Abstract
The drop generator for the continuous multi-orifice ink jet printing technology is described. The drop generator configuration, the piezoelectric transducer stimulator motion, the acoustic cavity dimensions, and the break off uniformity of the jets are discussed. To obtain the break off uniformity of the jets, the piezoelectric transducer stimulation uniformity and the acoustic cavity dimensions are investigated and the variation of the orifice diameter is improved. The piezoelectric transducer is cut so that it functions like an array of simple length expander resonators. The cavity is designed so that its length is not equal to the integral multiple of λs/2 (λs : acoustic wavelength in ink) and its height is equal to λs/2. Glass fibers, which are used to form the orifices, are sorted by an optical comparator to reduce the variation of the orifice diameter. With this drop generator, we could make the break off uniformity of the jets within λ/2 (λ: drop separation) and T/2 (T : one cycle of the operating frequency).
