Agfa Nv

Inca Digital Printers Limited

Hamilton Buchanan Cleare

A drive circuit for charging a printhead for ejecting drops of ink is provided, the printhead having a capacitance. The drive circuit comprises a power supply comprising a first connection and a second connection. An inductor is connected to the first connection of the power supply, wherein the inductor is connected to a first drive connection of the printhead to provide a charge path for current to charge the capacitance. The second connection of the power supply is connected to a second drive connection of the printhead. The drive circuit also comprises means for applying a plurality of charging voltage pulses to the inductor to provide a single charge of the capacitance for a single cycle of ink ejection from the printhead. A method of operating the drive circuit is also provided.

Inkjet printhead drive circuit

A drive circuit for repetitively energising a printhead () to eject drops of ink and a method of operating the drive circuit are described. The printhead h multiple nozzle channels each having a respective capacitance. The drive circuit includes a first switching element (S) connected to couple a drive connection of the printhead to a first connection of a power supply (V) via a first inductor (L) to provide a charge path for current to charge the capacitance of at least one nozzle channel to a desired operating voltage. The drive circuit further includes a second switching element (S) connected to couple a drive connection of the printhead to a second connection of the power supply (V) via a second inductor (L) to provide a discharge path for current to discharge the capacitance of said at least one nozzle channel to a desired inter-pulse voltage.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Hamilton Buchanan Cleare