Multi-jet ink printer using star-wheel jet formers

Apparatus for producing imprints of selective shapes on a recording carrier comprising:

• a recording-carrier support means for supporting a recording carrier;
• a printing-head means comprising a drum having a plurality of pointed prongs extending radially therefrom and positioned at angular increments therearound on planes perpendicular to the drum's axis, said pointed prongs to be directed toward said recording carrier, there being a row of pointed prongs at each angular position about said drum, said row of pointed prongs at each angular position forming a line substantially parallel to the axis of said drum;
• an ink reservoir positioned adjacent to said printing-head means for holding ink;
• a resupply means for dipping the pointed tips of said protruding prongs into ink held by said ink reservoir and thereafter directing said pointed tips toward said recording carrier;
• a position-control means for controlling the position of said drum relative to said recording-carrier during successive printing-modes of operation;
• and
• an electrostatic-field means for selectively establishing an electrostatic field between said printing head and said recording carrier during printing modes of operation, said electrostatic field means including a plurality of electrodes each positioned on an opposite side of said recording carrier from said printing head means adjacent to a corresponding one of said planes of protruding prongs, and a means for applying a potential between said drum and said electrodes.

Apparatus for producing imprints of selective shapes on a recording carrier comprising:

• a recording-carrier support means for supporting a recording carrier;
• a printing-head means comprising a drum having a plurality of pointed prongs extending radially therefrom and positioned at angular increments therearound on a plane perpendicular to the drum's axis, said pointed prongs to be directed toward said recording carrier;
• an ink reservoir positioned adjacent to said printing-head means for holding ink;
• a resupply means for dipping the pointed tips of said protruding prongs into ink held by said ink reservoir and thereafter directing said pointed tips toward said recording carrier;
• a position-control means for controlling the position of said drum relative to said recording-carrier during successive printing-modes of operation, said position control means including a recording carrier drive means for moving said recording carrier longitudinally and a drum reciprocating means to move said drum axially, in a direction 90.degree. from said longitudinal direction;
• and
• an electrostatic-field means for selectively establishing an electrostatic field between said printing head and said recording carrier during printing modes of operation, said electrostatic field means including at least one electrode positioned on an opposite side of said recording carrier from said printing head means adjacent to the plane of protruding prongs, and a means for applying a potential between said drum and said electrode.

A method of producing imprints of selected shapes on a recording carrier comprising the steps of:

• dipping the pointed tips of elongated prongs into a body of ink by rotating a drum having rows of elongated prongs protruding therefrom above a container full of ink so that the rows of prongs successively dip into the ink;
• directing the pointed tips of an entire row of the drum-mounted prongs toward the recording carrier, moving the drum axially and moving the recording carrier in a direction 90.degree. from the axial direction;
• and
• establishing an electrostatic field between said elongated prongs and said recording carrier.