Droplet deposition apparatus
AssigneeAM International, Inc.
InventorsW. Scott Bartky, Anthony D. Paton, Stephen Temple, A. John Michaelis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pulsed droplet ink jet printer has at least one channel communicating with a nozzle. The side wall of the channel is formed as a shear mode piezo-electric actuator. Electrodes applied to the actuator enable an electric field to be applied such that the actuator moves in the direction of the field to change the liquid pressure in the channel and thereby eject a droplet through the nozzle. The actuator can be made in two parts so as to deform, in cross section, to a chevron formation.
Claims35
A pulsed droplet deposition apparatus comprising a liquid droplet ejection nozzle, a pressure chamber with which said nozzle communicates and from which said nozzle is supplied with liquid for droplet ejection, a shear mode actuator comprising peizo-electric material and electrode means for applying an electric field thereto, and liquid supply means for replenishing in said chamber liquid expelled from said nozzle by operation of said actuator, wherein said actuator is disposed so as to be able under an electric field applied between said electrode means to move in relation to said chamber in shear mode in the direction of said field to change the liquid pressure in said chamber and thereby cause droplet ejection from said nozzle.
A pulsed droplet deposition apparatus as claimed in claim4, wherein said liquid supply means are connected to said channel for liquid replenishment therein byh way of said nozzle.
A pulsed droplet deposition apparatus comprising:
- an elongate liquid confining channel;
- peizo-electric actuator means having a predetermined poling axis;
- and
- means selectively actuating said piezo-electric actuator means for shear mode deflection in a directional normal to said poling axis so as to cause ejection of a liquid droplet from said channel.
A pulsed droplet deposition apparatus comprising:
- an elongate liquid confining channel including piezoelectric actuator means comprising substantially the entire length of a side wall of said channel;
- and
- means selectively applying an electric field for actuating said actuator means for shear mode deflection in the direction of said field and in relation to said channel so as to cause change in liquid pressure therein for ejection of a liquid droplet therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.