Continuous ink jet printer with micro-valve deflection mechanism and method of controlling same

Apparatus for controlling ink in a continuous ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink is emitted from a nozzle bore;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a reservoir of pressurized ink;
• an ink staging chamber having a nozzle bore to establish a continuous flow of ink in a stream;
• ink delivery means intermediate said reservoir and said staging chamber for communicating ink between said reservoir and said staging chamber, said ink delivery means comprising primary ink delivery channel for providing a first continuous flow of ink in a stream from the nozzle bore in a first direction and an adjacent secondary ink delivery channel for providing a second flow of ink that combines with the first continuous flow of ink in the staging chamber to deflect the stream of ink in a second direction;
• and
• a thermally actuated valve positioned, when closed, to block ink flow through said secondary channel and, when opened, to permit ink flow through said secondary channel.

An apparatus for controlling the direction of a stream of ink, the apparatus comprising:

• a supply of pressurized ink;
• a supply of pressurized fluid;
• an ink staging chamber having a fluid delivery wall and an opposing fluid exit wall, said fluid exit wall having a nozzle bore and said fluid delivery wall having an ink delivery channel aligned with the nozzle bore and providing a flow of ink through the staging chamber creating an emission of an undeflected stream from the nozzle bore, said fluid delivery wall further comprising a fluid delivery channel adjacent to the ink delivery channel for providing a flow of fluid that combines with the flow of ink in the staging chamber to deflect the stream;
• and
• a valve positioned to block fluid flow through said secondary channel when closed and to permit fluid flow through said secondary channel when open causing deflection of said stream from the nozzle bore.