JPS5818231B2 - Eki Teki Niyoru Insatsu Mataha Hifukuhouhou To Souchi - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,373,437 and 356
In the droplet printing or coating apparatus shown in No. 0641, a plurality of droplet generators are provided in a manifold or head in a lateral array with respect to the receiving surface, and droplets of ink or other liquid are directed to the receiving surface. emit toward.

The device is excited and stimulated at a common constant frequency, causing all drop generators to generate droplets of constant size and at a constant velocity in a constant phase relationship with the excitation source.

In this type of device, the droplet advances toward the receiving surface,
And, it is selectively charged in a binary manner according to information signals from a computer, video input, recording tape, etc.

After the droplets to be excluded or captured are electrostatically charged, they proceed in a deflection electric field with a constant electrostatic field, and because of the deflection caused by the electric field, they move away from their initial path and enter the trap, but uncharged droplets Since it is not affected by the deflection electric field, it proceeds along the initial path, reaches the receiving surface, and adheres to it.

In the printing or coating apparatus using drop generator arrays and in the above-mentioned US Pat. , proposes to "track" between each other.

Even if such a droplet control device is a binary type (ON-OFF
), its structure is mechanically and electrically complex.

Considerable simplification would be possible if one droplet generator could be appropriately arranged to perform the functions of a plurality of droplet generators.

FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,030 uses a bank of droplet generators to direct the droplets from each generator according to the desired deflection or displacement to deposit the droplets from that generator at different locations. Charged with different charge levels.

However, different charge levels must be used to deflect unattached droplets to the trap.

All droplet deflections for position control or removal are generally performed along the same line and are achieved by differences in charging levels obtained by varying voltage levels at the same charging electrode.

US Pat. No. 3,370,297 describes that a second deflection field (magnetic field) transverse to the first constant deflection field can be applied.

The purpose of this second deflection field is to direct all charged droplets, regardless of their charge, to the trap when there is no web or receiving surface available for normal printing of variable traces from the droplet generator. It's in the direction.

This secondary deflection varies depending on the variable charge of the individual droplets, so the trapper becomes a relatively large element whose overall configuration is simply It is only for the purpose of preventing droplet adhesion.

The present invention relates to a droplet printing or coating device and a new droplet device used therein.

The droplet is deflected in two orthogonal directions, avoiding the trap and depositing at a predetermined position on the printing surface.

All charged droplets have equal electrostatic charge and therefore
The droplet selection device to be deposited is truly binary and can be easily manipulated by digital input information.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of droplet generators each having a charging electrode are arranged below the electrodes for charging the droplets in a binary manner and transversely to the direction of movement of the receiving member. A device is used with a first set of deflection electrodes forming an elongated deflection electric field.

A common scanning signal with periodically varying steps synchronized with the excitation of the droplet is applied to these electrodes, and the resulting deflection field directs the charged droplet along one of several paths toward the receiving surface. Deflect transversely.

The droplet control device according to the invention also has a second pair of deflection plates, which plates are preferably arranged below the first deflection electrode and intersect the path of the already deflected charged droplet. A deflection electric field in a second direction is formed.

This electric field deflects the length of the droplet in the vertical direction to avoid the trap and cause it to adhere to the printing surface or the receiving surface depending on the respective lateral position regulated by the first electric field.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a control circuit relates the transverse scan signal (which defines the lateral coordinate position) to the movement of the droplet receiving surface (which defines the longitudinal coordinate position) and the timing of drop formation. let

This controls only the charging of the droplets.

Converts the input information into an image or text on the printing surface.

In this embodiment, the deflection produced by the second deflection plate is constant and independent of scanning or information control.

It merely changes the trajectory of the charged droplet from the trajectory formed by the first (variable) deflection field.

In another embodiment of the invention, the second deflection electrode includes a first
adding a periodically varying common step scan signal related to the scan signal applied to the electrode set and the droplet timing;
Provides different deflections along the length of the charged droplet.

Thus, a charged droplet can be deposited at any of a plurality of matrix or coordinate locations that the scanning signal provides to each droplet generator.

The receiving surface may be moved continuously at a slower speed than in the first embodiment, or may be moved in increments.

Thus, a new line space operation is performed when each drop generator generates a sufficient number of drops to fill a complete matrix.

Each droplet generator generates a letter math (a) during one matrix scan.
lpha-numeric characters
), it is possible to easily perform not only high-speed printing but also graphic display and design display.

In both embodiments, the second electrode for generating longitudinal displacement of the droplet is common to all droplet generators, since in the first embodiment the generated electric field is constant. This is because in the second embodiment, all generators are changed simultaneously.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 3 In FIG.
2, and is wound up on a winding roller 14.

A motor 15 continuously drives the pinch roller 13.

One or more arrays 18 of a plurality of individual droplet generators 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are arranged in parallel above the table 12, each generator emitting a stream of liquid that is separated. into individual droplets.

In the case of a printing operation, ink supplied from the pressurized tank 21 to each droplet generator 20 is used as the liquid.

A separate liquid is used for operations such as coating and marking.

The ink flows from the tank 21 to the output conduit 22, filter 23,
and is supplied to each array 18 via the manifold 24.

The ultrasonic vibrator 25 etc. are connected to the tank 21 and the manifold 24.
(or directly to the array), and all arrays 1
A common high-frequency vibration is applied to the ink supplied to 8.

Each array 18 has a transverse passageway disposed on an orifice plate 26 and receives a supply of energized, pressurized ink.

The ink is forced to pass through a plurality of micro orifices 28 (FIG. 2) to form a plurality of micro streams.

The excitation force provided by the vibrator 25 forces all the ejected ink streams into equally sized and spaced segmented droplets 27 and propels them in parallel paths towards the moving web 10.

Each droplet generator 20 in the array has a corresponding charging ring 32 centered on the corresponding orifice 28 and having a vertical passageway 30 aligned with the path of the ejected droplet. They are arranged at appropriate intervals below the point where the liquid separates into droplets, and each charging ring is individually controlled in response to a unique binary (ON-OFF) charging signal applied to each charging ring from an information control device, which will be described below. Selectively imparts an electrostatic charge to droplets.

According to the present invention, uncharged droplets are prevented from adhering to the moving web, and the uncharged droplets are deflected in two orthogonal directions before adhering to the moving web.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each droplet generator 2
0 is provided with a first set of deflection electrodes 34 arranged parallel to the array 18, with these electrodes 34 downstream of the charging ring 32 and on either side of the droplet path.

As shown in FIG. 3, an electric field formed between a pair of deflection electrodes 34 extending in the web traveling direction deflects the charged droplet in the width direction of the web, that is, in the X direction.

Each array 18 is provided with a second pair of deflection electrodes 36 arranged in parallel and spaced below the first electrode group 34, and the length of the electrodes 36 is made equal to the total width of each array 18.

In FIG. 3, the passageway 30 preferably includes a first set of deflection electrodes 34.
The lateral enlarged portion 38 is located near the second set of electrodes 36 directly below the
have.

The direction of the electric field formed between the pair of second electrodes 36 is the length direction of the web, that is, the Y direction.

The charging ring 32 charges only the droplets to be deposited on the web 10.

The selectively uncharged droplets 27' (FIG. 2) pass along parallel straight paths through the passageway 30 and into a suitable catcher 40 disposed between the corresponding array 18 and the web 10. enter in.

In contrast, each charged droplet is deflected in two directions by the electric fields of the first and second pair of deflection electrodes, one of which (by the first pair) is away from the plane of the droplet's original parallel path. The charged droplet is removed from the trap 40 by applying a deflection that removes the droplet.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first set of deflection electrodes 34 are connected via line 43 to a scanning signal generator 42 to provide a common deflection that varies periodically in the X direction intersecting all droplet paths. Apply a scanning electric field.

The output signal of the scanning signal generator 42 has a step or staircase waveform.

As shown by the radial lines in FIG. 3, the deflected droplet travels along one of a plurality of paths on either side of its original path on a plane parallel to the trap.

Therefore, the electric field created by the electrode 34 scans the droplet laterally, but does not affect its path toward the trap 40.

A second deflection electrode 36 deflects the charged droplet in a second direction, the Y direction, causing the charged droplet to pass away from the edge of the trap.

The charged droplet 27 (FIG. 2) therefore does not impinge on the catcher 40, but instead deposits on the moving web 10 in accordance with the lateral deflection regulated by the first deflection electrode 34.

Preferably, a constant voltage source 44 is connected to the second deflection electrode 36 via a line 45 to apply a constant deflection electric field in the Y direction intersecting the path of the charged droplet, thereby reducing the charge already deflected in the X direction. The droplets are deflected towards the moving web 10.

The mask control device 50 of FIG. 1 preferably includes an electronic computer, a buffer, a storage device, and the like.

Input data representing a pattern, text, image, etc. to be reproduced is provided to device 50 and a binary charging signal is generated.

These signals are connected to wire 33, output amplifier 52 and wire 54.
is applied to the charging ring 32 via.

The output of the controller 50 is simply an ON-OFF switch operation of the voltage applied to the charging electrode, which controls the selection of droplets to be deflected.

This device also controls whether a droplet should be deposited since the deflection field in the Y direction is constant and only causes it to avoid the trap 40.

Therefore, uncharged droplets are captured by the capture device regardless of the deflection electric field provided by both deflection electrodes.

Controller 50 is also associated with scanning signal generator 42, excitation signal source 25, and web movement for controlling and regulating liquid deposition on the moving web.

The speed of web movement is controlled by a suitable drive controller 56, which together with an exciter 25 controls droplet formation timing (period and phase) and a scanning signal generator 42 generates a scanning deflection signal. This drive control device 56
operate.

Since the electric field between the electrodes 360 is constant, the Y of each individual droplet
The coordinate position is determined by the constant speed of the web 10.

Therefore, the controller 50 provides two constant coordinate positions for each droplet to be deposited on the rag.

If the droplets from each generator are charged sequentially, they will be deflected into adjacent paths as they pass through the stepwise increasing X-direction deflection field.

Furthermore, movement of the web, deflected away from the trap by the action of a Y-direction deflection field, defines this longitudinal deposition location in the image area.

The web speed is suitably adjusted to sequentially arrange horizontal lines of deposited droplets in longitudinally adjacent columns.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 uses sub-matrix deflection in both the X and Y coordinate directions with first and second deflection fields.

Since the basic configuration of each droplet generator is the same, they are indicated by the same symbol with the suffix raJ.

Also in this case, only the droplets to be deposited on the receiving surface are charged.

Electrode 34a that generates a secondary deflection electric field through which the charged droplet passes
A stepwise deflection voltage from the scanning signal generator 42a is applied to .

As an example, FIG. 5 shows a state in which a letter M is formed using a 5×5 submatrix.

Although the submatrix configuration can be applied to either embodiment, it is particularly suitable for the embodiment of FIG.

Instead of applying a constant deflection field to the primary electrodes, these electrodes 36a are connected to another scanning signal generator 44a operating at a frequency subharmonic of the frequency of the generator 42a.

The waveforms shown in the blocks of FIG. 4 illustrate the principle of use.

For every five steps of the output of generator 42a, there is a constant level of voltage at the output of generator 44a, and for the next five step outputs of generator 42a, the output of generator 44a increases to the next voltage level. do.

Therefore, when trying to fill the entire sub-=r' As the charged droplets pass successively through the variable electric field formed by 34a, the first five droplets are deflected into five adjacent paths similar to that shown in FIG.

Since these five droplets pass through the low-level electric field in the deflection electric field formed by the electrode 36a, they take the first deflection path 50a in the Y direction, avoid the trap 40a, and move toward the web 10.
Adheres to a.

The next five groups of droplets are similarly deflected in the Y direction, but
Since the strength of the deflection electric field formed by electrode 36a has now increased by one step, these five droplets take path 50b.

A similar process is repeated as many times as required to deflect the charged droplets in both the X and Y directions and cover all possible locations on the submatrix.

In this embodiment, the receiving member or web 10a is moved at a speed much slower than the Y deflection frequency, so that the web movement is
The structure is configured so as not to affect the droplet adhesion position in the direction.

Even when using this low constant speed, the web drive is still subject to constant constant speed control from the controller.

It is also possible to move the web 10a in a stepwise fashion so that each droplet generator covers the appropriate submatrix and advances the web before scanning the next row of the submatrix.

During this period, the droplet is not charged and is blocked by the trap.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such a configuration can be applied to a line printer or the like for thermal spraying, and a computer storage device built into the control device stores charging information for individual characters or symbols according to a specific submatrix. Just remember it internally.

The step-like movement of the web 10a can be easily performed by a step motor, and if particularly accurate line spacing is required, a digitally controlled Sanibo device may be used.

With the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, only 17 lays of drop generators are required to cover the required submatrix in the image area of a web or other receiving member.

In both embodiments, it is important that the only control over the droplets to be deposited is digital binary control, ie charging (or uncharging) of the individual droplets.

Since the step change in the deflection electric field is carried out under the control of a common scanning signal generator, it is easy to make the deflection of the droplets in each droplet generator to be in phase and of the same magnitude.

This greatly simplifies the control system and is therefore advantageous over conventional methods of varying the charging level of individual droplets to generate the required deflection difference.

Since the scanning deflection voltage is the same for all matched electrode sets, the associated circuitry is simple, easy to manufacture, and easy to maintain.

In both of the above embodiments, each droplet first falls through a periodically varying transverse electric field and then through a longitudinal trapping escape field.

Obviously, this order may be reversed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the embodiments shown and described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a droplet control device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a droplet generator array, and FIG. 3 is a line 3--
3 is a sectional view, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is an enlarged explanatory diagram of a submatrix. 27: Charged droplet, 21': Uncharged droplet, 10: Paper (receiving surface), 40: Capture device, 32: Charged ring, 50: Control device, 34: First set of deflection electrodes, 36: Second set Deflection electrode, 25
: Stimulator.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. Apparatus 22, 25, 18 for generating a series of parallel drip streams traveling in a common plane and arranged to apply an electrostatic charge to selected drops 27 within each said drip stream. a charging device 32.32a, a series of paired deflection electrodes 34.34a for periodically deflecting said selected drops laterally in said plane, capturing non-selected drops 27' of said drops; a capturing device for capturing the non-selected intravenous drip 2T and another deflecting device 45, 36a for causing the selected intravenous drip 2T to avoid the capturing device, and the selected intravenous drip 27 on the receiving member. a transfer device 11, 14 for moving said receiving member in synchronism with said periodic lateral deflection so as to deposit it in a predetermined position of an IJ;
, wherein all the selected drops 27 are charged to the same level and the capture devices 40, 40a are not deflected out of the common plane. said other deflection device 45.36a consists of a common pair of deflection electrodes for deflecting said selected infusion drop 27 out of said common plane; Deflection electrode 34
, 34a is a droplet control device characterized in that a periodically changing deflection potential is applied. 2 a device 22, 25, 18 for generating a series of parallel drip streams traveling in a common plane; a charging device 32 arranged to apply an electrostatic charge to selected drops 21 in each said drip stream; 32a, a series of paired deflection electrodes 34, 34a for laterally deflecting the selected drops periodically in the plane; a capture device for capturing non-selected drops 27' of the drops; a further deflection device 45.36a for causing non-selected point 'drops 27' to be captured by said capture device and for said selected drops 27 to avoid said capture device; A device for controlling the deposition of a liquid drop onto a receiving member, comprising a transfer device 11, 14 for moving said receiving member in synchronization with said periodic lateral deflection so as to deposit in position. The selected drips 27 are all charged to the same level, the trapping device 40.40a consists of a common trap for trapping all the drips that are not deflected out of the common plane, and the other deflecting device 4s , 36a comprises a common pair of deflection electrodes for deflecting the selected droplet 27 out of the common plane, the series of paired deflection electrodes 34.3
4a is applied with a first periodically varying deflection potential, said common pair of deflection electrodes 36a being connected to said first pair of deflection electrodes 36a for deflecting said selected drops onto different trajectories 50a 750b leading to said receiving member 10a. A droplet control device characterized in that a second periodically varying potential difference having a subharmonic frequency of the periodically varying deflection potential is provided.