Electronically controlled marking

摘要

An electronically controlled marking system is provided to impart an ink spot to a stationary or moving target. The system includes an electronic control module connected to a high-pressure gas valve to control the passage of high-pressure gas to an ink spot maker, the electronic control module also being connected to a low-pressure gas valve to control the passage of low-pressure gas to the ink spot marker. Following the initiation of an ink spot marking cycle, low-pressure gas is applied to atomize ink within the ink spot marker; high-pressure gas is applied to force open a valve within the ink spot marker, thereby allowing ink to be ejected by the low-pressure gas toward the target; the high-pressure gas is removed to terminate the ejection of ink from the output nozzle, the low-pressure gas still being applied to force any remaining ink from the output nozzle; and the low-pressure gas is removed. Provision is also made for pulsing the high-pressure gas applied to the ink spot marker during the period that ink is being ejected to provide pulsed ink ejection.