DROP-ON-DEMAND INK JET PRINTER CAPABLE OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF INK DROP EJECTION AND METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drop-on-demand ink jet printer in which the ejecting direction of ink drop can be controlled such that an arbitrary one of two ink ejection nozzles belonging to the printer can print at a plurality of positions on a recording medium. SOLUTION: The method comprises a print head body having an ink ejection orifice adapted to poise an ink meniscus thereat about a center axis passing through the orifice. A deflector is coupled to the print head body and is adapted to be in communication with the poised meniscus for lowering surface tension of a region of the poised meniscus. The poised meniscus deflects away from the region of lower surface tension and away from the center axis to define a deflected meniscus, whereby an ink drop separated from the deflected meniscus travels at an angle with respect to the center axis, so that the ink drop can strike a receiver at any one of a plurality of predetermined locations on a print line.