Demand drop forming device with interacting transducer and orifice combination

An ink jet system for demand ejecting drops of ink, comprising:

• a. a reservoir containing ink;
• b. orifice housing means for providing an orifice through which ink drops are expelled, said orifice housing means comprising an orifice chamber opening adapted to receive ink from said reservoir;
• c. deforming means and means for actuating said deforming means;
• d. said deforming means being positioned opposite and outside said orifice chamber during filling and in direct communication therewith such that said deforming means extends substantially into said orifice chamber to eject a droplet of ink after filling.

An ink jet system for demand ejecting drops of ink, comprising:

• a. an orifice element providing an orifice chamber extending axially from an inside opening to an outside orifice;
• b. reservoir means positioned relative to said orifice chamber for supplying ink thereto;
• c. deforming means positioned to extend into said reservoir and positioned an incremental distance from said inside opening;
• and
• d. said deforming means being actuable to move from a position spaced from said orifice chamber substantially axially toward and substantially into said orifice chamber to eject a droplet, said orifice element and said deforming means defining the access path from said reservoir to said orifice chamber.

An ink jet system adapted for ejecting a droplet of ink comprising:

• a. deforming means for controlled deforming and actuating means for delivering an actuating signal to said deforming means to cause said deforming;
• b. an orifice housing containing at least one orifice;
• c. said orifice housing and said deforming means being combined and positioned to define therebetween a reservoir, said reservoir containing said liquid;
• d. said deforming means having a portion outside said orifice which extends substantially into said orifice chamber and contacts the inner edge of said orifice such that said reservoir is normally sealed from fluid communication with said orifice when a droplet is ejected.

An ink jet system adapted for ejecting a droplet of ink upon demand, comprising:

• a. deforming means for controlled deforming upon demand;
• b. an orifice housing containing at least one orifice;
• c. a reservoir containing said liquid;
• d. said orifice housing being positioned to define generally one side of said reservoir, and said deforming means being positioned on the opposite side of said reservoir from said orifice housing, and said deforming means being further positioned a predetermined distance from said orifice and oriented such that it pushes toward and substantially into said orifice by about said predetermined distance during said controlled deforming, thereby causing a a droplet of ink to be ejected.