PRINTHEAD HAVING IMPROVED GAS FLOW DEFLECTION SYSTEM

• US 20100110150A1
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Griffin, Todd R., Xu, Jinquan, Yokajty, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/77
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/09 Deflection means
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/12 testing or correcting charge or deflection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/031 Gas flow deflection

Abstract

A printhead includes a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory, and a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow that interacts with the large volume drop and the small volume drop in a drop deflection zone such that at least the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory, the gas flow being provided by a gas flow source connected in fluid communication with a gas flow duct, the gas flow deflection system including a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure located between the gas flow source and the drop deflection zone.

Claims

1. A printhead comprising:

a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory; and

a gas flow deflection system including a gas flow that interacts with the large volume drop and the small volume drop in a drop deflection zone such that at least the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory, the gas flow being provided by a gas flow source connected in fluid communication with a gas flow duct, the gas flow deflection system including a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure located between the gas flow source and the drop deflection zone.

2. The printhead of claim 1, wherein the gas flow source is a positive pressure source.

3. The printhead of claim 1, wherein the gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure comprises a porous media positioned in the gas flow duct such that at least a portion of the gas flows through the porous media.

4. The printhead of claim 1, wherein the gas flow is directed at a non-perpendicular non-parallel angle relative to the initial drop trajectory.

5. The printhead of claim 4, the gas flow duct comprising an upper wall, the upper wall including an inner surface, the drop generator including a beveled face, wherein the inner surface of the upper wall is aligned with the beveled face of the drop generator.

6. The printhead of claim 5, wherein the inner surface of the upper wall is parallel and co-planer with the beveled face of the drop generator.

7. A printhead comprising:

a drop generator configured to selectively form a large volume drop and a small volume drop from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator, the large volume drop and the small volume drop traveling along an initial drop trajectory;

a gas flow deflection system that provides a first gas flow through a gas flow duct, the first gas flow interacting with the large volume drop and the small volume drop in a drop deflection zone such that at least the small volume drop is deflected from the initial drop trajectory, the first gas flow having a first speed; and

a plenum structure including an outlet located between the drop generator and the gas flow duct that directs a second gas flow toward the drop deflection zone, the second gas flow having a second speed, the first speed of the first gas flow being substantially equivalent to the second speed of the second gas flow.

8. The printhead of claim 7, wherein the second gas flow is substantially parallel to the first gas flow in the drop deflection zone.

9. The printhead of claim 7, the first gas flow being provided by a first positive pressure source connected in fluid communication to the gas flow duct, wherein the gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure located between the first gas flow source and the drop deflection zone.

10. The printhead of claim 9, the second gas flow being provided by a second positive pressure source connected in fluid communication with the plenum structure, wherein a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure is located between the gas flow source and the outlet of the plenum structure.

11. The printhead of claim 7, the second gas flow being provided by a positive pressure source connected in fluid communication with the plenum structure, wherein a gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure is located between the gas flow source and the outlet of the plenum structure.

12. The printhead of claim 7, the first gas flow being provided by a first positive pressure source connected in fluid communication to the gas flow duct.

13. The printhead of claim 12, the second gas flow being provided by a second positive pressure source connected in fluid communication with the plenum structure.

14. The printhead of claim 7, wherein the gas flow pressure oscillation dampening structure comprises a porous media positioned in the gas flow duct such that at least a portion of the gas flows through the porous media.

15. The printhead of claim 7, wherein the gas flow is directed at a non-perpendicular non-parallel angle relative to the initial drop trajectory.