Printhead including coanda catcher with grooved radius

摘要

A printhead includes a jetting module, deflection mechanism, and catcher. The jetting module includes a nozzle array extending along a length of the jetting module. The jetting module forms drops travelling along a first path from liquid jets emitted from the nozzles. The deflection mechanism causes selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path to a second path. The catcher, positioned to intercept liquid drops travelling along one of the paths, includes a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication by a Coanda surface including a radial surface including an array of grooves. The liquid removal conduit includes a surface that is positioned opposite and spaced apart from the radial surface such that the opposite surface of the liquid removal conduit does not contact the radial surface that includes the array of grooves.

主权项

1. A printhead comprising:
a jetting module including a linear array of nozzles extending in a direction along a length of the jetting module, the jetting module being configured to form liquid drops travelling along a first path from a plurality of liquid jets emitted from the nozzles; a deflection mechanism configured to cause selected liquid drops formed by the jetting module to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path; and a catcher positioned to intercept liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path, the catcher including a drop contact surface and a liquid removal conduit connected in fluid communication with each other by a catcher surface including a radial surface including an array of grooves, the liquid removal conduit including a surface that is positioned opposite and spaced apart from the radial surface that includes the array of grooves such that the opposite surface of the liquid removal conduit does not contact the radial surface that includes the array of grooves.