Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5907339?dq=7350717
Timestamp: 2014-03-07 10:36:33
Document Index: 624220475

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 7', 'art 7', 'art 9', 'art 11', 'art 13', 'arts 7']

Patent US5907339 - Ink jet printhead having solenoids controlling ink flow - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA printhead for ink jet printing apparatus having a plurality of orifices for delivery of droplets of ink with delivery controlled by miniature solenoids, one for each orifice, each solenoid having a plunger directly engageable with a membrane to block flow of ink to a respective orifice and electromagnetically...http://www.google.com/patents/US5907339?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5907339 - Ink jet printhead having solenoids controlling ink flowAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5907339 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/337,300Publication dateMay 25, 1999Filing dateNov 10, 1994Priority dateNov 10, 1994Fee statusLapsedAlso published asWO1996015426A1Publication number08337300, 337300, US 5907339 A, US 5907339A, US-A-5907339, US5907339 A, US5907339AInventorsJimmy L. Droit, Edward B. Evans, Donald D. PorterOriginal AssigneeDiagraph CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (16), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (15), Classifications (6), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInk jet printhead having solenoids controlling ink flowUS 5907339 AAbstract A printhead for ink jet printing apparatus having a plurality of orifices for delivery of droplets of ink with delivery controlled by miniature solenoids, one for each orifice, each solenoid having a plunger directly engageable with a membrane to block flow of ink to a respective orifice and electromagnetically retractable from the membrane for flow of ink for delivery of a droplet of ink from the respective orifice, with provision for proportional valve action for each orifice. A removable and replaceable dot mask plate having a pattern of holes is sandwiched between a body and a back plate of the printhead and certain of the plungers of the solenoids are aligned with holes in the dot mask and, in a forward extended position, extend through the holes to engage the membrane. The dot mask masks or blocks other plungers of the printhead.
What is claimed is: 1. A printhead for ink jet printing apparatus comprising a body having a front face and a back face, a chamber in the body for ink under pressure, a plurality of ports extending from the chamber to the back face of the body, each of said ports having a back end at the back face of the body, a plurality of recesses, one for each of said ports, in the back face of the body adjacent but spaced from said back end of the port, a plurality of passages, one for each recess, each of said passages extending forward from a recess through the body toward the front of the body, a plurality of orifices at the front face of the body, one orifice for each of said passages, each of said passages extending forward through the body to an orifice for delivery of ink from the orifices onto a target surface moving relative to the body past said front face of the body, a flexible membrane on said back face of the body engageable therewith all around the back end of each of said ports and each of said recesses, and means for releasably holding the membrane in position pressed against the back face of the body around the back end of each of said ports to block flow of ink from said chamber out of the back end of each of said ports, said holding means comprising a plurality of solenoids, one for each of said ports, each of said solenoids comprising an electromagnetic coil having an axis, a forward end, a rearward end, a plunger movable within the coil on the axis of the coil and spring means for biasing the plunger in a forward direction, said plunger having a free end adjacent the said forward end of the solenoid constituting the forward end of the plunger, said plunger being movable axially within the coil of the solenoid between a forward extended position wherein said plunger extends forward from the forward end of the solenoid and a rearward retracted position spaced rearward from said forward extended position, the plunger being movable rearward against said spring bias on energization of the coil, means for mounting the solenoids in position at the back face of said body with the axis of each of said solenoids and each of said plungers generally aligned with a respective port of said plurality of ports and with the forward end of each of said solenoids proximate said membrane, each of the solenoids being so positioned at the backface of said body and each of the plungers being so disposed in the coil of the solenoid that when the coil of the solenoid is deenergized the plunger is in extended position with said free end of said plunger engaging the membrane and holding the membrane pressed under the bias of said spring means against the back face of the body around the back end of the respective port of said plurality of ports to block flow of ink out of the back end of the port, and when the coil is energized the plunger is retracted to release the membrane for flexing away from the back end of the respective port of said plurality of ports for delivery of ink therefrom, wherein the membrane has a front face in engagement with the back face of said body and a back face, wherein the printhead has a masking plate on the back face of the membrane, said masking plate having holes therein in a pattern for alignment with certain of the ports in the body, wherein said body has a predetermined thickness and the solenoid mounting means comprises a back plate of substantially greater thickness than that of said body removably assembled with the body at the back face of the body with the membrane and the masking plate sandwiched between the body and said back plate, said back plate having a plurality of holes therein, one for each of said ports, each of said holes in said back plate being aligned with a said respective port of said plurality of ports, each of said solenoids being mounted in a respective hole of said plurality of holes with the plunger of each of said solenoids movable toward and away from the back face of the membrane aligned with the back end of the said respective port, each of said plungers being biased in said forward direction by the spring means therefor, certain of said plungers being aligned with the holes in said masking plate and in the forward extended position thereof extending through the respective hole of said plurality of holes in the masking plate and engaging the membrane through said respective hole of said plurality of holes in the masking plate to press the membrane against the back face of the body around the said respective port of said plurality of ports to block flow of ink out of the back end of the port, the plunger being retracted on energization of the coil to release the membrane for flexing away from the back end of the said respective port of said plurality of ports for delivery of ink therefrom to the respective recess of said plurality of recesses, and thence through the respective passage of said plurality of passages to and out of the respective orifice of said plurality of orifices, said masking plate being removable and replaceable with another masking plate having a different pattern of holes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to printheads for ink jet printing apparatus and solenoids for such printheads.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of a printhead of this invention as viewed from one end thereof constituting its forward end;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, an ink jet printhead of this invention, generally designated 1, is shown in FIG. 1 to comprise a head generally designated 3 at the front or forward end of an elongate hollow casing 5 of generally rectangular cross-section. The casing is open at both ends. The head 3 comprises an assembly of seven flat parts 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 (see particularly FIGS. 4 and 5) sandwiched together as appears in FIG. 4. The first part 7 is constituted by a generally rectangular sheet metal (e.g. stainless steel) plate, referred to as the front plate, having an elongate slot 21 therein extending from a point adjacent one of the narrow ends of the plate to a point adjacent the other narrow end of the plate. The second part 9 is constituted by a generally rectangular relatively thin sheet metal (e.g. stainless steel) plate, generally having the same dimensions as the front plate 7, and having a row of holes 23 therein extending from a point adjacent one of its narrow ends to a point adjacent its other narrow end. As herein illustrated, the plate 9, which is referred to as the orifice mask of the printhead, has twenty-four holes 23 therein, the row of holes being in register with the slot 21 in the front plate 7. The third part 11 is constituted by a generally rectangular relatively thin sheet of gasket material, e.g. EPOM rubber, generally having the same length and width dimensions as the plates 7 and 9. This gasket 11 has a row of twenty-four holes 25, these holes being of somewhat smaller diameter than and in register with the holes 23 in the orifice mask 9. The part 13 is constituted by a generally rectangular plate generally having the same length and width dimensions as parts 7, 9 and 11, but substantially thicker than plate 7, this plate 13 being made of a material capable of being accurately machined and preferably made of a graphite-containing composition such as ET71C graphite. This plate 13, which may be referred to as the orifice plate, has an elongate recess 27 in its front face extending from a point adjacent one of its narrow ends to a point adjacent its other narrow end surrounding an elongate land or boss 29 which rises from the bottom of the recess. This land divides the recess into two parallel channels 31 and 33 extending from a point adjacent one of the narrow ends of the plate 13 to a point adjacent its other narrow end. The recess 27, with its channels 31 and 33, defines a manifold chamber which receives ink under pressure from a source (not shown).
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2712262 *Jun 28, 1951Jul 5, 1955Illinois Tool WorksRetainer having centering and anti-tilting meansUS2817380 *Jan 11, 1954Dec 24, 1957Illinois Tool WorksResilient undulating lock washer with inclined lugs for retaining on rotary fastenerUS4378564 *Mar 13, 1981Mar 29, 1983Printos B.V. Of N.L.Ink jet printing apparatus and processUS4453652 *Sep 16, 1981Jun 12, 1984Nordson CorporationControlled current solenoid driver circuitUS4555719 *Aug 19, 1983Nov 26, 1985Videojet Systems International, Inc.Ink valve for marking systemsUS4576111 *Jan 23, 1984Mar 18, 1986Domino Printing Sciences PlcMarking jet discharging headUS4723131 *Sep 12, 1986Feb 2, 1988Diagraph CorporationPrinthead for ink jet printing apparatusUS4737802 *Dec 20, 1985Apr 12, 1988Swedot System AbFluid jet printing deviceUS4792817 *Apr 14, 1986Dec 20, 1988Diagraph CorporationInk jet printing systemsUS4819009 *Jul 1, 1987Apr 4, 1989Marsh CompanyValve and nozzle system for ink jet printing apparatusUS4893101 *Mar 22, 1989Jan 9, 1990Ericson Manufacturing CompanyResettable ground fault circuit interrupterUS4924241 *Aug 1, 1989May 8, 1990Diagraph CorporationPrinthead for ink jet printing apparatusUS4985715 *Mar 22, 1990Jan 15, 1991Telesis Controls CorporationMarker assembly for spray marking dot matrix characters and method of fabrication thereofUS5046702 *Mar 11, 1988Sep 10, 1991Kabushiki Kaisha Kambayashi SeisakujoSolenoid deviceUS5085402 *Aug 10, 1990Feb 4, 1992The Lee CompanyHigh speed solenoid valve actuatorUS5154394 *Jun 17, 1991Oct 13, 1992Emerson Electric Co.Solenoid operated valve with improved flow control means* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1Grafstein, Paul and Schwartz, Otto B., "Pictorial Handbook of Technical Devices", Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York, pp. 2-3, 1971.2 *Grafstein, Paul and Schwartz, Otto B., Pictorial Handbook of Technical Devices , Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York, pp. 2 3, 1971.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6213594 *Nov 14, 1997Apr 10, 2001Eiko Epson CorporationInk-jet printing head for preventing crosstalkUS6224780 *Jul 10, 1998May 1, 2001Kia SilverbrookMethod of manufacture of a radiant plunger electromagnetic ink jet printerUS6247795Jul 10, 1998Jun 19, 2001Silverbrook Research Pty LtdReverse spring lever ink jet printing mechanismUS6315914 *Jul 10, 1998Nov 13, 2001Silverbrook Research Pty LtdMethod of manufacture of a coil actuated magnetic plate ink jet printerUS6457813May 25, 2001Oct 1, 2002Silverbrook Research Pty LtdNozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead having an actuator mechanism that incorporates spring movementUS7289878 *May 15, 2000Oct 30, 2007Nordson CorporationApparatus and method for modifying operation of an electric gun driverUS7484828 *Aug 27, 2004Feb 3, 2009Seiko Epson CorporationLiquid jet head unit, manufacturing method thereof and liquid jet deviceUS7914442Oct 9, 2002Mar 29, 2011Gazdzinski Robert FEndoscopic smart probe and methodUS7938507Sep 15, 2009May 10, 2011Silverbrook Research Pty LtdPrinthead nozzle arrangement with radially disposed actuatorsUS8068897Mar 11, 2009Nov 29, 2011Gazdzinski Robert FEndoscopic smart probe and methodUS8317681Dec 4, 2003Nov 27, 2012Gazdzinski Robert FEndoscopic smart probe and methodUS8393714Nov 14, 2011Mar 12, 2013Zamtec LtdPrinthead with fluid flow controlUS8636648Mar 26, 2001Jan 28, 2014West View Research, LlcEndoscopic smart probeUS8636649Mar 11, 2009Jan 28, 2014West View Research, LlcEndoscopic smart probe and methodCN100393518CAug 9, 2005Jun 11, 2008精工爱普生株式会社Liquid jet head unit and liquid jet device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification347/54, 347/20International ClassificationB41J2/04Cooperative ClassificationB41J2/04, B41J2002/041European ClassificationB41J2/04Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJul 22, 2003FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20030525May 27, 2003LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesDec 11, 2002REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedMay 14, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DIAGRAPH CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:011821/0709Effective date: 20010501Owner name: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. 3600 WEST LAKE AVENUE GLEOwner name: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. 3600 WEST LAKE AVENUEGLENFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DIAGRAPH CORPORATION /AR;REEL/FRAME:011821/0709Nov 10, 1994ASAssignmentOwner name: DIAGRAPH CORPORATION, ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:EVANS, EDWARD B.;DROIT, JIMMY L.;PORTER, DONALD D.;REEL/FRAME:007229/0579;SIGNING DATES FROM 19941021 TO 19941108RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google