Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-10-09
Nguyen, Thinh (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
C347S020000, C347S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299289
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of fluid ejection devices such as inkjet printers and, in particular, discloses the utilization of a poker on the ink ejection paddle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different types of printing have been invented, a large number of which are presently in use. The known forms of printers have a variety of methods for marking the print media with a relevant marking media. Commonly used forms of printing include offset printing, laser printing and copying devices, dot matrix type impact printers, thermal paper printers, film recorders, thermal wax printers, dye sublimation printers and ink jet printers both of the drop on demand and continuous flow type. Each type of printer has its own advantages and problems when considering cost, speed, quality, reliability, simplicity of construction and operation etc.
In recent years, the field of ink jet printing, wherein each individual pixel of ink is derived from one or more ink nozzles has become increasingly popular primarily due to its inexpensive and versatile nature.
Many different techniques of ink jet printing have been invented. For a survey of the field, reference is made to an article by J Moore, “Non-Impact Printing: Introduction and Historical Perspective”, Output Hard Copy Devices, Editors R Dubeck and S Sherr, pages 207-220 (1988).
Ink Jet printers themselves come in many different types. The utilisation of a continuous stream ink in ink jet printing appears to date back to at least 1929 wherein U.S. Pat. No. 1,941,001 by Hansell discloses a simple form of continuous stream electrostatic ink jet printing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,275 by Sweet also discloses a process of a continuous ink jet printing including the step wherein the ink jet stream is modulated by a high frequency electrostatic field so as to cause drop separation. This technique is still utilized by several manufacturers including Elmjet and Scitex (see also U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,437 by Sweet et al)
Piezo-electric ink jet printers are also one form of commonly utilized ink jet printing device. Piezo-electric systems are disclosed by Kyser et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,398 (1970) which utilizes a diaphragm mode of operation, by Zolten in U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 (1970) which discloses a squeeze mode of operation of a piezo electric crystal, Stemme in U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 (1972) discloses a bend mode of piezo-electric operation, Howkins in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601 discloses a Piezo electric push mode actuation of the ink jet stream and Fischbeck in U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590 which discloses a sheer mode type of piezo-electric transducer element.
Recently, thermal ink jet printing has become an extremely popular form of ink jet printing. The ink jet printing techniques include those disclosed by Endo et al in GB 2007162 (1979) and Vaught et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728. Both the aforementioned references disclosed ink jet printing techniques rely upon the activation of an electrothermal actuator which results in the creation of a bubble in a constricted space, such as a nozzle, which thereby causes the ejection of ink from an aperture connected to the confined space onto a relevant print media. Printing devices utilizing the electrothermal actuator are manufactured by manufacturers such as Canon and Hewlett Packard.
As can be seen from the foregoing, many different types of printing technologies are available. Ideally, a printing technology should have a number of desirable attributes. These include inexpensive construction and operation, high speed operation, safe and continuous long term operation etc. Each technology may have its own advantages and disadvantages in the areas of cost, speed, quality, reliability, power usage, simplicity of construction operation, durability and consumables.
Recently, the present applicant has disclosed for example, an Australian Provisional Patent No. PP6534 entitled “Micromechanical Device and Method (IJ46a)”, filed Oct. 16, 1998 a new form of ink jet printer containing an ink ejection mechanism that includes a thermal bend actuator actuated in an external ambient environment which is interconnected with a paddle mechanism utilised for the ejection of ink.
Unfortunately, in the aforementioned ink jet printing arrangement as in most ink jet printing arrangements, there is a tendency of the ink ejection nozzles to dry out over time which can result in the build up of crustaceans etc. Further, there is also the propensity of such devices to become clogged by other means such as foreign bodies in the ink or paper fibres, material etc. around the ink ejection nozzle.
Further, in the aforementioned arrangement, there is a significant gap left in one wall of the ink ejection chamber, the gap being required and utilized by the movement of the thermal actuator up and down during an ejection cycle. Unfortunately, the provision of the slot may cause ink flow to wick out of the nozzle chamber and along the thermal actuator which can cause problems with ink loss due to wicking. Such ink loss is generally undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inkjet printhead comprising:
a plurality of nozzle chambers, each having a nozzle aperture defined in one wall thereof for the ejection of ink out of said aperture;
an ink supply channel interconnected with said nozzle chamber;
a paddle moveable within the nozzle chamber by an actuator and operable to eject ink from said nozzle chamber, said paddle having a projecting part which, upon operation of said actuator is caused to move towards said nozzle aperture.
Preferably, the projecting part, upon activation of the actuator, moves through the plane of the aperture and can be located concentrically with the nozzle aperture.
The liquid ejection aperture can be formed utilizing the deposition and etching of a series of layers and the projecting part can comprise a hollow cylindrical column.
The hollow cylindrical column preferably can include an end adjacent the aperture which can be chemically mechanically planarized during the formation of the aperture.
The actuator can comprise a thermal bend actuator conductively heated so as to cause movement of the paddle.
The projecting part can be located substantially centrally on the paddle.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided in an inkjet printhead having at least one chamber from which liquid is ejected from a nozzle aperture interconnected with said chamber by means of movement of a liquid ejection paddle, a method of improving the operational characteristics of said printhead comprising the steps of:
locating a projecting part on said moveable paddle, said projecting part undergoing movement towards said nozzle aperture upon activation of said liquid ejection paddle to eject fluid.
The projection part preferably can include an end portion which moves through the plane of an outer rim of the aperture upon activation of the liquid ejection paddle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6027205 (2000-02-01), Herbert
Nguyen Thinh
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
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