Patent US5420618A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5420618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet recording method and apparatus having drop size control by using plural control electrodes
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-05-08
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Granted: 1995-05-30
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Expires: 2012-05-08
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet recording apparatus is provided with an ink jet recording head which includes at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, and a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer, and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when a voltage is applied across at least one pair of the ground electrode and the control electrode. The ground electrode electrically connects to the heating layer within a region of the thermal energy action part, and the control electrodes electrically connects to the heating layer outside the region of the thermal energy action part.
Inventors
- 👤 Takuro Sekiya
- 👤 Mitsuru Shingyouchi
- 👤 Eiko Suzuki
- 👤 Masami Kadonaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:47
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14016; B41J2/14032; B41J2/14056; B41J2/14088; B41J2/14112; B41J2/1412; B41J2202/00; B41J2202/01; B41J2202/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head which includes at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, and a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to elect the ink from the nozzle when voltage is applied by said circuit means, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; which further comprises an insulator layer formed on the heating layer and a contact hole formed in the insulator layer, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the thermal energy action part via the contact hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head which includes at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, and a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to elect the ink from the nozzle when voltage is applied by said circuit means, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; which further comprises an insulator layer formed on the heating layer and a contact hole formed in the insulator layer, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the thermal energy action part via the contact hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer boundary line of said thermal energy action part and an outer boundary line of said contact hole are not parallel to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head which includes at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, and a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when voltage is applied by said circuit means, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; wherein resistances between the ground electrode and the control electrodes are mutually different.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head which includes at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, and a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when voltage is applied by said circuit means, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; wherein resistances between the ground electrode and the control electrodes are mutually different.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein distances between the ground electrode and each of the control electrodes are mutually different.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein widths of each of the control electrodes are mutually different in a region in which the control electrode electrically connect to said thermal energy action part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
An ink jet recording head comprising: at least one nozzle for ejecting ink; a heating layer; a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when said voltage is applied by said circuit means; said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; and an insulator layer formed on the heating layer and a contact hole formed in the insulator layer, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the thermal energy action part via the contact hole; wherein an outer boundary line of said thermal energy action part and an outer boundary line of said contact hole are not parallel to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
An ink jet recording head comprising: at least one nozzle for ejecting ink; a heating layer; a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when said voltage is applied by said circuit means; said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; and an insulator layer formed on the heating layer and a contact hole formed in the insulator layer, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the thermal energy action part via the contact hole; wherein an outer boundary line of said thermal energy action part and an outer boundary line of said contact hole are not parallel to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
An ink jet recording head comprising: at least one nozzle for ejecting ink; a heating layer; a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when said voltage is applied by said circuit means, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; wherein resistances between the ground electrode and the control electrodes are mutually different.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
An ink jet recording head comprising: at least one nozzle for ejecting ink; a heating layer; a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer; a circuit means for applying a voltage across at least one pair of the ground electrode and one of said control electrodes; and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when said voltage is applied by said circuit means, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of said thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of said thermal energy action part; wherein resistances between the ground electrode and the control electrodes are mutually different.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink jet recording head as claimed in claim 7, wherein distances between the ground electrode and each of the control electrodes are mutually different.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink jet recording head as claimed in claim 7, wherein widths of each of the control electrodes are mutually different in a region in which the control electrode electrically connect to said thermal energy action part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
181 words
An ink jet recording method which uses an ink jet recording head including at least one nozzle for ejecting an ink, a heating layer, a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer, and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when a voltage is applied across at least one pair of the ground electrode and the control electrode, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of the thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of the thermal energy action part, said ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: (a) setting resistances between the ground electrode and the control electrodes mutually different; and (b) applying a voltage across the ground electrode and a selected one of the control electrodes depending on a level of a signal which describes information to be recorded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
181 words
An ink jet recording method which uses an ink jet recording head including at least one nozzle for ejecting an ink, a heating layer, a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer, and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when a voltage is applied across at least one pair of the ground electrode and the control electrode, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of the thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of the thermal energy action part, said ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: (a) setting resistances between the ground electrode and the control electrodes mutually different; and (b) applying a voltage across the ground electrode and a selected one of the control electrodes depending on a level of a signal which describes information to be recorded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said applying step variably selects one of the control electrodes so that a diameter of a pixel which is recorded on a recording medium by the ejected ink is continuously variable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
175 words
An ink jet recording method which uses an ink jet recording head including at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer, and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when a voltage is applied across at least one pair of the ground electrode and the control electrode, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of the thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of the thermal energy action part, said ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting an arbitrary number of control electrodes depending on a level of a signal which describes information to be recorded; and (b) applying a voltage across the ground electrode and the selected arbitrary number of control electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
An ink jet recording method which uses an ink jet recording head including at least one nozzle for ejecting ink, a heating layer, a ground electrode and a plurality of control electrodes electrically connected to the heating layer, and a thermal energy action part, formed in the heating layer in correspondence with the nozzle, for heating the ink and causing a state transition so as to eject the ink from the nozzle when a voltage is applied across at least one pair of the ground electrode and the control electrode, said ground electrode being electrically connected to the heating layer within a region of the thermal energy action part, said control electrodes being electrically connected to the heating layer outside the region of the thermal energy action part, said ink jet recording method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting an arbitrary number of control electrodes depending on a level of a signal which describes information to be recorded; and (b) applying a voltage across the ground electrode and the selected arbitrary number of control electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said applying step applies the voltage across the ground electrode and the selected arbitrary number of control electrodes with a time difference among the control electrodes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the selecting step variably selects a number of control electrodes so that a diameter of a pixel which is recorded on a recording medium by the ejected ink is continuously variable.
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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) | 1998-05-29 | 1998-11-28 | 1999-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-29 | 2002-11-28 | 2003-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-29 | 2006-11-28 | 2007-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |