Method and apparatus for printing with ink drops of varying sizes using a drop-on-demand ink jet print head

摘要

A drop-on-demand ink jet has an ink chamber coupled to a source of ink, and an ink drop orifice with an outlet. An acoustic driver produces a pressure wave in the ink and causes the ink to pass outwardly through the ink drop orifice and outlet. The size of the ink drops may be varied, such as by driving the acoustic driver with varying drive signals, preferably comprising individual or combinations of plural bipolar drive pulses. The ink jet printer of the present invention may be used to print with a wide variety of inks, including phase change inks.