US4700203A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet head for compressing ink to eject drops of ink
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-02-24
•
Granted: 1987-10-13
•
Expires: 2006-02-24
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet head for compressing ink in an ink chamber to eject a drop of the ink from a nozzle. Ink compressing means for compressing the ink in the ink chamber by expanding and contracting in response to a voltage applied thereto is made of a piezoelectric high molecular substance. The ink compressing means comprises a single thin film of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or two PVDF films bonded together in a bimorph structure. The thin film is curved inwardly toward the ink chamber. Multiple nozzles are arranged in a predetermined direction. The PVDF film expands and contracts in a direction parallel to the direction of arrangement of the multiple nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsu Yamamuro
- 👤 Kyuhachiro Iwasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/16; B41J2/1607; B41J2/1621; B41J2/1623; B41J2/1626; B41J2/14; B41J2002/14379; B41J2002/14387; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S310/00; Y10S310/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An ink jet head for compressing ink to eject drops of ink, said ink jet head comprising: (a) a housing; (b) an ink chamber defined in said housing; (c) a nozzle defined in said housing and communicating with said ink chamber; (d) a non-conductive substrate in opposing relationship to said housing; (e) a first conductive layer deposited on said non-conductive substrate, said first conductive layer being in opposed relationship to said ink chamber; (f) a thin film composed of a piezoelectric high molecular substance overlying said first conductive layer and in electrical contact with said first conductive layer, said thin film being curved inwardly towards said ink chamber and having a radius of curvature R; and (g) a second conductive layer deposited on said thin film on the side thereof opposite from said first conductive layer and in electrical contact with said thin film, whereby, when a voltage is applied to said first conductive layer during use of the ink jet head, said thin film flexes further into said ink chamber and forces ink in said ink chamber out through said nozzle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
An ink jet head for compressing ink to eject drops of ink, said ink jet head comprising: (a) a housing; (b) an ink chamber defined in said housing; (c) a nozzle defined in said housing and communicating with said ink chamber; (d) a non-conductive substrate in opposing relationship to said housing; (e) a first conductive layer deposited on said non-conductive substrate, said first conductive layer being in opposed relationship to said ink chamber; (f) a thin film composed of a piezoelectric high molecular substance overlying said first conductive layer and in electrical contact with said first conductive layer, said thin film being curved inwardly towards said ink chamber and having a radius of curvature R; and (g) a second conductive layer deposited on said thin film on the side thereof opposite from said first conductive layer and in electrical contact with said thin film, whereby, when a voltage is applied to said first conductive layer during use of the ink jet head, said thin film flexes further into said ink chamber and forces ink in said ink chamber out through said nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 1 wherein said thin film is composed of two films bonded to each other in a bimorph structure, whereby, when a voltage is applied to said first conductive layer during use of the ink jet head, one of said two films is caused to contract and the other of said two films is caused to expand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 2 wherein: (a) said ink jet head comprises a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of ink chambers and (b) said bimorph structure overlies said plurality of ink chambers and said plurality of nozzles in an integral structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 1 wherein said thin film is made of polyvinylidene fluoride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 1 wherein: (a) said ink chamber is rectangular parallapipedal in shape, having a long axis and a short axis in the cross-sectional plane parallel to said non-conductive substrate, and (b) said thin film flexes about an axis parallel to the long axis of said ink chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 1 wherein: (a) a plurality of ink chambers and nozzles are defined in said housing; (b) a plurality of first conductive layers are deposited on said non-conductive substrate; (c) each of said plurality of first conductive layers is in opposing relationship to a corresponding one of said plurality of ink chambers; (d) said a thin film overlies said plurality of first conductive layers; (e) each segment of said thin film corresponding to one of said plurality of first conductive layers is curved and has a radius of curvature R; and (f) said second conductive layer is deposited on said thin film on the side thereof opposite from said plurality of first conductive layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 6 wherein: (a) said ink jet head further comprises a protective layer deposited on said second conductive layer; (b) said plurality of first conductive layers, said thin film, said second conductive layer, and said protective layer are sandwiched between said housing and said non-conductive substrate; and (c) said protective layer is in planar contact with said housing around said plurality of ink chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 7 wherein: (a) said second substrate layer functions as a common electrode and, (b) during use of said ink jet head, electrical signals are applied to said plurality of first conductive layers independently.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 7 and further comprising means for applying electrical signals to each one of said plurality of first conductive layers independently.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 7 wherein said non-conductive substrate is thinned in those portions thereof which correspond in position to each one of said plurality of first conductive layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 7 wherein portions of said non-conductive substrate corresponding to each one of said plurality of first conductive layers are removed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An ink jet head as recited in claim 6 wherein: (a) said plurality of nozzles are parallel to one another and (b) each segment of said thin film corresponding to one of said plurality of first conductive layers flexes in a direction parallel to the direction of said plurality of nozzles.
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) | 1990-10-12 | 1991-04-13 | 1991-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-12 | 1995-04-13 | 1995-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-12 | 1999-04-13 | 1999-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |