US5270730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Jet recording method and apparatus for discharging normally solid recording material by causing generated bubble to communicate with ambience
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-09-30
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Granted: 1993-12-14
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Expires: 2011-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A normally solid recording material is heat-melted in a path defined by a nozzle leading to an ejection outlet and is imparted with a thermal energy from a heater corresponding to a recording signal to generate a bubble. As a result, a droplet of the recording material is ejected out of the ejection outlet under the action of the bubble while the bubble is caused to communicate with ambience. The normally solid recording material preferably contains a colorant, a first heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm of 36°-150° C. and a boiling point Tb of 150°-370° C., and a second heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≦30° C. The distance between the heater and the ejection outlet, the sectional size of the nozzle and the thermal energy imparted by the heater are controlled to cause the bubble to communicate with ambience.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisao Yaegashi
- 👤 Yoshihisa Takizawa
- 👤 Katsuhiro Shirota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:13
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/30; C09D11/34; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14032; B41J2/1404; B41J2/14088; B41J2/14112; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17593; B41J2002/14169; B41J2002/14379; B41J2002/14387
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A jet recording method, comprising: placing a normally solid recording material in a heat-melted state in a path defined by a nozzle having a sectional size and leading to an ejection outlet, and imparting to the melted recording material a thermal energy corresponding to a recording signal by a heater disposed along the path at a distance from the ejection outlet to generate a bubble, thus ejecting a droplet of the recording material out of the ejection outlet under action of the bubble; wherein the normally solid recording material contains a heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm of 36°-150° C. and a boiling point Tb of 150°-370° C.; and the distance between the heater and the outlet, the sectional size of the nozzle and the thermal energy imparted by the heater are controlled so as to cause the bubble to communicate with ambience.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A jet recording method, comprising: placing a normally solid recording material in a heat-melted state in a path defined by a nozzle having a sectional size and leading to an ejection outlet, and imparting to the melted recording material a thermal energy corresponding to a recording signal by a heater disposed along the path at a distance from the ejection outlet to generate a bubble, thus ejecting a droplet of the recording material out of the ejection outlet under action of the bubble; wherein the normally solid recording material contains a heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm of 36°-150° C. and a boiling point Tb of 150°-370° C.; and the distance between the heater and the outlet, the sectional size of the nozzle and the thermal energy imparted by the heater are controlled so as to cause the bubble to communicate with ambience.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a width and a height equal to or smaller than the width respectively at a position along the path where the heater is disposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the bubble communicates with the ambience when the bubble has an internal pressure not higher than the ambient pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal energy is imparted by the heater disposed along the path so as to have a length with a front end and a rear end which are closest and farthest, respectively, to the ejection outlet, and the bubble is expanded to have a leading end having a distance la from the front end of the heater and a trailing end having a distance lb from the rear end of the heater, satisfying a relationship of la/lb≧1, immediately before the communication of the bubble with the ambience.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the distance la and lb satisfy a relationship of la/lb≧2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the distance la and lb satisfy a relationship of la/lb≧4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the heat-fusible solid substance has a boiling point Tb of 200°-340° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≦30° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≦15° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≧7° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said normally solid recording material contains the heat-fusible solid substance as a first heat-fusible solid substance and further contains a second heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≦30° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said first heat-fusible solid substance has a boiling point Tb of 200°-340° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf of the second heat-fusible solid substance satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≦15° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said first and second heat-fusible solid substances has a melting point Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≧7° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
129 words
A jet recording method, comprising: providing a normally solid recording material containing a first heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm of 40°-150° C. and a boiling point Tb of 260°-340° C., and a second heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≦30° C., the first heat-fusible solid substance constituting 30-90 wt % of the normally solid recording material, placing the normally solid recording material in a heat-melted state in a path defined by a nozzle leading to an ejection outlet, and imparting to the melted recording material a thermal energy corresponding to a recording signal to generate a bubble, thus ejecting a droplet of the recording material out of the ejection outlet under action of the bubble.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
A jet recording method, comprising: providing a normally solid recording material containing a first heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm of 40°-150° C. and a boiling point Tb of 260°-340° C., and a second heat-fusible solid substance having a melting point Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≦30° C., the first heat-fusible solid substance constituting 30-90 wt % of the normally solid recording material, placing the normally solid recording material in a heat-melted state in a path defined by a nozzle leading to an ejection outlet, and imparting to the melted recording material a thermal energy corresponding to a recording signal to generate a bubble, thus ejecting a droplet of the recording material out of the ejection outlet under action of the bubble.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the first heat-fusible solid substance has a melting point Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≦30° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf of the first heat-fusible solid substance satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≦15° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf of the first heat-fusible solid substance satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≧7° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein the melting point Tm and the solidifying point Tf of the second heat-fusible solid substance satisfy a relationship of Tm-Tf≦15° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said first and second heat-fusible solid substances has a melting Tm and a solidifying point Tf satisfying a relationship of Tm-Tf≧7° C.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-13 | 1997-06-14 | 1997-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-13 | 2001-06-14 | 2001-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-13 | 2005-06-14 | 2005-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |