US6012799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer with monolithic print head
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1996-04-09
•
Granted: 2000-01-11
•
Expires: 2016-04-09
Abstract
Abstract PCT No. PCT/US96/05025 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 4, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 4, 1996 PCT Filed Apr. 9, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/32276 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 17, 1996A printing head operating on coincident forces, drop on demand printing principles which is able to print full color images using a single head. The print head includes a plurality of nozzles of each primary color, which may, for example, be the four standard process colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). Nozzles of the same color are grouped in rows, with rows of each color separated from other colors to allow the provision of ink of the appropriate color to the nozzles using an injection molded ink channel assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Kia Silverbrook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:58
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer comprising: (1) a monolithic print head including; (a) a first, second, and third plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface, (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, and (f) a first, second, and third drive circuit for respective actuation of the first, second, and third plurality of nozzles; and (2) first, second and third ink supply channels adapted to supply different colors of ink, respectively, to each of said first, second and third pluralities of nozzles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer comprising: (1) a monolithic print head including; (a) a first, second, and third plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, (c) a pressurizing device adapted to subject ink in said body of ink to a pressure of at least 2% above ambient pressure, at least during drop selection and separation to form a meniscus with an air/ink interface, (d) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, (e) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, and (f) a first, second, and third drive circuit for respective actuation of the first, second, and third plurality of nozzles; and (2) first, second and third ink supply channels adapted to supply different colors of ink, respectively, to each of said first, second and third pluralities of nozzles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein: said nozzles are etched through a silicon crystal substrate; and the drive circuits are integrated upon a surface of said crystal substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said printing head further includes a fourth plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, wherein each plurality of nozzles prints one of the colors of a CC'MM'YK ink set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention defined in claim 1, which includes a filter which excludes ink-borne particulate contamination of a size equal to or exceeding that required to block said nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein the nozzles and drive circuits of said printing head are monolithic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said ink is provided to the back surface of said printing head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said ink is provided to the back surface of said printing head by means of an ink channel assembly having separate ink channels for each of the ink colors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising: a fourth plurality of nozzles; a fourth drive circuit for actuation of the fourth plurality of nozzles; and a fourth ink supply channel adapted to supply ink of a fourth color to said fourth plurality of nozzles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention defined in claim 8, wherein each plurality of nozzles prints one of the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 8, wherein each plurality of nozzles prints one of the colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and a highlight color.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
173 words
A multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer comprising: (1) a monolithic print head including; (a) a first, second, and third plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range, (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, and (f) a first, second, and third drive circuit for respective actuation of the first, second, and third plurality of nozzles; and (2) first, second and third ink supply channels adapted to supply different colors of ink, respectively, to each of said first, second and third pluralities of nozzles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
A multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer comprising: (1) a monolithic print head including; (a) a first, second, and third plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle and said ink exhibiting a surface tension decrease of at least 10 mN/m over a 30° C. temperature range, (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, and (f) a first, second, and third drive circuit for respective actuation of the first, second, and third plurality of nozzles; and (2) first, second and third ink supply channels adapted to supply different colors of ink, respectively, to each of said first, second and third pluralities of nozzles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention defined in claim 11 further comprising: a fourth plurality of nozzles; a fourth drive circuit for actuation of the fourth plurality of nozzles; and a fourth ink supply channel adapted to supply ink of a fourth color to said fourth plurality of nozzles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 11, wherein: said nozzles are etched through a silicon crystal substrate; and the drive circuits are integrated upon a surface of said crystal substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention defined in claim 11, wherein the nozzles and drive circuits of said printing head are monolithic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention defined in claim 11, wherein said ink is provided to the back surface of said printing head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said printing head includes four pluralities of nozzles, wherein each plurality of nozzles prints one of the colors of the CC'MM'YK ink set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
175 words
A multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer comprising: (1) a monolithic print head including; (a) a first, second, and third plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle, (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus, and (f) a first, second, and third drive circuit for respective actuation of the first, second, and third plurality of nozzles; and (2) first, second and third ink supply channels adapted to supply different colors of ink, respectively, to each of said first, second and third pluralities of nozzles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
175 words
A multicolor, drop on demand, liquid ink printer comprising: (1) a monolithic print head including; (a) a first, second, and third plurality of drop-emitter nozzles, (b) a body of ink associated with said nozzles, said body of ink forming a meniscus with an air/ink interface at each nozzle, (c) drop selection apparatus operable upon the air/ink interface to select predetermined nozzles and to generate a difference in meniscus position between ink in selected and non-selected nozzles, (d) drop separation apparatus adapted to cause ink from selected nozzles to separate as drops from the body of ink, while allowing ink to be retained in non-selected nozzles, said drop selection apparatus being capable of producing said difference in meniscus position in the absence of said drop separation apparatus, and (f) a first, second, and third drive circuit for respective actuation of the first, second, and third plurality of nozzles; and (2) first, second and third ink supply channels adapted to supply different colors of ink, respectively, to each of said first, second and third pluralities of nozzles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention defined in claim 17 wherein said printing head includes four pluralities of nozzles, wherein each plurality of nozzles prints one of the colors of the CC'MM'YK ink set.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention defined in claim 17, wherein said ink is provided to the back surface of said printing head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention defined in claim 17, wherein the nozzles and drive circuits of said printing head are monolithic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention defined in claim 17 further comprising: a fourth plurality of nozzles; a fourth drive circuit for actuation of the fourth plurality of nozzles; and a fourth ink supply channel adapted to supply ink of a fourth color to said fourth plurality of nozzles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 17 wherein: said nozzles are etched through a silicon crystal substrate; and the drive circuits are integrated upon a surface of said crystal substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1941001A
Cited
US3373437A
Cited
US3416153A
Cited
US3790703A
Cited
US3946398A
Cited
GB2007162A
Cited
US4166277A
Cited
US4293865A
Cited
US4275290A
Cited
US4164745A
Cited
DE2949808A1
Cited
US4312009A
Cited
US4314263A
Cited
US4490728A
Cited
US4580158A
Cited
US4672432A
Cited
US4660058A
Cited
US4710780A
Cited
US4752783A
Cited
US4751533A
Cited
US4751532A
Cited
US4748458A
Cited
US4952942A
Cited
US4737803A
Cited
JPH02178054A
Cited
WO1990014233A1
Cited
EP0498293A2
Cited
EP0498292A2
Cited
US5371527A
Cited
JPH05131621A
Cited
EP0600712A2
Cited
US5781205A
Cited
US5796416A
Cited
US5796418A
Cited
US5801739A
Cited
US5805178A
Cited
US5808639A
Cited
US5812162A
Cited
US5815179A
Cited
US5815178A
Cited
US5825385A
Cited
US5812159A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |