Apparatus and method for maintaining constant drop volumes in a continuous stream ink jet printer
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsDavid L. Jeanmaire, James M. Chwalek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method an apparatus for maintaining a predetermined ejected ink drop volume in a continuous inkjet printer is provided. An ink parameter, for example, temperature, velocity, flow rate, viscosity, is monitored. A time period between activation control signals provided to an ink drop forming mechanism is varied in response to a change in the ink parameter. The apparatus includes an ink parameter monitoring device which provides an input signal to a controller. The controller varies the time period between activation control signals provided to the ink drop forming mechanism.
Claims31
A method of maintaining an ejected ink drop volume in a continuous inkjet printer comprising:
- determining a change in an ink parameter;
- and
- varying a time period between activation control signals provided to an ink drop forming mechanism in response to the change in the ink parameter.
An apparatus for continuously ejecting ink comprising:
- a printhead, portions of which define a delivery channel and a nozzle bore, the delivery channel and nozzle bore defining an ink flow path;
- a drop forming mechanism positioned proximate to the ink flow path that forms drops from ink moving along the ink flow path;
- an ink parameter sensing device positioned proximate to the ink flow path;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the drop forming mechanism and the ink parameter sensing device configured to vary a time period between activation control signals provided to the drop forming mechanism in response to a change in an output signal received from the ink parameter sensing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.