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US3946398A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for recording with writing fluids and drop projection means therefor

Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-29
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1990-06-29
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Abstract

Abstract A recording apparatus and method is disclosed which includes a writing fluid source feeding a drop projection means which ejects a series of droplets of writing fluid from a nozzle in a discontinuous stream with sufficient energy to traverse a substantially straight trajectory to a recording medium. The volume of each droplet is individually controlled by electrical pulses applied to the projection means from an electronic driver. A plurality of such projection means may be employed and connected to control means whereby to print or form predetermined graphical intelligence patterns on a record medium.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edmond L. Kyser
  • 👤 Stephan B. Sears

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 13:50
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/04581; B41J2/04588; B41J2/135; B41J2/14; B41J2/14201; B41J2/14298; B41J2/145; B41J2/21; B41J2/2121; B41J2/2128; H; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/80; H10N30/802; B41J2002/14379

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 72 words
The method of projecting writing fluid droplets from an orifice comprising defining a confined volume of writing fluid, providing an ink reservoir in constant communication with said volume, and suddenly reducing the volume to project droplets from said orifice towards an associated printing medium, one droplet being projected out of said orifice each time said volume is suddenly reduced and wherein the printing rate is between 100 and 3,000 droplets per second.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 72 words
The method of projecting writing fluid droplets from an orifice comprising defining a confined volume of writing fluid, providing an ink reservoir in constant communication with said volume, and suddenly reducing the volume to project droplets from said orifice towards an associated printing medium, one droplet being projected out of said orifice each time said volume is suddenly reduced and wherein the printing rate is between 100 and 3,000 droplets per second.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 114 words
A fluid drop projection means comprising a fluid chamber, an orifice communicating with said fluid chamber, means communicating with said fluid chamber for feeding fluids into said chamber, and volume displacement means responsive to electrical signals for displacing a predetermined volume of fluid in said chamber to eject from said orifice a single droplet of fluid, said volume displacement means including a piezoelectric plate which is deflected into said chamber to displace a volume of fluid responsive to electrical signals applied thereto, said piezoelectric plate being comprised of two transverse expanding piezoelectric plates secured to one another and arranged to expand transversely in opposite directions whereby to deflect responsive to electrical signal applied thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 114 words
A fluid drop projection means comprising a fluid chamber, an orifice communicating with said fluid chamber, means communicating with said fluid chamber for feeding fluids into said chamber, and volume displacement means responsive to electrical signals for displacing a predetermined volume of fluid in said chamber to eject from said orifice a single droplet of fluid, said volume displacement means including a piezoelectric plate which is deflected into said chamber to displace a volume of fluid responsive to electrical signals applied thereto, said piezoelectric plate being comprised of two transverse expanding piezoelectric plates secured to one another and arranged to expand transversely in opposite directions whereby to deflect responsive to electrical signal applied thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 208 words
Apparatus for recording with writing fluids on a recording medium, comprising: a writing fluid chamber formed by walls of a housing, at least a portion of one wall including two transversely expanding piezoelectric plates secured to one another and arranged to expand transversely in opposite directions in a manner to deflect into said fluid chamber in response to electrical energy applied to said piezoelectric plates, a passage in another wall of said writing fluid chamber communicating between the fluid chamber and an orifice on an outside surface of said another wall of the housing, a fluid reservoir in constant fluid communication with said fluid chamber for supplying writing fluid to said chamber, means for applying electric control signals to said piezoelectric plates to cause said plates to deflect inward into said writing fluid chamber to expel a single fluid drop to the outside of said fluid chamber through said orifice each time an electric control signal pulse is applied thereto, means disposed opposite of said orifice for holding said recording medium to receive drops of writing fluid discharged through said orifice, and means for providing relative movement between said housing and said recording medium, whereby a pattern of fluid droplets may be selectively recorded on said recording medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 208 words
Apparatus for recording with writing fluids on a recording medium, comprising: a writing fluid chamber formed by walls of a housing, at least a portion of one wall including two transversely expanding piezoelectric plates secured to one another and arranged to expand transversely in opposite directions in a manner to deflect into said fluid chamber in response to electrical energy applied to said piezoelectric plates, a passage in another wall of said writing fluid chamber communicating between the fluid chamber and an orifice on an outside surface of said another wall of the housing, a fluid reservoir in constant fluid communication with said fluid chamber for supplying writing fluid to said chamber, means for applying electric control signals to said piezoelectric plates to cause said plates to deflect inward into said writing fluid chamber to expel a single fluid drop to the outside of said fluid chamber through said orifice each time an electric control signal pulse is applied thereto, means disposed opposite of said orifice for holding said recording medium to receive drops of writing fluid discharged through said orifice, and means for providing relative movement between said housing and said recording medium, whereby a pattern of fluid droplets may be selectively recorded on said recording medium.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2512743A Cited
US2951894A Cited
US3177800A Cited
US3373437A Cited
US3452360A Cited
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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) 1979-03-23 1979-09-22 1980-03-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-03-23 1983-09-22 1984-03-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-03-23 1987-09-22 1988-03-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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