EP0017757A1 - Suction print head for an ink jet printer - Google Patents

Suction print head for an ink jet printer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0017757A1
EP0017757A1 EP80101299A EP80101299A EP0017757A1 EP 0017757 A1 EP0017757 A1 EP 0017757A1 EP 80101299 A EP80101299 A EP 80101299A EP 80101299 A EP80101299 A EP 80101299A EP 0017757 A1 EP0017757 A1 EP 0017757A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
walls
pair
cavity
tunnel
print head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP80101299A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Alvin Leroy Wittwer
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International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Publication of EP0017757A1 publication Critical patent/EP0017757A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/07—Ink jet characterised by jet control
    • B41J2/075—Ink jet characterised by jet control for many-valued deflection
    • B41J2/08—Ink jet characterised by jet control for many-valued deflection charge-control type
    • B41J2/09—Deflection means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/02—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to inkjet printers and, more particularly, to a suction device intended for such a printer and comprising a tunnel whose walls can move so as to prevent contamination by the ink which it contains. when the printer is turned on or off.
  • the U.S. Patent No. 4,097,872 describes a suction device for an ink jet printer the main purpose of which is to create in said tunnel a gas stream which moves in parallel following ink droplets and at practically identical speed so as to reduce the aerodynamic effects on neighboring droplets.
  • the section of the tunnel measured in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is practically constant, which makes it possible to maintain the speed of which the gas stream is animated at a practically constant value. It is known that, when switching on or off an inkjet printer, contamination of the walls of the suction device by ink droplets can occur (which is particularly true in the case cold start-up).
  • the electrodes or deflection plates (which make up the upper and lower walls of the tunnel) are made of sintered metal and can absorb small amounts of ink falling into the suction device during switching on or off, but the tunnel walls, which are made of dielectric material, do not have this ability.
  • the walls of the tunnel of the suction device are made to move away from the deflection electrodes when the printer is turned on (or off), and are then applied to the surfaces of the printer. These electrodes, in order to cause the tunnel to form after the machine has been started up, which makes it possible to prevent the walls from being contaminated by ink when the printer is started up since they are located then away from the electrodes.
  • One of the main objects of the present invention is therefore to provide a suction device for an ink jet printer, the tunnel of which has movable walls.
  • a printhead comprising a suction device which comprises a tunnel whose cross section is practically uniform so that the speed of the air stream flowing through it is equal to that of the ink droplets, which virtually eliminates the aerodynamic disturbances to which they are subject.
  • a print head 10 which in this case is intended for an analog type deflection inkjet printer, comprises a droplet generator 11 and a suction device 20 produced in accordance with the present invention.
  • the droplet generator 11 of such a printer comprises a chamber containing ink to which a disturbance is applied by means, for example, of a piezoelectric crystal, so that the jet of ink emanating from a nozzle 12 is divided into droplets 13 to which a charge is applied, if necessary, by a charging electrode 14.
  • the droplets then pass between upper and lower deflection electrodes 21 and 22 respectively mounted inside of the device 20 and which cause a deflection of the droplets as a function of the load which has been applied to them. If the droplets have not received any charge (and are not used for printing purposes), they are intercepted by a gutter 15 which brings them back to a pump (not shown) and to the generator 11.
  • the suction device 20 comprises a casing 23 of tubular shape and which, in the present example, is cylindrical.
  • This casing is made of dielectric material, for example ceramic or plastic material, for example those sold under the name of Plexiglass or Noryl. It has at one of its ends a wall 24 in which there is, in the present example, a central opening 25 into which can be introduced and fixed means 26 comprising the charging electrode 14.
  • the wall 24 can also be used fixing the casing 23 to the droplet generator 11, using, for example, the method described in U.S. Patent No. 4,097,872, supra, with the understanding that any other method of attachment which is not likely to cause turbulence in the air flowing through the tunnel of the suction or allow air to escape.
  • the housing 23 comprises a cavity 27 of annular shape which is defined by axial projections 28 and 29 which respectively include the electrodes 21 and 22.
  • the walls 28a and 29a, situated at the ends, are curved, as is the part interior 24a of the wall 24, so that the air introduced into the interior of the device through the inlet orifice 30 is not subject to any turbulence.
  • the electrodes 21 and 22 are arranged in the cavity 27, but are separated from each other, so as to constitute at least one pair of surfaces arranged opposite and forming a first pair of walls 21a , 22a of a tunnel 31 inside the cavity 27.
  • each of the deflection electrodes can have any shape, it is preferable that the parts 21b, 22b have the shape of bubbles whose parts of smaller diameter 21c, 22c, merge respectively with the surfaces 21a, 22a (see Figure 2).
  • the deflection electrodes 21 and 22 made of sintered metal can absorb small quantities of ink falling inside the tunnel 31 when the printer is turned on or off
  • the other two tunnel walls which are located on either side of the electrodes 21 and 22 must be made of a dielectric material and are preferably movable so that they can pass into the cavity 27, from a first position, in which they are distant from the surfaces 21a, 22a of the electrodes, at a second position, in which they are in contact with these surfaces and then define the tunnel.
  • the tunnel 31 comprises an inlet opening 32 which, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is rectangular in shape, its longest side being horizontal, and an outlet orifice 33 , which is also rectangular, but the largest side of which is vertical. Therefore, the section of the tunnel at any point thereof is practically equal to its section at any other point.
  • the walls 35 and 36 which are inside the cavity are mobile and, as will be seen below, can move between a first position such as that shown in FIG. 2, in which they are in contact with the surfaces of the deflection electrodes 21 and 22, and more particularly with the edges of the facing surfaces 21a and 22a, so as to define the tunnel 31 by forming the walls thereof, and a another position in which the walls 35 and 36 are distant from the facing surfaces.
  • the walls 35 and 36 preferably consist of a rigid dielectric material, but having a certain elasticity, such as that sold under the name of Delrin or any other plastic material reinforced so as to form the thick parts shown in 36a and 35a.
  • the walls 35 and 36 are supported by bellows-shaped elements 39 and 40 which, when an appropriate vacuum is applied by means, for example, of pipes 41 and 42, separate the walls 35 and 36 from the electrodes 21 and 22 or at least surfaces 2la and 22a so that badly directed droplets cannot strike said walls when the printer is turned on or off. This avoids any contamination of the walls as well as any risk of short-circuit resulting from the presence of ink on them.
  • the printer When the printer is turned on, compressed air is applied to the bellows-shaped elements 39 and 40 via the pipes 41 and 42, and the walls 35 and 36 of the elements 39 and 40 are brought into contact with the surfaces 21b, 22b and 21c, 22c of the deflection electrodes 21 and 22, the shape of which they easily follow , thus defining the tunnel 31.
  • the lateral shape of the deflection electrodes makes it possible to guide the walls 35 and 36 and automatically compensates for any misalignment resulting from the withdrawal of the walls when the air contained in the bellows-shaped elements is expelled 39 and 40.
  • the pipes 41 and 42 must penetrate into the cavity 27 at a point such that they do not create any turbulence of the air introduced into the tunnel 31 through the intake orifice 30.
  • filters or filters screens such as those shown in 17 and 18 can be used to reduce turbulence and create a laminar air flow in tunnel 31 as far as possible.
  • the device of the present invention therefore makes it possible to move the walls of the tunnel through which the ink droplets and the air flow of the suction device pass so as to prevent ink from contaminating said walls during the setting up. on and off of the printer.

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

Tête d'impression à aspiration pour imprimante à jet d'encre. Elle comporte les électrodes de déviation (21) et (22) ainsi que les parois mobiles (35) et (36). Lors de la mise en fonction de l'imprimante, de l'air comprimé est appliqué aux éléments en forme de soufflet (39) et (40) et les parois mobiles (35) et (36) sont amenées en contact avec les surfaces (21b), (22b) et (21c), (22c) des électrodes de déviation.Suction print head for inkjet printer. It includes the deflection electrodes (21) and (22) as well as the movable walls (35) and (36). When the printer is switched on, compressed air is applied to the bellows-shaped elements (39) and (40) and the movable walls (35) and (36) are brought into contact with the surfaces ( 21b), (22b) and (21c), (22c) of the deflection electrodes.

Description

Domaine TechniqueTechnical area

La présente invention concerne les imprimantes à jet d'encre et, plus particulièrement, un dispositif d'aspiration destiné à une telle imprimante et comportant un tunnel dont les parois peuvent se déplacer de manière à empêcher la contamination par l'encre qu'il contient lorsque l'imprimante est mise en fonction ou hors fonction.The present invention relates to inkjet printers and, more particularly, to a suction device intended for such a printer and comprising a tunnel whose walls can move so as to prevent contamination by the ink which it contains. when the printer is turned on or off.

Etat de la TechniqueState of the art

Le brevet des E.U.A. No. 4 097 872 décrit un dispositif d'aspiration pour une imprimante à jet d'encre dont le but principal est de créer dans ledit tunnel un courant gazeux qui se déplace parallèlement à la suite de gouttelettes d'encre et à une vitesse pratiquement identique de manière à réduire les effets aérodynamiques sur les gouttelettes voisines. La section du tunnel mesurée dans un plan quelconque perpendiculaire à l'axe longitudinal est pratiquement constante, ce qui permet de maintenir la vitesse dont le courant gazeux est animé à une valeur pratiquement constante. On sait que, lors de la mise en fonction ou hors fonction d'une imprimante à jet d'encre, une contamination des parois du dispositif d'aspiration par les gouttelettes d'encre peut se produire (ce qui est particulièrement vrai dans le cas d'une mise en fonction à froid). Les électrodes ou les plaques de déviation (qui constituent les parois supérieure et inférieure du tunnel) sont en métal fritté et peuvent absorber de petites quantités d'encre tombant dans le dispositif d'aspiration lors de la mise en fonction ou hors fonction, mais les parois du tunnel, qui sont en matériau diélectrique, n'ont pas cette faculté.The U.S. Patent No. 4,097,872 describes a suction device for an ink jet printer the main purpose of which is to create in said tunnel a gas stream which moves in parallel following ink droplets and at practically identical speed so as to reduce the aerodynamic effects on neighboring droplets. The section of the tunnel measured in any plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is practically constant, which makes it possible to maintain the speed of which the gas stream is animated at a practically constant value. It is known that, when switching on or off an inkjet printer, contamination of the walls of the suction device by ink droplets can occur (which is particularly true in the case cold start-up). The electrodes or deflection plates (which make up the upper and lower walls of the tunnel) are made of sintered metal and can absorb small amounts of ink falling into the suction device during switching on or off, but the tunnel walls, which are made of dielectric material, do not have this ability.

Exposé de l'InventionStatement of the Invention

Selon l'invention, on fait en sorte que les parois du tunnel du dispositif d'aspiration s'écartent des électrodes de déviation lors de la mise en fonction (ou hors fonction) de l'imprimante, et soient ensuite appliquées sur les surfaces de ces électrodes, afin de provoquer la formation du tunnel après la mise en fonction de la machine, ce qui permet d'éviter que les parois ne soient contaminées par l'encre lors de la mise en fonction de l'imprimante puisqu'elles se trouvent alors éloignées des électrodes.According to the invention, the walls of the tunnel of the suction device are made to move away from the deflection electrodes when the printer is turned on (or off), and are then applied to the surfaces of the printer. these electrodes, in order to cause the tunnel to form after the machine has been started up, which makes it possible to prevent the walls from being contaminated by ink when the printer is started up since they are located then away from the electrodes.

L'un des principaux objets de la présente invention est donc de fournir un dispositif d'aspiration pour imprimante à jet d'encre dont le tunnel comporte des parois mobiles.One of the main objects of the present invention is therefore to provide a suction device for an ink jet printer, the tunnel of which has movable walls.

D'autres objets, caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de l'exposé qui suit, fait en référence aux dessins annexés à ce texte, qui représentent un mode de réalisation préféré de celle-ci.Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, made with reference to the drawings appended to this text, which represent a preferred embodiment thereof.

Brève Description des FiguresBrief Description of the Figures

  • La figure 1 est une coupe schématique d'une tête d'impression incorporant la présente invention et destinée à être utilisée dans une imprimante à jet d'encre.Figure 1 is a schematic section of a print head incorporating the present invention and intended for use in an inkjet printer.
  • La figure 2 est une coupe, prise selon la ligne 2-2 de la figure 1, représentant la tête d'impression comme si certaines parties des écrans de filtrage étaient transparentes.Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the print head as if certain parts of the filter screens were transparent.
Description d'un Mode de Réalisation de l'InventionDescription of an embodiment of the invention

On a représenté sur les figures, et plus particulièrement sur la figure 1, référence étant faite au brevet précité, qui concerne une amélioration apportée à une imprimante à jet d'encre du type décrit dans le brevet des E.U.A. No. 3 596 275, une tête d'impression comprenant un dispositif d'aspiration qui comporte un tunnel dont la section est pratiquement uniforme de manière à ce que la vitesse du courant d'air qui le parcourt soit égale à celle des gouttelettes d'encre, ce qui permet de supprimer pratiquement les perturbations aérodynamiques dont ces dernières font l'objet. Sur la figure 1, une tête d'impression 10, qui est en l'occurrence destinée à une imprimante à jet d'encre à déviation du type analogique, comprend un générateur de gouttelettes 11 et un dispositif d'aspiration 20 réalisé conformément à la présente invention. On sait que le générateur de gouttelettes 11 d'une telle imprimante comprend une chambre contenant de l'encre à laquelle une perturbation est appliquée au moyen, par exemple, d'un cristal piézoélec- trique, de manière à ce que le jet d'encre émanant d'une buse 12 se divise en gouttelettes 13 auxquelles une charge est appliquée, le cas échéant, par une électrode de charge 14. Les gouttelettes passent ensuite entre des électrodes de déviation supérieure et inférieure 21 et 22 respectivement montées à l'intérieur du dispositif 20 et qui provoquent une déviation des gouttelettes en fonction de la charge qui leur a été appliquée. Si les gouttelettes n'ont reçu aucune charge (et ne sont pas utilisées aux fins de l'impression), elles sont interceptées par une gouttière 15 qui les ramène à une pompe (non représentée) et au générateur 11.There is shown in the figures, and more particularly in Figure 1, reference being made to the aforementioned patent, which relates to an improvement made to an ink jet printer of the type described in US Pat. 3,596,275, a printhead comprising a suction device which comprises a tunnel whose cross section is practically uniform so that the speed of the air stream flowing through it is equal to that of the ink droplets, which virtually eliminates the aerodynamic disturbances to which they are subject. In FIG. 1, a print head 10, which in this case is intended for an analog type deflection inkjet printer, comprises a droplet generator 11 and a suction device 20 produced in accordance with the present invention. It is known that the droplet generator 11 of such a printer comprises a chamber containing ink to which a disturbance is applied by means, for example, of a piezoelectric crystal, so that the jet of ink emanating from a nozzle 12 is divided into droplets 13 to which a charge is applied, if necessary, by a charging electrode 14. The droplets then pass between upper and lower deflection electrodes 21 and 22 respectively mounted inside of the device 20 and which cause a deflection of the droplets as a function of the load which has been applied to them. If the droplets have not received any charge (and are not used for printing purposes), they are intercepted by a gutter 15 which brings them back to a pump (not shown) and to the generator 11.

Le dispositif d'aspiration 20 comprend un carter 23 de forme tubulaire et qui, dans le présent exemple, est cylindrique. Ce carter est en matériau diélectrique, par exemple en céramique ou en matière plastique par exemple celles commercialisées sous le nom de Plexiglass ou Noryl. Il comporte à l'une de ses extrémités une paroi 24 dans laquelle se trouve, dans le présent exemple, une ouverture centrale 25 dans laquelle peuvent être introduits et fixés des moyens 26 comportant l'électrode de charge 14. La paroi 24 peut également servir à fixer le carter 23 au générateur de gouttelettes 11, en utilisant, par exemple, le procédé décrit dans le brevet des E.U.A. No. 4 097 872 précité, étant entendu que l'on peut également employer tout autre procédé de fixation qui n'est pas susceptible de provoquer une turbulence de l'air circulant dans le tunnel du dispositif d'aspiration ou de permettre à l'air de s'échapper.The suction device 20 comprises a casing 23 of tubular shape and which, in the present example, is cylindrical. This casing is made of dielectric material, for example ceramic or plastic material, for example those sold under the name of Plexiglass or Noryl. It has at one of its ends a wall 24 in which there is, in the present example, a central opening 25 into which can be introduced and fixed means 26 comprising the charging electrode 14. The wall 24 can also be used fixing the casing 23 to the droplet generator 11, using, for example, the method described in U.S. Patent No. 4,097,872, supra, with the understanding that any other method of attachment which is not likely to cause turbulence in the air flowing through the tunnel of the suction or allow air to escape.

Le carter 23 comprend une cavité 27 de forme annulaire qui est définie par des avancées axiales 28 et 29 qui englobent respectivement les électrodes 21 et 22. De préférence, les parois 28a et 29a, situées aux extrémités, sont incurvées, de même que la partie intérieure 24a de la paroi 24, afin que l'air introduit à l'intérieur du dispositif par l'orifice d'admission 30 ne fasse l'objet d'aucune turbulence. Ainsi, les électrodes 21 et 22 sont disposées dans la cavité 27, mais sont séparées l'une de l'autre, de manière à constituer au moins une paire de surfaces disposées en vis-à-vis et formant une première paire de parois 21a, 22a d'un tunnel 31 à l'intérieur de la cavité 27. Par ailleurs, bien que les parties longitudinales de chacune des électrodes de déviation puissent avoir une forme quelconque, il est préférable que les parties 21b, 22b aient la forme de bulles dont les parties de plus faible diamètre 21c, 22c, se confondent respectivement avec les surfaces 21a, 22a (voir figure 2).The housing 23 comprises a cavity 27 of annular shape which is defined by axial projections 28 and 29 which respectively include the electrodes 21 and 22. Preferably, the walls 28a and 29a, situated at the ends, are curved, as is the part interior 24a of the wall 24, so that the air introduced into the interior of the device through the inlet orifice 30 is not subject to any turbulence. Thus, the electrodes 21 and 22 are arranged in the cavity 27, but are separated from each other, so as to constitute at least one pair of surfaces arranged opposite and forming a first pair of walls 21a , 22a of a tunnel 31 inside the cavity 27. Furthermore, although the longitudinal parts of each of the deflection electrodes can have any shape, it is preferable that the parts 21b, 22b have the shape of bubbles whose parts of smaller diameter 21c, 22c, merge respectively with the surfaces 21a, 22a (see Figure 2).

Selon l'invention, bien que les électrodes de déviation 21 et 22 en métal fritté puissent absorber de petites quantités d'encre tombant à l'intérieur du tunnel 31 lors de la mise en fonction ou hors fonction de l'imprimante, les deux autres parois du tunnel qui sont situées de part et d'autre des électrodes 21 et 22 doivent se composer d'un matériau diélectrique et sont de préférence mobiles de telle sorte qu'elles puissent passer dans la cavité 27, d'une première position, dans laquelle elles sont éloignées des surfaces 21a, 22a des électrodes, à une seconde position, dans laquelle elles se trouvent en contact avec ces surfaces et définissent alors le tunnel.According to the invention, although the deflection electrodes 21 and 22 made of sintered metal can absorb small quantities of ink falling inside the tunnel 31 when the printer is turned on or off, the other two tunnel walls which are located on either side of the electrodes 21 and 22 must be made of a dielectric material and are preferably movable so that they can pass into the cavity 27, from a first position, in which they are distant from the surfaces 21a, 22a of the electrodes, at a second position, in which they are in contact with these surfaces and then define the tunnel.

Comme le montre la figure 1, le tunnel 31 comprend une ouverture d'entrée 32 qui, ainsi qu'on peut le voir sur la figure 2, est de forme rectangulaire, son côté le plus long étant horizontal, et un orifice de sortie 33, qui est également de forme rectangulaire, mais dont le plus grand côté est vertical. De ce fait, la section du tunnel en un point quelconque de celui-ci est pratiquement égale à sa section en tout autre point. Par ailleurs, les parois 35 et 36 qui se trouvent à l'intérieur de la cavité sont mobiles et, ainsi qu'on le verra plus loin, peuvent se déplacer entre une première position telle que celle représentée sur la figure 2, dans laquelle elles sont en contact avec les surfaces des électrodes de déviation 21 et 22, et plus particulièrement avec les bords des surfaces en vis-à-vis 21a et 22a, de manière à définir le tunnel 31 en formant les parois de celui-ci, et une autre position dans laquelle les parois 35 et 36 se trouvent éloignées des surfaces en vis-à-vis.As shown in FIG. 1, the tunnel 31 comprises an inlet opening 32 which, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is rectangular in shape, its longest side being horizontal, and an outlet orifice 33 , which is also rectangular, but the largest side of which is vertical. Therefore, the section of the tunnel at any point thereof is practically equal to its section at any other point. Furthermore, the walls 35 and 36 which are inside the cavity are mobile and, as will be seen below, can move between a first position such as that shown in FIG. 2, in which they are in contact with the surfaces of the deflection electrodes 21 and 22, and more particularly with the edges of the facing surfaces 21a and 22a, so as to define the tunnel 31 by forming the walls thereof, and a another position in which the walls 35 and 36 are distant from the facing surfaces.

Les parois 35 et 36 se composent de préférence d'un matériau diélectrique rigide, mais présentant une certaine élasticité, tel que celui commercialisé sous le nom de Delrin ou toute autre matière plastique renforcée de manière à former les parties épaisses représentées en 36a et 35a. Les parois 35 et 36 sont soutenues par des éléments en forme de soufflet 39 et 40 qui, lors de l'application d'une dépression appropriée par l'intermédiaire, par exemple, de tuyaux 41 et 42, écartent les parois 35 et 36 des électrodes 21 et 22 ou à tout du moins des surfaces 2la et 22a afin que des gouttelettes mal dirigées ne puissent pas frapper lesdites parois lors de la mise en fonction ou hors fonction de l'imprimante. On évite ainsi toute contamination des parois ainsi que tout risque de court-circuit résultant de la présence d'encre sur celles-ci.The walls 35 and 36 preferably consist of a rigid dielectric material, but having a certain elasticity, such as that sold under the name of Delrin or any other plastic material reinforced so as to form the thick parts shown in 36a and 35a. The walls 35 and 36 are supported by bellows-shaped elements 39 and 40 which, when an appropriate vacuum is applied by means, for example, of pipes 41 and 42, separate the walls 35 and 36 from the electrodes 21 and 22 or at least surfaces 2la and 22a so that badly directed droplets cannot strike said walls when the printer is turned on or off. This avoids any contamination of the walls as well as any risk of short-circuit resulting from the presence of ink on them.

Lors de la mise en fonction de l'imprimante, de l'air comprimé est appliqué aux éléments en forme de soufflet 39 et 40 par l'intermédiaire des tuyaux 41 et 42, et les parois 35 et 36 des éléments 39 et 40 sont mises en contact avec les surfaces 21b, 22b et 21c, 22c des électrodes de déviation 21 et 22, dont elles épousent facilement la forme, définissant ainsi le tunnel 31. La forme latérale des électrodes de déviation permet de guider les parois 35 et 36 et compense automatiquement tout défaut d'alignement résultant du retrait des parois lorsqu'on chasse l'air contenu dans les éléments en forme de soufflet 39 et 40.When the printer is turned on, compressed air is applied to the bellows-shaped elements 39 and 40 via the pipes 41 and 42, and the walls 35 and 36 of the elements 39 and 40 are brought into contact with the surfaces 21b, 22b and 21c, 22c of the deflection electrodes 21 and 22, the shape of which they easily follow , thus defining the tunnel 31. The lateral shape of the deflection electrodes makes it possible to guide the walls 35 and 36 and automatically compensates for any misalignment resulting from the withdrawal of the walls when the air contained in the bellows-shaped elements is expelled 39 and 40.

De préférence, les tuyaux 41 et 42 doivent pénétrer dans la cavité 27 en un point tel qu'ils ne créent aucune turbulence de l'air introduit dans le tunnel 31 par l'orifice d'admission 30. Par ailleurs, des filtres ou des écrans tels que ceux représentés en 17 et 18 peuvent être employés pour réduire les turbulences et créer dans la mesure du possible un flux d'air laminaire dans le tunnel 31.Preferably, the pipes 41 and 42 must penetrate into the cavity 27 at a point such that they do not create any turbulence of the air introduced into the tunnel 31 through the intake orifice 30. Furthermore, filters or filters screens such as those shown in 17 and 18 can be used to reduce turbulence and create a laminar air flow in tunnel 31 as far as possible.

Le dispositif de la présente invention permet donc de déplacer les parois du tunnel dans lequel passent les gouttelettes d'encre et le flux d'air du dispositif d'aspiration de manière à éviter que l'encre ne contamine lesdites parois lors de la mise en fonction et hors fonction de l'impri- mànte.The device of the present invention therefore makes it possible to move the walls of the tunnel through which the ink droplets and the air flow of the suction device pass so as to prevent ink from contaminating said walls during the setting up. on and off of the printer.

Bien que l'on ait décrit dans ce qui précède et représenté sur les dessins les caractéristiques essentielles de l'invention appliquées à un mode de réalisation préféré de celle-ci, il est évident que l'homme de l'art peut y apporter toutes modifications de forme ou de détail qu'il juge utiles, sans pour autant sortir du cadre de ladite invention.Although the essential characteristics of the invention applied to a preferred embodiment of the invention have been described in the foregoing and represented in the drawings, it is obvious that a person skilled in the art can provide all of them. modifications of form or detail which he judges useful, without departing from the scope of said invention.

Claims (7)

1. Tête d'impression pour imprimante à jet d'encre du type qui comprend une buse d'éjection d'une suite continue de gouttelettes d'encre, une électrode de charge disposée à proximité de ladite buse et permettant d'appliquer une charge à certaines gouttelettes d'encre, et des électrodes de déviation disposées à proximité de ladite électrode de charge afin de dévier les gouttelettes d'encre chargées en fonction de la charge qui leur a été appliquée, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend: un carter tubulaire définissant une cavité, lesdites électrodes de déviation étant disposées dans ladite cavité et comprenant au moins une paire de surfaces disposées en vis-à-vis et constituant une première paire de parois d'un tunnel situé à l'intérieur de ladite cavité et entre lesdites surfaces; une seconde paire de parois situées à l'intérieur de ladite cavité et pouvant se déplacer entre une position dans laquelle elles se trouvent éloignées desdites surfaces en vis-à-vis, et une autre position dans laquelle elles sont en contact avec lesdites surfaces en vis-à-vis, formant ainsi ledit tunnel. 1. Printhead for an inkjet printer of the type which comprises a nozzle for ejecting a continuous series of ink droplets, a charging electrode disposed near said nozzle and making it possible to apply a charge to certain ink droplets, and deflection electrodes disposed near said charging electrode in order to deflect the charged ink droplets according to the charge which has been applied to them, characterized in that it comprises: a tubular casing defining a cavity, said deflection electrodes being disposed in said cavity and comprising at least one pair of surfaces arranged opposite and constituting a first pair of walls of a tunnel located inside said cavity and between said surfaces; a second pair of walls located inside said cavity and able to move between a position in which they are distant from said facing surfaces, and another position in which they are in contact with said facing surfaces opposite, thus forming said tunnel. 2. Tête d'impression selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte des guides permettant de guider ladite seconde paire de parois de telle sorte que ces dernières soient mises en contact de façon étanche avec ladite première paire de parois.2. A print head according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes guides making it possible to guide said second pair of walls so that the latter are brought into sealing contact with said first pair of walls. 3. Tête d'impression selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdits guides sont constitués par un profil latéral desdites électrodes de déviation.3. Printhead according to claim 2, characterized in that said guides are constituted by a lateral profile of said deflection electrodes. 4. Tête d'impression selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que ladite seconde paire de parois se compose d'un matériau diélectrique.4. Printhead according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second pair of walls consists of a dielectric material. 5. Tête d'impression selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que chacune des parois de ladite seconde paire comporte une partie épaisse se terminant par un support, et des moyens connectés audit support de manière à éloigner lesdites parties épaisses desdites surfaces en vis-à-vis ou à les rapprocher de ces dernières.5. Printhead according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the walls of said second pair comprises a thick part ending in a support, and means connected to said support so as to move said thick parts away from said facing surfaces. opposite or closer to them. 6. Tête d'impression selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ledit support comporte des moyens permettant, en réponse aux variations de pression d'un fluide, d'assurer le déplacement desdites parties épaisses.6. Printhead according to claim 5, characterized in that said support comprises means making it possible, in response to variations in pressure of a fluid, to ensure the displacement of said thick parts. 7. Tête d'impression selon la revendication 6, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens qui répondent aux variations de pression de fluide se composent d'un soufflet.7. Print head according to claim 6, characterized in that said means which respond to variations in fluid pressure consist of a bellows.
EP80101299A 1979-04-23 1980-03-13 Suction print head for an ink jet printer Withdrawn EP0017757A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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US06/032,424 US4260996A (en) 1979-04-23 1979-04-23 Aspirated ink jet printer head
US32424 1998-02-27

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JP (1) JPS55142667A (en)
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Also Published As

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JPS55142667A (en) 1980-11-07
IT1149224B (en) 1986-12-03
IT8020727A0 (en) 1980-03-18
US4260996A (en) 1981-04-07
CA1137537A (en) 1982-12-14

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