Patent ID: 8465129

Claim:
A continuous liquid ejection system comprising: a liquid chamber in fluidic communication with a nozzle, the liquid chamber containing liquid under pressure sufficient to eject a liquid jet through the nozzle; a drop formation device associated with the liquid jet, the drop forming device being operable to produce a modulation in the liquid jet to selectively cause portions of the liquid jet to break off into one or more pairs of drops traveling along a path, each drop pair separated on average by a drop pair period, each drop pair including a first drop and a second drop, the drop formation device also being operable to produce a modulation in the liquid jet to selectively cause portions of the liquid jet to break off into one or more third drops traveling along the path separated on average by the same drop pair period, the third drop being larger than the first drop and the second drop; a charging device including: a charge electrode associated with the liquid jet; and a source of varying electrical potential between the charge electrode and the liquid jet, the source of varying electrical potential providing a waveform, the waveform including a period that is equal to the drop pair period of formation of the drop pairs or the third drops, the waveform including a first distinct voltage state and a second distinct voltage state, the charging device being synchronized with the drop formation device to produce a first charge to mass ratio on the first drop of the drop pair, a second charge to mass ratio on the second drop of the drop pair, and a third charge to mass ratio on the third drop, the third charge to mass ratio being substantially the same as the first charge to mass ratio; and a deflection device that causes the first drop of the drop pair having the first charge to mass ratio to travel along a first path and causes the second drop of the drop pair having the second charge to mass ratio to travel along a second path, and causes the third drop having a third charge to mass ratio to travel along a third path.