Patent ID: 6629740
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
Method of operation of droplet deposition apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:providing an apparatus comprising first and second chambers each supplied with droplet fluid and communicating with a respective nozzle for ejection of droplets therefrom and each having an actuator comprised of piezoelectric material actuable by electrical signals to vary the volume of that chamber, volume variation sufficient to effect droplet ejection being effected in accordance with droplet ejection input data; applying a first electrical signal to the actuator of said first chamber to effect droplet ejection from said first chamber; and applying a second electrical signal to the actuator of said second chamber to selectively electrically heat the fluid in the second chamber without effecting droplet ejection from said second chamber to reduce the difference in temperature between the fluid in the second chamber and the fluid in the first chamber, wherein said second signal generates hysteresis losses in said piezoelectric material.