Multiple thin film piezoelectric elements driving single jet ejection system
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsPeter J. Nystrom, Barry P. Mandel, Peter M. Gulvin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printhead including a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators includes a plurality of drive electrodes, a plurality of diaphragms, and a single nozzle. Each drive electrode is uniquely paired with one of the diaphragms. In an embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that all drive electrodes for a single actuator always activate simultaneously to eject ink from the single nozzle. In another embodiment, the printhead may be configured so that each drive electrode of the plurality of drive electrodes for a single actuator are individually addressable and may be fired independently of the other drive electrodes of the single actuator.
Claims20
A printhead comprising a plurality of actuator systems, wherein each actuator system comprises:
- a plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes, wherein each drive electrode is laterally spaced and electrically isolated from an adjacent drive electrode by a gap;
- a plurality of diaphragms, wherein each drive electrode of the plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes is uniquely paired with one diaphragm of the plurality of diaphragms;
- a body chamber partially defined by the plurality of diaphragms and a plurality of nodes within the body chamber that physically contact the plurality of diaphragms, wherein the body chamber is configured to be filled with ink during printing;
- and
- an aperture plate comprising a plurality of nozzles, wherein:
- the plurality of diaphragms and the plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes are configured to eject ink through only one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles;
- and
- the plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes are laterally spaced in a direction parallel with a major surface of the aperture plate.
A printer, comprising:
- at least one printhead comprising a plurality of actuator systems, wherein each actuator system comprises:
- a plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes, wherein each drive electrode is laterally spaced and electrically isolated from an adjacent drive electrode by a gap;
- a plurality of diaphragms, wherein each drive electrode of the plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes is uniquely paired with one diaphragm of the plurality of diaphragms;
- a body chamber partially defined by the plurality of diaphragms and a plurality of nodes within the body chamber that physically contact the plurality of diaphragms, wherein the body chamber is configured to be filled with ink during printing;
- and
- an aperture plate comprising a plurality of nozzles, wherein:
- the plurality of diaphragms and the plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes are configured to eject ink through only one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles;
- and
- the plurality of laterally spaced drive electrodes are laterally spaced in a direction parallel with a major surface of the aperture plate;
- and
- a printer housing that encases the printhead.
A method for printing ink, comprising:
- activating a first drive electrode of a first actuator system that is part of an actuator system array to deflect a first diaphragm that is uniquely paired with the actuator system first drive electrode to eject a first ink drop having at least one of a first volume, a first velocity, and a first directionality from a nozzle in an aperture plate, while a second drive electrode of the first actuator system remains deactivated;
- and
- activating the second drive electrode of the first actuator system to deflect a second diaphragm that is uniquely paired with the actuator system second drive electrode and simultaneously activating the first drive electrode to eject a second ink drop having at least one of a second volume, a second velocity, and a second directionality from the nozzle in the aperture plate, wherein;
- the at least one of the second volume, the second velocity, and the second directionality is different from the at least one of the first volume, the first velocity, and the first directionality;
- and
- the first drive electrode is laterally spaced and electrically isolated from the second drive electrode by a gap in a direction parallel with a major surface of the aperture plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.