Ink jet apparatus having amplified asymmetric heating drop deflection

摘要

Apparatus for controlling ink in a continuous ink jet printer includes an ink delivery channel; a source of pressurized ink communicating with the ink delivery channel; a nozzle bore which opens into the ink delivery channel to establish a continuous flow of ink in a stream, the nozzle bore defining a nozzle bore perimeter; a drop generator which causes the stream to break up into a plurality of drops at a position spaced from the ink stream generator; and a drop deflector. The drop generator includes a heater having a selectively-actuated section associated with only a portion of the nozzle bore perimeter, whereby actuation of the heater section produces an asymmetric application of heat to the stream to partially control the direction of the stream. The drop deflector includes a gas flow source producing an additional control to the stream between a print direction and a non-print direction. <IMAGE>