US5218376A — Liquid jet method, recording head using the metho…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 283 words

A liquid jet recording method comprising the steps of: heating a liquid in a liquid passage of a recording head; producing a bubble in the liquid; and expanding the bubble to eject the liquid from the liquid passage, the improvement residing in that a non-dimensional number Z which is determined by the physical nature of the liquid, a heat flux and a configuration of the passage and which is specific to the recording head is not less than 0.5 and not more than 16;where Z≡(π/6).sup.1/2 Tgk(P.sub.g /q.sub.0).sup.3/2 /(ρ.sub.g Lg·a·S.sub.H A).sup.1/2 ; Tg is a superheat limit temperature of the major component of the liquid; Pg is a saturated vapor pressure of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; ρg is a saturated vapor density of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; Lg is a latent heat of vaporization of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; k is a heat conductivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; a is a thermal diffusivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; q 0 is a flux of the heat which heats the liquid; S H is an area of that part (heating surface of the heat generating element) which heats the liquid; A is an inertance of the passage under the conditions that the heating surface is a pressure source, that the liquid supply opening and the liquid ejection opening are open boundaries, and that the wall defining the passage is a fixed boundary; and π is the number π; whereby said heating is produced with good thermal efficiency.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 283 words

A liquid jet recording method comprising the steps of: heating a liquid in a liquid passage of a recording head; producing a bubble in the liquid; and expanding the bubble to eject the liquid from the liquid passage, the improvement residing in that a non-dimensional number Z which is determined by the physical nature of the liquid, a heat flux and a configuration of the passage and which is specific to the recording head is not less than 0.5 and not more than 16;where Z≡(π/6).sup.1/2 Tgk(P.sub.g /q.sub.0).sup.3/2 /(ρ.sub.g Lg·a·S.sub.H A).sup.1/2 ; Tg is a superheat limit temperature of the major component of the liquid; Pg is a saturated vapor pressure of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; ρg is a saturated vapor density of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; Lg is a latent heat of vaporization of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; k is a heat conductivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; a is a thermal diffusivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; q 0 is a flux of the heat which heats the liquid; S H is an area of that part (heating surface of the heat generating element) which heats the liquid; A is an inertance of the passage under the conditions that the heating surface is a pressure source, that the liquid supply opening and the liquid ejection opening are open boundaries, and that the wall defining the passage is a fixed boundary; and π is the number π; whereby said heating is produced with good thermal efficiency.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of such passages are provided in the recording head.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of supplying electric signals for producing film boiling to create the bubble.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 297 words

A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having an ejection outlet and ejection energy generating means; a driving circuit for driving the ejection energy generating means; and a liquid disposed in said recording head for being discharged by a bubble produced by heating with said ejection energy generating means, the liquid including a major component, wherein a non-dimensional number Z which is determined by the physical nature of the liquid, a heat flux and a configuration of the passage and which is specific to a recording head is not less than 0.5 and not more than 16; where Z≡(π/6).sup.1/2 Tgk(P.sub.g /q.sub.0).sup.3/2 /(ρ.sub.g Lg·a·S.sub.H A).sup.1/2 ; Tg is a superheat limit temperature of the major component of the liquid; Pg is a saturated vapor pressure of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; ρg is a saturated vapor density of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; Lg is a latent heat of vaporization of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; k is a heat conductivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; a is a thermal diffusivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; q 0 is a flux of the heat which heats the liquid; S H is an area of that part (heating surface of the heat generating element) which heats the liquid; A is an inertance of the passage under the conditions that the heating surface is a pressure source, that the liquid supply opening and the liquid ejection opening are open boundaries, and that the wall defining the passage is a fixed boundary; and π is the number π, whereby said heating is produced with good thermal efficiency.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 297 words

A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having an ejection outlet and ejection energy generating means; a driving circuit for driving the ejection energy generating means; and a liquid disposed in said recording head for being discharged by a bubble produced by heating with said ejection energy generating means, the liquid including a major component, wherein a non-dimensional number Z which is determined by the physical nature of the liquid, a heat flux and a configuration of the passage and which is specific to a recording head is not less than 0.5 and not more than 16; where Z≡(π/6).sup.1/2 Tgk(P.sub.g /q.sub.0).sup.3/2 /(ρ.sub.g Lg·a·S.sub.H A).sup.1/2 ; Tg is a superheat limit temperature of the major component of the liquid; Pg is a saturated vapor pressure of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; ρg is a saturated vapor density of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; Lg is a latent heat of vaporization of the major component of the liquid at temperature Tg; k is a heat conductivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; a is a thermal diffusivity of the major component of the liquid at the temperature of the recording head before heating; q 0 is a flux of the heat which heats the liquid; S H is an area of that part (heating surface of the heat generating element) which heats the liquid; A is an inertance of the passage under the conditions that the heating surface is a pressure source, that the liquid supply opening and the liquid ejection opening are open boundaries, and that the wall defining the passage is a fixed boundary; and π is the number π, whereby said heating is produced with good thermal efficiency.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said passages are provided.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for supplying electric signals for producing film boiling to create the bubble.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-06-07	1996-12-07	1997-06-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-06-07	2000-12-07	2001-06-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-06-07	2004-12-07	2005-06-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquid jet method, recording head using the method and recording apparatus using the method

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