Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-20
2002-06-18
Gordon, Raquel Yvette (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
active
06406130
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to micromachined or microelectromechanical system based fluid ejectors and fluid ejection methods.
2. Description of Related Art
Fluid ejectors have been developed for inkjet recording or printing. Ink jet recording apparatus offer numerous benefits, including extremely quiet operation when recording, high speed printing, a high degree of freedom in ink selection, and the ability to use low-cost plain paper. The so-called “drop-on-demand” drive method, where ink is output only when required for recording, is now the conventional approach. The drop-on-demand drive method makes it unnecessary to recover ink not needed for recording.
Fluid ejectors for inkjet printing include one or more nozzles which allow the formation and control of small ink droplets to permit high resolution, resulting in the ability to print sharper characters with improved tonal resolution. In particular, drop-on-demand inkjet print heads are generally used for high resolution printers.
Drop-on-demand technology generally uses some type of pulse generator to form and eject drops. For example, in one type of print head, a chamber having an ink nozzle may be fitted with a piezoelectric wall that is deformed when a voltage is applied. As a result of the deformation, the fluid is forced out of the nozzle orifice as a drop. The drop then impinges directly on an associated printing surface. Use of such a piezoelectric device as a driver is described in JP B-1990-51734.
Another type of print head uses bubbles formed by heat pulses to force fluid out of the nozzle. The drops are separated from the ink supply when the bubbles form. Use of pressure generated by heating the ink to generate bubbles is described in JP B-1986-59911.
Yet another type of drop-on-demand print head incorporates an electrostatic actuator. This type of print head utilizes electrostatic force to eject the ink. Examples of such electrostatic print heads are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,375 to Kroll and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 289351/90. The inkjet head disclosed in the 375 patent uses an electrostatic actuator comprising a diaphragm that constitutes a part of an ink ejection chamber and a base plate disposed outside of the ink ejection chamber opposite to the diaphragm. The ink jet head ejects ink droplets through a nozzle communicating with the ink ejection chamber, by applying a time varying voltage between the diaphragm and the base plate. The diaphragm and the base plate thus act as a capacitor, which causes the diaphragm to be set into mechanical motion and the fluid to exit responsive to the diaphragm's motion. On the other hand, the ink jet head discussed in the Japan 351 distorts its diaphragm by applying a voltage to an electrostatic actuator fixed on the diaphragm. This result in suction of ink into an ink ejection chamber. Once the voltage is removed, the diaphragm is restored to its non-distorted condition, ejecting ink from the ink ejection chamber.
Fluid drop ejectors maybe used not only for printing, but also for depositing photoresist and other liquids in the semiconductor and flat panel display industries, for delivering drug and biological samples, for delivering multiple chemicals for chemical reactions, for handling DNA sequences, for delivering drugs and biological materials for interaction studies and assaying, and for depositing thin and narrow layers of plastics for usable as permanent and/or removable gaskets in micro-machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The systems and methods of this invention provide increased electrostatic force for fluid ejection in an electrostatic fluid ejector.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide greater fluid ejection efficiency.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide greater fluid ejection velocity with an electrostatic fluid ejector.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide for compensation within a sealed chamber of a secondary dielectric fluid.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide an actively powered ejection cycle for ejecting fluid from a fluid ejector.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide increased force on a fluid over the cycle of a fluid ejector.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide isolation of the electrostatic field from the primary fluid or fluid to be ejected.
The systems and methods of this invention separately provide increased latitude in primary fluid design.
The systems and methods of this invention separately utilize a high performance secondary dielectric fluid.
According to various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention, a sealed diaphragm that is used to eject a fluid from a fluid ejector that contains a secondary dielectric fluid. According to other various exemplary embodiments, the secondary dielectric fluid is a liquid. According to other various exemplary embodiments, the secondary dielectric fluid is substantially incompressible. According to various other exemplary embodiments, the secondary dielectric fluid is a high performance dielectric fluid or dielectrically enhanced fluid.
According to various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention, a sealed diaphragm chamber is connected to a secondary dielectric reservoir. According to other various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention, a secondary dielectric feed hole is formed through a substrate to be in communication with the diaphragm chamber. According to further various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention, a channel is formed to be in communication with the sealed diaphragm chamber. According to various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention, a fluid ejection system comprises a containment structure for a fluid to be ejected, an electrode and a sealed diaphragm that at least partly defines a chamber in which a secondary dielectric fluid is provided.
According to various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention, a fluid ejection system comprises a sealed diaphragm arrangement including at least one diaphragm portion and a diaphragm chamber defined at least partially by the at least one diaphragm portion. A nozzle hole is located over the at least one diaphragm portion. An ejection chamber that receives a primary fluid to be ejected is defined between the nozzle hole and the least one diaphragm portion. A secondary dielectric fluid reservoir containing a secondary dielectric fluid is in fluid communication with the diaphragm chamber to supply the secondary dielectric fluid to the diaphragm chamber.
These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.
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Carreira Leonard M.
Crowley Joseph M.
Galambos Paul C.
Givler Richard C.
Gooray Arthur M.
Gordon Raquel Yvette
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Xerox Corporation
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