WO1996008374A9 - Method and apparatus for continuous ink jet printing - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for continuous ink jet printingInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996008374A9 WO1996008374A9 PCT/GB1995/001886 GB9501886W WO9608374A9 WO 1996008374 A9 WO1996008374 A9 WO 1996008374A9 GB 9501886 W GB9501886 W GB 9501886W WO 9608374 A9 WO9608374 A9 WO 9608374A9
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- waveform
- ink
- drops
- satellite
- nozzle
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
- B41J2/02—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet
- B41J2/025—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating a continuous ink jet by vibration
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to ink jet printers, and more particularly to an apparatus and method in a continuous ink jet printing system for producing drops of ink having desirable satellite formation characteristics.
- Continuous ink jet printing systems operate by continuously discharging a stream of pressurized ink through a nozzle toward a substrate to be marked.
- the nozzle is coupled to a piezoelectric transducer or the like which is vibrated with a sinusoidal waveform at a frequency that causes the stream of ink to break off into substantially uniform drops shortly after being discharged from the nozzle.
- each of the drops is subsequently passed through a selectively variable electric field associated with a charging electrode which selectively charges the drop.
- the amount of charge received by each drop is ordinarily controlled by adjusting the level of a voltage on the charging electrode that generates the electric field.
- an el-eebrrc field generated by deflection plates deflect the drop according to the charge thereon.
- the satellite has a speed that is greater than that of its associated primary drop, it is known as a fast satellite. Conversely, if the satellite has a speed that is slower than that of its primary drop, it is known as a slow satellite.
- Factors in determining how the drops and satellites will break off from the stream include the frequency and amplitude of the driving signal, the physical properties of the ink, and the geometric characteristics of the nozzle.
- a fast satellite catches up to and recombines with its primary drop, while a slow satellite is caught by and combines with the next subsequently- formed primary drop that trails it. Since each satellite may be charged with charge that was removed from its associated primary drop, fast satellites recombine with the primary drop without adversely affecting the charge-dependent amount of deflection of the primary drop. However, a slow satellite may alter the desired amount of charge on the subsequent drop. This results in an unintended amount of charge on either the primary drop or the subsequent drop, or on both drops, and therefore results in an unintended amount of deflection of the drops, thereby adversely affecting the quality of the resultant image.
- typical continuous ink jet printers are arranged to suppress satellite formation as much as possible, or at least to produce fast; satellites in a manner that does not degrade the resultant image. This is ordinarily accomplished by increasing the amplitude of a sinusoidal driving waveform producing the nozzle vibration until satellite formation suitable for desirable image quality is achieved.
- a condition wherein no more than three fast satellites are present in the drop stream i.e., the third primary drop from the nozzle and its corresponding fast satellite have recombined before a new satellite is formed near the breakoff point with the next primary drop
- a printing condition known as a "three fast satellite" condition.
- desirable satellite conditions cannot be consistently achieved using conventional methods of breaking up an ink stream. While increasing the amplitude of the excitation signal producing the vibration to some extent desirably regulates satellite formation in some ink and nozzle combinations, other ink and nozzle combinations are unable to achieve acceptable satellite ' conditions, or require increases in driving amplitude that exceed the power driving capabilities of currently existing nozzle drive circuitry. For example, even at very large amplitudes, sinusoidal waveforms cannot achieve a fast satellite condition suitable for desirable image quality with certain inks.
- Hot- melt inks exist in a solid phase at room temperature and are heated to a liquid phase for discharging. Satellite formation difficulties arise primarily as a result of the relatively low surface tension and. high. viscosity of hot-melt inks.
- typical liquid inks have a viscosity of 2 centipoise,- a surface tension of 40 millinewtons per meter and a density of 1000 kilograms per cubic meter, versus a typical hot-melt ink viscosity of 10 centipoise, a surface tension of 18 millinewtons per meter and a density of 950 kilograms per cubic meter.
- hot-melt inks have faster drying times compared to liquid inks.
- hot-melt inks substantially do not contain environmentally harmful volatile organic compounds .
- an apparatus for perturbing a pressurized ink in a continuous ink jet printer into a stream of primary ink drops and satellite ink drops with a desired quantity of fast satellite ink drops comprising, a transducer for imparting mechanical vibration to an ink discharge nozzle of the ink jet printer, which nozzle is in fluid communication with a pressurized supply of ink, and means for driving the transducer with , a periodic non- sinusoidal waveform, that generates the desired quantity of fast satellite ink drops in the ink stream.
- a method of producing, in a continuous ink jet printing system, a stream of ink drops having a desired number of fast satellite ink drops comprising the steps of: pressurizing a fluid for continuous flow to an ink discharge nozzle; generating a periodic non-sinusoidal waveform at a fixed frequency; applying the waveform to a transducer coupled to the nozzle such that the ink flow is perturbed and discharged from the nozzle as primary ink drops and satellite ink drops associated therewith; and adjusting the harmonic content of the waveform to obtain the desired number of fast satellite drops in the ink stream.
- The- present invention has an advantage that it provides ' an apparatus and method for producing drops of ink in a continuous ink jet printing system wherein desirable satellite formation, resulting in desirable printing: conditions, are achieved for an increased variety of inks.
- the apparatus and method as characterized above functions with an increased variety of nozzle types.
- the present invention has an advantage that it reduces the amount of power required to drive a nozzle while achieving desired satellite and printing. conditions.
- the apparatus and " method embodying the present invention achieves desired satellite conditions without increasing the amplitude of the driving signal above customary excitation levels.
- the method and apparatus embodying the present invention simplifies the electrical circuitry for driving a continuous ink jet nozzle.
- the apparatus and. method embodying the present invention facilitates the use of hot-melt inks in a continuous ink jet printing system. It is a resulting feature of the invention that improved cost savings and reliability are attained.
- FIGURE 1 is a functional " block diagram illustrating components of a continuous ink jet printing system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIGs . 2 and 4 are graphs representing two distinct types of rectangular waveforms which can be applied via a transducer to a continuous ink jet printing nozzle to generate desirable satellite conditions according to the invention
- FIGs. 3 and 5 are graphs representing the Fourier coefficients of the waveforms of FIGs. 2 and 4, respectively;
- FIGs . 6 and 8 are graphs representing two distinct types of triangular waveforms that generate desirable satellite conditions according to the invention.
- FIGs. 7 and 9 are a graphs representing the Fourier coefficients of the waveforms of FIGs. 6 and 8, respectively;
- FIGs. 1O 7 12, 14 and 16 are graphs representing four distinct types of trapezoidal waveforms that generate desirable satellite conditions according to the invention.
- FIGs. 11, 13, 15 and 17 are graphs representing the Fourier coefficients of the waveforms of FIGs. 10, 12, 14 and 16, respectively;
- FIGs. 18, 20, 22 and 24 are graphs representing four distinct types of quasi-rectangular waveforms that generate desirable satellite conditions according to the invention;
- FIGs. 19, 21, 23 and 25 are graphs representing the Fourier coefficients of the waveforms of FIGs. 18, 20, 22 and 24, respectively;
- FIGs. 26 and 27 are block diagrams representing suitable waveform generators and harmonic content controllers for FIG. 1 that generate rectangular and triangular waveforms, respectively;
- FIG. 28 is a block diagram representing a programmable rectangular waveform " generator and harmonic content controller for FIG. 1.
- the printing system 20 comprises a pressurized supply of ink 22 connected by a suitable conduit 24 to a nozzle- 26 which provides a pressurized ink stream.
- a pressure source (not shown) may be utilized to pressurize the ink.
- the ink is of a type . known as hot-melt and a heater 28 is provided to liquify the ink in a known manner.
- hot-melt ink jet printing system is described in US patent application number 08/307,195.
- other types of inks may alternatively be used with the present invention, including inks that exist in a liquid phase at room temperature and " which consequently do not require a heater.
- a transducer 30 is provided and coupled with the nozzle 26 in a manner that imparts vibration to the nozzle 26, thereby breaking the continuous flow of ink into primary drops and satellite drops.
- the ink drops are charged by a charging electrode 32 and deflected using deflection plates 34 onto a target substrate 35 at an appropriate location for forming a desired image. Because not all of the available drops are needed to form a given image, an ink recirculation system (not shown) is provided to collect and reuse the extra drops.
- a non-sinusoidal periodic waveform having a controllable harmonic content is employed to drive the transducer 30.
- Examples of such a waveform include rectangular, quasi-rectangular, triangular, quasi-triangular, trapezoidal, and quasi-trapezoidal waveforms.
- a suitable electronic waveform generation means comprising a periodic non-sinusoidal waveform generator, 36 and an amplifier 38 is provided to supply the desired waveform of a suitable driving frequency and amplitude to the transducer 30.
- a typical frequency is on the order of 66 kilohertz and a typical amplitude is on the order of 100 volts peak to peak, which is not necessarily symmetric about ground.
- the waveform generator 36 may be a rectangular waveform generator (FIG. 26) or alternatively may be a triangular waveform generator (FIG. 27) as described in more detail below.
- a controller 40 is provided to control certain waveform parameters such as the amplitude and frequency.
- the controller 40 comprises a set of potentiometers or the like.
- the controller 40 may comprise more complex electronic circuitry such as a microprocessor-based frequency and gain control circuit.
- a means for adjusting the harmonic content of the periodic non-sinusoidal waveform designated as a harmonic content controller 42.
- a harmonic content controller 42 By altering the harmonic content of the driving waveform, the formation and relative motion of satellites is affected.
- Duty cycle is defined for a rectangular waveform as the percentage of time that the waveform is at its high amplitude over the total period of one waveform cycle (high amplitude plus low amplitude) :
- Duty cycle [T high / (T high + T 10 -) ] * 100%
- duty cycle is defined as the time the signal takes to rise from its lowest to highest amplitude divided over the total period of one waveform cycle (the rise time from lowest amplitude to highest amplitude plus fall time from highest amplitude to lowest amplitude) :
- Duty cycle [T rise / (T rise + T 6111 ) ] * 100%
- FIG. 2 illustrates one cycle of a rectangular waveform having a twenty-five percent duty cycle (twenty-five percent high, seventy-five percent low over one complete waveform period T 0 ) .
- FIG. 6 illustrates one cycle of a triangular waveform having a twenty-five percent duty cycle (twenty-five percent of the period rising, seventy-five percent falling) .
- ⁇ n arctan(a n /b n ) .
- the coefficients c 0 through C n correspond to the harmonics of the Fourier expansion, and are commonly referred to as the Fourier coefficients.
- n 4A( ⁇ - Y 2 )
- the waveforms (and their corresponding Fourier coefficients) illustrated in FIGs. 10-25 will not be described in detail herein for purposes of simplicity. However it can be readily appreciated from an inspection of the drawings and/or by solving well- known equations that multiples of the fourth harmonic are either zero or near zero for these waveforms . Again, this plays a significant role in acceptable satellite formation for certain types and combinations of inks and nozzles.
- the waveforms illustrated herein were found to successfully break up continuous jets of various types of inks using prototype nozzles, achieving a three fast satellite condition suitable for desirable image formation when the transducer was driven by a commercially available signal generator and power amplifier at a frequency of 66 kilohertz at various peak-to-peak amplitudes between 50 and 200 volts.
- rectangular waves were found to successfully break up hot-melt inks in a prototype nozzle.
- a conventional sine wave with comparable amplitude and frequency was unable to acceptably break up the hot-melt ink jet using this same "ink and nozzle combination. Indeed, acceptable breakoff did not occur even when driving the transducer with a 300 volt peak-to-peak sine wave, the maximum test voltage available, which is an amplitude that far exceeds the power driving capabilities of currently existing nozzle drive circuitry.
- the waveforms have the same Fourier coefficients as their effectively inverted counterpart waveforms.
- the rectangular waveform of FIG. 2 having a twenty-five percent duty cycle has Fourier coefficients that are equivalent to the Fourier coefficients of the rectangular waveform of FIG. 4 having a seventy-five percent duty cycle.
- the phase shifts ⁇ n are different for the two duty cycles. It has been found that one of the duty cycles provides better print quality when the driving frequency is less than the frequency at which the nozzle fluid chamber resonates, while the counterpart duty cycle provides better print quality when the driving frequency is greater than this resonant frequency.
- Periodic non-sinusoidal waveforms having other duty cycles can also produce desired satellite formations suitable for desirable image formation in other types of ink and nozzle combinations, and at far lower drive levels than required by sine waves.
- periodic non- sinusoidal waves having duty cycles ranging from between sixty and ninety percent high, or alternatively between forty and ten percent high are far more effective in achieving acceptable print quality than comparable sinusoidal driving waveforms.
- the electronics required to generate such waveforms are less complex and more cost-effective than the electronics required to generate sine waves, and thus reliability and cost benefits are achieved with the present invention.
- rectangular waveforms in general have finite rise and/or fall times and to this extent may not be exactly rectangular, but for practical purposes, a waveform such as depicted in FIG. 2 may be considered as purely rectangular because of its sufficiently fast rise and fall time relative to the total time period of one complete waveform cycle.
- a waveform having a substantially- rectangular shape such as the waveforms of FIGs. 18, 20, 22 and 24 which have slower and more rounded rise and fall times, have essentially similar Fourier coefficients as pure rectangular waveforms, and have similarly beneficial nozzle drive characteristics. As shown in FIGs. 19, 21, 23 and 25, wherein the coefficients for the exemplary quasi-rectangular waveforms of FIGs.
- rectangular waveform is intended to include all substantially rectangular waveforms, including pure rectangular waveforms, quasi-rectangular waveforms, and trapezoidal waveforms such as those depicted in FIGs ' . 10, 12, 14 and 16.
- quasi- triangular waveforms Analogous to the rectangular waveform, quasi- triangular waveforms have essentially similar Fourier coefficients as pure triangular waveforms, and have similarly beneficial nozzle driving characteristics.
- the phrase "-.triangular waveform” is intended to include all substantially triangular waveforms, including pure triangular waveforms and quasi- triangular waveforms .
- the " tailoring of the harmonic content of the periodic non-sinusoidal waveform for a particular ink and nozzle combination is ordinarily performed by carefully observing the actual satellite formation and/or studying the placement accuracy of the resultant dots forming an image on a target surface.
- the duty cycle of the periodic non-sinusoidal waveform, and if necessary the amplitude thereof, is varied until the desired satellite condition suitable for desirable image formation is achieved. Once achieved, the waveform is then established for a given ink and nozzle combination.
- the harmonic content of the waveform is varied by adjusting the resistance ' settings of one or more variable resistors 56, 58 (potentiometers) in the RC circuit 60.
- one type of waveform generator that is controllable to generate a rectangular wave of an appropriate frequency and duty cycle according to the values of resistors and a capacitor 62 comprises an astable multivibrator.
- the periodic non-sinusoidal waveform generator 36 may comprise a triangular waveform generator.
- operational amplifiers 64 and 66 are employed to generate the triangular waveform.
- Fixed resistors 68-71 and capacitor 72 are selected in a known manner.
- the duty cycle of the waveform is adjusted by adjusting the harmonic content controller 42, comprising a variable resistor 74 connected to vary the voltage on the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 66. : -
- the harmonic content for the chosen waveform is established in the settings of the variable resistors 56, 58 (rectangular waveform generator) or in the setting of the variable resistor 74 (triangular waveform generator) .
- a voltage controlled oscillator (not shown) serves as the waveform generator
- an input voltage which may originate from any suitable source, is provided to vary the harmonic content.
- the adjustment takes place in conjunction with an analysis of a resultant printed image and/or by viewing the actual drop formations, (for example by employing a microscope and a strobe light) .
- the harmonic content is varied until the desired satellite condition and resultant desirable image formation are regularly achieved.
- a rectangular waveform having a twenty-f-ive percent duty cycle is initially employed as the driving waveform.
- the quality of the printed image or " the actual formation of the drops is then analyzed for various driving amplitudes of the rectangular waveform. If the results obtained at the twenty-five percent duty cycle are less than ideal, the rectangular waveform may be effectively inverted to have a seventy-five percent -duty cycle in order to determine if the drop formation or the resultant image quality is consequently enhanced as analyzed at various driving amplitudes.
- a triangular waveform having a twenty- five percent duty cycle may be subsequently selected and utilized as the driving waveform, and the results again analyzed at various driving amplitudes. As with the rectangular waveform, this triangular waveform may be inverted to have a seventy-five percent duty cycle in order to determine the effect on the quality of the printed image.
- Other waveforms may be selectively applied to the transducer in a similar manner, although typically either a rectangular or triangular waveform provides acceptable results.
- the harmonics, or symmetries, of the waveform may be adjusted as desired in order to fine- tune the drop formation as evidenced by the quality of the printed image.
- a change in the harmonic content of a waveform alters the duty cycle thereof. While a twenty-five or a seventy-five percent duty cycle typically provides the desired results, examples of duty cycles ranging from ten to thirty-five (or ninety to sixty-five) percent have produced preferable results with other ink and nozzle combinations. If a range of duty cycles is determined to provide acceptable image formation, the duty cycle may be set substantially in the middle of the range.
- an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 28 includes means for electrically varying the waveform. This enables the driving waveform to be controlled by commands from a printer controller, a personal computer, or the like.
- a microprocessor 80 is connected to a storage device 82 which may be a RAM, ROM, a computer disk or the like.
- the storage device 82 has previously stored therein the optimal waveform parameters for a number of inks and/or nozzles. Based on the type of ink and/or nozzle, which are input (along with any other variables that are deemed significant) as values into the microprocessor 80 via input means 84, the microprocessor 80 accesses the storage device 82 to obtain the corresponding optimal waveform parameters to adjust the waveform generator 36.
- the microprocessor 80 may be arranged to reference a database in the storage device 82 to obtain the optimal waveform duty cycle, amplitude and frequency for a given ink and nozzle combination.
- the microprocessor 80 may alternatively receive waveform information directly from the input device 84.
- the microprocessor 80 may be present in an external device such as a personal computer, however it can be appreciated that many ink jet printing systems already are equipped with a printer controller for controlling other aspects of the printing operation. Thus, such a printer controller can be modified to perform the functions of the microprocessor 80 described herein.
- the programmable variable resistors 90, 92 are electrically adjustable by the computer signals, such as in a programmable resistor network. These resistors comprise an RC circuit 94 that controls the operation of the astable multivibrator as in the previously described circuit of FIG. 26. Alternatively, a latched digital-to- analog voltage converter (not shown) coupled to a voltage controlled resistor .may act as a programmable resistor.
- Output signals from the microprocessor 80 set the values of the resistors 90, 92, thus determining the corresponding duty cycle and/or frequency. Similar output signals are also used to set the gain of a variable gain amplifier 98.
- the system may be arranged such that the microprocessor-based device can subsequently be disconnected from the printing apparatus, such as by unplugging a portable personal computer. In this manner, a consistent and rapid change to the waveform may be accomplished as inks or nozzles are varied.
- the parameters of the driving waveform may be set via telephone, modem, transmission cable, or other transmission means from a central or remote location.
- the ink may be shipped with a set of waveform parameters stored on a floppy disk or the like that may be used by the customer to tailor the system to the new type of ink.
- the input means 84 may comprise DIP switches operatively connected to the microprocessor 80 such that the settings thereof corresponding to selected parameters for known ink and/or nozzle configurations.
- DIP switches may alternatively be arranged to directly vary the resistance settings of resistors and thus adjust the waveform duty cycle or harmonics without a microprocessor.
- FIG. 28 describes a programmable rectangular waveform with a corresponding rectangular waveform generator
- other waveforms may be set by programmably controlling a similar waveform generator and/or harmonic content controller.
- the harmonic content of a triangular waveform may be electrically controlled by utilizing a programmable resistor as the variable resistor 74 in FIG. 27, and similarly connecting it for adjustment by the output of a microprocessor.
- a microprocessor may further be employed to select the type of periodic non-sinusoidal driving waveform from a waveform generator capable of outputting multiple types of waveforms (not shown) .
- an apparatus and method for producing drops of ink in a continuous ink jet printing system that achieves desirable satellite formation thereby resulting in desirable printing conditions.
- the desired satellite formation is achieved for an increased variety of inks and nozzle types, including hot-melt inks, and with a . reduced amount of power consumption.
- the desired satellite conditions are achieved with simplified electrical driving circuitry that provides improved cost savings and reliability, and without increasing the amplitude of the driving signal above customary excitation levels .
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9704406A GB2307451B (en) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-08-09 | Method and apparatus for continuous ink jet printing |
AU31868/95A AU3186895A (en) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-08-09 | Method and apparatus for continuous ink jet printing |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/307,193 | 1994-09-16 | ||
US08/307,193 US5646663A (en) | 1994-09-16 | 1994-09-16 | Method and apparatus for continuous ink jet printing with a non-sinusoidal driving waveform |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1996008374A1 WO1996008374A1 (en) | 1996-03-21 |
WO1996008374A9 true WO1996008374A9 (en) | 2008-03-06 |
Family
ID=23188657
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1995/001886 WO1996008374A1 (en) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-08-09 | Method and apparatus for continuous ink jet printing |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5646663A (en) |
AU (1) | AU3186895A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2199725A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2307451B (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996008374A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH09262970A (en) * | 1996-03-28 | 1997-10-07 | Canon Inc | Ink-jet recording apparatus |
US6491737B2 (en) * | 2000-05-22 | 2002-12-10 | The Regents Of The University Of California | High-speed fabrication of highly uniform ultra-small metallic microspheres |
US6520402B2 (en) * | 2000-05-22 | 2003-02-18 | The Regents Of The University Of California | High-speed direct writing with metallic microspheres |
US6883904B2 (en) * | 2002-04-24 | 2005-04-26 | Eastman Kodak Company | Apparatus and method for maintaining constant drop volumes in a continuous stream ink jet printer |
NL1021319C2 (en) * | 2002-08-22 | 2004-02-24 | Tno | Device and method for printing a viscous substance. |
WO2005096785A2 (en) * | 2004-04-09 | 2005-10-20 | Synergy Innovations, Inc. | System and method of manufacturing mono-sized-disbursed spherical particles |
US20070291058A1 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | Fagerquist Randy L | Continuous ink jet printing with satellite droplets |
GB2554924A (en) * | 2016-10-14 | 2018-04-18 | Domino Uk Ltd | Improvements in or relating to continuous inkjet printers |
CN107933090B (en) * | 2017-12-20 | 2023-05-26 | 北京赛腾标识系统股份公司 | Device and method for setting nozzle drive and ink jet system |
Family Cites Families (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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BE756224A (en) * | 1969-09-23 | 1971-03-01 | Teletype Corp | ELECTROSTATIC INK AND PRINTING APPARATUS |
US3683396A (en) * | 1970-08-05 | 1972-08-08 | Dick Co Ab | Method and apparatus for control of ink drop formation |
US4056741A (en) * | 1973-04-18 | 1977-11-01 | Airco, Inc. | Audible signal generating apparatus having selectively controlled audible output |
US3935783A (en) * | 1974-07-08 | 1976-02-03 | The Wurlitzer Company | Electronic piano circuit |
US3972474A (en) * | 1974-11-01 | 1976-08-03 | A. B. Dick Company | Miniature ink jet nozzle |
US3928855A (en) * | 1974-12-18 | 1975-12-23 | Ibm | Method and apparatus for controlling satellites in an ink jet printing system |
US3979756A (en) * | 1974-12-18 | 1976-09-07 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and apparatus for merging satellites in an ink jet printing system |
GB1543155A (en) * | 1975-05-02 | 1979-03-28 | Nat Res Dev | Transponders |
GB1544493A (en) * | 1975-09-05 | 1979-04-19 | Ibm | Apparatus for liquid droplet generation |
JPS54137320A (en) * | 1978-04-18 | 1979-10-25 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Ultrasonic liquid atomizer |
JPS56139973A (en) * | 1980-04-01 | 1981-10-31 | Sharp Corp | Ink jet recording |
JPS5738159A (en) * | 1980-08-20 | 1982-03-02 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Exciting system of printing head in ink jet printing device |
JPS5759766A (en) * | 1980-09-27 | 1982-04-10 | Sharp Corp | Driving circuit for ink jet head |
JPS5766974A (en) * | 1980-10-10 | 1982-04-23 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Fluid spray method |
JPS585272A (en) * | 1981-07-02 | 1983-01-12 | Seiko Epson Corp | Ink jet printer |
US4897665A (en) * | 1986-10-09 | 1990-01-30 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Method of driving an ink jet recording head |
US5146236A (en) * | 1989-12-14 | 1992-09-08 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Ink jet record apparatus |
US5206944A (en) * | 1990-06-07 | 1993-04-27 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force | High speed analog to digital converter board for an IBM PC/AT |
JP2663077B2 (en) * | 1991-03-25 | 1997-10-15 | テクトロニクス・インコーポレイテッド | Ink supply device |
-
1994
- 1994-09-16 US US08/307,193 patent/US5646663A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1995
- 1995-08-09 AU AU31868/95A patent/AU3186895A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-08-09 GB GB9704406A patent/GB2307451B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1995-08-09 WO PCT/GB1995/001886 patent/WO1996008374A1/en active Application Filing
- 1995-08-09 CA CA002199725A patent/CA2199725A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US5646663A (en) | 1997-07-08 |
WO1996008374A1 (en) | 1996-03-21 |
CA2199725A1 (en) | 1996-03-21 |
GB2307451B (en) | 1997-11-12 |
AU3186895A (en) | 1996-03-29 |
GB9704406D0 (en) | 1997-04-23 |
GB2307451A (en) | 1997-05-28 |
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