The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 1985
Filed:
Apr. 01, 1983
Michael Acciai, Newark Valley, NY (US);
Charles R Pigos, Endicott, NY (US);
Charles G Speicher, Brackney, PA (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A print head for use in an electrolytic matrix printer is described. In this print head, predetermined ones of a plurality of electrodes are permanently grounded and are thereby forced to always function as cathodes. The remaining electrodes serve as print electrodes and, depending on the information needed during a given print cycle, either print or are not energized. These print electrodes, therefore, are constrained to always function as anodes. Fixing the function of the electrodes in the print cycle prevents reverse current flow in an electrode from print cycle to print cycle and placing the permanently grounded electrodes intersticially between and about the print electrodes to isolate them, in particular, further enhances this effect. This is particularly beneficial when using platinum print electrodes that form a protective passivation layer which is destroyed by the reverse current flow resulting from alternating electrode functions.