US5812159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink printing apparatus with improved heater
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1996-07-22
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2016-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A liquid ink, drop-on-demand printhead includes a substrate having a plurality of drop-emitter orifices, an ink channel coupled to each of the orifices for delivery of a body of ink to the orifices at a pressure above ambient, thereby forming an ink meniscus at the orifices. Drop selection is effected by selectively delivering heat to ink which has been delivered to selectively addressed ones of the orifices, thereby causing a difference in meniscus position between ink in addressed and non-addressed orifices. A heater is suspended in each ink meniscus close to its surface when the meniscus is at its position in a non-addressed orifice, the heater being effective to heat the meniscus and to thereby reduce surface tension of the meniscus at selectively addressed orifices.
Inventors
- 👤 Constantine Nicholas Anagnostopoulos
- 👤 Ravi Sharma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:19
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14427; B41J2202/00; B41J2202/01; B41J2202/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An ink jet printhead for drop-on-demand printing, said printhead comprising: (a) a substrate having a plurality of drop-emitter orifices; (b) an ink channel coupled to each of said orifices for delivery of a body of ink to the orifices; (c) pressure means for subjecting ink in said channels to a pressure above ambient pressure, thereby forming an ink meniscus at the orifices, said meniscus having a surface; and (d) drop selection means for selectively delivering heat to ink which has been delivered to selectively addressed ones of the orifices, thereby causing a difference in meniscus position between ink in addressed and non-addressed orifices, said drop selection means including a heater suspended in each ink meniscus close to the surface of the meniscus when the meniscus is at a non-addressed orifice position, said heater being effective to heat the meniscus and to thereby reduce surface tension of the meniscus at selectively addressed orifices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An ink jet printhead for drop-on-demand printing, said printhead comprising: (a) a substrate having a plurality of drop-emitter orifices; (b) an ink channel coupled to each of said orifices for delivery of a body of ink to the orifices; (c) pressure means for subjecting ink in said channels to a pressure above ambient pressure, thereby forming an ink meniscus at the orifices, said meniscus having a surface; and (d) drop selection means for selectively delivering heat to ink which has been delivered to selectively addressed ones of the orifices, thereby causing a difference in meniscus position between ink in addressed and non-addressed orifices, said drop selection means including a heater suspended in each ink meniscus close to the surface of the meniscus when the meniscus is at a non-addressed orifice position, said heater being effective to heat the meniscus and to thereby reduce surface tension of the meniscus at selectively addressed orifices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The printhead of claim 1 further including drop separating means for causing ink from addressed orifices to separate as drops from the body of ink while allowing ink to be retained in non-addressed orifices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The printhead of claim 2 wherein: said selection means causes ink in addressed orifices to move to selected positions, retained by surface tension, but further protruding from the orifices than ink in non-addressed orifices; and said drop separating means attracts such further-protruding ink toward a print region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printhead of claim 1 in which the ink is a pigmented ink.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printhead of claim 1 in which the ink is a magnetic ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printhead of claim 1 in which the ink is an emulsion ink.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printhead of claim 1 in which the ink is a microemulsion ink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The printhead of claim 1 in which the heaters are suspended in each ink meniscus on electrical conductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printhead of claim 8 in which the electrical conductors form a cantilever, and the heaters are at free ends of the cantilevers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The printhead of claim 8 in which the electrical conductors form a cantilever, and there is at least one of the heaters along each of the cantilevers.
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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) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |