Shear mode transducer for ink jet systems

A pressure chamber arrangement for an ink jet system comprising a pressure chamber formed by a plurality of wall segments and having a central region and opposite walls, first aperture means in one of the wall segments communicating with an ink jet orifice, second aperture means in one of the wall segments communicating with an ink supply duct, and a piezoelectric transducer comprising one of the wall segments including a piezoelectric plate polarized parallel to the plane of the plate and having directions of polarization extending generally between the central region of the pressure chamber and the opposed walls of the chamber, and electrode means for imposing an electric field on portions of the piezoelectric plate forming the wall segment in a direction orthogonal to the direction of polarization of the plate to cause the transducer to move inwardly into the pressure chamber.

A method for preparing a piezoelectric transducer for use in an ink jet system having a pressure chamber comprising applying electric fields to a piezoelectric plate which extend within the plate and parallel to the plane of the plate in opposite directions with respect to the center of a region to be applied to the pressure chamber to produce a polarized piezoelectric plate.

An ink jet system pressure chamber arrangement comprising a plurality of elongated walls forming an elongated pressure chamber and piezoelectric transducer means in one wall polarized perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the pressure chamber and parallel to the surface of said one wall.

An ink jet system pressure chamber arrangement comprising an elongated pressure chamber formed by a plurality of elongated wall segments, first aperture means in one of the wall segments communicating with an ink jet orifice, second aperture means in one of the wall segments communicating with an ink supply duct, and piezoelectric transducer means comprising one of the wall segments polarized parallel to the surface of said one wall segment and perpendicular to the length of said one wall segment, and electrode means for imposing an electric field on the piezoelectric transducer means in a direction orthogonal to the direction of polarization to cause the transducer means to move transversely to the surface of said one wall segment.

A method for preparing a piezoelectric transducer for use in an ink jet system having a pressure chamber comprising applying an electric field to a elongated piezoelectric member so that the field extend within the member parallel to one surface of the member in a region to be applied to the pressure chamber of an ink jet system.