US3683396A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for control of ink drop formation
Assignee: AB Dick Co
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Filing: 1970-08-05
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-08-05
Abstract
Abstract In an ink drop writing system it was found that the drops formed by vibrating a nozzle would be accompanied by smaller satellite drops which could be detrimental to printing. This condition was considerably improved by designing the nozzle so that it would have a mechanical resonance at the frequency at which it formed drops. In order to insure a most efficient transfer of power from the driving source into the drop forming mechanism, the nozzle had to be designed to provide a fluid resonance condition. If the nozzle be considered as a closed pipe, then the frequency of vibration of the fluid in the pipe at which its length is an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength of sound through the fluid in the pipe, results in the highest power transfer.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert I Keur
- 👤 Sandra Miller
- 👤 Henry A Dahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:30
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/02; B41J2/025; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/024; H04N1/032; H04N1/034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
In an ink drop printing system of the type wherein ink under pressure is applied to flow through a nozzle and an electromechanical transducer is employed for applying perturbations to the ink, as it flows through said nozzle, at a predetermined frequency, a method of improving the operation of said nozzle comprising: making the length of the internal cavity in said nozzle that length which produces fluid resonance at the desired frequency of operation of the printing system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
In an ink drop printing system of the type wherein ink under pressure is applied to flow through a nozzle and an electromechanical transducer is employed for applying perturbations to the ink, as it flows through said nozzle, at a predetermined frequency, a method of improving the operation of said nozzle comprising: making the length of the internal cavity in said nozzle that length which produces fluid resonance at the desired frequency of operation of the printing system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
In an ink drop printing system as recited in claim 1 wherein the internal cavity of said nozzle has a length which produces fluid resonance at a frequency which is displaced from said desired frequency of operation by the change in fluid resonance frequency caused by a change in the ink temperature during operation of the ink jet printing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
In an ink jet printing system of the type wherein ink is applied under pressure to a nozzle to flow therethrough and mechanical perturbations are applied to the ink flowing through said nozzle by means of an electromechanical transducer operated at a predetermined frequency, the improvement comprising a nozzle having an internal length for establishing fluid resonance during operation at said predetermined frequeNcy to provide the most efficient power transfer between said electromagnetic transducer and said fluid at said predetermined frequency of operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
In an ink jet printing system of the type wherein ink is applied under pressure to a nozzle to flow therethrough and mechanical perturbations are applied to the ink flowing through said nozzle by means of an electromechanical transducer operated at a predetermined frequency, the improvement comprising a nozzle having an internal length for establishing fluid resonance during operation at said predetermined frequeNcy to provide the most efficient power transfer between said electromagnetic transducer and said fluid at said predetermined frequency of operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein there is included means for establishing the pressure of the ink applied to said nozzle at a value whereby fast satellites will occur.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the internal length Lf of said nozzle equals N/4 . Vf/E where F equals the operating frequency, N equals a desired odd harmonic of operation at said frequency, and Vf equals the speed of sound through the ink to be used with said nozzle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
In an ink jet printing system of the type wherein ink is applied under pressure to a nozzle to flow therethrough and mechanical perturbations are applied to the ink flowing through said nozzle by an electromechanical transducer operated at a predetermined frequency, the improvement comprising: a nozzle having an internal length to establish fluid resonance at a frequency displaced from said predetermined frequency by the change in said fluid resonance frequency caused by a change in the ink temperature during operation of the ink jet printing system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
In an ink jet printing system of the type wherein ink is applied under pressure to a nozzle to flow therethrough and mechanical perturbations are applied to the ink flowing through said nozzle by an electromechanical transducer operated at a predetermined frequency, the improvement comprising: a nozzle having an internal length to establish fluid resonance at a frequency displaced from said predetermined frequency by the change in said fluid resonance frequency caused by a change in the ink temperature during operation of the ink jet printing system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
In an ink jet apparatus wherein ink is applied at pressure to a selected nozzle to flow therethrough, and perturbations are applied to the ink flowing through said nozzle by means of an electromechanical transducer mounted on said nozzle in order to cause the ink stream to break up into drops after leaving said nozzle, the improved method of determining the frequency of fluid resonance of said nozzle comprising: varying the frequency applied to said electromechanical transducer until the observed breakoff time of said ink jet from the tip of said nozzle is a minimum, and detecting the frequency at which said breakoff time is a minimum, which is the fluid resonance frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
In an ink jet apparatus wherein ink is applied at pressure to a selected nozzle to flow therethrough, and perturbations are applied to the ink flowing through said nozzle by means of an electromechanical transducer mounted on said nozzle in order to cause the ink stream to break up into drops after leaving said nozzle, the improved method of determining the frequency of fluid resonance of said nozzle comprising: varying the frequency applied to said electromechanical transducer until the observed breakoff time of said ink jet from the tip of said nozzle is a minimum, and detecting the frequency at which said breakoff time is a minimum, which is the fluid resonance frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3512172A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |