Patent ID: 7207665

Claim:
A continuous ink jet print station for detangling a plurality of jets that can become entangled because orifices forming the jets have a small diameter no greater than 1 mil, the continuous ink jet print station comprising: a. a reservoir containing fluid; b. a printhead including: i. a drop generator; ii. an orifice structure for the small diameter orifices, connected to the drop generator; iii. a catcher connected to the drop generator; iv. a charge device secured to the catcher; and v. a plurality of actuators connected to the drop generator adapted to vibrate the drop generator; c. a fluid supply line connected between the printhead and the reservoir; d. a return line connected to the printhead and the reservoir; e. a catcher return line connected between the catcher and the reservoir; f. a controllable valve disposed in the return line adapted to open and close the return line; g. a pressure transducer disposed in the return line between the drop generator and the controllable valve; h. a controller for operating the controllable valve and the actuators; i. a fluid pump connected to the fluid supply line, wherein the pump is operated by the controller, and wherein the pump is adapted to raise the pressure on the drop generator to at least an operating pressure and to lower the pressure on the drop generator to a minimal pressure to thereby prevent entanglement of the jets.