Printer with electrostatic ink control

摘要

A liquid ink printer uses electrostatic control of ink flow along paths defined by strips of hydrophilic material. The strips may be discontinuous, with a narrow gap across which ink is urged to flow by application of a voltage to an electrode, or a gate member may be pulled down onto a strip to prevent ink flow. In a further arrangement drops of ink are extracted from the ends of the strips and accelerated towards a printing position by an electrode pattern.