Driving ink jet recording elements

In a method for driving an ink jet recording element of the kind comprising a compression chamber for containing the ink, and in which the volume of the compression chamber is altered by means of a piezo-electric transducer to which a control voltage can be applied and wherein the compression chamber will expand if a control voltage is applied in the direction of the polarisation voltage of the transducer and will contract if a control voltage is applied in the opposite direction, the method comprising the steps of

• (a) during a preparation phase, in a first defined time interval, applying to the piezo-electric transducer a control voltage in the polarisation direction to expand the compression chamber past its static condition,
• (b) during a write phase in a second defined time interval immediately following the first time interval, applying to the piezo-electric transducer a control voltage in said opposite direction to constrict the compression chamber past said static condition, and
• (c) during a subsequent regeneration stage in a third defined time interval immediately following said second time interval, applying to said transducer a control voltage in said polarising direction to again expand the compression chamber past its static condition,
• the currents of said voltages forcing said expansion and constriction during said phases and time intervals.