US3864692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time dependent deflection control for ink jet printer
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-26
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet printer in which ink droplets issuing from a source serially pass through an electrically energizable deflection field which is activated at regularly recurring intervals. Deflection of the drops occurs along different trajectories toward a recording medium because of the variable time each droplet is subjected to the energized deflection field. The droplets which are deflected have the same physical or electrical characteristics and are not given differing charges, for example, before entry into the deflection field. Both electrically chargeable droplets and magnetic droplets may be used as the marking fluid when directed according to time dependent deflection. Generally, the deflection field is of sufficient length to include simultaneously all droplets which will comprise a full character stroke on the recording medium and the deflection signal is a square wave selectively applied. However, deflection fields may be shortened and the applied signal may either increase or decrease with time during the energizing interval. In addition, apparatus may be included to produce deflection along either of two coordinate axes and means are disclosed to select droplets required for printing while discarding others during issuance of the droplets from the source at a fixed generation rate.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Mcdonnell
- 👤 Robert E Mcguire
- 👤 Raymond Radlinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:56
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/07; B41J2/075; B41J2/08; B41J2/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A fluid drop control system comprising: means for directing a series of drops of marking fluid of like deflection characteristics along a path; selectively energizable means adjacent said path for establishing a deflection field simultaneously encompassing said drop series and having a force component transversely of said path acting to deflect said drops moving along said path; and means for energizing said deflection means for a predetermined time to subject each drop in said series of drops to said transverse force for different times for unidirectional deflection and impart to each drop in said series a different trajectory from said path beyond said deflection means according to the time subjected to said force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A fluid drop control system comprising: means for directing a series of drops of marking fluid of like deflection characteristics along a path; selectively energizable means adjacent said path for establishing a deflection field simultaneously encompassing said drop series and having a force component transversely of said path acting to deflect said drops moving along said path; and means for energizing said deflection means for a predetermined time to subject each drop in said series of drops to said transverse force for different times for unidirectional deflection and impart to each drop in said series a different trajectory from said path beyond said deflection means according to the time subjected to said force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said energizing means is operable for regular intervals of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said deflection means is energizable by electrical signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said directing means produces drops in a series uniformly spaced from each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the energy supplied by said energizing means is of a constant level during said predetermined time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said means for energizing said deflection means is also operable to vary the magnitude of energization during each predetermined time period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fluid droplet marking system comprising: a recording medium: means for directing droplets of marking fluid of like deflection characteristics of substantially uniform size serially along a path towards said recording medium; selectively energizable deflection means between said directing means and said recording medium for establishing a force component encompassing a series of said droplets and acting Transversely thereon as said droplets are moving along said path to deflect said droplets therefrom; and means for uniformly energizing said deflection means for a predetermined time to simultaneously act on a plurality of said droplets to induce unidirectional deflection and to cause each said droplet in said series to be deflected according to the time subjected to said force and follow a different trajectory from said path toward said recording medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A fluid droplet marking system comprising: a recording medium: means for directing droplets of marking fluid of like deflection characteristics of substantially uniform size serially along a path towards said recording medium; selectively energizable deflection means between said directing means and said recording medium for establishing a force component encompassing a series of said droplets and acting Transversely thereon as said droplets are moving along said path to deflect said droplets therefrom; and means for uniformly energizing said deflection means for a predetermined time to simultaneously act on a plurality of said droplets to induce unidirectional deflection and to cause each said droplet in said series to be deflected according to the time subjected to said force and follow a different trajectory from said path toward said recording medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 comprising second selectively energizable deflection means between said directing means and said recording medium for establishing a force component transversely of said path and in a direction different from the force component of the first-mentioned deflection means to deflect said drops from said path; and second means for energizing said second deflection means for a second predetermined time for altering the trajectory of selected ones of said droplets passing from the first deflection means toward said recording medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein said deflection means and said second deflection means are arranged to act simultaneously on said droplets when energized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 further including means for inhibiting certain selected droplets from said directing means from reaching said recording medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said deflection means is a pair of electrically energizable plates on opposite sides of said path and said energizing means produces an electrical field therebetween; and further including charging means between said directing means and said deflection means for establishing a uniform electrical charge on selected ones of said droplets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said charging means includes a source of binary voltage signal selectively operable for applying charging voltage only to selected ones of said droplets from said directing means, leaving others of said droplets in said series uncharged and not deflectable by said deflection means; and interceptor means located between said directing means and said recording medium for intercepting and collecting said uncharged droplets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said energizing means applies a square wave signal to said deflection means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said energizing means includes means to establish a bias energy level on said deflection means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A fluid drop control system comprising: means for producing drops of marking fluid having like deflection characteristics in a force field and directing a series of said drops along a path; selectively energizable means adjacent said path for establishing a deflection field simultaneously encompassing said drop series and having a force component transversely of said path acting to deflect said series of drops moving along said path; and means for energizing said deflection means for a predetermined time to subject each drop in said series of drops to said transverse force for different times according to the position of each said drop in said series while moving past said selectively energizable means and impart to said drops unidirectional deflection and in different trajectories from said path beyond said deflection means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
A fluid drop control system comprising: means for producing drops of marking fluid having like deflection characteristics in a force field and directing a series of said drops along a path; selectively energizable means adjacent said path for establishing a deflection field simultaneously encompassing said drop series and having a force component transversely of said path acting to deflect said series of drops moving along said path; and means for energizing said deflection means for a predetermined time to subject each drop in said series of drops to said transverse force for different times according to the position of each said drop in said series while moving past said selectively energizable means and impart to said drops unidirectional deflection and in different trajectories from said path beyond said deflection means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |