle.This continuous liquid spraying system also comprises charging equipment 83, and this charging equipment 83 comprises the source of the charging electrode 44 or 45 that is associated with the array of liquid jet and the change electromotive force 51 between charging electrode and liquid jet.The source of change electromotive force 51 applies to have to equal the charging electrode waveform 97 of drop to the cycle in cycle to charging electrode.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, to make the disconnect position of its contiguous liquid jet in nozzle array.Charging equipment is synchronous with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, and to make the first voltage status be movable when the first drop 36 adjacent electrode of drop centering blocks, and the second voltage status is movable when the second drop 35 adjacent electrode of drop centering blocks.As the result of the electric field produced by the charging electrode in the first and second voltage status, the first drop of each drop centering produces the first charge-mass ratio state, and on the second drop, produces the second charge-mass ratio state.Charging equipment is also synchronous with droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to make only the first voltage status be movable when large drop 49 or the contiguous charging electrode 44 of drop 49a and 49b that on the time, neighbour separates block, described drop 49a and 49b closely blocks in time and is combined into single large drop 49 subsequently.Therefore, large drop 49 produces the 3rd charge-mass ratio state.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 liquid jet side adjacent with point of cut-off, not only before drop blocks by the end of charge attraction to jet flow, also at drop from the drop attracted after liquid jet blocks through charging.Described by this deflecting mechanism has had in the article of J.A.Katerberg " Dropcharging and deflection using a planar charge plate " (the 4th international conference about the progress of non-impact printing technique).Grabber 47 also forms a part for deflecting apparatus 14.As U.S. Patent No. 3,656, described by 171, the mode that the drop through charging passed in the front on the grabber surface of conduction makes the surface charge on the grabber surface 52 of conduction be affixed on grabber surface 52 with the drop made through charging redistributes.

In order to be printed to selectively on substrate by drop, grabber is used to tackle the drop of advancing along the first path and the 3rd path.Fig. 4 A-4C and Fig. 6 A-6B illustrates such embodiment, and wherein, grabber interception, along first and the 3rd path drop of advancing, allows the drop contact substrate of advancing along the second path simultaneously and printed.In these embodiments, charge stronger to first and tricharged state charge ratio to the second state of charge.Fig. 5 A-5C illustrates such embodiment, and wherein, grabber interception, along first and the 3rd path drop of advancing, allows the drop contact substrate of advancing along the first path simultaneously and printed.In this embodiment, charge stronger to the second state of charge charge ratio to first and tricharged state.

Fig. 4 A-4C illustrates the sectional view of the primary clustering of continuous liquid spraying system and shows the different printing models of the first embodiment of the present invention.This continuous liquid spraying system comprises printhead 12, and printhead 12 comprises the fluid chamber 24 be communicated with the array fluid of the one or more nozzles 50 for launching liquid stream 43.Each liquid jet is associated with an excitation converter 59.In the embodiment shown, converter 59 is encouraged to be formed in the wall around nozzle 50.Excitation converter 59 separately can be integrated with each nozzle in multiple nozzle.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 to tackle or collect the drop through charging, does not contact and be printed on print media or substrate 19 to make drop.In order to the correct work of Fig. 4 A and printhead 12 shown in the drawings subsequently, grabber 47 and/or grabber base plate 57 ground connection, to allow the electric-charge-dissipating on the drop tackled when ink to flow to below grabber surface 52 and enters ink backward channel 58.The grabber surface 52 of grabber 47 has angle θ relative 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 the grabber 47 of ground connection.Drop 36 returns grabber surface 52 at charged droplets grabber contact point 26, to form the ink film 48 under the surface advancing 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 in ink film 48.If the time to chopping existence blocked at drop adjacent electrode is poor to the positive voltage potential of liquid jet 43 from electrode 44, then cause negative electrical charge by the drop formed, this negative electrical charge will be retained after liquid jet blocks at drop.If it is poor to the voltage potential of liquid jet 43 from electrode 44 not exist when drop blocks, expection can not be caused at drop from the electric charge be retained after liquid jet blocks on the drop formed.But, due to the second drop 35 and first drop 36 Capacitance Coupled through charging of blocking from liquid jet, even if therefore also little electric charge can be caused on the second drop when charging electrode is in 0V 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, close to zero charge, exists very little to make the second drop 35 of drop centering 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, the drop along the second path may exist little electric charge, in the case, liquid jet axle 87 will be departed from path 37.First drop 36 of drop centering is in high state of charge, deflects when advancing along the first path 38 to make the first drop 36.Therefore, the present invention allows with drop frequency f _p=f ₀/ 2 or drop to cycle T _p=2T ₀, at each drop, a printed droplets is printed to the cycle.This is defined as droplet printing model by us, 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 ₀formed, fundamental frequency f ₀the optimum frequency that jet flow is blocked can be adjusted to, in large drop printing model, use large combination drop to print.

As mentioned above, even if also little electric charge can be caused on the second drop when charging electrode is in 0V in the second state of charge.Therefore, the second drop can experience primary deflector.In certain embodiments, the second voltage status by changing charging electrode waveform neutralizes by the electric charge of the first drop at the capable electric charge caused of the second drop.Under the second voltage status, do not use 0V, but use and offset relative to the little of 0V.This offset voltage is selected, and to make the electric charge that the drop that blocks at contiguous charging electrode during the second voltage status causes have same magnitude, and has opposite polarity with by previous drop blocking the electric charge that drop causes.Result is the drop obtaining substantially not having electric charge, and it does not experience the deflection caused by electrostatic force substantially.DC side-play amount depends on the customized configuration (such as comprising, is use charging electrode or two charging electrodes in systems in which) of system or the geometry character (such as comprising, the relative position of jet flow and (one or more) charging electrode) of system.Usually, the second voltage status is between 33% and 10% to the scope of the first voltage status.Such as, in some applications, when the first voltage status comprises 200 volts, the second voltage status comprises DC skew (25% of the first voltage status) of 50 volts.

Think that continuous print drop 36 and 35 is drops pair, the first drop 36 that wherein drop is right is charged to the first charge-mass ratio state by charging electrode, and right the second drop 35 of drop is charged to the second charge-mass ratio state by charging electrode.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, they experience the different amount of deflections caused by deflecting apparatus 14, and deflecting apparatus 14 comprises groove 47 and the charging equipment 83 of ground connection, and 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 the repetition rate of half of fundamental frequency that formed of the drop with drop 35 and 36.First drop 36 is deflected to follow the first path 38, and the second drop 35 follows the second path 37 to clash into recording medium 19, thus at recording medium 19 with speed v _mthe ink droplet 46 printed is made to deposit on this recording medium while movement.

Fig. 4 A illustrates the sectional view through liquid jet 43 of the first embodiment according to continous inkjet system of the present invention, and the drop be presented under full print conditions is to sequence, the second drop 35 that wherein each drop is right is charged to the second charge-mass ratio state by charging electrode 44 and does not attracted to grabber 47, but being printed on recording medium 19 as the sequence of printed droplets 46, right the first drop 36 of drop is charged to the first charge-mass ratio state by charging electrode 44 and attracted to grabber 47 and do not printed.In order to produce drop as shown in Figure 4 A, form sources of waveforms 56 with basic cycle T by drop ₀, the excitation that utilizes excitation waveform 55 to carry out, set up continuous print drop with the basic cycle.As a result, do not mix at the first and second drops of drop centering, but distance of separation λ.The suitable waveform being applied to electrode 44 will be the square wave with roughly 50% dutycycle, and it has and equals drop to cycle T _p=2T ₀cycle, and at high state, there is positive voltage, low state ground connection.

Fig. 4 B illustrates non-print condition, wherein forms the long sequence of large drop 49 with the half of fundamental frequency.While high voltage is in the first voltage status, large drop 49 blocks at ate electrode, and after blocking, large drop 49 has the net charge of the twice of the electric charge be substantially equal on the first drop 36.Net charge on large drop corresponds 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 the 3rd path 39.Because large drop 49 has the charge-mass ratio similar with the first drop 36 through charging, therefore their experience are as the deflection of the similar amplitude of the first drop 36.As a result, large drop 49 is advanced along the 3rd path 39 being similar to the first path 37, and charged droplets grabber contact point 27 be captured device surface 52 interception, to form the ink film 48 under the surface advancing 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 is in sequence, and all drops to being all combined and collecting, and do not have printed droplets 46 on recording medium 19.

Fig. 4 C illustrates normal print sequence, and wherein, drop generates with 36 35 together with some larger drops 49.Drop 35 is printed on the recording medium 19 of movement as printed dot 46, and is not printed by collecting through the drop 36 of charging and the larger drop 49 through charging.Described by the discussion with reference to figure 1, the pattern of printed dot 46 will corresponding to the view data from image source 13.

Fig. 5 A-5C illustrates the alternate embodiment according to continous inkjet system of the present invention.Sectional view through liquid jet is shown, wherein, the first drop 36 of large drop 49 and not deflection is collected, and is printed through the second drop 35 of deflection.Fig. 5 A illustrates that drop under full print conditions is to sequence, and Fig. 5 B illustrates that drop under non-print condition is to sequence, and Fig. 5 C illustrates normal printing condition, and wherein some drop is printed.In figure 5b, large drop 49 is illustrated as two drop 49a and 49b separated near point of cut-off, these two drop 49a with 49b may together with block, then separate, be more again mixed into single large drop 49.It is two drops that drop 49a with 49b also may block in the almost identical time respectively, and is mixed into single large drop subsequently.In this embodiment, the first voltage status corresponds to low or zero-voltage state, and the first state of charge therefore on the first drop of drop centering is uncharged relative to the second state of charge on the second drop of drop centering.

Fig. 7 illustrate utilize be applied to drop formed converter different excitation waveforms, block drop to generate the image of large drop 49 with the half of fundamental frequency from jet flow 43.As shown in A, B and C of Fig. 7, change the excitation waveform being applied to drop formation converter and drop formative dynamics is changed.A illustrates such drop pair, they block as single drop 49 and keep combination, 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 the time to chopping while of almost, are combined into single drop 49 subsequently.Large drop is once be fully formed, and the average distance between them is 2 λ.All drops show all in the figure 7 for blocking in plane of BOL is blocked from jet flow.

In Fig. 5 A-5C illustrated embodiment, charging electrode 44 comprises the Part I 44a and Part II 44b that are positioned at the relative both sides of liquid jet, and liquid jet blocks between these two portions.Usually, the Part I 44a of charging electrode 44 and Part II 44b or the Different electrodes separated, or the separate section of same equipment.As Fig. 4 A-4C discuss, the drop that charge voltage source 51 is formed with drop transmits the charging electrode waveform 97 of repetition to frequency, be charged to the first state of charge with the first drop 36 of the drop centering making order by charging electrode 44, and the second drop 35 of drop centering is charged to the second state of charge by charging electrode 44.The left-right parts of charging electrode is biased to same potential by charging pulse source 51.Add in the side relative to Part I 44a of liquid jet the second charging electrode portion 44b being biased to same potential to make to produce a region between charging electrode portion 44a and 44b, this region bands has the center almost symmetrical electric field about jet flow.As a result, the little change of charging to the lateral attitude of jet flow of the drop blocked from liquid jet between electrode is very insensitive.Electric field allows drop to be charged when not applying obvious lateral deflection power to drop near point of cut-off about the nearly symmetry of liquid jet.In this embodiment, deflecting mechanism 14 comprises a pair deflecting electrode 53 and 63 being positioned at below charging electrode 44a and 44b and below mixing point that drop 49a and 49b is mixed into single large drop 49.Electromotive force between these two electrodes produces in-between the electrodes by the drop deflection of negative charging electric field to the left.The intensity of drop deflection electric field depends on the interval between these two electrodes and the voltage between them.In this embodiment, deflecting electrode 53 is positively biased, and deflecting electrode 63 is negatively biased.By with these two electrodes of the bias contrary relative to the liquid jet of ground connection, their contributions for the electric charge of the drop blocked from liquid jet can be minimized.

In Fig. 5 A-5C illustrated embodiment, use blade type grabber 67 to tackle non-print droplet trajectory.Grabber 67 comprises groove 30 and is positioned at below a pair deflecting electrode 53 and 63.Grabber 67 and groove 30 towards making grabber tackle the drop (as shown in Figure 5A) of advancing along the second path 37 for single uncharged drop, also tackle the large drop 49(that advances along the 3rd path 39 as shown in Figure 5 B), but do not tackle the single charged droplets 36 of advancing along the first path 38.Preferably, grabber is arranged such that the skewed surface of the drop shock groove 30 clashing into grabber, with splashing during minimum collisions.The charged droplets 36 with the first charge-mass ratio of advancing along the first path 38 is printed on recording medium 19.

In order to discuss below, we suppose that the half of the fundamental frequency that charging pulse source 51 is formed with drop transmits the square-wave waveform of about 50% dutycycle.When electrode 44 has positive potential, drop 36 produces negative electrical charge thereon when blocking from the jet flow 43 of ground connection.When existing seldom on electrode 44 during forming drop 35 or there is not voltage, drop 35 will cause at drop 35 when blocking from the jet flow 43 of ground connection and seldom or not cause electric charge.Deflecting electrode 53 arranges positive potential, and this will attract the plane of drop towards deflecting electrode 53 of negative charging.Deflecting electrode 63 being arranged, negative potential will repel the drop 36 of negative charging away from deflecting electrode 63, and this will tend to auxiliary droplet 36 and deflect towards deflecting electrode 53.The field produced on deflecting electrode by the voltage applied provides enough power by drop 36, can enough deflect avoid groove 30 and be printed on recording medium 19 to make them.In order to the normal work of configuration shown in Fig. 5 A-5C, the phase place of bifurcation waveform 97 must Fig. 4 A-4C is shown relatively configure in about 180 degree of the phase of bifurcation waveform 97 that utilizes.For the configuration of Fig. 5 A-5C, drop 35 and large drop 49 not by charging printed droplets 36 charged, and shown in Fig. 4 A-4C configuration in, drop 36 and large drop 49 by charging printed droplets 35 do not charged.

Fig. 5 C illustrates normal print sequence, and wherein drop generates with 36 35 together with some larger drop 49.The drop 36 of charging is printed on the recording medium 19 of movement as printed dot 46, and uncharged drop 36 and uncharged large drop 49 are not printed by collecting.The pattern of printed dot 46 is by corresponding with the view data from image source 13 described by 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 being provided to air chamber by air-source (not shown) liquid jet and stream of liquid droplets between the Part I and Part II 44a and 44b of charging electrode respectively by time (indicated by arrow 65) around liquid jet and stream of liquid droplets.This air stream moved in parallel roughly with initial liquid drop track contributes to the air reduced drop and pulls effect, and this air pulls effect can produce drop landing error.

Fig. 6 A-6B illustrates the sectional view through liquid jet of second alternate embodiment according to continous inkjet system of the present invention with integrated electrode and trench design.Fig. 6 A illustrates that drop under full print conditions is to sequence, and Fig. 6 B illustrates that drop under non-print condition is to sequence.All component shown in the right side of jet flow 43 is all optional.Insulator 68 and optional insulator 68a are affixed on the upper surface of charging electrode 45 and optional second charging electrode portion 45a respectively, and it is adjacent to the disconnect position 32 of the position and liquid jet 43 of guaranteeing charging electrode 45 and optional charging electrode 45a to serve as interval body.Gap 66 can be there is between the top of insulator 68 and the pelvic outlet plane of nozzle 50.The edge towards jet flow 43 of charging electrode 45 and 45a is angled in Fig. 6 A and Fig. 6 B, and to make to 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 to 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 the lower surface of side towards ink-jet drop and electrode 45.Optional insulation gap body 71 also has insulating binder 62a, and it is affixed on the lower surface of side towards ink-jet drop and electrode 45.Insulating binder 64,64a, 62 and the object of 62a be to prevent liquid from the surface of insulator, forming continuous print film, and keep liquid may to what eliminate electric short circuit away from electrode 45.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.What be affixed to the lower surface of optional insulation gap body 71 is the conductor 70 of ground connection.Another optional insulator 72 is affixed to the lower surface of the conductor 70 of ground connection.Optional deflecting electrode 74 in the face of 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, to be kept apart in the drop charge region near drop point of cut-off and the drop deflection field before grabber.This electric field contributing to guaranteeing that drop can not produce due to deflecting electrode when blocking from jet flow and being charged.The object of the conductor 75 of ground connection the drop impingement region of grabber and the electric field shielding produced by deflecting electrode will be opened.In drop impingement region, these existence can contribute to from groove 47 Surface Creation mist and sprinkling.Deflecting electrode 74 works 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, produces the front view of the right stream of liquid droplets produced from single jet flow of continuous drop.Fig. 8 a illustrates that non-print large drop 49(is at point of cut-off drop 49a and 49b) sequence, non-print large drop 49 is by blocking from liquid jet 43 at the disconnect position 32 adjacent with charging electrode 44 and producing, and tackle groove at the large drop trench contact point 27 of charging, thus form the ink film 48 below the surface flowing to grabber 47.Flow to the bottom of the ink film below grabber surface on grabber surface around radius (showing for R in Fig. 4 A) flowing and in ink recovery passage 58 between incoming seizure device 47 and grabber base plate 57, the ink recovery unit 15 of printer from ink recovery passage 58 by ink collection.Ink recovery passage 58 keeps under vacuo, 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 not all printed by collecting.Fig. 8 b illustrates and after non-print sequence of droplets, to generate next drop to produce the first printed droplets.First (low) drop 36 of this drop centering is charged, and second (high) drop 35 is not charged.Do not printed by the drop charged, and the drop of charging is collected and the device 47 that is captured is caught.Fig. 8 c-8h illustrates that continuous print printed droplets is to being generated.Diagonal dashed lines 81 is called as drop time passage sequence indicators, and it indicates the position of same drop in successive views.Last the non-print drop formed in Fig. 8 a intercepts grabber to being illustrated in charging combination drop trench contact point 27 in Fig. 8 c.First charged droplets 36 of the first printed droplets centering formed in figure 8b is illustrated in charged droplets trench contact point 26 in figure 8d and intercepts grabber.The contact point 26 on grabber for single drop is similar with the contact point for large drop 27 in position, because roughly the same with the charge-mass ratio of large non-print drop 49 for non-print drop 36.The uncharged printed droplets 35 of the first printed droplets centering formed in figure 8b is illustrated as arriving recording medium 19 and being printed as printed droplets 46 in Fig. 8 h.

Fig. 9 illustrates during 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.By the different printing of generation and non-print sequence during each nozzle is presented at normal printing operations.Charging electrode 44 and grabber 47 are shared for the jet flow of launching from all nozzles in the linear nozzle array of printhead.Charging electrode 44 is associated with each liquid jet from nozzle array, and for correct requirements of one's work of the present invention, nozzle array is placed in adjacent with the disconnect position 32 of each jet flow.When the drop 36 through charging with when being blocked grabber through the large drop 49 of charging and not printed by the drop 35 charged, form continuous print ink film 48 on the surface at whole grabber.When the path 38 of charged droplets 36 is substantially identical with the path 39 of the large drop 49 of charging, all drops collected intercept grabber at roughly the same height.This is required for the ink film setting up stable and uniform on the surface at grabber and the high accuracy realizing drop drop point.Be collected in the passage of ink film 48 on groove between grabber 47 and the grabber base plate 57 shared and be sent to the ink recovery unit of printer.

Figure 10 illustrates according to embodiments of the invention, shows the sequential chart blocking the moment of drop formation 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, drop excitation waveform (heater voltage waveform 55) as the function of time.The latter half B display of Figure 10 as the shared charging electrode voltage waveform of the function of time, and the drop produced by each drop excitation waveform shown in the part A of each figure block the moment.The two-part time shaft of Figure 10 all illustrates the cycle (numbering from 1 to 5) by drop, the twice of the basic cycle that the drop that this drop equals drop 36 and 35 to the cycle is formed.View shown in Figure 10 is presented at drop to a pair drop formed during all issues 2, at drop in all issues 2, one of drop is printed, and another drop is collected (not printing), and at drop in all issues 1,3,4,5, only have unprinted large drop be formed and collect.Form waveform at the second drop to the drop in the cycle to comprise and cause the waveform portion of formation first drop, comprise printed droplets and form the part of pulse 98 and another part of waveform, this part comprises non-print drop and forms pulse 99 and cause the second drop to be formed.The part B of Figure 10 illustrates the moment that charging voltage V and drop event of blocking as the function of time occur, and this charging voltage V is commonly referred to as the charging electrode waveform 97 being 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 that drop is formed to the cycle, with the drop making can to set up two drops during a drop charge wave period to or a large drop 49.The first voltage status 96 and the second voltage status 95 is comprised for the drop charge waveform of each drop to the time interval.First voltage status corresponds to high positive voltage, and the second voltage status corresponds to the low-voltage near 0 volt.In part B, the moment that each drop blocks from liquid jet is marked as rhombus.To have drawn from the part A as Figure 10 be shown in each drop the corresponding arrow blocking the moment for each drop in each drop pulse to part B formed to the drop that occurs during the time interval.Be presented at each drop time delay 93 and the time delay between the starting point of heater voltage pulse and the starting point in each charge waveforms cycle is formed to the first drop in the time interval.The moment of the beginning phase place of charging electrode waveform 97 is adjusted, suitably to distinguish by the drop that prints with not by the charge level difference between the drop that prints.Sequential shown in Figure 10 is suitable for the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 and 6, and the first drop 36 that wherein drop is right and large drop 49 are charged droplets, and right the second drop 35 of drop is uncharged drops.Change drop time delay 93 will to produce through the second drop 35 of charging and the first drop 36 of uncharged and large drop 49 half in cycle, this is suitable for the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.Therefore, use time delay 93 that droplet-shaped forming apparatus is synchronous with electrode charge voltage source, keep fixing phase relation to be formed between sources of waveforms clock at charging electrode waveform and drop.

Figure 10 illustrates that large drop is as the whole configuration blocked of single large drop 49.Each non-print drop forms pulse 94 to the large drop that the cycle 1,3,4,5 comprises for setting up large drop 49.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, thus 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 blocked during high-voltage state 95 electric field charging that produces by charging electrode, and drop 35 is not charged by charging electrode.

Figure 10 illustrates the embodiment printing low or uncharged drop.For through charging drop by will be captured by the drop that charges by printing embodiment, by adjusting each drop to the time delay 93 between the starting point of the first drop formation heater voltage pulse in the time interval and the starting point in charge waveforms cycle, phase shift is carried out to the beginning phase place of charging electrode waveform 97.As an example, drop basic cycle is added to large drop 49 and drop 36 will be made time delay 93 when blocking to be in low state of charge, and drop 35 will be in high state of charge for printing.

In the above-described embodiments, drop has substantially identical volume to the first drop 36 in 34 with the second drop 35.The formation of drop to 34 or large drop 49 presses drop to cycle T _p=2T ₀occur.This realizes the ability that efficient drop is formed and at full throttle prints.In other embodiments, the first drop of drop centering may be different with the volume of the second drop, and formed drop to 34 or the drop of drop 49 greatly to cycle T _pbe greater than 2T ₀, wherein T ₀the cycle compared with droplet in two drops of definition drop centering.Exemplarily, the first and second drops of drop centering can have the volume ratio of 4/3 or 3/2, and this corresponds to 7T ₀/ 3 or 5T ₀the drop of/3 is to cycle T _p.By Rayleigh cut frequency F _rdetermine the size of minimum drop.In these embodiments, charging electrode waveform cycle by equal to be formed 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 presses drop to circulation or period indicia.Each non-print drop period comprises the first drop and forms pulse 91 and the second drop formation pulse 92.At drop, the second drop is less than to the first and second drops time formed between pulses 91 and 92 in the cycle and 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 first and second drops uneven time formed between pulse can produce the speed difference between the first and second right drops of drop.Utilize such speed difference, right the first and second drops of drop can mix to form large drop 49 and without the need to operating speed regulating impulse.During the first voltage status 95 of charging electrode waveform 97, the drop forming large drop 49 blocks in time close to each other (being similar to shown in Fig. 7 C).Use the different drops be made up of pulse 101,102 and 103 to form waveform and set up printed droplets in the second drop is to the cycle.Selection causes the first drop 36 to block during the first voltage status 95 of charging electrode waveform 97 for the second drop to the waveform in cycle and the second drop 35 blocks during the second voltage status 96, and prevents drop 35 and 36 from mixing.In certain embodiments, waveform pulse 101 with 102 sequential can be identical with 92 with waveform pulse 91.Pulse 103 postpones blocking of drop centering second drop and prevents the second drop to the droplets mixing in cycle, thus 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 the half in total cycle.In other embodiments, can use have equal for the formation of drop to 34 or the drop of large drop 49 to other charging electrode waveforms in the cycle in cycle.Figure 11 illustrates an example, and wherein waveform 97 has two state of charge, and these two state of charge are movable for drop to the Different periods during the cycle.

Generally speaking, depend on the resolution requirement of printed image, the present invention can be implemented for the printed droplets set up within the scope of 1-100pl, and wherein nozzle diameter is within the scope of 5-50 μm.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 when not needing to use when independent charging electrode for each liquid jet in liquid jet array as traditional ink-jet printer based on electrostatic deflection to select for printing or non-print drop.In contrast, use single shared charging electrode to the drop charge from the liquid jet in array.Which eliminate the demand of each charging electrode and nozzle strictly being aimed at.It is no longer problem that utilization carries out cross-talk charging (crosstalk charging) from the charging electrode that different liquid jets is associated to the drop from a liquid jet.Because cross-talk charging is not problem, therefore do not need the distance minimized between charging electrode and liquid jet required by traditional drop charge system.Shared charging electrode also provides charging and the deflection efficiency of improvement, thus allows separating distance larger between jet flow and electrode.Can distance between the charging electrode of the scope of application in 25-300 μm and jet flow axle.The independent charging electrode cancelled for each liquid jet also allows the spray nozzle density higher than traditional electrostatic deflection continous inkjet system, and traditional electrostatic deflection continous inkjet system requirements has independent charging electrode for each nozzle.Nozzle array density can at per inch 75 nozzle (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, be enough to provide liquid under by the pressure of the nozzle atomizing of liquids jet flow of fluid chamber.Step 150 heel is with step 155.

In step 155, form waveform by providing drop to droplet-shaped forming apparatus and carry out regulates liquid jet flow to cause the part of liquid jet to block into a series of drop.This adjustment 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 separates the cycle in time fifty-fifty to according to drop.One or more 3rd drops that this adjustment 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, the 3rd drop than the first drop and the second drop large.The drop selecting formation first and second drop 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 change potential source.Charging electrode is associated with liquid jet.Change potential source changes the electromotive force between charging electrode and liquid jet by providing waveform to charging electrode.This waveform comprise equal to be formed drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop to 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 synchronously, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on the first drop, the second drop produce the second charge-mass ratio, and the 3rd charge-mass ratio is produced on the 3rd drop, the 3rd charge-mass ratio and the first charge-mass ratio and in the second charge-mass ratio are substantially identical.Step 165 heel is with step 170.

In step 170, use deflecting apparatus to 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 the 3rd path; 3rd path and the first path and in the second path are substantially identical.Step 170 heel is with step 175.

In step 175, grabber is used to tackle along a drop of advancing in the first path or the second path.This grabber is also used to tackle the drop of advancing along the 3rd path.

Note, the waveform being provided to droplet-shaped forming apparatus in step 155 depends on view data, and the waveform being provided to charging electrode is in a step 160 independent of view data.

List of parts

10 continous inkjet print systems

11 ink storehouses

12 printheads or liquid ejector

13 image sources

14 deflecting 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 fluid chamber

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 the 3rd paths

40 continuous liquid spraying systems

42 droplet-shaped forming apparatus converters

43 liquid jets

44 charging electrodes

44a second charging electrode

45 charging electrodes

45a 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 second insulating binder

63 deflecting electrodes

64 insulating binders

64a second insulating binder

The arrow of 65 instruction 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 time passage sequence indicators

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 status

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 to carry out the step of regulates liquid jet flow

160 steps that charging equipment is provided

The step of 165 synchronous charging equipment and droplet-shaped forming apparatus

The step of 170 deflection of droplets

The step of the drop selected by 175 interceptions

Claims

1. a continuous liquid spraying system, comprising:

The fluid chamber be communicated with fluid nozzle, this fluid chamber comprises liquid, and liquid is subject to being enough to the pressure by described nozzle atomizing of liquids jet flow;

The droplet-shaped forming apparatus be associated with described liquid jet, this droplet-shaped forming apparatus can operate and regulate for producing in described liquid jet, one or more drops pair of advancing along a path are blocked into optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet, each drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty to by drop, each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop, described droplet-shaped forming apparatus also can operate and regulate for producing in described liquid jet, one or more 3rd drops of advancing along described path are blocked into optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet, described 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop, and described 3rd drop than described first drop and described second drop large,

Charging equipment, comprising:

The charging electrode be associated with described liquid jet; And

Change potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet, described change potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with formed described drop to or the drop of described 3rd drop to equal cycle in cycle, described waveform comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status, described charging equipment is synchronous with described droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on described first drop of described drop centering, described second drop of described drop centering produces the second charge-mass ratio, and on described 3rd drop, produce the 3rd charge-mass ratio, described 3rd charge-mass ratio is substantially identical with described first charge-mass ratio, and

Deflecting apparatus, this deflecting apparatus causes described first drop with described first charge-mass ratio of described drop centering to be advanced along the first path, and cause described second drop with described second charge-mass ratio of described drop centering to be advanced along the second path, and described 3rd drop with described 3rd charge-mass ratio is caused to be advanced along the 3rd path.

2. the system as claimed in claim 1, also comprises:

Grabber, this grabber is arranged to tackle the drop of advancing along described 3rd path and also tackles the drop of advancing along described first path.

3. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said 3rd path is substantially identical with described first path.

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 one in nozzle array, and the described charging electrode of described charging equipment is shared by each described liquid jet sprayed from the nozzle in described nozzle array and is associated with each described liquid jet.

6. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first drop has substantially identical volume with described second drop.

7. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said 3rd drop has the volume substantially equal with the volume sum of described first drop and described second drop.

8. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said droplet-shaped forming apparatus also comprises:

Converter is formed with a drop be associated in described fluid chamber, 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, wherein said drop formation converter is one in following equipment: hot equipment, piezoelectric device, MEMS actuator, electric hydrodynamic force equipment, light device, electrostrictive device, and their combination.

10. system as claimed in claim 8, be wherein provided to described drop that described drop forms converter formed waveform can regulates liquid jet flow block in phase place, liquid drop speed and droplet size at least one.

11. systems as claimed in claim 8, the print data that the described drop formation waveform response being wherein provided to described drop formation converter provides in excitation controller.

12. systems as claimed in claim 8, wherein said drop forms waveform and comprises the Part I of described first drop setting up described drop centering and set up the Part II of described second drop of described drop centering.

13. the system as claimed in claim 1, one in wherein said first drop and described second drop is not charged relative to another electric charge be associated in described first drop and described second drop.

14. the system as claimed in claim 1, the described change potential source wherein between described charging electrode and described liquid jet is not in response to the print data provided by excitation controller.

15. the system as claimed in claim 1, described change potential source wherein between described charging electrode and described liquid jet produces following waveform, and wherein said first difference voltage status and described second difference voltage status are movable for equaling the time interval of described drop to the half in cycle separately.

16. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging electrode is placed in adjacent with the disconnect position of described liquid jet.

17. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflecting apparatus also comprises at least one deflecting electrode for deflecting charged droplets, an electrical communication at least one deflecting electrode described and a potential source and ground.

18. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging equipment comprises charging electrode, and this charging electrode comprises the Part I of the first side being positioned at described liquid jet and is positioned at the Part II 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, and it sets up drop deflection field to deflect charged droplets.

20. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first drop and described 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 second difference voltage status comprises DC skew.

The method of 22. 1 kinds of atomizing of liquids drops, comprising:

There is provided liquid, this liquid is subject to the pressure of the nozzle atomizing of liquids jet flow be enough to by fluid chamber;

Use the droplet-shaped forming apparatus be associated with described liquid jet to regulate described liquid jet, one or more drops pair of advancing along a path are blocked into optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet, each drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty to by drop, and each drop is to comprising the first drop and the second drop;

Use described droplet-shaped forming apparatus to regulate described liquid jet, one or more 3rd drops of advancing along described path are blocked into optionally to cause the part of described liquid jet, described 3rd drop separates the cycle fifty-fifty by identical drop, described 3rd drop than described first drop and described second drop large;

Charging equipment is provided, comprises:

The charging electrode be associated with described liquid jet; And

Change potential source between described charging electrode and described liquid jet, described change potential source provides waveform, this waveform comprise with formed drop to or the drop of the 3rd drop to equal cycle in cycle, described waveform comprises the first difference voltage status and the second difference voltage status;

Make described charging equipment synchronous with described droplet-shaped forming apparatus, to produce the first charge-mass ratio on described first drop of described drop centering, described second drop of described drop centering produces the second charge-mass ratio, and produce the 3rd charge-mass ratio on described 3rd drop, described 3rd charge-mass ratio is substantially identical with described first charge-mass ratio; And

Use deflecting apparatus, described first drop with described first charge-mass ratio of described drop centering is caused to be advanced along the first path, cause described second drop with described second charge-mass ratio of described drop centering to be advanced along the second path, and cause described 3rd drop with described 3rd charge-mass ratio to be advanced along the 3rd path.

23. methods as claimed in claim 22, also comprise:

Grabber is used to tackle the drop of advancing along described first path and described 3rd path.

24. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said 3rd path is substantially identical with in described second path with described first path.

25. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said liquid comprises the ink for printing on the recording medium.

26. methods as claimed in claim 22, described nozzle is one in nozzle array, and each described liquid jet that the described charging electrode of described charging equipment comprises by spraying from the nozzle in described nozzle array shares and the electrode be associated with each described liquid jet.

27. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first drop has substantially identical volume with described second drop.

28. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said 3rd drop has the volume substantially equal with the volume sum of described first drop and described second drop.

29. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said droplet-shaped forming apparatus also comprises:

30. methods as claimed in claim 29, wherein said drop formation converter is one in following equipment: hot equipment, piezoelectric device, MEMS actuator, electric hydrodynamic force equipment, light device, electrostrictive device, and their combination.

31. methods as claimed in claim 29, be wherein provided to described drop that described drop forms converter formed waveform can regulates liquid jet flow block in phase place, liquid drop speed and droplet size at least one.

32. methods as claimed in claim 29, the print data that the described drop formation waveform response being wherein provided to described drop formation converter provides in excitation controller.

33. methods as claimed in claim 29, wherein said drop forms waveform and comprises the Part I of described first drop setting up described drop centering and set up the Part II of described second drop of described drop centering.

34. methods as claimed in claim 22, one in wherein said first drop and described second drop is not charged relative to another electric charge be associated in described first drop and described second drop.

35. methods as claimed in claim 22, the described change potential source wherein between described charging electrode and described liquid jet is not in response to the print data provided by excitation controller.

36. methods as claimed in claim 22, described change potential source wherein between described charging electrode and described liquid jet produces following waveform, and wherein said first difference voltage status and described second difference voltage status are movable for equaling the time interval of described drop to the half in cycle separately.

37. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said charging electrode is placed in adjacent with the disconnect position of described liquid jet.

38. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said deflecting apparatus also comprises at least one deflecting electrode for deflecting charged droplets, an electrical communication at least one deflecting electrode described and a potential source and ground.

39. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said charging equipment comprises charging electrode, and this charging electrode comprises the Part I of the first side being positioned at described liquid jet and is positioned at the Part II 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, and it sets up drop deflection field to deflect charged droplets.

41. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first drop and described second drop separate fifty-fifty by the half of described drop to the cycle.

42. methods as claimed in claim 22, wherein said second difference voltage status comprises DC skew.