US3579245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of transferring liquid
Assignee: AT&T Teletype Corp
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Filing: 1967-12-07
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Granted: 1971-05-18
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Expires: 1987-12-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatic printer has a nozzle from which the ink is issued with an accelerating electrode and an intermediate electrode placed between the nozzle and the platen or target. A high voltage potential difference is established between the nozzle and the target with an intermediate potential being applied to the accelerating and intermediate electrodes. A sufficient potential difference exists between the nozzle and the accelerating electrode to draw the ink from the nozzle into a fine stream, and a sinusoidally varying field is superimposed on the field between the nozzle and the accelerating electrode to establish a high frequency vibration in the electrostatically charged ink stream. Droplet formation then takes place in synchronism with the sinusoidally varying field in a region of a weak field between the accelerating and intermediate electrodes which are at the same or only slightly different potentials, with the size and spacing of the droplets being controlled by the frequency of the sinusoidally varying field. As a result, droplets of substantially uniform size, substantially uniformly spaced apart, are formed.
Inventors
- 👤 James M Berry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:00
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/02; B41J2/035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of forming a series of droplets of liquid of substantially uniform size and spacing including the steps of: forming a stream of liquid substantially on an axis; applying substantially the same electric potential to a pair of axially-spaced electrodes; directing the stream of liquid into the region between the electrodes to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration; and controlling at least one characteristic of the stream of liquid to cause the stream of liquid to break into droplets in the region between the electrodes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of forming a series of droplets of liquid of substantially uniform size and spacing including the steps of: forming a stream of liquid substantially on an axis; applying substantially the same electric potential to a pair of axially-spaced electrodes; directing the stream of liquid into the region between the electrodes to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration; and controlling at least one characteristic of the stream of liquid to cause the stream of liquid to break into droplets in the region between the electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 including the additional step of creating periodic disturbancEs in the stream of liquid further to induce the droplets formed to be of uniform size.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 including the additional step of accelerating the stream of liquid before it enters the region between the electrodes.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of controlled droplet formation of a liquid stream including the steps of: forming a solid stream of liquid flowing in a gas by applying an electrostatic accelerating force to said stream of liquid in a first region; and applying substantially zero accelerating force to said stream in a second region to cause the stream to assume a substantially cylindrical configuration in said second region; and controlling at least one characteristic of the stream of liquid to cause the stream of liquid to break into droplets substantially in said second region.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of controlled droplet formation of a liquid stream including the steps of: forming a solid stream of liquid flowing in a gas by applying an electrostatic accelerating force to said stream of liquid in a first region; and applying substantially zero accelerating force to said stream in a second region to cause the stream to assume a substantially cylindrical configuration in said second region; and controlling at least one characteristic of the stream of liquid to cause the stream of liquid to break into droplets substantially in said second region.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of forming droplets of uniform size from a liquid including the steps of: forming a solid stream of liquid flowing in a gas; creating periodic disturbances in the stream of liquid to cause segments of the stream to break off and form droplets in synchronism with the disturbances; applying an accelerating force to the stream of liquid; and reducing to substantially zero the accelerating force acting on the stream in the region where the droplet formation takes place to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration in the region where droplet formation takes place.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of forming droplets of uniform size from a liquid including the steps of: forming a solid stream of liquid flowing in a gas; creating periodic disturbances in the stream of liquid to cause segments of the stream to break off and form droplets in synchronism with the disturbances; applying an accelerating force to the stream of liquid; and reducing to substantially zero the accelerating force acting on the stream in the region where the droplet formation takes place to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration in the region where droplet formation takes place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 5 including the additional step of imparting an electrostatic charge to the stream of liquid and wherein the accelerating force is an electrostatic field.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming droplets from a stream of liquid including the steps of: imparting an electrostatic charge to a stream of liquid; subjecting the charged stream of liquid to an electrostatic field to accelerate the stream of liquid; imparting periodic disturbances to the stream of liquid to cause it to break up into droplets in synchronism with the disturbances; and establishing an electrostatic field of substantially zero electrostatic potential in the region where the stream breaks up into droplets to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration in said region.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of forming droplets from a stream of liquid including the steps of: imparting an electrostatic charge to a stream of liquid; subjecting the charged stream of liquid to an electrostatic field to accelerate the stream of liquid; imparting periodic disturbances to the stream of liquid to cause it to break up into droplets in synchronism with the disturbances; and establishing an electrostatic field of substantially zero electrostatic potential in the region where the stream breaks up into droplets to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration in said region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the field in the region where the stream breaks up into droplets is established between a pair of spaced electrodes by applying substantially the same potential to both electrodes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of controlled droplet formation of a stream of liquid ink flowing onto a record medium including the steps of: forming a solid stream of liquid flowing in a gas by applying an electrostatic accelerating force to said stream of liquid ink in a first region; applying substantially zero accelerating force to said stream in a second region to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration in the second region, thereby facilitating droplet formation in said second region; controlling at least one characteristic of the stream of liquid to cause the stream to break into droplets substantially in the second region; and positioning the record medium in the path of said stream of ink.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of controlled droplet formation of a stream of liquid ink flowing onto a record medium including the steps of: forming a solid stream of liquid flowing in a gas by applying an electrostatic accelerating force to said stream of liquid ink in a first region; applying substantially zero accelerating force to said stream in a second region to cause the stream of liquid to assume substantially a cylindrical configuration in the second region, thereby facilitating droplet formation in said second region; controlling at least one characteristic of the stream of liquid to cause the stream to break into droplets substantially in the second region; and positioning the record medium in the path of said stream of ink.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-17 | 1974-11-16 | 1975-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-17 | 1978-11-16 | 1979-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-17 | 1982-11-16 | 1983-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |