Patent ID: 6416157
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of depositing marking material onto a substrate, comprising the steps of:providing a propellant to a head structure, said head structure having a channel therein, said channel having an exit orifice with a width no larger than 250 &mgr;m through which said propellant may flow, said propellant flowing through said channel to thereby form a propellant stream having kinetic energy, said channel directing said propellant stream toward said substrate; and controllably introducing a particulate marking material into said propellant stream in said channel and causing the propellant stream to exit an exit orifice to produce a marking material stream, said marking material stream having a width which does not deviate by more than 20 percent from the width of the exit orifice for a distance, in a direction of travel of the marking material stream, of at least 4 times the exit orifice width the kinetic energy of said propellant stream causing said particulate marking material to impact said substrate.