EP0611655A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Droplet jet apparatus
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1994-02-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A droplet jet apparatus using an actuator serves as an electromechanical transducer that acts as an energy generator used for the ejection of droplets. The actuator has a plurality of grooves and walls made of piezoelectric material that define liquid channels and pressure chambers. Drive electrodes are formed on both sides of each wall. The drive electrodes formed on both sides of each piezoelectric wall fall within an electrode depth range of ±30% or less with respect to a set value of an electrode depth d extending in the wall height direction. Thus, the droplets can be stably jetted for a long period of time by setting the electrode depth to a proper value.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko C/O Brother Kogyo K.K. Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:39
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1623; B41J2/1607; B41J2/1609; B41J2/164; B41J2/1646
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
An ink jet apparatus comprising: an piezoelectric actuator plate having a plurality of grooves formed by spaced upstanding sidewalls having opposed sides, said sidewalls each having an electrode formed on both sides thereof; and being covered to define ink channels that act as pressure chambers deformable upon application of voltage to said electrodes, wherein each of said electrodes has a depth in a range of ±30% or less of a set electrode depth value, said depth extending in a direction parallel to said upstanding sidewall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ink jet apparatus comprising: an piezoelectric actuator plate having a plurality of grooves formed by spaced upstanding sidewalls having opposed sides, said sidewalls each having an electrode formed on both sides thereof; and being covered to define ink channels that act as pressure chambers deformable upon application of voltage to said electrodes, wherein each of said electrodes has a minimum thickness of greater than or equal to 0.04µm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
An ink jet apparatus comprising: an piezoelectric actuator plate having a plurality of grooves formed by spaced upstanding sidewalls having opposed sides and a width, said sidewalls each having an electrode having a thickness formed on both sides thereof; and being covered to define ink channels that act as pressure chambers deformable upon application of voltage to said electrodes, wherein a ratio of said thickness of each of said electrodes to said width of each of said sidewalls is 1:10 or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
An ink jet apparatus comprising: an piezoelectric actuator plate having a plurality of grooves formed by spaced upstanding sidewalls having opposed sides, said sidewalls each having an electrode formed on both sides thereof; and being covered to define ink channels that act as pressure chambers deformable upon application of voltage to said electrodes, wherein each of said electrodes has a relative density of at least 70% or more.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ink jet apparatus comprising: an piezoelectric actuator plate having a plurality of grooves formed by spaced upstanding sidewalls having opposed sides, said sidewalls each having an electrode having a thickness formed on both sides thereof; and being covered to define ink channels that act as pressure chambers deformable upon application of voltage to said electrodes, wherein a thickness distribution of each of said electrodes is ±50% or less of an average film thickness of said electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
An ink jet apparatus comprising: an piezoelectric actuator plate having a plurality of grooves formed by spaced upstanding sidewalls having opposed sides, said sidewalls each having an electrode formed on both sides thereof; and being covered to define ink channels that act as pressure chambers deformable upon application of voltage to said electrodes, wherein each of said electrodes has a purity of 99% or more.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ink jet apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein each of said electrodes has a depth in a range of ±30% or less of a set electrode depth value, said depth extending in a direction parallel to said upstanding wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink jet apparatus of any preceding claim except claim 2, or another claim when dependent thereon, wherein each of said electrodes has a minimum thickness of greater than or equal to 0.04µm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ink jet apparatus of any preceding claims except claim 3 or any other claim when dependent thereon, wherein each of said sidewalls has a width and each of said electrodes has a thickness, wherein a ratio of said thickness to said width is 1:10 or less.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink jet apparatus of any preceding claim except claim 4 or another claim when dependent thereon, wherein each of said electrodes has a relative density of at least 70% or more.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ink jet apparatus of any preceding claim except claim 5 or another claim when dependent thereon, wherein each of said electrodes has a thickness distribution of ±50% or less of an average film thickness of said electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ink jet apparatus of any preceding claim except claim 6 or another claim when dependent thereon, wherein each of said electrodes has a purity of 99% or more.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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