
430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual
86
Issue 2
Part No. 306-0430-102
Printhead Operation
Ink Jet Information
An electrically conductive ink is supplied under pressure by the ink system to the nozzle assembly (Figure 35
(
2
)) via the ink feed pipe (
3
). An ink stream is formed as the ink is forced out of the nozzle jet orifice (
1
). A
modulation signal is applied to a ceramic transducer which is clamped to the nozzle assembly. The transducer
crystals (
4
and
5
) causes the nozzle assembly to vibrate longitudinally, breaking up the ink stream into droplets,
a small distance away (the break up point) from the nozzle jet orifice. The frequency of modulation on a
standard Si printhead is 76.8 kHz. The nozzle has a damping mass (
6
and
7
) attached to the rear of the
transducer to mechanically ‘tune’ the nozzle assembly to the modulation frequency.
The ink droplets are produced at the same rate as the modulation frequency, are uniform in size and separated
by equal distances. The nozzle orifice diameter is 60 microns.
(
1
)
Nozzle jet orifice
(
2
) Nozzle
assembly
(
3
)
Ink feed pipe
(
4
)
Crystal transducer
(
5
)
Crystal transducer
3
4 5
6
2
1
7
(6)
Damping mass
(7)
Damping mass
Figure 35 Ink Jet Formation
Droplet Charging
The charge electrode (Figure 36 (
1
)) is positioned at the break up point of the ink stream and extends for
several drops either side of it. This allows a tolerance for break up position and shields the ink stream from the
influence of the other electrostatic fields. The distance between the nozzle assembly (
2
) and the charge
electrode is 2 mm.
1
Charge electrode
2
1
2
Nozzle assembly
Figure 36
Charge Electrode
Summary of Contents for 430
Page 1: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service Manual THE WORLD S CODING AND LABELLING COMPANY ...
Page 7: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual vi Issue 2 Part No 306 0430 102 ...
Page 17: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual xvi Issue 2 Part No 306 0430 102 ...
Page 31: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual 14 Issue 2 Part No 306 0430 102 ...
Page 61: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual 44 Issue 2 Part No 306 0430 102 ...
Page 161: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual 144 Issue 2 Part No 306 0430 102 ...
Page 181: ...430 Ink Jet Printer Service and Maintenance Manual 164 Issue 2 Part No 306 0430 102 ...
Page 200: ... ...
Page 202: ... ...