Contraves, Inc.

Franz Kohler

Norbert Meinusch

Gerhard Glockler

Otto Eblen

A method is proposed for fabricating components of an ink droplet generator for generating a sequence of charged, detected and deflected ink droplets for an ink jet printer, as is proposed an ink droplet generator fabricated thereby. The method which is based upon multi-layer technology involves forming the charging electrodes and the detection electrodes by removing unnecessary metal coating from a support element metallically coated on at least one side of the support element and forming the deflection electrodes by removing unnecessary metal coating from a polyimide foil coated on at least one side thereof. The polyimide foil is mounted on a substrate constructed as a support element. The arrangement defining the ink droplet generator comprises a first module formed from both board or panel-like support elements and a second module formed from both board or panel-like support elements.

Method of fabricating an ink droplet generator for an ink jet printer

A method and apparatus for monitoring and regulating the ink droplet velocity in the ink supply system of an ink jet printer is proposed which essentially comprises an ink jet propulsion member, a charging electrode, a charge detector, a deflection electrode and an ink droplet catch gutter. In the method, during a non-writing or non-recording dead-time interval (PHASING), a first relatively small number of ink droplets is relatively weakly charged and a second, nearly twice as great, number of droplets remains uncharged. A signal is detected which is nearly proportional to the droplet velocity of the first, weakly charged, ink droplets and is employed for monitoring and regulating the ink droplet velocity or for pressure-dependently regulating an ink jet velocity or both. The apparatus further comprises a control unit with an input conductor for a feedback signal from the charge detector and at least a first output conductor for signals from the control unit for regulating the electrostatic charge on the charging electrode.

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Meersburg, Germany

Franz Kohler