Ink jet printer and method for depositing a protective layer on a substrate
AssigneeM.G.I. USA, Inc.
InventorEdmond Abergel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protective layer is applied to a substrate moving relative to an ink jet nozzle array. Each nozzle responds to a piezoelectric actuator. Shapes of ink droplets deposited by the nozzles on the substrate, to form the protective layer, are controlled by shapes of electric waveforms applied to the actuators. Shapes of the waveforms respond to at least one of: droplet viscosity and temperature, temperature of the substrate, desired thickness of the layer, type of substrate surface to which the droplets are applied, and relative to speed of the substrate and the ink jet nozzle array.
Claims36
A method of applying a coating of covering ink to a substrate moving relative to an ink jet nozzle arrangement having a piezoelectric actuator for applying droplets of covering ink to the substrate, the method comprising controlling by a computer the shapes of the droplets by controlling the shape of an electric waveform applied to the piezoelectric actuator, said shape being controlled by selecting at least a number of plateaus of the electric waveform, in response to at least one of the following parameters:
- viscosity of the ink, composition of the covering ink, temperature of the covering ink, temperature of the substrate, desired thickness of the layer, type of substrate surface to which the droplets are applied, and relative speed of the substrate and the ink jet nozzle arrangement.
Apparatus for applying a coating of covering ink to a substrate, comprising a transport mechanism for causing relative movement between the substrate and an ink jet nozzle arrangement, the ink jet nozzle arrangement having a piezoelectric actuator for applying droplets of covering ink to the substrate;
- a computer controlling a heater included in the nozzle arrangement heating the covering ink and an electric source for applying an electric waveform to the piezoelectric actuator, said waveform controlling the shapes of the droplets, said apparatus comprising a command device controlling the shape of the electric waveform by selecting at least a number of plateaus of the electric waveform, in response to at least one of the following parameters:
- viscosity of the covering ink, composition of the covering ink, temperature of the covering ink, temperature of the substrate, desired thickness of the layer, type of substrate surface to which the droplets are applied, and relative speed of the substrate and the ink jet nozzle arrangement.
A method of applying a coating of covering ink to a substrate moving relative to an ink jet nozzle arrangement having a piezoelectric actuator for applying droplets of covering ink to the substrate, the method comprising controlling by a computer the shapes of the droplets by controlling the shape of an electric waveform applied to the piezoelectric actuator, said shape being controlled by a preprogrammed command device with at least a memory correlating the composition of the varnish with the viscosity of the varnish and determining the temperature required by a heating resistance mounted in the nozzle, so that the varnish has a desired viscosity.
Apparatus for applying a coating of covering ink to a substrate, comprising a transport mechanism for causing relative movement between the substrate and an ink jet nozzle arrangement, the ink jet nozzle arrangement having a piezoelectric actuator for applying droplets of covering ink to the substrate;
- a computer controlling a heater included in the nozzle arrangement heating the covering ink and an electric source for applying an electric waveform to the piezoelectric actuator, said waveform controlling the shapes of the droplets, said electric waveform having a shape determined by a preprogrammed command device with at least a memory correlating the composition of the varnish with the viscosity of the varnish and determining the temperature required by a heating resistance mounted in the nozzle, so that the varnish has a desired viscosity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.