Thermal Jet
Appendix B: Theory of Operation
5780-329 Operations Manual Rev J
Page 33
Appendix B: Theory of Operation
SoloSeries Series Print Heads
TIJ Technology
The SoloSeries print head uses Thermal Ink Jet (TIJ) technology as implemented on the
hp
®
45A cartridge. TIJ technology works by rapidly heating the ink. As the ink heats it
expands and is ejected from the print cartridge orifices. Because the individual orifices are
very small, many more can be compacted in the same amount of space as conventional
print technologies. With more orifices per vertical inch / millimeter, a much higher resolution
image can be produced.
SoloSeries Inkjet Similarities and Differences
A SoloSeries print head can operate stand-alone or in concert with other SoloSeries print
heads connected one to another in a daisy chain configuration. Up to eight SoloSeries45 or
four SoloSeries90 print heads can be daisy chained. SoloSeries print heads can be con-
trolled by the Marksman HHI controller, from a PC or labtop using the included GUI soft-
ware interface program, or by a user developed application.
SoloSeries Series print heads can print up to five lines of print, using any combination of
the various print field types supported, including fixed text, date/time codes, product
counts, variable fields, logos, and a variety of bar codes, including Data Matrix 2-D codes.
Unlike other Foxjet inkjet technologies, the SoloSeries print heads store and process the
currently printing message internally. This allows the print heads to be disconnected from
the controlling device and operate "stand alone" once the print information has been
uploaded to the heads. However, print head and print message status is unavailable to the
the controlling device once the print heads are disconnected.
Ink Cartridge Ink Status
Each ink cartridge contains approximately 42 mL of ink and has been programmed at Fox-
jet so as to make full use of the SoloSeries
Smart Level Ink Detection System
. When a
new cartridge is snapped into a SoloSeries print head it is given an identity code so that its
ink level may be monitored. As the ink depletes to 10% ink remaining, an "Ink Low" condi-
tion occurs and the red LED on the rear of the print head turns on steady. The red LED
changes to slow flashing, indicating "Ink Out", when there is minimal ink remaining, and
significant print degradation is imminent. Ink status is reported back to the Marksman HHI
controller or GUI software as long as they are connected to the print head daisy chain.
