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:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 06, 1996
Shingo Abe, Tenri, JP;
Tetsuya Inui, Nara, JP;
Hirotsugu Matoba, Sakurai, JP;
Susumu Hirata, Ikoma-gun, JP;
Masaharu Kimura, Daito, JP;
Yorishige Ishii, Yamatotakada, JP;
Hajime Horinaka, Kashiba, JP;
Hiroshi Onda, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An ink-jet head is provided with a container having an ink-discharge opening in its wall section; a structural element that has peripheral edges at least both ends in one direction of which are secured to the wall faces inside the container, that divides the inside of the container in a fluid-separated state, and that is allowed to be distorted; and a voltage-applying unit for applying a voltage to the structural element. The structural element is constituted of a piezoelectric material, and the shape of the structural element is changed in response to the voltage applied by the voltage-applying unit so that ink is allowed to discharge from the ink-discharge opening. Therefore, the above-mentioned arrangement makes it possible to provide a greater ink-discharging force and ink-discharging speed, while maintaining a small size of the head. Moreover, it is possible to provide an ink-jet head having a good discharging efficiency with long service life.