Inkjet deposition apparatus
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsChristopher Newsome, Takeo Kawase
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inkjet deposition apparatus includes a position encoder 128 in a translation stage 116. The position encoder provides encoder signals which are used as a clock signal for a pattern memory 136. Ejection of droplets of a material to be printed can therefore be synchronised with the speed of movement of the translation, providing improved accuracy and speed of deposition.
Claims19
An inkjet machine comprising means for providing drive signals to an inkjet print head, the drive signals being arranged to cause ejection of one or more droplets of material to be printed from a nozzle of the inkjet print head, a translation stage for providing relative movement between a substrate to be printed with the material and the inkjet print head, a monitoring unit for monitoring the position of the translation stage and control means for controlling the provision of the drive signal in dependence upon the monitored position of the translation stage.
An inkjet machine wherein the encoder signal is arranged to control the timing of the provision of the drive signals to the inkjet print head during translation of the substrate relative to the head corresponding to a spatial resolution in the range of from about 0.1 to about 10 microns between two successive droplets deposited from the inkjet head.
An inkjet machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a clock source for controlling the provision of the drive signals from the waveform generator when there is no movement of the translation stage and the inkjet print head is positioned outside of an area to be printed on the substrate.
A method of inkjet printing comprising monitoring the position of a translation stage arranged to provide relative movement between a substrate to be printed and an inkjet print head, and controlling the provision of drive signals arranged to cause ejection of one or more droplets of material from a nozzle of the inkjet print head in dependence upon the monitored position of the translation stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.