Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a drop on demand ink jet apparatus including transducer means (204) operable for producing a pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber (200), for ejecting an ink droplet from an associated orifice (202), the method being characterised in that it comprises operating said transducer means (204) in an iterative manner, for producing a plurality of successive pressure disturbances within said ink chamber (200), for causing a plurality of ink droplets to be ejected from said orifice (202) within a time period permitting said droplets to merge either while air-borne or upon striking a recording medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a drop on demand ink jet apparatus including transducer means (204) operable for producing a pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber (200), for ejecting an ink droplet from an associated orifice (202), the method being characterised in that it comprises operating said transducer means (204) in an iterative manner, for producing a plurality of successive pressure disturbances within said ink chamber (200), for causing a plurality of ink droplets to be ejected from said orifice (202) within a time period permitting said droplets to merge either while air-borne or upon striking a recording medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a drop on demand ink jet apparatus characterised in that it comprises transducer means (204) operable for producing a pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber (200), for ejecting an ink droplet from an associated orifice (202), and means operable for operating said transducer means (204) in an iterative manner, for producing a plurality of successive pressure disturbances within said ink chamber (200), for causing a plurality of ink droplets to be ejected from said orifice (202) within a time period permitting said droplets to merge either while air-borne or upon striking a recording medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for controlling the volume of ink droplets ejected from a drop on demand ink jet apparatus characterised in that it comprises transducer means (204) operable for producing a pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber (200), for ejecting an ink droplet from an associated orifice (202), and means operable for operating said transducer means (204) in an iterative manner, for producing a plurality of successive pressure disturbances within said ink chamber (200), for causing a plurality of ink droplets to be ejected from said orifice (202) within a time period permitting said droplets to merge either while air-borne or upon striking a recording medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method according to claim 1 or apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that said transducer means (204) is responsive to an electrical pulse for producing the pressure disturbance within an associated ink chamber (200), the magnitude of the pressure disturbance being directly proportional to the slope of the trailing edge of said electrical pulse, and the transducer means (204) is operated by applying successive electrical pulses having either one of successively greater or reduced or equal trailing edge slopes, or some combination thereof, to said transducer means (204).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method or apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that said electrical pulses are shaped to have exponential leading edges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method or apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the trailing edges of said electrical pulses are shaped to be exponential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method or apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the amplitude of each one of said electrical pulses is adjusted for obtaining a desired velocity for an associated ink droplet, whereby the magnitudes of the pressure disturbances produced by said transducer means (204) are directly proportional to the amplitudes of said electrical pulses, respectively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
26 words
A method or apparatus according to claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the trailing edges of said electrical pulses are shaped to be substantially linear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method or apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the amplitudes of said electrical pulses are adjusted, whereby the magnitudes of said pressure disturbances are directly proportional to the amplitudes of said pulses, respectively.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
66 words
A method or apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that a secondary pulse is applied immediately after given ones of said electrical pulses for causing earlier breakoff from said orifice (202) of the ink droplets associated with said given ones of said electrical pulses, relative to the time of breakoff of said droplets in the absence of said secondary pulses.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
32 words
A method or apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterised in that the delay time is controlled between said successive electrical pulses for controlling the boldness of printing.