Fluid ejection systems and methods with secondary dielectric fluid

• US 6,406,130 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia LLC (Honeywell International Inc.), Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Crowley, Joseph M., Galambos, Paul C., Gooray, Arthur M., Givler, Richard C., Peter, Frank J., Roller, George J., Carreira, Leonard M., Zavadil, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Raquel Yvette
• Application Number:
  US09/785,160
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 347/54, 347/68, 347/69, 347/70, 347/71, 347/50, 347/40, 347/74, 347/77, 347/76, 347/49, 347/73, 399/261, 361/700, 298/901, 310/328-330
• US Class Current: 347/54
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14314 Structure of ink jet print heads with electrostatically actuated membrane
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/041 Electromagnetic transducer

Abstract

A fluid ejection system according to this invention operates on the principle of electrostatic or magnetic attraction. In various exemplary embodiments, the fluid ejection system includes a sealed diaphragm arrangement having at least one diaphragm portion and a diaphragm chamber defined at least partially by the at least one diaphragm portion, a nozzle hole located over the at least one diaphragm portion, an ejection chamber defined between the nozzle hole and the least one diaphragm portion and a secondary dielectric fluid reservoir containing a secondary dielectric fluid. The ejection chamber receives a primary fluid to be ejected. The secondary dielectric fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the diaphragm chamber to supply the secondary dielectric fluid to the diaphragm chamber. In various exemplary embodiments, the secondary dielectric fluid is a liquid, a substantially incompressible fluid, and/or a high performance dielectric fluid having a dielectric constant greater than 1.

Claims

1. A fluid ejection system, comprising:

a sealed diaphragm arrangement including at least one diaphragm portion and a diaphragm chamber defined at least partially by the at least one diaphragm portion;

a nozzle hole located proximate the at least one diaphragm portion;

an ejection chamber defined between the nozzle hole and the least one diaphragm portion, the ejection chamber receiving a primary fluid to be ejected; and

a secondary dielectric fluid reservoir containing a secondary dielectric fluid, the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir being in fluid communication with the diaphragm chamber to supply the secondary dielectric fluid to the diaphragm chamber.

2. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid is a liquid.

3. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid is substantially incompressible.

4. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid is a high performance dielectric fluid having a dielectric constant greater than 1.

5. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir includes a foam insert.

6. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir is a vented tank.

7. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate that at least partially defines the diaphragm chamber; and

a secondary dielectric feed hole formed through the substrate to communicate with the diaphragm chamber and the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir.

8. The fluid ejection system of claim 7, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir is disposed on a side of the substrate opposite the sealed diaphragm arrangement.

9. The fluid ejection system of claim 8, wherein the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir is fixedly connected to the substrate.

10. The fluid ejection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary dielectric feed hole in fluid communication with the diaphragm chamber and the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir; and

a channel in fluid communication with the diaphragm chamber, the channel being separate from the secondary dielectric feed hole.

11. The fluid ejection system of claim 10, further comprising an opening of the channel that is in communication with atmosphere.

12. The fluid ejection system of claim 10, further comprising an overflow basin that is in fluid communication with the channel.

13. The fluid ejection system of claim 12, wherein the overflow basin is in fluid communication with atmosphere.

14. A method for ejecting a fluid from a fluid ejector having a sealed diaphragm arrangement, comprising:

supplying a primary fluid to an ejection chamber of the fluid ejector;

supplying a secondary dielectric fluid to a diaphragm chamber of the sealed diaphragm arrangement from a secondary dielectric fluid reservoir;

moving a diaphragm of the sealed diaphragm arrangement to eject the primary fluid; and

permitting movement of the secondary dielectric fluid between the diaphragm chamber and the secondary dielectric fluid reservoir to compensate for movement of the diaphragm.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein supplying the secondary dielectric fluid to the diaphragm chamber comprises completely filling the diaphragm chamber.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein supplying the secondary dielectric fluid to the diaphragm chamber comprises burping the diaphragm chamber.