Patent ID: 7413293
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A drop deflector apparatus for a continuous drop emission system that deposits a liquid pattern on a receiver, comprising: (a) a plurality of drop nozzles emitting a plurality of continuous streams of a liquid that breaks up into streams of drops of substantially uniform drop volume having nominal flight paths that are substantially parallel and substantially within a nominal flight plane; (b) a plurality of path selection elements corresponding to the plurality of continuous streams of drops operable to firstly deflect individual drops from the corresponding continuous stream of drops along a first deflection flight path diverging from the nominal flight path based on liquid pattern data; and (c) a plurality of gas nozzles which generate a plurality of localized gas flows, positioned along one of the first deflection flight paths or the nominal flight paths, wherein the localized gas flows are oriented so as to cause a substantial second deflection of one of the firstly deflected drops or the nominal drops in a direction perpendicular to the nominal flight plane without causing a substantial deflection of drops following the other of the first deflection flight paths or the nominal flight paths.