초록 ▼

An ink jet array print head (101) includes four media-width linear ink jet arrays (100). Ink flows from four sets of manifolds (106) through acoustically matched inlet filters (116), inlet ports (117), inlet channels (118), pressure chamber ports (120), and ink pressure chambers (122). Ink leaves th

An ink jet array print head (101) includes four media-width linear ink jet arrays (100). Ink flows from four sets of manifolds (106) through acoustically matched inlet filters (116), inlet ports (117), inlet channels (118), pressure chamber ports (120), and ink pressure chambers (122). Ink leaves the pressure chambers through outlet ports (124) and flows through oval outlet channels (128) to orifices (108), from which ink drops (110) are ejected. The ink pressure chambers are bounded by flexible diaphragms (130) to which piezo-ceramic transducers (132) are bonded. To minimize inter-jet cross-talk caused by pressure fluctuations in the manifolds, compliant walls (150) form one wall along the entire length of each manifold. An improved ink feed system (210) supplies four colors of ink to the print head. Phase-change inks are melted and deposited in ink catch basins (202), funneled into ink storage reservoirs (204), and fed to the print head through ink stack feeds (206) having substantially equal lengths and cross-sectional areas to improve jetting uniformity. Manifold tapering, inlet port positioning, and an elevationally upward slope of the ink stack feeds enhances purgeability of the ink feed system and the ink jet print head.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] In a printer for ejecting ink drops of multiple colors from multiple arrays of orifices, an improved ink feed apparatus comprising:a media-width ink jet print head receiving the multiple colors of ink from associated multiple ink inlet ports for ejection from associated multiple ar

[ We claim:] [1.] In a printer for ejecting ink drops of multiple colors from multiple arrays of orifices, an improved ink feed apparatus comprising:a media-width ink jet print head receiving the multiple colors of ink from associated multiple ink inlet ports for ejection from associated multiple arrays of orifices;multiple ink supply manifolds storing the multiple colors of ink;multiple ink stack feeds interconnecting the multiple ink supply manifolds to the associated multiple ink supply ports, each of the multiple ink stack feeds having a substantially equal length and cross-sectional area such that each orifice in the multiple arrays of orifices ejects ink drops having substantially uniform jetting characteristics;a catch basin associated with each of the multiple colors of ink, each catch basin being connected by a catch basin opening to an associated one of the multiple ink supply manifolds, each of the multiple ink supply manifolds being elongated and oriented substantially parallel to the media-width of the ink jet print head; andmultiple heaters each oriented substantially adjacent to the multiple ink supply manifolds and substantially adjacent to one of the catch basins.