Patent ID: 6126259
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of operating an impulse fluid jet device comprising a chamber having an orifice for ejection of droplets, said method comprising the following steps:providing a transducer having a resonant frequency and a higher harmonic frequency;generating a first energy pulse having a first duration and a waveform sufficient to energize the transducer, thus exciting the resonant frequency of the transducer and initiating the ejection of a drop of fluid from the orifice, said drop having a head portion and attached tail portion, wherein the droplet tail portion is integral with fluid at the orifice;generating a second energy pulse having a second duration substantially shorter than said first duration and a waveform sufficient to energize the transducer, thus exciting the higher harmonic;wherein the higher harmonic generates a pressure wave, such that the tail portion breaks from the fluid at the orifice and the tail portion and the head portion of the drop travel at substantially the same velocity toward a target.