Patent ID: 6309042
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B41J,C01P,C09C

Abstract:
An apparatus for depositing a particulate marking material onto a substrate, comprising (a) a printhead having defined therein at least one said channel, each channel having an inner surface and an exit orifice with a width no larger than about 250 microns, the inner surface of each channel having thereon a hydrophobic coating material; (b) a propellant source connected to each said, channel such that propellant provided by the propellant source can flow through each said channel to form propellant streams therein, said propellant streams having kinetic energy, each said channel directing the propellant stream through the exit orifice toward the substrate; and (c) a marking material reservoir having an inner surface, said inner surface having thereon the hydrophobic coating material, said reservoir containing particles of a particulate marking material, said reservoir being communicatively connected to each said channel such that the particulate marking material from the reservoir can be controllably introduced into the propellant stream in each said channel so that the kinetic energy of the propellant stream can cause the particulate marking material to impact the substrate, wherein either (i) the marking material particles of particulate marking material have an outer coating of the hydrophobic coating material; or (ii) the marking material particles have additive particles on the surface thereof, said additive particles having an outer coating of the hydrophobic coating material; or (iii) both the marking material particles and the additive particles have an outer coating of the hydrophobic coating material.