METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTICALLY SYNCHRONIZING DROP FORMATION IN AN INK JET ARRAY

• Main Authors: LANE, RAMON, TAUB, HOWARD H
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 24.03.1981
• Subjects: CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; COMBINED OPERATIONS; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTICALLY SYNCHRONIZING DROP FORMATION IN AN INK JET ARRAY An ink jet synchronization scheme, wherein the drop formation of respective streams in an ink jet array are synchronized acoustically by individual acoustic fiber inputs to each of the streams. The acoustic fibers are attached to grooves adjacent each of the nozzles, with acoustic isolation being provided between the fiber and the nozzle substrate to prevent direct excitation of the substrate. This prevents the occurrence of resonance within the nozzle plate. Alternatively, acoustic isolation is achieved by mounting the synchronization structure separate from the nozzle plate. For example, the acoustic fibers are attached to the charge electrode structure, or are attached to a support structure intermediate the nozzle plate and the charge electrode structure. The acoustic energy inputs to the fibers are independently controlled as is required for certain printing schemes or are made identical as is normally the case.