# US 5,706,039 A · Nozzle plate for ink jet printer

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- Number: US 5,706,039 A
- Document ID: US5706039A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/481,362
- Filed: 1995-07-07
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-01-27
- Assignees: Domino Printing Science PLC
- Inventors: Colin Edward Chamberlain; Ammar Lecheheb; Danny Charles Palmer; Jerzy Zaba
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706039A

## CPC

- B41J 2/16552: {using cleaning fluids}
- B41J 2/185: Ink-collectors; Ink-catchers
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A continuous ink jet printer has a nozzle plate 1 which includes an orifice 3 for emitting a stream of ink. A counterbore 4 surrounds the orifice. A passage 5, 6 is provided which lies substantially in the plane of the plate and intersects the counterbore, and through which a flow of cleaning agent may be supplied to the counterbore, in order to flush ink from the surrounds of the orifice.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A continuous ink jet printer nozzle plate for an ink jet printer, the nozzle plate including an orifice for emitting a stream of ink; a counterbore surrounding the orifice; and said nozzle plate defining a passage through the plate substantially in the plane of the plate and intersecting the counterbore, through which passage a flow of cleaning agent may be supplied to the counterbore, in order to flush ink from the surrounds of the orifice.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A nozzle plate according to claim 1, wherein the passage comprises a supply duct and a return duct through which solvent can be withdrawn from the counterbore area by means of a vacuum pump attached to the return duct.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A nozzle plate according to claim 2, wherein the ducts are formed by pairs of channels formed in opposed halves of a composite, two layer, plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A nozzle plate according to claim 3, wherein the ducts are pairs of V-shaped channels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A nozzle plate according to claim 2, wherein the ducts are formed by wire electro-discharge machining.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A nozzle plate according to claim 5, wherein the ducts are pairs of V-shaped channels.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

A nozzle plate according to claim 2, wherein the ducts are pairs of V-shaped channels.

### Claim 8

A continuous ink jet printer having a nozzle plate, the nozzle plate including an orifice for emitting a stream of ink; a counterbore surrounding the orifice; and said plate defining a passage between its upper and lower surfaces with the passage being substantially in the plane of the plate and intersecting the counterbore, through which passage a flow of cleaning agent may be supplied through said passage to the counterbore, in order to flush ink from the surrounds of the orifice.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The printer according to claim 8, wherein the passage comprises a supply duct and a return duct through which solvent can be withdrawn from the counterbore area by means of a vacuum pump attached to the return duct.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The printer according to claim 9, wherein the ducts are formed by pairs of channels formed in opposed halves of a composite, two layer, plate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The printer according to claim 10, wherein the ducts are pairs of V-shaped channels.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The printer according to claim 9, wherein the ducts are formed by wire electro-discharge machining.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The printer according to claim 12, wherein the ducts are pairs of V-shaped channels.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The printer according to claim 9, wherein the ducts are pairs of V-shaped channels.