Printhead having gas flow ink droplet separation and method of diverging ink droplets

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• an ink droplet forming mechanism configured to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes;
• and
• a droplet deflector having a gas flow positioned at an angle with respect to said stream of ink droplets, said gas flow interacting with said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes, wherein said ink droplet forming mechanism includes a nozzle and a heater positioned proximate said nozzle, said heater being adapted to selectively create said stream of ink droplets having said plurality of volumes.

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• an ink droplet forming mechanism configured to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes;
• and
• a droplet deflector having a gas flow positioned at an angle with respect to said stream of ink droplets, said gas flow interacting with said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes, wherein said droplet deflector includes at least one baffle shaped to direct said gas flow toward said stream of ink droplets.

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• an ink droplet forming mechanism configured to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes;
• and
• a droplet deflector having a gas flow positioned at an angle with respect to said stream of ink droplets, said gas flow interacting with said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes, wherein said droplet deflector includes a recovery plenum positioned adjacent said stream of ink droplets shaped to collect and remove said ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes.

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• an ink droplet forming mechanism adapted to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes, at least one volume of said plurality of volumes of said ink droplets being created in succession;
• and
• a droplet deflector having a gas flow positioned at an angle with respect to said stream of ink droplets, said gas flow interacting with said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes, wherein said gas flow includes a negative pressure flow positioned at an angle relative to said stream of ink droplets, said negative pressure flow creating a negative air pressure across said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes.

An ink jet printer for printing an image comprising:

• a printhead having a nozzle configured to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes, at least one volume of said plurality of volumes being formed in succession;
• and
• a droplet deflector having a continuous gas flow positioned at an angle with respect to said stream of ink droplets operable to continuously interact with said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes.

An ink jet printer for printing an image comprising:

• a printhead having a nozzle configured to selectively create a stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes, a heater positioned proximate said nozzle, said heater being operable to selectively create said stream of ink droplets having a plurality of volumes;
• and
• a droplet deflector having a gas flow positioned at an angle with respect to said stream of ink droplets operable to interact with said stream of ink droplets, thereby separating ink droplets having one of said plurality of volumes from ink droplets having another of said plurality of volumes.

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• a droplet forming mechanism operable in a first state to form droplets having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form droplets having a second volume travelling along said path, at least one of said droplets having said first volume and said droplets having said second volume being formed in succession;
• and
• a system which applies force to said droplets travelling along said path, said force being applied in a direction such as to separate droplets having said first volume from droplets having said second volume, said force including a continuous gas flow applied to said droplets having said first volume and said droplets having said second volume.

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• a droplet forming mechanism operable in a first state to form droplets having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form droplets having a second volume travelling along said path, at least one of said droplets having said first volume and said droplets having said second volume being formed in succession;
• and
• a system which applies force to said droplets travelling along said path, said force being applied in a direction such as to separate droplets having said first volume from droplets having said second volume, wherein said force is a negative pressure force.

An apparatus for printing an image comprising:

• a droplet forming mechanism operable in a first state to form droplets having a first volume travelling along a path and in a second state to form droplets having a second volume travelling along said path;
• and
• a system which applies force to said droplets travelling along said path, said force being applied in a direction such as to separate droplets having said first volume from droplets having said second volume, wherein said droplet forming mechanism includes a heater operable in said first state to form said droplets having said first volume travelling along said path and in said second state to form said droplets having a second volume travelling along said path.