Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller
Reexamination Certificate
1994-01-06
2001-07-24
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Controller
C347S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264297
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to droplet ejection using a liquid jet recording head with thermal elements, and more particularly, to a liquid droplet forming method employing a two-part drive signal and time-division driving.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the related field there are already known ink jet recording apparatus for example of drop-on-demand type, which are recently attracting attention because of their negligibly low noise and absence of an unnecessary ink deposit when recording. Such recording is considered particularly useful in the ability of recording on plain paper without a particular fixing treatment. In the field of such drop-on-demand type ink jet recording, there have been proposed various apparatus some of which are already in commercial use, while others are still in the course of development.
In summary, the ink jet recording of the drop-on-demand type performs recording by emitting a droplet of recording liquid, called ink, from a small orifice in response to an instruction signal, and depositing the droplet onto a recording material. In the known methods, the droplet generation is achieved for example by the use of a piezoelectric element.
The present invention relates to a novel drop-on-demand type ink jet recording method which is different from the conventional method utilizing the piezoelectric element and which effects the droplet emission from a small orifice by applying a drive signal to the liquid introduced to a small liquid chamber, thereby causing bubble formation in the liquid. Also in a related field U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,519 discloses another apparatus, which while not requiring pressurizing and deflecting means, does provide droplets of insufficient evenness because of a weak droplet forming force and further requires a liquid recovery mechanism for unused droplets, and thus cannot be compactized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a solution to technical problems which have not been resolved in this technical field by the conventional technology.
Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus well adapted for example for high-speed droplet emission without the trouble of the defect or lack of droplet emission.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having a very short induction period before reaching a stable droplet emission state and achieving a gradual retraction of the liquid meniscus after droplet emission.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a liquid droplet forming method for an apparatus including a liquid jet recording head having a plurality of blocks of thermal elements, wherein each block includes a plurality of the thermal elements arranged in a line on a substrate at a pitch of at least ten thermal elements per millimeter and disposed in a plurality of associated liquid storage members connected to a common ink supply chamber for supplying liquid to the plurality of liquid storage members, each thermal element being disposed to heat liquid within an associated liquid storage member to form a droplet of the liquid to be ejected from the head upon activation and consequent heating of the thermal element by application thereto of a drive signal pulse, comprises the steps of:
generating drive signal pulses, each comprising a multi-part signal that includes at least a first part which pre-heats liquid in the associated liquid storage member to an extent that a droplet is not ejected from the head followed by a second part which heats the pre-heated liquid in the associated liquid storage member to an extent that a bubble is formed in the associated liquid storage member so that a droplet is ejected from the head,
driving the plural blocks of the thermal elements in accordance with the generated drive signal pulses in a time-division manner such that no two blocks of thermal elements are driven simultaneously, and
driving the thermal elements in each block in successive activation cycles in accordance with the generated drive signal pulses, wherein each drive signal pulse corresponds to one of the thermal elements in the block, by permitting a time-divided application of drive signal pulses to all of the thermal elements in each block during each cycle, the time-divided driving being effected by selecting a number less than the plurality of thermal elements in the block for possible simultaneous application thereto of the corresponding drive signal pulses.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3177800 (1965-04-01), Welsh
patent: 3179042 (1965-04-01), Naiman
patent: 3356934 (1967-12-01), Halfhill et al.
patent: 3483356 (1969-12-01), Kalt
patent: 3488664 (1970-01-01), Winston
patent: 3560641 (1971-02-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 3716294 (1973-02-01), Knechtal et al.
patent: 3747120 (1973-07-01), Stemme
patent: 3893131 (1975-07-01), Perel et al.
patent: 3931492 (1976-01-01), Tanako et al.
patent: 3943525 (1976-03-01), Skala
patent: 3953708 (1976-04-01), Thornburg
patent: 3987492 (1976-10-01), Kraus et al.
patent: 3988745 (1976-10-01), Sultan
patent: 4034187 (1977-07-01), Tomioka et al.
patent: 4037254 (1977-07-01), Monahan
patent: 4039065 (1977-08-01), Seki
patent: 4059183 (1977-11-01), Hoskins
patent: 4063254 (1977-12-01), Fox et al.
patent: 4074284 (1978-02-01), Dexter et al.
patent: 4095237 (1978-06-01), Amberntsson et al.
patent: 4104646 (1978-08-01), Fischbeck
patent: 4112469 (1978-09-01), Paranjpe et al.
patent: 4117518 (1978-09-01), Skala
patent: 4126868 (1978-11-01), Kirner
patent: 4141018 (1979-02-01), Mizuguchi et al.
patent: 4216483 (1980-08-01), Kyser et al.
patent: 4243994 (1981-01-01), Kaboyashi et al.
patent: 4251824 (1981-02-01), Hara et al.
patent: 4264933 (1981-04-01), Kurahayashi
patent: 4293865 (1981-10-01), Jinnai et al.
patent: 4296421 (1981-10-01), Hara et al.
patent: 4330787 (1982-05-01), Sato et al.
patent: 4345262 (1982-08-01), Shirato
patent: 4376945 (1983-03-01), Hara et al.
patent: 4459600 (1984-07-01), Sato et al.
patent: 4463359 (1984-07-01), Ayata et al.
patent: 4490728 (1984-12-01), Vaught et al.
patent: 4520373 (1985-05-01), Ayata et al.
patent: 4723129 (1988-02-01), Endo
patent: 5006864 (1991-04-01), Ayata et al.
patent: 5486848 (1996-01-01), Ayata et al.
patent: 1012198 (1977-06-01), None
patent: 2164614 (1972-08-01), None
patent: 2435214 (1975-03-01), None
patent: 2349340 (1975-04-01), None
patent: 2532037 (1976-01-01), None
patent: 2450463 (1976-05-01), None
patent: 2549758 (1977-05-01), None
patent: 2817641 (1978-10-01), None
patent: 2944005 (1979-10-01), None
patent: 2945658 (1980-05-01), None
patent: 2253125 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 1566988 (1980-08-01), None
patent: 27622 (1972-10-01), None
patent: 9622 (1973-02-01), None
patent: 16757 (1973-04-01), None
patent: 64843 (1973-09-01), None
patent: 84249 (1975-07-01), None
patent: 110230 (1975-08-01), None
patent: 118629 (1975-09-01), None
patent: 144448 (1975-11-01), None
patent: 71535 (1975-11-01), None
patent: 14030 (1976-02-01), None
patent: 101543 (1976-09-01), None
patent: 104224 (1976-09-01), None
patent: 39495 (1976-10-01), None
patent: 128227 (1976-11-01), None
patent: 132036 (1976-11-01), None
patent: 51-132036 (1976-11-01), None
patent: 10736 (1977-01-01), None
patent: 16674 (1977-04-01), None
patent: 92733 (1977-07-01), None
patent: 102039 (1977-08-01), None
patent: 40128 (1977-08-01), None
patent: 117643 (1977-10-01), None
patent: 87238 (1978-08-01), None
patent: 127745 (1978-11-01), None
patent: 53-131052 (1978-11-01), None
patent: 45698 (1978-12-01), None
patent: 51837 (1979-04-01), None
patent: 59936 (1979-05-01), None
Texas Instruments, “The TTL Data Book for Design Engineers,” Second Edition, 1979, ISBN-0-904047-27-X, pp. 11-121 to 11-123.
Nikkei Electronics, Jul. 11, 1977, pp. 54-67.
Denki Kagaku, Feb. 1979, pp. 18-22.
Ayata Naoki
Seki Mitsuaki
Shirato Yoshiaki
Takatori Yasushi
Barlow John
Brooke M.
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
LandOfFree
Liquid jet recording using a multi-part drive signal... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Liquid jet recording using a multi-part drive signal..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Liquid jet recording using a multi-part drive signal... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2467326